SUBARU TRIBECA 2014 1.G Owners Manual

10-4Appearance care
Corrosion protection
Your SUBARU has been designed andbuilt to resist corrosion. Special materialsand protective finishes have been used onmost parts of the vehicle to help maintainfine appearance, strength, and reliableoperation.
&Most common causes of
corrosion
The most common causes of corrosionare:
1. The accumulation of moisture retain-ing dirt and debris in body panel sections,cavities,and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protectivecoatings caused by gravel and stonechips or minor accidents.
Corrosion is accelerated on the vehiclewhen:
1. It is exposed to road salt or dustcontrol chemicals, or used in coastalareas where there is more salt in the air,or in areas where there is considerableindustrial pollution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity,especially when temperatures range justabove freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of thevehicle remainsfor a long time, even
though other parts of the vehicle may bedry.
4. High temperatures will cause corro-sion to parts of the vehicle which cannotdry quickly due to lack of proper ventila-tion.
&To help prevent corrosion
Wash the vehicle regularly to preventcorrosion of the body and suspensioncomponents. Also, wash the vehiclepromptly after driving on any of thefollowing surfaces.
.roads that have been salted to preventthem from freezing in winter
.mud, sand, or gravel
.coastal roads
After the winter has ended, it is recom-mended that the underbody be given avery thorough washing.
Before the beginning of winter, check thecondition of underbody components, suchas the exhaust system, fuel and brakelines, brake cables, suspension, steeringsystem, floor pan, and fenders. If any ofthem are found to be rusted, they shouldbe given an appropriate rust preventiontreatment or should be replaced. Contactyour SUBARU dealer to perform this kindof maintenance and treatment if you need
assistance.
Repair chips and scratches in the paint assoon as you find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for waterand dirt accumulation under the floor matsbecause that could cause corrosion.Occasionally check under the mats tomake sure the area is dry.
Keep your garage dry. Do not park yourvehicle in a damp, poorly ventilatedgarage. In such a garage, corrosion canbe caused by dampness. If you wash thevehicle in the garage or put the vehicleinto the garage when wet or covered withsnow, that can cause dampness.
If your vehicle is operated in cold weatherand/or in areas where road salts and othercorrosive materials are used, the doorhinges and locks, and hood latch shouldbe inspected and lubricated periodically.

Cleaning the interior
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climatecontrol panel, audio equipment, instru-ment panel, center console, combinationmeter panel, and switches. (Do not useorganic solvents.)
&Seat fabric
Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with avacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on thefabric or hard to remove with a vacuumcleaner, use a soft blush then vacuum it.
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightlywrung cloth and dry the seat fabricthoroughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipeusing a solution of mild soap and luke-warmwater then dry thoroughly.
If the stain does not come out, try acommercially available fabric cleaner. Usethe cleaner on a hidden place and makesure it does not affect the fabric adversely.Use the cleaner according to its instruc-tions.
NOTE
When cleaning the seat, do not usebenzine, paint thinner, or any similarmaterials.
&Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a highquality natural product which will retain itsdistinctive appearance and feel for manyyears with proper care.
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on thesurface can cause the material to becomebrittle and to wear prematurely. Regularcleaning witha soft, moist, natural fibercloth should be performed monthly, takingcare not to soak the leather or allow waterto penetrate the stitched seams.
A mild detergent suitable for cleaningwoolen fabrics may be used to removedifficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, drycloth afterwards to restore the luster. Ifyour SUBARU is to be parked for a longtime in bright sunlight, it is recommendedthat the seats and headrests be covered,or the windows shaded, to prevent fadingor shrinkage.
Minor surface blemishes or bald patchesmay be treated with a commercial leatherspray lacquer. You will discover that eachleather seat section will develop soft foldsor wrinkles, which is characteristic ofgenuine leather.
&Synthetic leather upholstery
The synthetic leather material used on theSUBARU may be cleaned using mild soap
or detergent and water, after first vacuum-ing or brushing away loose dirt. Allow thesoap to soak in for a few minutes and wipeoff with a clean, damp cloth. Commercialfoam-type cleaners suitable for syntheticleather materials may be used whennecessary.
NOTE
Strong cleaning agents such as sol-vents, paint thinners, window cleaneror gasoline must never be used onleather or synthetic interior materials.
&Climate control panel, audio
panel, instrument panel,
console panel, switches,
combination meter, and other
plastic surface
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climatecontrol panel, audio equipment, instru-ment panel, center console, combinationmeter panel, and switches.
CAUTION
.Do not use organic solvents suchas paint thinners or fuel, orstrongcleaning agents that con-tain those solvents.
.Do not use chemical solvents
Appearance care10-5
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10-6Appearance care
that contain silicone on the vehi-cle audio system, electrical com-ponents of the air-conditioner orany switches. If silicone adheresto these parts, it may causedamage to electrical compo-nents.
&Navigation monitor (if
equipped)
To clean the navigation monitor, wipe itwith a silicone cloth or with a soft cloth. Ifthenavigation monitor is extremely dirty,clean it with a soft cloth moistened withneutral detergent then carefully wipe offany remaining detergent.
NOTE
.Do not spray neutral detergent di-rectly onto the monitor. Doing so coulddamage the monitor’s components..Do not wipe the monitor with a hardcloth. Doing so could scratch themonitor..Do not use cleaning fluid that con-tains thinner, gasoline, or any othervolatile substance. Such cleaning fluidcould erase the lettering on theswitches at the bottom of the monitor.

Maintenance schedule....................................... 11-3
Maintenance precautions................................... 11-3Before checking or servicing in the enginecompartment.................................................... 11-4When you do checking or servicing in the enginecompartment while the engine is running.......... 11-4
Engine hood....................................................... 11-4
Engine compartment overview.......................... 11-6
Engine oil............................................................ 11-7Checking the oil level......................................... 11-7Changing the oil and oil filter.............................. 11-8Recommendedgrade and viscosity.................... 11-9Synthetic oil....................................................... 11-9
Cooling system................................................ 11-10Hose and connections...................................... 11-10Engine coolant................................................. 11-11
Air cleaner element.......................................... 11-12Replacing the air cleaner element..................... 11-12
Spark plugs...................................................... 11-13Recommended spark plugs.............................. 11-13
Drive belts........................................................ 11-13
Automatic transmission fluid.......................... 11-14Checking the fluid level.................................... 11-14Recommended fluid......................................... 11-15
Front differential gear oil................................. 11-15Checking the oil level....................................... 11-15Recommended grade and viscosity.................. 11-16
Rear differential gear oil.................................. 11-16Recommended grade and viscosity.................. 11-16
Power steering fluid........................................ 11-16Checking the fluid level.................................... 11-16Recommended fluid......................................... 11-17
Brake fluid........................................................ 11-17Checking the fluid level.................................... 11-17Recommended brake fluid............................... 11-18
Brakebooster.................................................. 11-18
Brake pedal...................................................... 11-19Checking the brake pedal free play.................. 11-19Checking the brake pedal reserve distance....... 11-19
Replacement of brake pad and lining............ 11-19Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings....... 11-20
Parking brake stroke....................................... 11-20
Tires and wheels.............................................. 11-21Types of tires................................................... 11-21Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).......... 11-21Tire inspection................................................. 11-22Tire pressuresand wear.................................. 11-23Wheel balance................................................. 11-25Wear indicators............................................... 11-25Tire rotation direction mark.............................. 11-25Tire rotation..................................................... 11-26Tire replacement.............................................. 11-26Wheel replacement.......................................... 11-27
Aluminum wheels............................................ 11-27
Windshield washer fluid.................................. 11-28
Replacement of wiper blades......................... 11-29Windshield wiper blade assembly..................... 11-30Windshield wiper blade rubber ......................... 11-30Rear window wiper blade assembly.................. 11-31
Maintenance and service
11

Maintenance and service
Rear window wiper blade rubber....................... 11-31
Battery............................................................... 11-33
Fuses................................................................ 11-34
Main fuse.......................................................... 11-35
Installation of accessories............................... 11-36
Replacing bulbs............................................... 11-36Headlights(models with HID headlights)........... 11-36Headlights (models without HID headlights) ...... 11-36Parking light (right-hand side)........................... 11-38Front turn signal light (right-hand side)............. 11-39
Front fog light.................................................. 11-39Rear combination lights................................... 11-39Backup light/Tail light...................................... 11-40Rear gate light................................................. 11-41License plate light........................................... 11-41Dome light....................................................... 11-42Map light......................................................... 11-43Vanity mirror light............................................ 11-43Door step light................................................. 11-43Cargo area light............................................... 11-44

Maintenance schedule
The scheduled maintenance items re-quired to be serviced at regular intervalsare shown in the“Warranty and Main-tenance Booklet”.
For details of your maintenance schedule,read the separate“Warranty and Main-tenance Booklet”.
Maintenance precautions
When maintenance and service are re-quired, it is recommended that all work bedone by an authorized SUBARU dealer.
If you perform maintenance and serviceby yourself, you should familiarize yourselfwith the information provided in thissection on general maintenance andservice for yourSUBARU.
Incorrect or incomplete service couldcause improper or unsafe vehicle opera-tion. Any problems caused by impropermaintenance and service performed byyou are not eligible for warranty coverage.
WARNING
.Te s t i n g o f a n A l l - W h e e l D r i v emodel must NEVER be per-formed on a single two-wheeldynamometer or similar appara-tus. Attempting to do so willresult in transmission damageand in uncontrolled vehiclemovement and may cause anaccident or injuries to personsnearby.
.Always select a safe area whenperforming maintenance on yourvehicle.
.Always be very careful to avoidinjury when working on the vehi-cle. Remember that some of thematerials in the vehicle may behazardous if improperly used orhandled, for example, batteryacid.
.Your vehicle should only be ser-viced by persons fully competentto do so. Serious personal injurymay result to persons not experi-enced in servicing vehicles.
.Always use the proper tools andmake certain that they are wellmaintained.
.Never get under the vehicle sup-ported only by a jack. Always usea safety stands to support thevehicle.
.Never keep the engine running ina poorly ventilated area, such asa garage or other closed areas.
.Do not smoke or allow openflames around the fuel or battery.This will cause a fire.
.Because the fuel system is underpressure, replacement of the fuelfilter should be performed onlyby your SUBARU dealer.
.Wear adequate eye protection to
Maintenance and service11-3
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11-4Maintenance and service
guard against getting oil or fluidsin your eyes. If something doesget in your eyes, thoroughlywash them out with clean water.
.Do not tamper with the wiring ofthe SRS airbag system or seat-belt pretensioner system, or at-tempt to take its connectorsapart, as that may activate thesystem or it can render it inop-erative. NEVER use a circuittester for these wiring. If yourSRS airbag or seatbelt preten-sioner needs service, consultyour nearest SUBARU dealer.
&Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment
WARNING
.Always stop the engine and setthe parking brake firmly to pre-vent the vehicle from moving.
.Always let the engine cool down.Engine parts become very hotwhen the engine is running andremain hot for some time afterthe engine is stopped.
.Do not spill engine oil, enginecoolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.This may cause a fire.
.Always remove the key from theignition switch. When the ignitionswitch is in the“ON”position,the cooling fan may operatesuddenly even when the engineis stopped.
&When you do checking or
servicing in the engine com-
partment while the engine is
running
WARNING
A running engine can be dangerous.Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,hair and tools away from the coolingfan, belts and any other movingengine parts. Removing rings,watches and ties is advisable.
Engine hood
To open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off thewindshield, return them to their originalpositions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under theinstrument panel.

3. Release the secondary hood releaselocated under the front grille by moving thelever toward the left.
4. Lift up the hood.
To close the hood:
1. Lower the hood to a point approxi-mately 20 in (50 cm) from the closedposition and then give the hood a strongpush down to make it drop.
2. After closing the hood, be sure thehoodis securely locked.
If this does not close the hood, release itfrom a slightly higher position. Do not pushthe hood forcibly to close it. It coulddeform the metal.
WARNING
Always check that the hood isproperly locked before you startdriving. If it is not, it might fly openwhile the vehicle is moving andblock your view, which may causean accident and serious bodily in-jury.
CAUTION
When closing the hood, be carefulnot to pinch your or other person’shands or anything else in the hood.
Maintenance and service11-5

11-6Maintenance and service
Engine compartment overview1) Air cleaner element (page 11-12)2) Power steering fluid reservoir(page 11-16)3) Differential gear oil level gauge(page 11-15)4) Automatic transmission fluid level gauge(page 11-14)5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-17)6) Fuse box (page 11-34)7) Battery (page 11-33)8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-28)9) Radiator cap (page 11-11)10) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-7)11) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-11)12) Engineoil level gauge (page 11-7)

Engine oil
NOTE
.The engine oil consumption rate isnot stabilized, and therefore cannot bedetermined until the vehicle has tra-veled at least several thousand miles(kilometers). Even after break-in, whenthe vehicle is used under severe driv-ing conditions such as those men-tioned in the“Warranty and Mainte-nance Booklet”,engineoiliscon-sumed or deteriorated more quicklythan under normal driving conditions.If you drive your vehicle under thesesevere conditions, you should checkthe oil level at least at every secondfuel fill-up time, and change the oilmore frequently. Please refer to the“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”for more details..If the oil consumption rate seemsabnormally high after the break-inperiod, for example more than 1 quartper 1,200 miles or 1 liter per 2,000kilometers, we recommend that youcontact your SUBARU dealer.
&Checking the oil level
Check the engine oil level at each fuelstop.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andstop the engine.
2. Pull out the level gauge, wipe it clean,and insert it again.
3. Be sure the level gauge is correctlyinserted until it stops with the graphicsymbol“”on its top appearing asshown in the illustration.
1) Full level2) Low level3) Approximately 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter, 0.9Imp qt) from the low level to the full level
4. Pull out the level gauge again andcheck the oil level on it. If it is below thelow level (L), add oil to bring the level up tothe fulllevel (F).
CAUTION
.Use only engine oil with therecommended grade and vis-cosity.
Maintenance and service11-7
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