oil level SUBARU TRIBECA 2014 1.G Owners Manual

4
Mark Name
Child restraint lower an-chorages
Child restraint top tether an-chorages
Horn
Windshield wiper deicer
Wiper intermittent
Windshield wiper and washer
Windshield wiper mist (forsingle wipe)
Rear window wiper
Rear window washer
Lights
Headlight beam leveler
Mark Name
Parking lights, tail lights, li-cense plate lights and instru-ment panel illumination
Headlights
Turn signal
Illumination brightness
Engine hood
Fan speed
Instrument panel outlets
Instrument panel outlets andfoot outlets
Foot outlets
Windshield defroster and footoutlets
Windshield defroster
Mark Name
Rear window defogger/Out-side mirror defogger
Air recirculation
Outside air
Engine oil
Washer
Door lock (transmitter)
Door unlock (transmitter)
Rear gate (transmitter)
Power folding mirror

!If the light is blinking
If the light is blinking while driving, anengine misfire condition has been de-tected which may damage the emissioncontrol system.
To prevent serious damage to the emis-sion control system, you should do thefollowing.
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard acceleration.
.Avoid steepuphill grades.
.Reduce the amount of cargo, if possi-ble.
.Stop towing a trailer as soon aspossible.
The CHECK ENGINE warning light maystop blinking and illuminate steadily afterseveral drivingtrips. You should have yourvehicle checked by an authorizedSUBARU dealer immediately.
&Charge warning light
If this light illuminates when the engine isrunning, it may indicate that the chargingsystem is not working properly.
If the light illuminates while driving or doesnot turn off after the engine starts, stop theengine at the first safe opportunity andcheck the alternator belt. If the belt isloose, broken or if the belt is in good
condition but the light remains illuminated,contact your nearest SUBARU dealerimmediately.
&Oil pressure warning
light
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with theoil pressure warning light illumi-nated. This may cause serious en-gine damage.
If this light illuminates when the engine isrunning, it may indicate that the engine oilpressureis low and the lubricating systemis not working properly.
If the light illuminates while driving or doesnot turnoff after the engine starts, stop theengine at the first safe opportunity andcheck the engine oil level. If the oil level islow, add oil immediately. If the engine oil isat the proper level but the light remainsilluminated, contact your nearestSUBARU dealer immediately.
&AT OIL TEMP warning
light
If this light illuminates when the engine isrunning, it may indicate that the automatictransmission fluid temperature is too hot.
If the light illuminates while driving, im-mediately stop the vehicle in a safe placeand let the engine idle until the warninglight turns off.
!Automatic transmission controlsystem warning
If the light flashes after the engine starts, itmay indicate that the automatic transmis-sion control system is not working prop-erly. Contact your nearest SUBARU deal-er for service immediately.
&Rear differential oil
temperature warning
light
CAUTION
If the R.DIFF TEMP warning lightilluminates, reduce vehicle speedand stop the vehicle in a safelocation as soon as possible. Con-tinuing to drive with this light illumi-nated may damage the rear differ-ential and other parts of the power-train.
If this light illuminates when the engine isrunning, it may indicate that the reardifferential oil temperature is too hot.
If the light illuminates while driving, reduce
Instruments and controls3-13
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3-14Instruments and controls
vehicle speed and stop the vehicle at thenearest safe place.
Park the vehicle for several minutes. Afterthe light turns off, you can start driving.
If the light does not turn off, contact thenearest SUBARU dealer for service.
NOTE
.If the tire pressures are not correctand/or the tires are not all the samesize and brand, the rear differential willbe heavily loaded when the vehicle isdriven, resultingin an abnormally highoiltemperature..The rear differential oil will deterio-rate if its temperature increases en-ough for the rear differential oil tem-perature warning light to illuminate. It isadvisable to have the rear differentialoil replaced as soon as possible.
&Low tire pressure
warning light
When the ignition switch is turned to the“ON”position, the low tire pressure warn-ing light will illuminate for approximately 2seconds to check that the tire pressuremonitoring system (TPMS) is functioningproperly. If there is no problem and all tiresare properly inflated, the light will turn off.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when coldand inflated to the inflation pressurerecommended by the vehicle manufac-turer on the vehicle placard or tire inflationpressure label. (If your vehicle has tires ofa different size than the size indicated onthe vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-sure label, you should determine theproper tire inflation pressure for thosetires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehiclehas been equipped with a tire pressuremonitoring system (TPMS) that illuminatesa low tire pressure telltale when one ormore of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tirepressure telltale illuminates, you shouldstop and check your tires as soon aspossible, and inflatethem to the properpressure.Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat andcan lead to tire failure. Under-inflation alsoreduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,and may affect the vehicle’s handling andstopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not asubstitute for proper tire maintenance,and it is the driver’sresponsibilitytomaintain correct tire pressure, even ifunder-inflation has not reached the levelto trigger illumination of the TPMS low tirepressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped witha TPMS malfunction indicator to indicatewhen the system is not operating properly.The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-bined with the low tire pressure telltale.When the system detects a malfunction,the telltale will flash for approximately oneminute and then remain continuouslyilluminated. This sequence will continueupon subsequent vehicle start-ups as longas the malfunction exists. When themalfunction indicator is illuminated, thesystem may not be able to detect or signallow tire pressure as intended. TPMSmalfunctions may occur for a variety ofreasons, including the installation of re-placement or alternate tires or wheels onthe vehicle that prevent the TPMS fromfunctioning properly. Always check theTPMS malfunction telltale after replacingone or more tires or wheels on yourvehicle to ensure that the replacement oralternate tires and wheels allow the TPMSto continue to function properly.
Should the warning light illuminate stea-dily after blinking for approximately oneminute, have the system inspected byyour nearest SUBARU dealer as soon aspossible.

3-16Instruments and controls
gether with the brake system warning lightif the EBD system becomes malfunction-ing. For further details of the EBD systemmalfunction warning, refer to“Brake sys-tem warning light”F3-16.
NOTE
If the warning light behavior is asdescribed in the following, the ABSsystem may be considered normal.
.The warning light illuminates rightafter the engine is started but turns offimmediately, remaining off..The warning light remains illumi-nated after the engine has been started,but it turns off when the vehicle speedreaches approximately 8 mph (12km/h)..The warning light illuminates duringdriving, but it turns off immediately andremains off.
When driving with an insufficient batteryvoltage such as when the engine is jumpstarted, the ABS warning light may illumi-nate. This is due to the low battery voltageand does not indicate a malfunction.When the battery becomes fully charged,the light will turn off.
&Brake system
warning light
WARNING
.Driving with the brake systemwarning light illuminated is dan-gerous. This indicates your brakesystem may not be workingproperly. If the light remainsilluminated, have the brakes in-spected by a SUBARU dealerimmediately.
.If at all in doubt about whetherthe brakes are operating prop-erly, do not drive the vehicle.Have your vehicle towed to thenearest SUBARU dealer for re-pair.
This light has the following three functions.
!Parking brake warning
The light illuminates with the parkingbrakeapplied while the ignition switch isin the“ON”position. It turns off when theparking brake is fully released.
!Brake fluid level warning
This light illuminateswhen the brake fluidlevel has dropped to near the“MIN”levelof the brake fluid reservoir with the ignitionswitch in the“ON”position and with the
parking brake fully released.
If the brake system warning light shouldilluminate while driving (with the parkingbrake fully released and with the ignitionswitch positioned in“ON”), it could be anindication of leaking of brake fluid or wornbrake pads. If this occurs, immediatelystop the vehicle at the nearest safe placeand check the brake fluid level. If the fluidlevel is below the“MIN”mark in thereservoir, do not drive the vehicle. Havethe vehicle towed to the nearest SUBARUdealer for repair.
!Electronic Brake Force Distribution(EBD) system warning
The brake system warning light alsoilluminates if a malfunction occurs in theEBD system. In that event, it illuminatestogether with the ABS warning light.
The EBD system may be malfunctioning ifthe brakesystem warning light and ABSwarning light illuminate simultaneouslyduring driving.
Even if the EBD system fails, the conven-tional braking system will still function.However, the rear wheels will be moreprone to locking when the brakes areapplied harder than usual and the vehi-cle’s motion may therefore become some-what harder to control.
If the brake system warning light and ABS

7-2Starting and operating
Fuel
CAUTION
Use of a fuel which is low in qualityor use of an inappropriate fueladditive may cause engine damage.
&Fuel requirements
The engine is designed to operate usingunleaded gasolinewith an octane ratingof87 AKI (90 RON) or higher.
!Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of theResearch Octane and Motor Octanenumbers andis commonly referred to asthe Anti Knock Index (AKI).
Using a gasoline with a lower octanerating can causepersistent and heavyknocking, which can damage the engine.Do not be concerned if your vehiclesometimes knocks lightly when you driveup a hill or when you accelerate. Contactyour SUBARU dealer if you use a fuel withthe specified octane rating and yourvehicle knocks heavily or persistently.
!Unleaded gasoline
The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designedto accept only an unleaded gasoline filler
nozzle. Under no circumstances shouldleaded gasoline be used because it willdamage the emission control system andmay impair driveability and fuel economy.
!California fuel
If your vehicle was certified to CaliforniaEmission Standards as indicated on theunderhood tune-up label, it is designed tooptimize engine and emission controlsystem performance with gasoline thatmeets the clean burning low-sulfur Cali-fornia gasoline specifications. If you live inany other state than California, yourvehicle will operate on gasoline meetingFederal specifications. Gasoline sold out-side California is permitted to have highersulfur levels, which may affect the perfor-mance of your vehicle’s catalytic converterand may produce a sulfur exhaust odor orsmell. SUBARU recommends that you trya different brand of unleaded gasolinehaving lower sulfur to determine if theproblem is fuel related before returningyour vehicle to an authorized dealer forservice. The CHECK ENGINE warninglight/Malfunction indicator light may alsoilluminate. If this occurs, return to yourauthorized SUBARU dealer for diagnosis.If it is determined that the condition iscausedby the type of fuel used, repairsmay not be covered by your warranty.
!MMT
Some gasoline contains an octane-en-hancing additive called MMT (Methylcy-clopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). Ifyou use such fuels, your emission controlsystem performance may deteriorate andthe CHECK ENGINE warning light/Mal-function indicator light may illuminate. Ifthis happens, return to your authorizedSUBARU dealer for service. If it isdetermined that the condition is causedby the type of fuel used, repairs may notbe covered by your warranty.
!Gasoline for cleaner air
CAUTION
Do not let fuel spill on the exteriorsurfaces of the vehicle. Fuels con-taining alcohol may cause paintdamage, which is not covered underthe SUBARU Limited Warranty.
Yo u r u s e o f g a s o l i n e w i t h d e t e r g e n tadditives will help prevent deposits fromforming in your engine and fuel system.This helps keepyour engine in tune andyour emission control system workingproperly, and is a way of doing your partfor cleaner air. If you continuously use ahigh quality fuel with the proper detergentand other additives, you should never

Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checksand adjustments every day before youstart driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, andlights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and conditionof the tires. Also check tires for properinflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign ofleaks.
4. Check that the hood and rear gate arefully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the insideand outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that yourpassengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warningand indicator lights when the ignitionswitch is turned to the“ON”position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn-ing lights after starting the engine.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,washer fluid and other fluid levelsshould be checked daily, weekly or atfuel stops.
Starting the engine
CAUTION
.Do not operate the starter motorcontinuously for more than 10seconds. If the engine fails tostart after operating the starterfor 5 to 10 seconds, wait for 10seconds or more before tryingagain.
.If you restart the engine while thevehicle is moving, shift the selectlever into the“N”position. Donot attempt to place the selectlever of a moving vehicle into the“P”position.
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn off unnecessary lights and ac-cessories.
3. Shift the select lever to the“P”or“N”position (preferably“P”position). Thestarter will only operate when the selectlever is at the“P”or“N”position.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the“ON”position and check the operation of thewarning and indicator lights. Refer to“Warning and indicator lights”F3-9.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the“START”positionwithoutdepressing the accelera-
tor pedal. Release the key immediatelyafter the engine has started.
If the engine does not start, try thefollowing.(1) Turn the ignition switch to the“LOCK”position and wait for at least10 seconds. After checking that theparking brake is firmly set, turn theignition switch to the“START”positionwhile depressing the accelerator pedalslightly (approximately a quarter of thefull stroke).Release the acceleratorpedal as soon as the engine starts.(2) If this fails to start the engine, turnthe ignition switch back to the“LOCK”position and wait for at least 10seconds.Then fully depress the accel-erator pedal and turn the ignitionswitch to the“START”position. If theengine starts, quickly release theaccelerator pedal.(3) If this fails to start the engine, turnthe ignition switch again to the“LOCK”position.After waiting for 10 secondsor longer, turn the ignition switch to the“START”position without depressingthe accelerator pedal.(4) If the engine still refuses to start,contact your nearest SUBARU dealerfor assistance.
6. Confirm that all warning and indicatorlights have turned off after the engine has
Starting and operating7-7
–CONTINUED–

Gearshifts can be performed using theselect lever.
Shift to the next-higher gear by brieflypushing the select lever toward the“+”end of the manual gate.
Shift to the next-lower gear by brieflypulling the select lever toward the“!”end of the manual gate.
NOTE
Pleaseread the following points care-fully and bear them in mind when usingthe manual mode.
.When the temperature of the engineoil is higher than normal, warningbeeps are emitted and the shift positionindicator shows“!”. If these warningsare issued, deselect the manual modeto protect the engine from damage.
.The transmission does not automa-tically shift up in the manual mode.Perform gearshifts in accordance withroad conditions so that the tachometerneedle does not enter the red zone. Ifthe engine speed reaches a predeter-mined level, a fuel-cut function willoperate. Shift up if this happens. Also,the transmission may automaticallyshift up to protect the engine..If you attempt to shift down whenthe engine speed is too high, i.e., whena downshift would push the tachometerneedle beyond the red zone, beeps willbe emitted to warn you that the down-shift is not possible..If you attempt to shift up when thevehicle speed is too low, the transmis-sion will not respond..You can perform a skip-shift (forexample, from 4th to 2nd) by operatingthe select lever twice in rapid succes-sion..The transmission automatically se-lects 1st gear when the vehicle stopsmoving..If the temperature of the automatictransmission fluid becomes too high,the“AT OIL TEMP”warning light willilluminate and upshifts to 5th gear willnot be possible. Immediately stop thevehicle in a safe place and let theengineidle until the warning light turns
off.
&Driving tips
.On a road surface where there is a riskof wheelspin (for example, a snow- orgravel-covered road), you can pull awayfrom a standstill safely and easily by firstselecting the 2nd gear of the manualmode.
.Always apply the foot or parking brakewhen thevehicle is stopped in the“D”or“R”position.
.Always set the parking brake whenparking your vehicle. Do not hold thevehicle withonly the transmission.
.Do not keep the vehicle in a stationaryposition on an uphill grade by using the“D”position. Usethe brake instead.
.The engine may, on rare occasions,knock when the vehicle rapidly acceler-ates or rapidly pulls away from a standstill.This phenomenon does not indicate aproblem.
.A slight reduction in output torque mayoccur before the engine warms up.
Starting and operating7-17
–CONTINUED–

9-14In case of emergency
Engine overheating
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-tor cap until the engine has beenshut off and has fully cooled down.When theengine is hot, the coolantis under pressure. Removing thecap while the engine is still hotcould release a spray of boiling hotcoolant, which could burn you veryseriously.
If the engine overheats, safely pull off theroad and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
&If steam is coming from the
engine compartment
Turn off the engine and get everyoneaway from the vehicle until it cools down.
&If no steam is coming from
the engine compartment
NOTE
For details about how to check thecoolant level or how to add coolant,refer to“Engine coolant”F11-11.
1. Keep the engine running at idlingspeed.
2. Open the hood to ventilate the enginecompartment. Refer to“Engine hood”F11-4.
Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. Ifthe fan is not turning, immediately turn offthe engine and contact your authorizeddealer for repair.
3. After the engine coolant temperaturehas dropped, turn off the engine.
If the temperature gauge stays at theoverheated zone, turn off the engine.
4. After the engine has fully cooled down,check the coolant level in the reservetank.
If the coolant level is below the“LOW”mark, add coolant up to the“FULL”mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reservetank, add coolant to the reserve tank.Then remove the radiator cap and fill theradiator with coolant.
If you remove the radiator cap from a hotradiator, first wrap a thick cloth around theradiator cap, then turn the cap counter-clockwise slowly without pressing downuntil it stops. Release the pressure fromthe radiator. After the pressure has beenfully released, remove the cap by pressingdown and turning it.
Towing
WARNING
Never tow AWD models with thefront wheels raised off the groundwhile the rear wheels are on theground, or with the rear wheelsraised off the ground while the frontwheels are on the ground. This willcause the vehicle to spin away dueto the operation or deterioration ofthe centerdifferential.
If towing is necessary, it is best done byyour SUBARU dealer or a commercialtowing service. Observe the followingprocedures for safety.

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

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)