SUBARU WRX 2016 Owners Manual

Starting and operating/Starting and stopping engine (models with push – button start system)
Starting and stopping engine
(models with push-button
start system) & Safety precautionsRefer to “ Safety precautions ” F 2-10.
& Operating range for push-
button start systemRefer to “ Operating range for push-button
start system ” F 3-6.
& Starting engine
WARNING. There are some general precau-
tions when starting the engine.
Carefully read the precautions
described in “ General precau-
tions when starting engine ” F 7-
9.
. If the indicator on the push-
button ignition switch flashes in
green after the engine has
started, never drive the vehicle.
The steering is still locked, and it
may result in an accident. CAUTION. When the operation indicator on
the push-button ignition switch is
flashing in orange, there may be
a malfunction with the vehicle.
Contact a SUBARU dealer imme-
diately.
. If the indicator on the push-
button ignition switch is flashing
in green after the engine has
started, it means that the steering
is still locked. Depress the brake
pedal while moving the steering
wheel to the right and left, and
press the push-button ignition
switch.
. Do not continue pushing the
push-button ignition switch for
more than 10 seconds. Doing so
could cause a malfunction. If the
engine does not start, stop push-
ing the push-button ignition
switch and turn off the engine.
Wait 10 seconds, and then push
the push-button ignition switch
to start the engine.
NOTE
. When the push-button ignition
switch is pressed while depressing the clutch pedal (MT models) or the
brake pedal (CVT models), the engine
starter operates for a maximum of 10
seconds and after starting the engine,
the starter stops automatically.
. When the push-button ignition
switch is pressed while depressing
the clutch pedal (MT models) or the
brake pedal (CVT models), the engine
can be started regardless of the status
of the push-button ignition switch.
. If the security indicator light illumi-
nates when you attempt to start the
engine but the engine does not start,
press the push-button ignition switch
to switch the power to “ OFF ” and then
try to start the engine again.
. If the engine does not start, press
the push-button ignition switch without
depressing the clutch pedal (MT mod-
els) or the brake pedal (CVT models) to
switch the power to “ OFF ” . Then, while
depressing the clutch pedal (MT mod-
els) or the brake pedal (CVT models)
more forcefully, press the push-button
ignition switch.
. The engine start procedures may
not function depending on the radio
wave conditions around the vehicle. In
such a case, refer to “ Starting engine ”
F 9-17.
. If the vehicle battery is discharged,
the steering cannot be unlocked.7-12

Charge the battery.
. After the engine starts, the engine
speed will be kept high until the engine
has warmed up sufficiently.
1) Operation indicator
2) Push-button ignition switch
When the push-button ignition switch is
pressed while depressing the clutch pedal
(MT models)/brake pedal (CVT models),
the engine will start. The start procedure
of the engine is as follows.
! MT models
1. Carry the access key, and sit in the
driver ’ s seat.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Shift the shift lever in neutral.
4. Depress the brake pedal.
5. Depress the clutch pedal until the indicator on the push-button ignition
switch turns green.
6. While depressing the clutch pedal,
press the push-button ignition switch.
NOTE In case the engine does not start by the
normal engine start procedure, move
the shift lever to the neutral position,
and switch the power to “ ACC ” . De-
press the clutch pedal, and press the
push-button ignition switch for at least
15 seconds. The engine may start. Only
use this engine start procedure in case
of emergency.
! CVT models
1. Carry the access key, and sit in the
driver ’ s seat.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Shift the select lever in the “ P ” posi-
tion. The engine can also start when the
select lever is in the “ N ” position, however,
for safety reasons, start in the “ P ” position.
4. Depress the brake pedal until the
operation indicator on the push-button
ignition switch turns green. When starting
with the select lever in the “ N ” position, the
indicator does not turn green.
5. While depressing the brake pedal,
press the push-button ignition switch. NOTE . While pressing the select lever but-
ton in, the indicator on the push-button
ignition switch will not turn green even
when the select lever is in the “ P ”
position.
. In case the engine does not start by
the normal engine start procedure,
move the select lever to the “ P ” posi-
tion, and switch the power to “ ACC ” .
Depress the brake pedal, and press the
push-button ignition switch for at least
15 seconds. The engine may start. Only
use this engine start procedure in case
of emergency.
. When the engine is not started, the
brake pedal may feel stiff. In such a
case, depress the brake pedal more
forcefully than usual. Check that the
operation indicator on the push-button
ignition switch turns green, and press
the push-button ignition switch to start
the engine.Starting and operating/Starting and stopping engine (models with push – button start system)
– CONTINUED –7-13

Starting and operating/Remote engine start system (dealer option)
& Stopping engine1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2. Move the select lever to the “ P ”
position (CVT models).
3. Press the push-button ignition switch.
The engine will stop, and the power will be
switched to “ OFF ” .
WARNING. Do not touch the push-button
ignition switch during driving.
When the push-button ignition
switch is operated as follows,
the engine will stop.
– The switch is pressed and held
for 3 seconds or longer.
– The switch is pressed briefly 3
times or more in succession.
When the engine stops, the brake
booster will not function. A great-
er foot pressure will be required
on the brake pedal.
The power steering system will
not operate either. A greater
force will be required to steer,
and it may result in an accident.
. If the engine stops during driving,
do not operate the push-button
ignition switch or open any of the doors until the vehicle is stopped
in a safe location. It is dangerous
because the steering lock may be
activated. Stop the vehicle in a
safe location, and contact a
SUBARU dealer immediately.
CAUTIONFor CVT models:
. Do not stop the engine while the
select lever is in a position other
than the “ P ” position.
. If the engine is stopped while the
select lever is in a position other
than the “ P ” position, the power
will be in “ ACC ” . If the vehicle is
left in this condition, the battery
may be discharged.
NOTE Although you can stop the engine by
operating the push-button ignition
switch, do not stop the engine during
driving except in an emergency.
& When access key does not
operate properly
Refer to “ Access key – if access key does
not operate properly ” F 9-16.Remote engine start system
(dealer option) WARNING. There are some general precau-
tions when starting the engine.
Carefully read the precautions
described in “ General precau-
tions when starting engine ” F 7-
9.
. Do not remote start a vehicle in
an enclosed environment (e.g.
closed garage). Prolonged opera-
tion of a motor vehicle in an
enclosed environment can cause
a harmful build-up of Carbon
Monoxide. Carbon Monoxide is
harmful to your health. Exposure
to high levels of Carbon Monox-
ide can cause headaches, dizzi-
ness or in extreme cases uncon-
sciousness and/or death.
. Before performing any servicing
of the vehicle, temporarily place
the remote engine start system in
service mode to prevent the
system from unexpectedly start-
ing the engine.
The remote engine start system allows7-14

you to start the engine from outside the
vehicle. In addition, the remote engine
start system can activate the heater or air
conditioner, providing you with a comfor-
table cabin upon entry.
NOTE The length of time for which it is
acceptable to allow the engine to
remain idling may be governed by local
laws and regulations. Check the local
rules when using the remote engine
start system. & Models with “ keyless access
with push-button start sys-
tem ”
NOTE For more details, refer to the Owner ’ s
Manual supplement for the remote
engine start system.
Access key
1) Lock button
An access key can be used as the remote
engine start transmitter. Operate the lock
button to start or stop the engine as
follows.
! Before starting the engine
Before using the remote engine start
system to start the engine, confirm the
following conditions. . The select lever is in the “ P ” position.
. All doors are closed.
. The engine hood is closed.
. The push-button ignition switch is in the
“ OFF ” position.
! Starting the engine
To start the engine with remote engine
start system, briefly press the lock button
twice within 2 seconds, then press and
hold the lock button for 3 seconds.
1. Press the lock button briefly. The
hazard warning flashers then flash once.
2. Within 2 seconds, press the lock
button briefly again. The hazard warning
flashers then flash once again.
3. After step 2, immediately press and
hold the lock button. The hazard warning
flashers then flash once.
4. Approximately 3 seconds after step 3,
release the lock button. The engine will
then start successfully.Starting and operating/Remote engine start system (dealer option)
– CONTINUED –7-15

Starting and operating/Remote engine start system (dealer option)
! Stopping the engine
Press and hold the lock button to stop the
engine with remote engine start system.
! Automatic engine shutdown
The remote engine start system will
automatically shut down or will not start
the engine under the following conditions.
. The total run-time has exceeded 20
minutes.
. Any door is opened.
. The select lever is moved to any
position other than “ P ” .
. The engine hood is opened.
. Thepush-buttonignitionswitchis
pressed.
. The brake pedal is depressed.
. The engine speed is 3,000 rpm or
more.
The time setting until the engine auto-
matically stops can be changed. To
change it, please contact your SUBARU
dealer. Note that some settings may
violate state, provincial, or local laws and
regulations. Check the laws in your area to
determine which setting is permitted. & Entering the vehicle while it
is running via remote start 1. Unlock the vehicle doors using the
keyless access function. If the vehicle ’ s
doors are unlocked manually using the
key, the vehicle ’ s alarm system will trigger
(if the alarm system is armed prior to
activating the remote engine start system)
and the engine will turn off. Perform either
of the following procedures to disarm the
alarm system. Refer to “ Alarm system ”
F 2-25.
. Switch the ignition to the “ ACC ” or
“ ON ” state by pressing the push-button
ignition switch once or twice, respec-
tively.
. Press any button on the access key/
transmitter.
2. Enter the vehicle.
3. The engine will shut down when any
door is opened.
4. Press the push-button ignition switch
while depressing the brake pedal to restart
the engine.
& Entering the vehicle follow-
ing remote engine start shut-
down
An alarm trigger may occur if the vehicle is
opened by the remote keyless entry
transmitter within a few seconds immedi- ately following remote engine start shut-
down.
& Pre-heating or pre-cooling
the interior of the vehicle Before exiting the vehicle, set the tem-
perature controls to the desired setting
and operation. After the system starts the
engine, the heater or air conditioning will
activate and heat or cool the interior to
your setting.
& System maintenance For models with “ keyless access with
push-button start system ” :
Perform the procedure described in “ Re-
placing battery of access key ” F 11-50.7-16

Manual transmission
This manual transmission is a completely
synchromesh, 6-forward-speed and 1-re-
verse-speed transmission.
The shift pattern is shown on the shift
lever knob. 1) Slider
You must raise the slider and hold it in that
position before you can move the shift
lever to the “ R ” position.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch
pedal, move the shift lever, and gradually
let up on the clutch pedal.
If it is difficult to shift into gear, put the
transmission in neutral, release the clutch
pedal momentarily, and then try again. WARNING. Do not drive the vehicle with the
clutch disengaged (i.e., when the
clutch pedal is depressed) or
with the shift lever in the neutral
position. Engine braking has no
effect in either of these condi-
tions and the risk of an accident
is consequently increased.
. Do not engage the clutch (i.e.,
release the clutch pedal) sud-
denly when starting the vehicle.
By doing so the vehicle might
unexpectedly accelerate or the
transmission could malfunction.
CAUTION
Shift into reverse ONLY when the
vehicle has completely stopped. It
may cause damage to the transmis-
sion to try shifting into reverse when
the vehicle is moving. Starting and operating/Manual transmission
– CONTINUED –7-17

Starting and operating/Manual transmission
& Shifting speeds! Recommended shifting speeds
The best compromise between fuel econ-
omy and vehicle performance during
normal driving is ensured by shifting up
at the speeds listed in the following table. Shift up mph (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (64)
4th to 5th 45 (72)
5th to 6th 50 (80)
! Shift-up indicator (STI)
The shift-up indicator appears to inform the driver about the upshift timing.
The shift-up indicator can be activated or
deactivated. For details, refer to “ Shift-up
indicator (STI) ” F 3-34.
! Maximum allowable speeds
The following table shows the maximum
speeds that are possible with each differ-
ent gear. The tachometer ’ s needle will
enter the red area if these speeds are
exceeded.
With the exception of cases where sudden
acceleration is required, the vehicle
should not be driven with the tachometer ’ s
needle inside the red area. Failure to
observe this precaution can lead to
excessive engine wear and poor fuel
economy.
Gear STI
mph (km/h) Except STI
mph (km/h)
1st 31 (50) 31 (49)
2nd 51 (82) 55 (88)
WARNING
When shifting down a gear, ensure
that the vehicle is not travelling at a
speed exceeding the Maximum Al-
lowable Speed for the gear which is
about to be selected. Failure to
observe this precaution can lead to engine over-revving and this in turn
can result in engine damage.
In addition, sudden application of
engine brakes when the vehicle is
travelling on a slippery surface can
lead to wheel locking; as a conse-
quence, control of the vehicle may
be lost and the risk of an accident
increased.
NOTE Never exceed the posted speed limit.
& Driving tips Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal and do not use the clutch to
hold your vehicle at a standstill on an
upgrade. Either of those actions may
cause clutch damage.
Do not drive with your hand resting on the
shift lever. This may cause wear on the
transmission components.
When it is necessary to reduce vehicle
speed due to slow traffic, turning corners,
or driving up steep hills, downshift to a
lower gear before the engine starts to
labor.
On steep downgrades, downshift the
transmission to 5th, 4th, 3rd or 2nd gear7-18

as necessary; this helps to maintain a safe
speed and to extend brake pad life.
In this way, the engine provides a braking
effect. Remember, if you “ ride ” (over use)
the brakes while descending a hill, they
may overheat and not work properly.
The engine may, on rare occasions, knock
when the vehicle rapidly accelerates or
rapidly pulls away from a standstill. This
phenomenon is not an indication of a
problem in your vehicle. Driver ’ s Control Center Dif-
ferential (C.DIFF/DCCD) (STI) WARNINGAlways use the utmost care when
driving. Being overconfident be-
cause you are driving a vehicle with
a driver ’ s control center differential
could easily lead to a serious acci-
dent.
CAUTION
. All the indicators will flash in the
event that the driver ’ s control
center differential has a malfunc- tion. Have the vehicle inspected
by your SUBARU dealer.
. If a malfunction occurs in the
vehicle (for example, when the
rear differential oil temperature
warning light illuminates), all of
the indicators may disappear and
the setting value for the initial
limited slip differential (LSD) tor-
que of the driver ’ s control center
differential (C.DIFF/DCCD) may
be cancelled. However, it does
not indicate a malfunction of the
C.DIFF/DCCD itself.
The driver ’ s control center differential
allows you to freely change the degree
of limitation of the differential action
(limited slip differential (LSD) torque) of
your vehicle ’ s center differential.
By using the center differential control
switch, you can set an initial LSD torque to
match the road surface conditions, driving
conditions and your driving style.Starting and operating/Driver ’ s Control Center Differential (C.DIFF/DCCD) (STI)
– CONTINUED –7-19

Starting and operating/Driver ’ s Control Center Differential (C.DIFF/DCCD) (STI)
1) LSD torque
2) Traction torque
3) Initial LSD torque (maximum)
4) Initial LSD torque (minimum)
A) Initial LSD torque (adjustable)
B) Mechanical LSD torque
The driver ’ s control center differential has
an auto mode and a manual mode. In the
auto mode, the system automatically
adjusts the initial LSD torque. In the
manual mode, you can change to the
desired mode manually by using the
center differential control switch.
NOTE If you rapidly depress and release the
accelerator pedal while driving at low
speed, you may hear a knocking sound
from the vicinity of the center differen- tial and rear differential. This sound
occurs because of the structure of the
center differential. It does not indicate a
problem.
& To change mode of driver ’ s
control center differential
Press the “ AUTO-MANU ” switch on the
center console to switch from auto mode
to manual mode or vice versa. When you
select the auto mode, the “ AUTO ” indica-
tor appears. When you select the manual
mode, the “ AUTO ” indicator disappears. & Auto mode
In the auto mode, the system estimates
the driving and road conditions using
signals from the wheel speed sensor,
throttle position sensor, steering angle
sensor and brake switch, etc. According
to the result, it electronically and auto-
matically controls the degree of limitation
of the differential action (LSD torque) to
optimize the differential action of the
center differential. When the ignition
switch is turned ON, the “ AUTO ” indicator
on the combination meter appears.7-20

The auto mode has 3 modes as follows. Mode Operation
AUTO [+] This mode emphasizes traction
control and strengthens the
limitation of differential action
that is suitable for driving on
slippery roads for vehicle stabi-
lity.
AUTO This mode is suitable for most
driving situations.
AUTO [ − ] This mode is suitable when you
seek quick response from the
steering wheel and smooth
driving.
! Mode setting method
In most situations, it is recommended that
the “ AUTO ” mode is selected.
Push the control switch forward to select the “ AUTO [+] ” mode. After setting the
mode, “ AUTO [+] ” appears.
Pull the control switch rearward to select
the “ AUTO [ − ] ” mode. After setting the
mode, “ AUTO [ − ] ” appears.
When the “ AUTO [+] ” mode is selected,
pull the control switch rearward to change
to the “ AUTO ” mode. When the “ AUTO
[ − ] ” mode is set, push the control switch
forward to change to the “ AUTO ” mode.& Manual mode
In the manual mode, you can use the
center differential control switch to adjust
the initial LSD torque as desired. When
this mode is selected, the “ AUTO ” indica-
tor disappears.Starting and operating/Driver ’ s Control Center Differential (C.DIFF/DCCD) (STI)
– CONTINUED –7-21