Subaru FORESTER 2006 Owner Manual
Foreword
Congratulations on choosing a SUBARU vehicle. This Owner’s
Manual has all the information necessary to keep your SUBARU in
excellent condition and to properly maintain the emission control
system for minimizing emission pollutants. We urge you to read
this manual carefully so that you may understand your vehicle and
its operation. For information not found in this Owner’s Manual,
such as details concerning repairs or adjustments, please contact
the dealer from whom you purchased your SUBARU or the nearest
SUBARU dealer.
The information, specifications and illustrations found in this manual are those in effect at the time of printing. FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD. reserves the right to change specifications and designs at any time without prior notice and without incurring any obligation to make the same or similar changes on vehicles previously sold. This Owner’s Manual applies to all models and covers all
equipment, including factory installed options. Some explanations,
therefore may be for equipment not installed in your vehicle.
Please leave this manual in the vehicle at the time of resale. The
next owner will need the information found herein.
FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD., TOKYO, JAPAN
is a registered trademark of FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
© copyright 2005 FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
This manual describes the following vehicle types.
* The illustrated vehicle is one of the FORESTER series.
000135
1
Warranties
Warranties for U.S.A.
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by
Subaru of America, Inc. and sold at retail
by an authorized SUBARU dealer in the
United States come with the following
warranties:
y SUBARU Limited Warranty
y Emission Control Systems Warranty
y Emissions Performance Warranty
All warranty information, including details
of coverage and exclusions, is in the
“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.
Please read these warranties carefully.
Warranties for Canada
All SUBARU vehicles distributed by
Subaru Canada, Inc. and sold at retail by
an authorized SUBARU dealer in Canada
come with the following warranties:
y SUBARU Limited Warranty
y Anti-Corrosion Warranty
y Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, including details
of coverage and exclusions, is in the Warranty and Service Booklet. Please read
these warranties carefully.
T 2.5XT (Canada model only)
2.5XT models are equipped with
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights that contain mercury. For that
reason, it is necessary to remove
HID headlights before vehicle disposal. Once removed, please reuse,
recycle or dispose of the HID headlights as hazardous waste.
T All models except Canada model
2.5XT
This vehicle does not contain mercury devices or parts.
How to use this owner’s manual
Using your Owner’s manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully
read this manual. To protect yourself and
extend the service life of your vehicle, follow the instructions in this manual. Failure
to observe these instructions may result in
serious injury and damage to your vehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen
chapters. Each chapter begins with a brief
table of contents, so you can usually tell at
a glance if that chapter contains the information you want.
Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This chapter informs you how to use the
seat and seatbelt and contains precautions for the SRS airbags.
Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate
the keys, locks and windows.
Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the operation of instrument panel indicators and
how to use the instruments and other
switches.
Chapter 4: Climate Control
This chapter informs you how to operate
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2
the climate control.
Chapter 5: Audio
This chapter informs you how to operate
your audio system.
Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This chapter informs you how to operate
interior equipment.
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and
operate your SUBARU.
Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your
SUBARU in various conditions and explains some safety tips on driving.
Chapter 9: In case of emergency
This chapter informs you what to do if you
have a problem while driving, such as a
flat tire or engine overheating.
Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your
SUBARU looking good.
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This chapter informs you when you need
to take your SUBARU to the dealer for
scheduled maintenance and informs you
how to keep your SUBARU running properly.
Chapter 12: Specifications
This chapter informs you about dimension
and capacities of your SUBARU.
Chapter 13: Consumer information and
Reporting safety defects
This chapter informs you about Uniform
tire quality grading standards and Reporting safety defects.
Chapter 14: Index
This is an alphabetical listing of all that’s in
this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Safety warnings
You will find a number of WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs and NOTEs in this manual.
These safety warnings alert you to potential hazards that could result in injury to
you or others.
Please read these safety warnings as well
as all other portions of this manual carefully in order to gain a better understanding
of how to use your SUBARU vehicle safely.
A WARNING indicates a situation in
which serious injury or death could
result if the warning is ignored.
A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which injury or damage to your vehicle, or both, could result if the caution is ignored.
NOTE
A NOTE gives information or suggestions how to make better use of your
vehicle.
Safety symbol
000013
You will find a circle with a slash through it
in this manual. This symbol means “Do
not”, “Do not do this”, or “Do not let this
happen”, depending upon the context.
3
Vehicle symbols
There are some of the symbols you may
see on your vehicle.
Mark Name
CAUTION
Power door lock
Passenger’s windows lock
Fuel
Front fog lights
Parking lights
Hazard warning flasher
Cigarette lighter
Engine hood
Mark Name
Seat heater
Child restraint top tether anchorages
Child restraint lower anchorages
Horn
Windshield wiper deicer
Wiper intermittent
Windshield washer
Windshield wiper mist (for
single wipe)
Rear window wiper
Rear window washer
Mark Name
Lights
Parking lights, tail lights, license plate light and instrument panel illumination
Head lights
Headlight beam leveler
Illumination brightness
Fan speed
Instrument panel outlets
Instrument panel outlets and
foot outlets
Foot outlets
Windshield defroster and
foot outlets
Windshield defroster
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4
Mark Name
Outside mirror defogger
Rear window defogger
Air recirculation
Engine oil
Washer
Door lock (Transmitter)
Door unlock (Transmitter)
Safety precautions when
driving
Seatbelt and SRS airbag
y All persons in the vehicle should
fasten their seatbelts BEFORE the
vehicle starts to move. Otherwise,
the possibility of serious injury
becomes greater in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.
y To obtain maximum protection in
the event of an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear seatbelts
when the vehicle is moving. The
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbag does not do away with
the need to fasten seatbelts. In
combination with the seatbelts, it
offers the best combined protection in case of a serious accident.
Not wearing a seatbelt increases
the chance of severe injury or
death in a crash even when the vehicle has the SRS airbag.
y The SRS airbags deploy with con-
siderable speed and force. Occupants who are out of proper position when the SRS airbag deploys
could suffer very serious injuries.
Because the SRS airbag needs
enough space for deployment, the
driver should always sit upright
and well back in the seat as far
from the steering wheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control and the front passenger should move the seat as far
back as possible and sit upright
and well back in the seat.
Carefully read the sections “Seatbelts”
and “*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag)” in chapter 1 of this
owner’s manual for instructions and precautions concerning the seatbelt system
and SRS airbag system.
5
Child safety
y Never hold a child on your lap or
in your arms while the vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a
collision, because the child will be
caught between the passenger
and objects inside the vehicle.
y While riding in the vehicle, infants
and small children should always
be placed in the REAR seat in an
infant or child restraint system
which is appropriate for the
child’s age, height and weight. If a
child is too big for a child restraint
system, the child should sit in the
REAR seat and be restrained using the seatbelts. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the
front seating positions. Never allow a child to stand up or kneel on
the seat.
y Put children aged 12 and under in
the REAR seat properly restrained
at all times in a child restraint device or in a seatbelt. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
speed and force and can injure or
even kill children, especially if
they are 12 years of age and under
and are not restrained or improperly restrained. Because children
are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk being injured
from deployment is greater.
y NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD
FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.
y Always use the child safety locks
whenever a child rides in the rear
seat. Serious injury could result if
a child accidentally opened the
door and fell out. Refer to the
“Child safety locks” section in
chapter 2.
y Always lock the passenger’s win-
dows using the lock switch when
children are riding in the vehicle.
Failure to follow this procedure
could result in injury to a child operating the power window. Refer
to the “Windows” section in chapter 2.
y Never leave unattended children
in the vehicle. They could accidentally injure themselves or others through inadvertent operation
of the vehicle. Also, on hot or sunny days, temperature in a closed
vehicle could quickly become
high enough to cause severe or
possibly fatal injuries to them.
Carefully read the sections “Child restraint
systems”,“*SRS airbag (Supplemental
Restraint System airbag)”, and “Seatbelts”
in chapter 1 of this owner’s manual for instructions and precautions concerning the
child restraint system, seatbelt system
and SRS airbag system.
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6
Engine exhaust gas (carbon
monoxide)
y Never inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, a colorless and
odorless gas which is dangerous,
or even lethal, if inhaled.
y Always properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent
engine exhaust gas from entering
the vehicle.
y Never run the engine in a closed
space, such as a garage, except
for the brief time needed to drive
the vehicle in or out of it.
y Avoid remaining in a parked vehi-
cle for a lengthy time while the engine is running. If that is unavoidable, then use the ventilation fan
to force fresh air into the vehicle.
y Always keep the front ventilator
inlet grille free from snow, leaves
or other obstructions to ensure
that the ventilation system always
works properly.
y If at any time you suspect that ex-
haust fumes are entering the vehicle, have the problem checked
and corrected as soon as possible. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with all windows fully open.
y Keep the rear gate closed while
driving to prevent exhaust gas
from entering the vehicle.
Drinking and driving
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Alcohol in the bloodstream delays your reaction and impairs your perception, judgment and
attentiveness. If you drive after
drinking – even if you drink just a little – it will increase the risk of being
involved in a serious or fatal accident, injuring or killing yourself,
your passengers and others. In addition, if you are injured in the accident, alcohol may increase the severity of that injury.
Please don’t drink and drive.
Drunken driving is one of the most fre-
quent causes of accidents. Since alcohol
affects all people differently, you may
have consumed too much alcohol to drive
safely even if the level of alcohol in your
blood is below the legal limit. The safest
thing you can do is never drink and drive.
However if you have no choice but to
drive, stop drinking and sober up completely before getting behind the wheel.
Drugs and driving
There are some drugs (over the
counter and prescription) that can
delay your reaction time and impair
your perception, judgment and attentiveness. If you drive after taking
them, it may increase your, your
passengers’ and other persons’ risk
of being involved in a serious or fatal accident.
If you are taking any drugs, check with
your doctor or pharmacist or read the literature that accompanies the medication to
determine if the drug you are taking can
impair your driving ability. Do not drive after taking any medications that can make
you drowsy or otherwise affect your ability
to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you
7
have a medical condition that requires you
to take drugs, please consult with your
doctor.
Never drive if you are under the influence
of any illicit mind-altering drugs. For your
own health and well-being, we urge you
not to take illegal drugs in the first place
and to seek treatment if you are addicted
to those drugs.
Driving when tired or sleepy
When you are tired or sleepy, your
reaction will be delayed and your
perception, judgment and attentiveness will be impaired. If you drive
when tired or sleepy, your, your passengers’ and other persons’ chances of being involved in a serious accident may increase.
Please do not continue to drive but instead find a safe place to rest if you are
tired or sleepy. On long trips, you should
make periodic rest stops to refresh yourself before continuing on your journey.
When possible, you should share the driving with others.
Modification of your vehicle
Your vehicle should not be modified. Modification could affect its
performance, safety or durability,
and may even violate governmental
regulations. In addition, damage or
performance problems resulting
from modification may not be covered under warranties.
Car phone/cell phone and
driving
Do not use a car phone/cell phone
while driving; it may distract your attention from driving and can lead to
an accident. If you use a car phone/
cell phone, pull off the road and park
in a safe place before using your
phone. In some States/Provinces,
only hands-free phones may legally
be used while driving.
Driving with pets
Unrestrained pets can interfere with your
driving and distract your attention from
driving. In a collision or sudden stop, unrestrained pets or cages can be thrown
around inside the vehicle and hurt you or
your passengers. Besides, the pets can
be hurt under these situations. It is also for
their own safety that pets should be properly restrained in your vehicle. Restrain a
pet with a special traveling harness which
can be secured to the rear seat with a
seatbelt or use a pet carrier which can be
secured to the rear seat by routing a seatbelt through the carrier’s handle. Never restrain pets or pet carriers in the front passenger’s seat. For further information,
consult your veterinarian, local animal
protection society or pet shop.
Tire pressures
Check and, if necessary, adjust the pressure of each tire (including the spare) at
least once a month and before any long
journey.
Check the tire pressure when the tires are
cold. Use a pressure gauge to adjust the
tire pressures to the values shown on the
tire placard.
Refer to the “Tires and wheels” section in
chapter 11 for detailed information.
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8
Driving at high speeds with excessively low tire pressures can cause
the tires to deform severely and to
rapidly become hot. A sharp increase in temperature could cause
tread separation, and destruction of
the tires. The resulting loss of vehicle control could lead to an accident.
California proposition 65
warning
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids in vehicles and
certain components of product wear
contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Table of contents
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control
Audio
Interior equipment
Starting and operating
Driving tips
In case of emergency
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Index
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
10
Illustrated index
Exterior
2
1
1) Headlight switch (page 3-17)
2) Replacing bulbs (page 11-42)
3) Engine hood (page 11-4)
4) Wiper switch (page 3-23)
5) Roof rails (page 8-12)
3
4
5
6) Door locks (page 2-4)
7) Tire pressure (page 11-30)
8) Flat tires (page 9-3)
9) Tire chains (page 8-10)
10) Front fog light button (page 3-21)
11) Tie-down/Towing hooks (page 9-11)
67891011
000120
12 3
45
11
1) Rear window defogger button (page
3-25)
2) Rear gate (page 2-20)
3) Child safety locks (page 2-17)
4) Fuel filler lid and cap (page 7-3)
5) Tie-down/Towing hook (page 9-11)
000121
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12
Interior
T Passenger compartment area
123
1) Lower anchorage for child restraint
system (page 1-31)
2) Seatbelt (page 1-10)
3) Moonroof (page 2-21)
4) Parking brake lever (page 7-24)
5) Front seat (page 1-2)
6) Rear seat (page 1-7)
456
000122
13
1) Cup holder (page 6-7)
2) Center console (page 6-4)
1
3) Glove box (page 6-4)
4) Cigarette lighter socket (page 6-9)
5) Ashtray (page 6-11)
2
3
45
000123
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14
Instrument panel
12 3 4 5 67
1) Door locks (page 2-4)
2) Outside mirror switch (page 3-28)
3) Light control lever (page 3-17)
4) Combination meter (page 3-6)
5) Wiper control lever (page 3-21)
6) Hazard warning flasher switch (page
3-5)
7) Audio (page 5-1)
8) Gear shift lever (MT) (page 7-9)/Selector lever (AT) (page 7-10)
9) Climate control (page 4-1)
10) Cruise control (page 7-26)
11) Horn (page 3-29)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-36)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-29)
14) Fuse (page 11-39)/Coin tray (page 6-
7)
15) Hood lock release knob (page 11-4)
16) Power windows (page 2-18)
89101112141516 13
000070
15
Light control and wiper control levers/switches
1
12
10
11
9
7
8
6
1) Parking light switch (page 3-21)
2) Windshield wiper (page 3-23)
3) Mist (page 3-23)
4) Windshield washer (page 3-23)
5) Rear window wiper and washer
switch (page 3-24)
6) Wiper control lever (page 3-23)
7) Illumination brightness control (page
3-20)
8) Light control lever (page 3-17)
9) Headlight ON/OFF (page 3-17)
10) Headlight flasher High/Low beam
change (page 3-17)
4
3
5
2
000020
11) Turn signal (for lane change) (page 3-
19)
12) Turn signal (page 3-19)
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16
Combination meter
T U.S.-spec. models
V AT vehicles
123 4
7865
XT
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
8) Select lever position indicator (page
3-15)
000124
123 4
5786
X, XS, L.L.Bean
17
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
8) Select lever position indicator (page
3-15)
000125
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18
V MT vehicles
123 4
76
XT
5
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
000126
123 4
765
X, XS, L.L.Bean
19
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
000127
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20
T Canada-spec. models
V AT vehicles
123 4
7865
XT
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
8) Select lever position indicator (page
3-15)
000128
123 4
7865
X, XS, L.L.Bean
21
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
8) Select lever position indicator (page
3-15)
000129
– CONTINUED –
22
V MT vehicles
123 4
765
XT
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
000130
1
X, XS, L.L.Bean
23 4
76 5
000131
23
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-7)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-7)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-6)
5) Trip meter A/B selection and trip
meter reset knob (page 3-6)
6) Odometer and trip meter (page 3-6)
7) Outside temperature indicator (page
3-7)
– CONTINUED –
24
T Warning and indicator light
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-9
SRS airbag system
warning light
Front passenger’s
or
or
frontal airbag ON indicator light
Front passenger’s
frontal airbag OFF indicator light
CHECK ENGINE
warning light/Malfunction indicator lamp
Charge warning light 3-11
Oil pressure warning
light
AT OIL temperature
warning light (AT vehicles)
or
ABS warning light 3-12
3-10
3-10
3-10
3-11
3-11
3-12
Mark Name Page
or
Brake system warning
light
Door open warning
light
All-Wheel Drive warning light (AT vehicles)
Low fuel warning light 3-15
Turn signal indicator
lights
High beam indicator
light
Security indicator light
(if equipped)
Cruise control indicator light (if equipped)
Cruise control set indicator light (if equipped)
Vehicle Dynamics
Control operation indicator light (if equipped)
3-14
3-15
3-15
3-16
3-16
2-3
3-16
3-16
3-15
Mark Name Page
Vehicle Dynamics
Control warning light/
Vehicle Dynamics
Control OFF indicator
light (if equipped)
3-13
25
Tire changing tools
1) Jack (page 9-15)
2) Jack handle (page 9-15)
3) Spare tire (page 9-3)
1
3
2
000132
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26
Cargo area cover
1) Cargo area cover (page 6-13)
2) Cargo tie-down hook (page 6-14)
1
4
3
2
000133
3) Accessory power outlet (page 6-8)
4) Shopping bag hook (page 6-14)
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats .......................................................... 1-2
Manual seat ............................................................. 1-3
Power seat (if equipped) ........................................ 1-4
Lumbar support (Driver’s seat only) ..................... 1-5
Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-5
Active head restraint .............................................. 1-6
Seat heater (if equipped) ................................... 1-6
Rear seats ........................................................... 1-7
Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-7
Folding down the rear seatback ............................ 1-8
Armrest (if equipped) ......................................... 1-9
Seatbelts ............................................................. 1-10
Seatbelt safety tips ................................................. 1-10
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) .................... 1-11
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor
(A/ELR) .................................................................. 1-11
Seatbelt warning light and chime .......................... 1-12
Fastening the seatbelt ............................................ 1-12
Seatbelt maintenance ............................................. 1-19
Seatbelt extender ............................................... 1-19
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-20
System monitors .................................................... 1-22
System servicing .................................................... 1-23
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-23
Child restraint systems ..................................... 1-24
Where to place a child restraint system ............... 1-25
Choosing a child restraint system ........................ 1-26
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR
seatbelt .................................................................. 1-27
Installing a booster seat ......................................... 1-30
Installation of child restraint systems by use of
lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) ............... 1-31
Top tether anchorages ........................................... 1-34
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System
airbag) .............................................................. 1-36
Vehicle with driver’s and front passenger’s
SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints ........... 1-36
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system .............. 1-40
SRS side airbag (if equipped) ................................ 1-52
SRS airbag system monitors ................................. 1-57
SRS airbag system servicing ................................ 1-58
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-59
1
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