Subaru Impreza 2003 User 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
and are registered trademarks of FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
copyright 2002 FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
This manual describes the following vehicle types.
Sedan
Wagon and OUTBACK SPORT
Warranties
J 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:
D SUBARU Limited Warranty
D Emission Control Systems Warranty
D Emissions Performance Warranty
All warranty information, including details of coverage and exclusions, is in the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”. Please read these warranties carefully.
J 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:
D SUBARU Limited Warranty
D Anti-Corrosion Warranty
D Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, including details of cover-
age and exclusions, is in the Warranty and Service
Booklet. Please read these warranties carefully.
NOTE
This vehicle does not contain mercury devices or parts.
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How to use this owner’s manual
J 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 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.
2
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.
J 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.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a situation in which serious injury or death could result if the warning is ignored.
CAUTION
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.
J Safety symbol
You will find a circle with a slash through it in this
manual. This symbol means “Do not”, “Do not do
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3
this”, or “Do not let this happen”, depending upon
the context.
Vehicle symbols
There are some of the symbols you may see on your
vehicle.
Mark Name
CAUTION
Power door lock and unlock
Passenger’s windows lock and unlock
Fuel
Front fog lights
Parking lights
Hazard warning flasher
Cigarette lighter
4
Mark Name
Mark Name
Engine hood
Trunk lid (Sedan)
Seat heater
Horn
Windshield wiper deicer
Wiper intermittent
Windshield wiper and washer
Rear window wiper and washer
Lights
Parking lights, tail lights, license plate light
and instrument panel illumination
Head lights
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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5
Mark Name
Safety precautions when driving
Rear window defogger/Outside mirror
defogger
Air recirculation
Outside air
Engine oil
J Seatbelt and SRS airbag
WARNING
D 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.
Washer
D 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 car has the SRS airbag.
D The SRS airbags deploy with considerable
speed and force. Occupants who are out of
proper position when the SRS airbag deploys
could suffer very serious injuries. Because
6
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 air-
bag” in chapter 1 of this owner’s manual for instruc-
tions and precautions concerning the seatbelt system and SRS airbag system.
J Child safety
WARNING
D 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.
D 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.
D 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.
D 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.
D 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
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7
locks” section in chapter 2.
D Always lock the passenger’s windows 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.
D 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.
D Help prevent young children from locking
themselves in the trunk. When leaving the vehicle, either close all windows and lock all
doors or cancel the inside trunk lid release.
Also make certain that the trunk is closed. On
hot or sunny days, the temperature in a trunk
could quickly become high enough to cause
death or serious heat-related injuries including brain damage, particularly for small children.
Carefully read the sections “Child restraint systems”,
“SRS 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.
J Engine exhaust gas
(carbon monoxide)
WARNING
D Never inhale engine exhaust gas. Engine exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas which is dangerous, or
even lethal, if inhaled.
D Always properly maintain the engine exhaust system to prevent engine exhaust gas
from entering the vehicle.
D 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.
D Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle 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.
D Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free from snow, leaves or other obstructions
to ensure that the ventilation system always
works properly.
8
D If at any time you suspect that exhaust
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.
D Keep the trunk lid or rear gate closed while
driving to prevent exhaust gas from entering
the vehicle.
ently, 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.
J Drugs and driving
J Drinking and driving
WARNING
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 frequent causes
of accidents. Since alcohol affects all people differ-
WARNING
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 oth-
er 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 have a medical condition
that requires you to take drugs, please consult with
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9
your doctor.
Never drive if you are under the influence of any illicit mind-altering drugs. For your own health and wellbeing, we urge you not to take illegal drugs in the
first place and to seek treatment if you are addicted
to those drugs.
J Driving when tired or sleepy
WARNING
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.
J Modification of your vehicle
CAUTION
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.
J Mobile phones and driving
CAUTION
Do not use a hand-held phone while driving; it
may distract your attention from driving and
can lead to an accident. If you use a hand-held
phone, pull off the road and park in the safe
place before using your phone. In some
States/Provindes, only hands-free phones
may legally be used while driving.
10
J 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.
J 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.
WARNING
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.
J California proposition 65 warning
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.
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12
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
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
13
Illustrated index
J Exterior
1) Engine hood (page 11-5)
2) Headlight switch (page 3-16)
3) Replacing bulbs (page 11-62)
4) Wiper switch (page 3-22)
5) Roof rails (page 8-18)
6) Door locks (page 2-3)
7) Tire pressure (page 11-42)
8) Flat tires (page 9-5)
9) Tire chains (page 8-14)
10) Front fog light switch (page
3-20)
11) Tie-down eyes (page 9-18)
12) Towing eye (page 9-18)
14
1) Rear window defogger switch
(page 3-25)
2) Fuel filler lid and cap (page
7-4)
3) Child safety locks (page 2-21)
4) Towing eye (page 9-18)
5) Trunk (page 2-25)
6) Rear gate (page 2-30)
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15
J Interior
B Passenger compartment area
1) Lower anchorage for child
restraint system (page 1-36)
2) Seatbelt (page 1-12)
3) Parking brake lever (page
7-26)
4) Front seat (page 1-2)
5) Rear seat (page 1-8)
16
1) Cup holder (page 6-7)
2) Center console (page 6-6)
3) Glove compartment (page 6-5)
4) Cigarette lighter (page 6-9)
5) Ashtray (page 6-12)
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17
J Instrument panel
1) Door locks (page 2-3)
2) Light control lever (page 3-16)
3) Combination meter (page 3-6)
4) Wiper control lever (page 3-21)
5) Hazard warning flasher switch
(page 3-6)
6) Audio (page 5-1)
7) Gear shift lever (MT) (page
7-11)/Selector lever (AT) (page
7-14)
8) Outside mirror switch (page
3-29)
9) Climate control (page 4-1)
10) Cruise control (page 7-28)
11) Horn (page 3-32)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-42)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-31)
14) Fuse box (page 11-56)
15) Hood lock release (page 11-5)
16) Power window (page 2-22)
18
J Light control and wiper control levers/switches
1) Parking light switch (page
3-20)
2) Windshield wiper (page 3-21)
3) Mist (page 3-22)
4) Windshield washer (page 3-22)
5) Rear window wiper and washer
switch (page 3-24)
6) Wiper control lever (page 3-22)
7) Illumination brightness control
(page 3-19)
8) Light control lever (page 3-16)
9) Headlight ON/OFF (page 3-16)
10) Headlight flasher High/Low
beam change (page 3-16)
11) Turn signal (for lane change)
(page 3-18)
12) Turn signal (page 3-18)
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19
J Combination meter
B Overview
1) Fuel gauge (page 3-8)
2) Temperature gauge (page 3-9)
3) Speedometer (page 3-6)
4) Tachometer (page 3-7)
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 3-9)
8) Low fuel warning light (page
3-8)
20
B Warning and indicator light
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-10
AIRBAG
or
or
SRS airbag system warning light
CHECK ENGINE warning
light/Malfunction indicator
lamp
Charge warning light 3-12
Oil pressure warning light 3-12
AT OIL temperature warning light (if equipped)
ABS warning light 3-13
Brake system warning light 3-14
Door open warning light 3-14
3-11
3-11
3-13
Mark Name Page
Front-wheel drive warning
light (if equipped)
Turn signal indicator lights 3-15
High beam indicator light 3-15
Security system indicator
light (if equipped)
3-15
2-14
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21
J Tire changing tools
1) Jack (page 9-24)
2) Jack handle (page 9-24)
3) Spare tire (page 9-24)
22
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats 1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fore and aft adjustment 1-3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reclining the seatback 1-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat cushion height adjustment
(driver’s seat) 1-5
Head restraint adjustment 1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat heater (if equipped) 1-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 1-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest (if equipped) 1-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headrest adjustment – Wagon 1-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Folding down the rear seat – Wagon 1-11. . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelts 1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt safety tips 1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) 1-14. . . . . . . . . .
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor
(A/ELR) 1-14
Seatbelt warning light and chime 1-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening the seatbelt 1-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt maintenance 1-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seatbelt pretensioners 1-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
System monitors 1-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
System servicing 1-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions against vehicle modification 1-30. . . . .
Child restraint systems 1-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing child restraint systems with
seatbelt 1-34
Installation of child restraint systems by
use of lower and tether anchorages 1-36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
Top tether anchorages 1-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag
(Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 1-42
Vehicle with driver’s and front passenger’s
SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints 1-42
SRS frontal airbag 1-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS side airbag (if equipped) 1-55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system monitors 1-63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system servicing 1-64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions against vehicle modification 1-66. . . . .
.
. . . .
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1
1-1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats
WARNING
D Never adjust the seat while driving to avoid
the possibility of loss of vehicle control and of
personal injury.
D Before adjusting the seat, make sure the
hands and feet of rear seat passengers are
clear of the adjusting mechanism.
D Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when
the occupant sits well back and upright in the
seat. To reduce the risk of sliding under the
seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks
should be always used in the upright position
while the vehicle is running. If the front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a
collision, the risk of sliding under the lap belt
and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death.
WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat
properly restrained at all times. 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 of being injured from deployment is
greater. For that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (including those in
child seats and those that have outgrown child
1-2
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
restraint devices) sit in the REAR seat properly
restrained at all times in a child restraint device
or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for
the child’s age, height and weight. Secure ALL
types of child restraint devices (including forward facing child seat) in the REAR seats at all
times.
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.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. For instructions and precautions concerning child restraint systems, see the “Child
restraint systems” section in this chapter.
J Fore and aft adjustment
Pull the lever upward and slide the seat to the desired position. Then release the lever and move the
seat back and forth to make sure that it is securely
locked into place.
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1-3
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
J Reclining the seatback
Pull the reclining lever up and adjust the seatback to
the desired position. Then release the lever and
make sure the seatback is securely locked into
place.
The seatback placed in a reclined position can
spring back upward with force when released.
When operating the reclining lever to return the seatback, hold it lightly so that it may be raised back
gradually.
1-4
WARNING
To prevent the passenger from sliding under
the seatbelt in the event of a collision, always
put the seatback in the upright position while
the vehicle is in motion. Also, do not place
objects such as cushions between the passenger and the seatback. If you do so, the risk
of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt
sliding up over the abdomen will increase,
and both can result in serious internal injury
or death.
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
J Seat cushion height adjustment
(driver’s seat)
1) When the lever is pushed down, the seat is lowered.
2) When the lever is pulled up, the seat rises.
The height of the seat can be adjusted by moving
the seat cushion adjustment lever up and down.
J Head restraint adjustment
To raise the head restraint, pull it up.
To lower it, push the head restraint down while
pressing the release button on the top of the seatback.
The head restraint should be adjusted so that the
center of the head restraint is closest to the top of
the occupant’s ears.
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1-5
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