Subaru 2003 Forester User manual

Always wear your seatbelt.
2003 OWNER S MANUAL
2003
,
A8070BE
Issued:
Printed in USA 2002 A
TOKYO. JAPAN

Foreword
Congratulations on choosing a SUBARU vehicle. This Owner’s Man-
ual has all the information necessar to keep our SUBARU in excel-
lent condition and to properl maintain the emission control s stem
for minimizing emission pollutants. We urge ou to read this manual
carefull so that ou ma understand our 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 ou purchased our 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 an
time without prior notice and without incurring an obligation to
make the same or similar changes on vehicles previousl sold. This
Owner’s Manual applies to all models and covers all equipment, in-
cluding factor installed options. Some explanations, therefore ma
be for equipment not installed in our 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.
© opyright 2002 FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.

1
–CONTINUED –
Warranties
!Warranties for U.S.A.
All SUBARU vehi les distributed by Subaru of Ameri-
a, In . and sold at retail by an authorized SUBARU
dealer in the United States ome with the following
warranties:
"SUBARU Limited Warranty
"Emission Control Systems Warranty
"Emissions Performan e Warranty
All warranty information, in luding details of overage
and ex lusions, is in the “Warranty and Maintenan e
Booklet”. Please read these warranties arefully.
!Warranties for Canada
All SUBARU vehi les distributed by Subaru Canada,
In . and sold at retail by an authorized SUBARU deal-
er in Canada ome with the following warranties:
"SUBARU Limited Warranty
"Anti-Corrosion Warranty
"Emission Control Warranty
All warranty information, in luding details of overage
and ex lusions, is in the Warranty and Servi e Book-
let. Please read these warranties arefully.
This vehicle does not contain mer-
cur devices or parts.

2
How to use this owner’s manual
!Using our Owner’s manual
Before you operate your vehi le, arefully read this
manual. To prote t yourself and extend the servi e life
of your vehi le, follow the instru tions in this manual.
Failure to observe these instru tions may result in se-
rious injury and damage to your vehi le.
This manual is omposed of fourteen hapters. Ea h
hapter begins with a brief table of ontents, so you
an usually tell at a glan e if that hapter ontains the
information you want.
Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This hapter informs you how to use the seat and seat-
belt and ontains pre autions for the SRS airbags.
Chapter 2: Ke s and doors
This hapter informs you how to operate the keys,
lo ks and windows.
Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This hapter informs you about the operation of instru-
ment panel indi ators and how to use the instruments
and other swit hes.
Chapter 4: Climate Control
This hapter informs you how to operate the limate
ontrol.
Chapter 5: Audio
This hapter informs you how to operate your audio
system.
Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This hapter informs you how to operate interior
equipment.
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This hapter informs you how to start and operate your
SUBARU.
Chapter 8: Driving tips
This hapter informs you how to drive your SUBARU
in various onditions and explains some safety tips on
driving.
Chapter 9: In case of emergenc
This hapter informs you what to do if you have a prob-
lem while driving, su h as a flat tire or engine over-
heating.
Chapter 10: Appearance care
This hapter informs you how to keep your SUBARU
looking good.
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This hapter informs you when you need to take your
SUBARU to the dealer for s heduled maintenan e
and informs you how to keep your SUBARU running
properly.
Chapter 12: Specifications
This hapter informs you about dimension and apa -
ities of your SUBARU.

3
–CONTINUED –
Chapter 13: Consumer information and Reporting
safet defects
This hapter informs you about Uniform tire quality
grading standards and Reporting safety defe ts.
Chapter 14: Index
This is an alphabeti al listing of all that’s in this manu-
al. You an use it to qui kly find something you want
to read.
!Safet warnings
You will find a number of WARNINGs, CAUTIONs and
NOTEs in this manual.
These safety warnings alert you to potential hazards
that ould result in injury to you or others.
Please read these safety warnings as well as all other
portions of this manual arefully in order to gain a bet-
ter understanding of how to use your SUBARU vehi le
safely.
A WARNING indicates a situation in which seri-
ous injur or death could result if the warning is
ignored.
A CAUTION indicates a situation in which injur
or damage to our vehicle, or both, could result
if the caution is ignored.
NOTE
A NOTE gives information or suggestions how to
make better use of our vehicle.
!Safet s mbol
You will find a ir le with a slash through it in this man-
HSF019AA

4
ual. This symbol means “Do not”, “Do not do this”, or
“Do not let this happen”, depending upon the ontext. Vehicle s mbols
There are some of the symbols you may see on your
vehi le.
Mark Name
CAUTION
Power door lo k and unlo k
Passenger’s windows lo k and
unlo k
Fuel
Front fog lights
Parking lights
Hazard warning flasher
Cigarette lighter

5
–CONTINUED –
Engine hood
Seat heater
Child restraint top tether an horages
Child restraint lower an horages
Horn
Windshield wiper dei er
Wiper intermittent
Windshield wiper and washer
Rear window wiper and washer
Mark Name
Lights
Parking lights, tail lights, li ense 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
Mark Name

6
Safet precautions when driving
!Seatbelt and SRS airbag
"All persons in the vehicle should fasten their
seatbelts BEFORE the vehicle starts to move.
Otherwise, the possibilit of serious injur be-
comes greater in the event of a sudden stop or
accident.
"To obtain maximum protection in the event of
an accident, the driver and all passengers in the
vehicle should alwa s wear seatbelts when the
vehicle is moving. The SRS (Supplemental Re-
straint S stem) airbag does not do awa 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 injur or death in a crash even when the
car has the SRS airbag.
"The SRS airbags deplo with considerable
speed and force. Occupants who are out of
proper position when the SRS airbag deplo s
could suffer ver serious injuries. Because the
SRS airbag needs enough space for deplo -
Outside mirror defogger
Rear window defogger
Air re ir ulation
Engine oil
Washer
Mark Name

7
–CONTINUED –
ment, the driver should alwa s sit upright and
well back in the seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still maintaining full ve-
hicle 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 se tions “Seatbelts” and “*SRS air-
bag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag)” in hap-
ter 1 of this owner’s manual for instru tions and
pre autions on erning the seatbelt system and SRS
airbag system.
!Child safet
"Never hold a child on our lap or in our arms
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger
cannot protect the child from injur in a colli-
sion, because the child will be caught between
the passenger and objects inside the vehicle.
"While riding in the vehicle, infants and small
childrenshouldalwa sbeplacedintheREAR
seat in an infant or child restraint s stem which
is appropriate for the child’s age, height and
weight. If a child is too big for a child restraint
s stem, the child should sit in the REAR seat
and be restrained using the seatbelts. Accord-
ing to accident statistics, children are safer
when properl restrained in the rear seating po-
sitions than in the front seating positions. Nev-
er allow a child to stand up or kneel on the seat.
"Put children aged 12 and under in the REAR
seat properl restrained at all times in a child
restraint device or in a seatbelt. The SRS airbag
deplo s with considerable speed and force and
can injure or even kill children, especiall if
the are 12 ears of age and under and are not
restrained or improperl restrained. Because
children are lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk being injured from deplo ment is
greater.
"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.
"Alwa s use the child safet locks whenever a
child rides in the rear seat. Serious injur could
result if a child accidentall opened the door
and fell out. Refer to the “Child safet locks”
section in chapter 2.

8
"Alwa s lock the passenger’s windows using
thelockswitchwhenchildrenareridinginthe
vehicle. Failure to follow this procedure could
result in injur to a child operating the power
window. Refer to the “Windows” section in
chapter 2.
"Never leave unattended children in the vehi-
cle. The could accidentall injure themselves
or others through inadvertent operation of the
vehicle. Also, on hot or sunn da s, tempera-
ture in a closed vehicle could quickl become
high enough to cause severe or possibl fatal
injuries to them.
Carefully read the se tions “Child restraint sys-
tems”,“*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System
airbag)”, and “Seatbelts” in hapter 1 of this owner’s
manual for instru tions and pre autions on erning
the hild restraint system, seatbelt system and SRS
airbag system.
!Engine exhaust gas (carbon monox-
ide)
"Never inhale engine exhaust gas. Engine ex-
haust gas contains carbon monoxide, a color-
less and odorless gas which is dangerous, or
even lethal, if inhaled.
"Alwa s properl maintain the engine exhaust
s stem to prevent engine exhaust gas from en-
tering the vehicle.
"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.
"Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle for a
length time while the engine is running. If that
is unavoidable, then use the ventilation fan to
force fresh air into the vehicle.
"Alwa s keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free from snow, leaves or other obstructions to
ensure that the ventilation s stem alwa s
works properl .
"If at an time ou suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering the vehicle, have the problem
checked and corrected as soon as possible. If
ou must drive under these conditions, drive

9
–CONTINUED –
onl with all windows full open.
"Keep the rear gate closed while driving to
prevent exhaust gas from entering the vehicle.
!Drinking and driving
Drinking and then driving is ver dangerous.
Alcohol in the bloodstream dela s our reac-
tion and impairs our perception, judgment and
attentiveness. If ou drive after drinking – even
if ou drink just a little – it will increase the risk
of being involved in a serious or fatal accident,
injuring or killing ourself, our passengers
and others. In addition, if ou are injured in the
accident, alcohol ma increase the severit of
that injur .
Please don’t drink and drive.
Drunken driving is one of the most frequent auses of
a idents. Sin e al ohol affe ts all people differently,
you may have onsumed too mu h al ohol to drive
safely even if the level of al ohol in your blood is below
the legal limit. The safest thing you an do is never
drink and drive. However if you have no hoi e but to
drive, stop drinking and sober up ompletely before
getting behind the wheel.
!Drugs and driving
There are some drugs (over the counter and
prescription) that can dela our reaction time
and impair our perception, judgment and at-
tentiveness. If ou drive after taking them, it
ma increase our, our passengers’ and other
persons’ risk of being involved in a serious or
fatal accident.
If you are taking any drugs, he k with your do tor or
pharma ist or read the literature that a ompanies the
medi ation to determine if the drug you are taking an
impair your driving ability. Do not drive after taking any
medi ations that an make you drowsy or otherwise
affe t your ability to safely operate a motor vehi le. If
you have a medi al ondition that requires you to take
drugs, please onsult with your do tor.
Never drive if you are under the influen e of any illi it
mind-altering drugs. For your own health and well-be-

10
ing, we urge you not to take illegal drugs in the first
pla e and to seek treatment if you are addi ted to
those drugs.
!Driving when tired or sleep
When ou are tired or sleep , our reaction will
be dela ed and our perception, judgment and
attentiveness will be impaired. If ou drive
when tired or sleep , our, our passengers’
and other persons’ chances of being involved
in a serious accident ma increase.
Please do not ontinue to drive but instead find a safe
pla e to rest if you are tired or sleepy. On long trips,
you should make periodi rest stops to refresh your-
self before ontinuing on your journey. When possible,
you should share the driving with others.
!Modification of our vehicle
Your vehicle should not be modified. Modifica-
tion could affect its performance, safet or du-
rabilit , and ma even violate governmental
regulations. In addition, damage or perfor-
mance problems resulting from modification
ma not be covered under warranties.
!Mobile phones and driving
Do not use a hand-held phone while driving; it
ma distract our attention from driving and
can lead to an accident. If ou use a hand-held
phone, pull off the road and park in the safe
place before using our phone. In some States/
Provinces, onl hands-free phones ma legall
be used while driving.
!Driving with pets
Unrestrained pets an interfere with your driving and
distra t your attention from driving. In a ollision or
sudden stop, unrestrained pets or ages an be
thrown around inside the vehi le and hurt you or your
passengers. Besides, the pets an be hurt under

11
–CONTINUED –
these situations. It is also for their own safety that pets
should be properly restrained in your vehi le. Restrain
a pet with a spe ial traveling harness whi h an be se-
ured to the rear seat with a seatbelt or use a pet ar-
rier whi h an be se ured to the rear seat by routing a
seatbelt through the arrier’s handle. Never restrain
pets or pet arriers in the front passenger’s seat. For
further information, onsult your veterinarian, lo al an-
imal prote tion so iety or pet shop.
!Tire pressures
Che k and, if ne essary, adjust the pressure of ea h
tire (in luding the spare) at least on e a month and be-
fore any long journey.
Che k the tire pressure when the tires are old. Use a
pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to the val-
ues shown on the tire pla ard.
Refer to the “Tires and wheels” se tion in hapter 11
for detailed information.
Driving at high speeds with excessivel low tire
pressures can cause the tires to deform severe-
l and to rapidl 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 repro-
ductive harm.

14
9
12
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
13
10
11
Table of contents
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airba s
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control
Audio
Interior equipment
Startin and operatin
Drivin tips
In case of emer ency
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reportin safety defects
Index

14
Illustrated index
!Exterior
123 4 5
6
78910
11
HSF020BB
1) Engine hood (page 11-5)
2) Headlight swit h (page 3-17)
3) Repla ing bulbs (page 11-54)
4) Wiper swit h (page 3-23)
5) Roof rails (page 8-17)
6) Door lo ks (page 2-3)
7) Tire pressure (page 11-38)
8) Flat tires (page 9-3)
9) Tire hains (page 8-13)
10) Front fog light swit h (page 3-
21)
11) Tie-down/Towing hooks (page
9-13)

15
–CONTINUED –
1
2
3
45 HSF021BB
1) Rear window defogger swit h
(page 3-27)
2) Fuel filler lid and ap (page 7-4)
3) Child safety lo ks (page 2-20)
4) Tie-down/Towing hook (page 9-
13)
5) Rear gate (page 2-24)

16
!Interior
!Passenger compartment area
123
456
HSF022BB
1) Lower an horage for hild re-
straint system (page 1-35)
2) Seatbelt (page 1-12)
3) Moonroof (page 2-26)
4) Parking brake lever (page 7-27)
5) Front seat (page 1-2)
6) Rear seat (page 1-9)

17
–CONTINUED –
1
2
3
45 HSF023BB
1) Cup holder (page 6-8)
2) Center onsole (page 6-5)
3) Glove box (page 6-5)
4) Cigarette lighter so ket (page 6-
11)
5) Ashtray (page 6-14)

18
!Instrument panel
12 3 4 5 67
89101112141516 13
HSF024BB
1) Door lo ks (page 2-3)
2) Outside mirror swit h (page 3-
31)
3) Light ontrol lever (page 3-17)
4) Combination meter (page 3-5)
5) Wiper ontrol lever (page 3-22)
6) Hazard warning flasher swit h
(page 3-5)
7) Audio (page 5-2)
8) Gear shift lever (MT) (page 7-
11)/Sele tor lever (AT) (page 7-
14)
9) Climate ontrol (page 4-2)
10) Cruise ontrol (page 7-31)
11) Horn (page 3-34)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-39)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-33)
14) Fuse (page 11-50)/Coin tray
(page 6-7)
15) Hood lo k release (page 11-5)
16) Power window (page 2-21)