Subaru Tribeca (2014 year). Manual

Fuel ......................................................................

7-2

Fuel requirements ...............................................

7-2

Fuel filler lid and cap...........................................

7-3

State emission testing (U.S. only)......................

7-5

Preparing to drive ...............................................

7-7

Starting the engine..............................................

7-7

Stopping the engine............................................

7-8

Remote engine start system (dealer option) .....

7-8

Starting your vehicle ...........................................

7-9

Remote start safety features ................................

7-9

Entering the vehicle while it is running via remote

start..................................................................

7-9

Entering the vehicle following remote engine start

shutdown..........................................................

7-9

Pre-heating or pre-cooling the interior of the

vehicle ............................................................. 7-10

Service mode ..................................................... 7-10
Remote engine start transmitter programming

and programmable feature option ..................... 7-10

System maintenance ..........................................

7-11

Automatic transmission..................................... 7-12

Select lever ........................................................ 7-13
Shift lock function .............................................. 7-14
Selection of manual mode .................................. 7-16
Driving tips ........................................................ 7-17
SPORT mode ..................................................... 7-18

Power steering...................................................

7-18

Braking ...............................................................

7-19

Braking tips.......................................................

7-19

Brake system ....................................................

7-19

Disc brake pad wear warning indicators .............

7-20

ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)..........................

7-20

ABS system self-check ......................................

7-21

ABS warning light..............................................

7-21

Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)

system .............................................................

7-22

Steps to take if EBD system malfunctions ..........

7-22

Vehicle Dynamics Control system....................

7-23

Vehicle Dynamics Control system monitor..........

7-25

Traction Control system OFF switch...................

7-25

Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ........

7-27

Parking your vehicle .........................................

7-28

Parking brake ....................................................

7-28

Parking tips .......................................................

7-29

Cruise control ....................................................

7-29

To set cruise control ..........................................

7-30

To temporarily cancel the cruise control .............

7-31

To turn off the cruise control..............................

7-31

To change the cruising speed ............................

7-31

Cruise control indicator light..............................

7-32

Cruise control set indicator light ........................

7-32

Starting and operating

7-2

Starting and operating

Fuel

CAUTION

Use of a fuel which is low in quality

or use of an inappropriate fuel

additive may cause engine damage.

& Fuel requirements

The engine is designed to operate using

unleaded gasoline with an octane rating

of 87 AKI (90 RON) or higher.

! Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of the

Research Octane and Motor Octane

numbers and is commonly referred to as

the Anti Knock Index (AKI).
Using a gasoline with a lower octane

rating can cause persistent and heavy

knocking, which can damage the engine.

Do not be concerned if your vehicle

sometimes knocks lightly when you drive

up a hill or when you accelerate. Contact

your SUBARU dealer if you use a fuel with

the specified octane rating and your

vehicle knocks heavily or persistently.

! Unleaded gasoline
The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designed

to accept only an unleaded gasoline filler

nozzle. Under no circumstances should

leaded gasoline be used because it will

damage the emission control system and

may impair driveability and fuel economy.

! California fuel
If your vehicle was certified to California

Emission Standards as indicated on the

underhood tune-up label, it is designed to

optimize engine and emission control

system performance with gasoline that

meets the clean burning low-sulfur Cali-

fornia gasoline specifications. If you live in

any other state than California, your

vehicle will operate on gasoline meeting

Federal specifications. Gasoline sold out-

side California is permitted to have higher

sulfur levels, which may affect the perfor-

mance of your vehicle’s catalytic converter

and may produce a sulfur exhaust odor or

smell. SUBARU recommends that you try

a different brand of unleaded gasoline

having lower sulfur to determine if the

problem is fuel related before returning

your vehicle to an authorized dealer for

service. The CHECK ENGINE warning

light/Malfunction indicator light may also

illuminate. If this occurs, return to your

authorized SUBARU dealer for diagnosis.

If it is determined that the condition is

caused by the type of fuel used, repairs

may not be covered by your warranty.

! MMT
Some gasoline contains an octane-en-

hancing additive called MMT (Methylcy-

clopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). If

you use such fuels, your emission control

system performance may deteriorate and

the CHECK ENGINE warning light/Mal-

function indicator light may illuminate. If

this happens, return to your authorized

SUBARU dealer for service. If it is

determined that the condition is caused

by the type of fuel used, repairs may not

be covered by your warranty.

! Gasoline for cleaner air

CAUTION

Do not let fuel spill on the exterior

surfaces of the vehicle. Fuels con-

taining alcohol may cause paint

damage, which is not covered under

the SUBARU Limited Warranty.

Your use of gasoline with detergent

additives will help prevent deposits from

forming in your engine and fuel system.

This helps keep your engine in tune and

your emission control system working

properly, and is a way of doing your part

for cleaner air. If you continuously use a

high quality fuel with the proper detergent

and other additives, you should never

need to add any fuel system cleaning

agents to your fuel tank.

Many gasolines are now blended with

materials called oxygenates. Use of these

fuels can also help keep the air cleaner.

Oxygenated blend fuels, such as MTBE

(Methyl Tertiary Butyl ether) or ethanol

(ethyl or grain alcohol) may be used in

your vehicle, but should contain no more

than 15% MTBE or 10% ethanol for the

proper operation of your SUBARU.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are

now producing reformulated gasolines,

which are designed to reduce vehicle

emissions. SUBARU approves the use of

reformulated gasoline.

If you are not sure what the fuel contains,

you should ask your service station

operators if their gasolines contain deter-

gents and oxygenates and if they have

been reformulated to reduce vehicle emis-

sions.

As additional guidance, only use fuels

suited for your vehicle as explained in the

following.
. Fuel should be unleaded and have an

octane rating no lower than that specified

in this manual.
. Methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) is

sometimes mixed with unleaded gasoline.

Methanol can be used in your vehicle

ONLY if it does not exceed 5% of the fuel

mixture AND if it is accompanied by

sufficient quantities of the proper cosol-

vents and corrosion inhibitors required to

prevent damage to the fuel system. Do not

use fuel containing methanol EXCEPT

under these conditions.
. If undesirable driveability problems are

experienced and you suspect they may be

fuel related, try a different brand of gaso-

line before seeking service at your

SUBARU dealer.
. Fuel system damage or driveability

problems which result from the use of

improper fuel are not covered under the

SUBARU Limited Warranty.

& Fuel filler lid and cap

! Refueling
Only one person should be involved in

refueling. Do not allow others to approach

the area of the vehicle near the fuel filler

pipe while refueling is in progress.
Be sure to observe any other precautions

that are posted at the service station.

1. To open the fuel filler lid, pull the lid

release lever up. The lever is on the floor

at the left of the driver’s seat.

2. Open the fuel filler lid.

Starting and operating

7-3

– CONTINUED –

7-4

Starting and operating

WARNING

Before opening the fuel filler cap,

first touch the vehicle body or a

metal portion of the fuel pump or

similar object to discharge any

static electricity that may be present

on your body. If your body is carry-

ing an electrostatic charge, there is

a possibility that an electric spark

could ignite the fuel, which could

burn you. To avoid acquiring a new

static electric charge, do not get

back into the vehicle while refueling

is in progress.

Open

3. Remove the fuel filler cap by turning it

slowly counterclockwise.

WARNING

. Gasoline vapor is highly flam-

mable. Before refueling, always

first stop the engine and close all

vehicle doors and windows.

Make sure that there are no

lighted cigarettes, open flames

or electrical sparks in the adja-

cent area. Refueling must be

performed outside. Quickly wipe

up any spilled fuel.

. When opening the cap, grasp it

firmly and turn it slowly to the

left. Do not remove the cap

quickly. Fuel may be under pres-

sure and spray out of the fuel

filler neck, especially in hot

weather. If you hear a hissing

sound while you are removing

the cap, wait for the sound to

stop and then slowly open the

cap to prevent fuel from spraying

out and creating a fire hazard.

. When refueling, insert the fuel

nozzle securely into the fuel filler

pipe. If the nozzle is lifted or not

fully inserted, its automatic stop-

ping mechanism may not func-

tion, causing fuel to overflow the

tank and creating a fire hazard.

. Stop refueling when the auto-

matic stop mechanism on the

fuel nozzle activates. If you con-

tinue to add fuel, temperature

changes or other conditions

may cause fuel to overflow from

the tank and create a fire hazard.

4. Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler

pump automatically turns off. Do not add

any more fuel.

CAUTION

Make sure that the cap is tightened

until it clicks to prevent fuel spillage

in the event of an accident.

5. Put the cap back on, turn it clockwise

until you hear a clicking noise. Be certain

not to catch the tether under the cap while

tightening.
6. Close the fuel filler lid completely.
If you spill any fuel on the painted surface,

rinse it off immediately. Otherwise, the

painted surface could be damaged.

NOTE

. You will see the “

” sign in the fuel

gauge. This indicates that the fuel filler

door (lid) is located on the right side of

the vehicle.
. If the fuel filler cap is not tightened

until it clicks or if the tether is caught

under the cap, the CHECK ENGINE

warning light/malfunction indicator

light may illuminate. Refer to “CHECK

ENGINE warning light/Malfunction in-

dicator light” F3-12.

CAUTION

. Never add any cleaning agents to

the fuel tank. The addition of a

cleaning agent may cause da-

mage to the fuel system.

. After refueling, turn the cap to the

right until it clicks to ensure that

it is fully tightened. If the cap is

not securely tightened, fuel may

leak out while the vehicle is being

driven or fuel spillage could

occur in the event of an accident,

creating a fire hazard.

. Do not let fuel spill on the exterior

surfaces of the vehicle. Because

fuel may damage the paint, be

sure to wipe off any spilled fuel

quickly. Paint damage caused by

spilled fuel is not covered under

the SUBARU Limited Warranty.

. Always use a genuine SUBARU

fuel filler cap. If you use the

wrong cap, it may not fit, and

your fuel tank and emission con-

trol system may be damaged. It

could also lead to fuel spillage

and a fire.

. Immediately put fuel in the tank

whenever the low fuel warning

light illuminates. Engine misfires

as a result of an empty tank

could cause damage to the en-

gine.

State emission testing (U.S.

only)

WARNING

Testing of an All-Wheel Drive model

must NEVER be performed on a

single two-wheel dynamometer. At-

tempting to do so will result in

uncontrolled vehicle movement and

may cause an accident or injuries to

persons nearby.

CAUTION

. At state inspection time, remem-

ber to tell your inspection or

service station in advance not to

place your SUBARU AWD vehicle

on a two-wheel dynamometer.

Otherwise, serious transmission

damage will result.

. Resultant vehicle damage due to

improper testing is not covered

under the SUBARU Limited War-

ranty and is the responsibility of

the state inspection program or

its contractors or licensees.

California and a number of federal states

have Inspection/Maintenance programs to

Starting and operating

7-5

– CONTINUED –

7-6

Starting and operating

inspect your vehicle’s emission control

system. If your vehicle does not pass this

test, some states may deny renewal of

your vehicle’s registration.
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer

that monitors the performance of the

engine’s emission control system. Certi-

fied emission inspectors will inspect the

On-Board Diagnostic (OBDII) system as

part of the state emission inspection

process. The OBDII system is designed

to detect engine and transmission pro-

blems that might cause the vehicle emis-

sions to exceed allowable limits. OBDII

inspections apply to all 1996 model year

and newer passenger cars and trucks.

Over 30 states plus the District of Colum-

bia have implemented emission inspec-

tion of the OBDII system.
. The inspection of the OBDII system

consists of a visual operational check of

the “CHECK ENGINE” warning light/mal-

function indicator light (MIL) and an

examination of the OBDII system with an

electronic scan tool.
. A vehicle passes the OBDII system

inspection if proper operation of the
“CHECK ENGINE” warning light is ob-

served, there are no stored diagnostic

trouble codes, and the OBDII readiness

monitors are all complete.

. A vehicle fails the OBDII inspection if

the “CHECK ENGINE” warning light is not

properly operating (light is illuminated or is

not working due to a burned out bulb) or

there is one or more diagnostic trouble

codes stored in the vehicle’s computer.
. A state emission inspection may reject

(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of

OBDII system readiness monitors “NOT

READY” is greater than one. If the

vehicle’s battery has been recently re-

placed or disconnected, the OBDII system

inspection may indicate that the vehicle is

not ready for the emission test. Under this

condition, the vehicle driver should be

instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few

days to reset the readiness monitors and

return for an emission re-inspection.
. Owners of rejected or failing vehicles

should contact their SUBARU Dealer for

service.

Some states still use dynamometers in

their emission inspection program. A

dynamometer is a treadmill or roller-like

testing device that allows your vehicle’s

wheels to turn while the vehicle remains in

one place. Prior to your vehicle being put

on a dynamometer, tell your emission

inspector not to place your SUBARU

AWD vehicle on a two-wheel dynam-

ometer. Otherwise, serious transmis-

sion damage will result.

The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) and states using two-wheel

dynamometers in their emission testing

program have EXEMPTED SUBARU

AWD vehicles from the portion of the

testing program that involves a two-wheel

dynamometer. There are some states that

use four-wheel dynamometers in their

testing program. When properly used, this

equipment should not damage a SUBARU

AWD vehicle.

Under no circumstances should the rear

wheels be jacked off the ground, nor

should the driveshaft be disconnected for

state emission testing.

Preparing to drive

You should perform the following checks

and adjustments every day before you

start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and

lights are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the appearance and condition

of the tires. Also check tires for proper

inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of

leaks.
4. Check that the hood and rear gate are

fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside

and outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your

passengers have fastened their seatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning

and indicator lights when the ignition

switch 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 levels

should be checked daily, weekly or at

fuel stops.

Starting the engine

CAUTION

. Do not operate the starter motor

continuously for more than 10

seconds. If the engine fails to

start after operating the starter

for 5 to 10 seconds, wait for 10

seconds or more before trying

again.

. If you restart the engine while the

vehicle is moving, shift the select

lever into the “N” position. Do

not attempt to place the select

lever 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). The

starter will only operate when the select

lever is at the “P” or “N” position.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”

position and check the operation of the

warning and indicator lights. Refer to
“Warning and indicator lights” F3-9.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the “START”

position without depressing the accelera-

tor pedal. Release the key immediately

after the engine has started.
If the engine does not start, try the

following.

(1) Turn the ignition switch to the
“LOCK” position and wait for at least

10 seconds. After checking that the

parking brake is firmly set, turn the

ignition switch to the “START” position

while depressing the accelerator pedal

slightly (approximately a quarter of the

full stroke). Release the accelerator

pedal as soon as the engine starts.
(2) If this fails to start the engine, turn

the ignition switch back to the “LOCK”

position and wait for at least 10

seconds. Then fully depress the accel-

erator pedal and turn the ignition

switch to the “START” position. If the

engine starts, quickly release the

accelerator pedal.
(3) If this fails to start the engine, turn

the ignition switch again to the “LOCK”

position. After waiting for 10 seconds

or longer, turn the ignition switch to the
“START” position without depressing

the accelerator pedal.
(4) If the engine still refuses to start,

contact your nearest SUBARU dealer

for assistance.

6. Confirm that all warning and indicator

lights have turned off after the engine has

Starting and operating

7-7

– CONTINUED –

7-8

Starting and operating

started. The fuel injection system auto-

matically lowers the idle speed as the

engine warms up.

While the engine is warming up, make

sure that the select lever is at the “P” or
“N” position and that the parking brake is

applied.

NOTE

. The engine may be difficult to start

when the battery has been discon-

nected and reconnected (for mainte-

nance or other purposes). This diffi-

culty is caused by the electronically

controlled throttle’s self-diagnosis

function. To overcome it, keep the

ignition switch in the “ON” position

for approximately 10 seconds before

starting the engine.
. To protect the engine while the

select lever is in the “P” or “N”

position, the engine is controlled so

that the engine speed may not become

too high even if the accelerator pedal is

depressed hard.

Stopping the engine

WARNING

Do not stop the engine when the

vehicle is moving. This will cause

loss of power to the power steering

and the brake booster, making steer-

ing and braking more difficult. It

could also result in accidental acti-

vation of the “LOCK” position on the

ignition switch, causing the steering

wheel to lock.

The ignition switch should be turned off

only when the vehicle is stopped and the

engine is idling.

Remote engine start system

(dealer option)

WARNING

. Do not start the engine using the

remote start system in an en-

closed environment (e.g. closed

garage). Prolonged operation 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 Monoxide can

cause headaches, dizziness or in

extreme cases unconsciousness

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.

& Starting your vehicle

The remote engine start system is acti-

vated by pressing the “ ” button twice

within 3 seconds on your remote engine

start transmitter. The system will check

certain pre-conditions before starting, and

if all safety parameters are correct, the

engine will start within 5 seconds. While

the vehicle is operating via remote engine

start, the vehicle’s power window features

will be disabled. Also, the system has a

timer and will shut down after 15 minutes if

you do not operate the vehicle. Press and

hold the “ ” button for 2 seconds again to

turn the vehicle off. If the vehicle’s starter

cranks but does not start or starts and

stalls, the remote engine start system will

power off then attempt to start the vehicle

an additional four times. If the vehicle fails

to start after the additional attempts, the

remote engine start system will abort and

return to a non activated state.

& Remote start safety features

For safety and security reasons, the

system will fail to start and beep the horn

twice or shut down the engine during

remote start operation if any of the

following occur:
. The brake pedal is depressed before

the vehicle ignition switch is turned “on”
. The key was already in the ignition

switch
. The engine hood is opened
. The vehicle’s engine idle speed has

reached a level over 3,000 RPM
. The alarm is triggered by opening any

of the doors or the rear gate.

NOTE

. The security indicator light on the

dashboard will stop flashing while

under remote engine start operation,

but the vehicle is still protected.
. If the vehicle is entered during

remote engine start operation, the

system will not record entry in the

alarm history.

& Entering the vehicle while it

is running via remote start

1. Unlock the vehicle doors using the

remote keyless entry system. If the vehi-

cle’s doors are unlocked manually using

the key, the vehicle’s alarm system will

trigger and the remote engine start system

will turn off. Inserting the key into the

ignition switch and turning it to the “ON”

position or pressing the unlock button “ ”

on the remote keyless entry transmitter

will disarm the alarm system. Refer to
“Alarm system” F2-16.
2. Enter the vehicle. Do not depress the

brake pedal.
3. Insert the key into the ignition switch

and turn to the “ON” position. If the ignition

switch is accidentally turned to the
“START” position, the system’s “starter

anti-grind” feature will prevent the starter

from re-cranking.
4. Depress the brake pedal. The remote

starter disengages, the vehicle’s power

window features are re-enabled and the

vehicle will operate normally.

& 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

Starting and operating

7-9

– CONTINUED –

7-10

Starting and operating

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

vehicle, the heater or air-conditioning will

activate and heat or cool the interior to

your setting.

& Service mode

In service mode, the remote start function

is temporarily disabled to prevent the

system from unexpectedly starting the

engine while being serviced.

! To engage the service mode
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”

position, depress and hold the brake pedal

then, press and release the “ ” button on

the remote engine start transmitter three

times. The system will pause for 1 second

and then flash the parking lights and honk

the horn three times indicating that the

system is in service mode. When attempt-

ing to activate the remote start system

while in service mode, the parking lights

will flash and the horn will honk two times

and will not start.

! To disengage the service mode
Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”

position, depress and hold the brake

pedal, then press and release the “ ”

button on the remote engine start trans-

mitter three times. The system will pause

for 1 second and flash the parking lights

one time indicating that the system has

exited service mode.

NOTE

When taking your vehicle in for service,

it is recommended that you inform the

service personnel that your vehicle is

equipped with a remote engine start

system.

& Remote engine start trans-

mitter programming and pro-

grammable feature option

New transmitters can be programmed to

the remote engine start system in the

event that remote engine start transmitters

are lost, stolen or damaged. The remote

engine start system also has one pro-

grammable feature that can be adjusted

for user preference.
The remote engine start system can be

programmed to either make an audible

horn chirp upon remote start activation or

not. Remote engine start transmitter pro-

gramming and feature programming can

be adjusted using the following procedure.
1. Open the driver’s door (the driver’s

door must remain opened throughout the

entire process).
2. Insert the key into the vehicle’s ignition

switch and turn to the “ON” position.
3. Locate the small black programming

button behind the fuse box cover, on the

driver’s side left under the dashboard

panel.
4. Press and hold the black programming

button for 10 to 15 seconds. The horn will

honk and the parking lights will flash three

times to indicate that the system has

entered programming mode. At this point

you can perform either action (step 5 or

step 6).
5. To program a remote transmitter:

press and release the “ ” button on each

transmitter. The horn will honk and the

parking lights will flash one time to indicate

a successful transmitter learn each time

the “ ” button is pressed. You can

program up to eight transmitters.
6. To toggle the Horn Confirmation chirps

ON/OFF: press and release the brake to

toggle the feature. The horn will chirp and

the parking lights will flash one time to

indicate Confirmation Horn Chirps are
“OFF”. The horn will honk and the parking

lights will flash 2 times to indicate Con-

firmation Horn Chirps are “ON”. Depres-

sing the brake pedal repeatedly will toggle

the feature ON or OFF each time.
7. To exit the remote transmitter and

feature programming mode, turn the igni-

tion switch to the “LOCK” position, remove

the key from the ignition switch and test

operation of the remote transmitter(s) and

horn confirmation feature.

& System maintenance

! Changing the batteries

CAUTION

. Do not let dust, oil or water get on

or in the remote engine start

transmitter when replacing the

battery.

. Be careful not to damage the

printed circuit board in the re-

mote engine start transmitter

when replacing the battery.

. Be careful not to allow children to

touch the battery and any re-

moved parts; children could

swallow them.

. There is a danger of explosion if

an incorrect replacement battery

is used. Replace only with the

same or equivalent type of bat-

tery.

. Batteries should not be exposed

to excessive heat such as sun-

shine, fire or the like.

The two 3-volt lithium batteries (model

CR-1220) supplied in your remote engine

start transmitter should last approximately

three years, depending on usage. When

the batteries begin to weaken, you will

notice a decrease in range (distance from

the vehicle that your remote engine start

system operates). Follow the instructions

below to change the remote control

batteries.

1. Carefully pry the remote engine start

transmitter halves apart using a small flat-

head screwdriver.

Starting and operating

7-11

– CONTINUED –

7-12

Starting and operating

2. Remove the circuit board from the

bottom half of the case and slide the white

plastic battery holder out from under the

battery tab releasing the batteries. Re-

move the old batteries and replace with

new ones. Be sure to observe the (+) sign

on the old batteries before removing them

to ensure that the new batteries are

inserted properly (battery “+” should be

pointed away from the transmitter circuit

board on both batteries).
3. Carefully snap the case halves back

together, then test the remote engine start

system.

NOTE

This device complies with Part 15 of

the FCC Rules and with RSS-210 of

Industry Canada. Operation is subject

to the following two conditions: (1) This

device may not cause harmful inter-

ference, and (2) this device must

accept any interference received, in-

cluding interference that may cause

undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not ex-

pressly approved by the party respon-

sible for compliance could void the

user’s authority to operate the equip-

ment.

Automatic transmission

The automatic transmission is electroni-

cally controlled and provides 5 forward

speeds and 1 reverse speed. Also, it has a

manual mode and a SPORT mode.

WARNING

Do not shift from the “P” or “N”

position into the “D” or “R” position

while depressing the accelerator

pedal. This may cause the vehicle

to jump forward or backward.

CAUTION

. Shift into the “P” or “R” position

only after the vehicle is comple-

tely stopped. Shifting while the

vehicle is moving may cause

damage to the transmission.

. Do not race the engine for more

than 5 seconds in any position

except the “N” or “P” position

when the brake is set or when

chocks are used in the wheels.

This may cause the automatic

transmission fluid to overheat.

. Avoid shifting from one of the

forward driving positions into the

“R” position or vice versa until

the vehicle has completely

stopped. Such shifting may

cause damage to the transmis-

sion.

. When parking the vehicle, first

securely apply the parking brake

and then place the select lever in

the “P” position. Avoid parking

for a long time with the select

lever in any other position as

doing so could result in a dead

battery.

NOTE

. When the engine coolant tempera-

ture is still low, the automatic transmis-

sion will upshift to higher engine

speeds than when the coolant tempera-

ture is sufficiently high in order to

shorten the warm-up time and improve

driveability. The gearshift timing will

automatically shift to the normal timing

after the engine has warmed up.
. Immediately after ATF (automatic

transmission fluid) is replaced, you

may feel that the automatic transmis-

sion operation is somewhat unusual.

This results from invalidation of data

which the on-board computer has

collected and stored in memory to

allow the transmission to shift at the

most appropriate times for the current

condition of your vehicle. Optimized

shifting will be restored as the vehicle

continues to be driven for a while.

& Select lever

: With the brake pedal depressed, shift

while pressing the button in.

: Shift while pressing the button in.
: Shift without pressing the button.

The select lever has four positions, “P”,
“R”, “N”, “D” and also has manual gate for

using “SPORT” mode or manual mode.

Select lever button

! P (Park)
This position is for parking the vehicle and

starting the engine.

In this position, the transmission is me-

chanically locked to prevent the vehicle

from rolling freely.

When you park the vehicle, first set the

parking brake fully, then shift into the “P”

position. Do not hold the vehicle with only

the transmission.

To shift the select lever from the “P” to any

other position, you have to depress the

brake pedal fully then push the select

lever button on the lever knob when the

ignition switch is in the “ON” position. This

prevents the vehicle from lurching when it

Starting and operating

7-13

– CONTINUED –

7-14

Starting and operating

is started.

If the select lever does not move from the
“P” position with the brake pedal de-

pressed, the select lever button pushed

in, and the ignition switch in the ON

position, refer to “Shift lock function” F7-

14.

! R (Reverse)
This position is for backing the vehicle.

To shift from the “N” to “R” position, stop

the vehicle completely then move the

lever to the “R” position while pushing

the select lever button.

! N (Neutral)
This position is for restarting a stalled

engine.
In this position the wheels and transmis-

sion are not locked. In this position, the

transmission is neutral; the vehicle will roll

freely, even on the slightest incline unless

the parking brake or foot brake is applied.
Avoid coasting with the transmission

neutral.
During coasting, there is no engine brak-

ing effect.

NOTE

When the ignition switch has been

turned to the “LOCK” position, move-

ment of the select lever from the “N”

position to the “R” position is possible

for a limited time period by depressing

the brake pedal and then becomes

impossible. If the select lever becomes

impossible to be moved after a limited

time period, turn the ignition switch to

the “ON” position. You will then be able

to move the select lever to the “P”

position.

WARNING

Do not drive the vehicle with the

select lever in the “N” (Neutral)

position. Engine braking has no

effect in this condition and the risk

of an accident is consequently in-

creased.

! D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving.
The transmission automatically shifts into

a suitable gear from 1st to 5th according to

the vehicle speed and the acceleration

you require.

When more acceleration is required in this

position, depress the accelerator pedal

fully to the floor and hold that position. The

transmission will automatically downshift

to 4th, 3rd, 2nd or 1st gear. When you

release the pedal, the transmission will

return to the original gear position.
To use the SPORT mode, move the lever

from this position into the manual gate.
To use the manual mode, move the lever

from this position into the manual gate

then move it toward the “+” end or “−” end.

! While climbing a grade

When driving up a hill, undesired upshift to

4th or 5th gear is prevented from taking

place when the accelerator is released.

This minimizes the chance of subsequent

downshifting to a lower gear when accel-

erating again. This prevents repeated

upshifting and downshifting resulting in a

smoother operation of the vehicle.

NOTE

The transmission may downshift to 2nd

or 1st gear, depending on the way the

accelerator pedal is depressed to ac-

celerate the vehicle again.

& Shift lock function

The shift lock function helps prevent the

improper operation of the select lever.
. The select lever cannot be operated

unless the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position and the brake pedal is

depressed.
. The select lever cannot be moved from

the “P” position to any other position

before the brake pedal is depressed.

Depress the brake pedal first, and then

operate the select lever.
. Only the “P” position allows you to turn

the key from the “Acc” position to the
“LOCK” position and remove the key from

the ignition key cylinder.
. If the ignition switch is turned to the
“LOCK” position while the select lever is in

the “N” position, the select lever may not

be moved to the “P” position after a period

of time. Therefore, move the select lever

to the “P” position with the brake pedal

depressed soon after the ignition switch is

turned to the “LOCK” position.

! Shift lock release
If the select lever cannot be operated, turn

the ignition switch back to the “ON”

position then move the select lever to the
“P” position with the select lever button

pressed and brake pedal depressed.

If the select lever does not move after

performing the above procedure, perform

the following steps.
. When the select lever cannot be

shifted from “P” to “N”:

Refer to “Shift lock release using the shift

lock release button” F7-15.

. When the select lever cannot be

shifted from “N” to “R” or “P”:

Within 60 seconds after placing the igni-

tion switch in the “Acc” position, move the

select lever to the “R” or “P” position with

the select lever button pressed and brake

pedal depressed.

If you must perform the above procedure,

the shift lock system (or the vehicle control

system) may be malfunctioning. Contact a

SUBARU dealer for an inspection as soon

as possible.

If the select lever does not move after

performing the above procedure, refer to
“Shift lock release using the shift lock

release button” F7-15.
! Shift lock release using the shift

lock release button

Perform the following procedure to release

the shift lock.
1. Apply the parking brake and stop the

engine.

2. Remove the cover by prying on the

edge with a flat-head screwdriver.

NOTE

To prevent damage to the cover, wrap

the tip of the flat-head screwdriver with

vinyl tape or a cloth before removing

the cover.

Starting and operating

7-15

– CONTINUED –

7-16

Starting and operating

Shift lock release button

Select lever button

3. Move the select lever while performing

the following operations.

. Depressing the brake pedal
. Pushing the shift lock release button

using a screwdriver
. Pushing the select lever button

If the select lever does not move after

performing the above procedure, the shift

lock system may be malfunctioning. Con-

tact a SUBARU dealer for an inspection

as soon as possible.

& Selection of manual mode

With the vehicle either moving or station-

ary, move the select lever from the “D”

position to the manual gate then move it to

the “+” end or “−” end of the manual gate

to select manual mode.

Upshift indicator

Downshift indicator

Gear position indicator

When the manual mode is selected, the

gear position indicator and upshift indica-

tor and/or downshift indicator in the

tachometer illuminate. The gear position

indicator shows the currently selected

gear in the 1st-to-5th-gear range. The

upshift and downshift indicators show

when a gearshift is possible. When the

upshift indicator “ ” is illuminated, up-

shifting is possible. When the downshift

indicator “ ” is illuminated, downshifting

is possible. When both indicators are

illuminated, upshifting and downshifting

are both possible. When the vehicle stops

(for example, at traffic signals), the down-

shift indicator turns off.

Subaru Tribeca (2014 year). Manual - part 16