Subaru Impreza WRX (2014 year). Instruction

8-6

Driving tips/Winter driving

Winter driving

Operation during cold
weather

Carry some emergency equipment, such
as a window scraper, a bag of sand,
flares, a small shovel and jumper cables.

Check the battery and cables. Cold
temperatures reduce battery capacity.
The battery must be in good condition to
provide enough power for cold winter
starts.

It normally takes longer to start the engine
in very cold weather conditions. Use an
engine oil of a proper grade and viscosity
for cold weather. Using heavy summer oil
will make it harder to start the engine.
Keep the door locks from freezing by

squirting them with deicer or glycerin.

Forcing a frozen door open may damage
or separate the rubber weather strips
around the door. If the door is frozen,
use hot water to melt the ice, and after-
wards thoroughly wipe the water away.

Use a windshield washer fluid that con-
tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use
engine antifreeze or other substitutes
because they may damage the paint of
the vehicle.
SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-
tains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%
surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-
perature varies according to how much it
is diluted, as indicated in the following
table.

Washer Fluid Con-

centration

Freezing Temperature

30%

10.48F (−128C)

50%

−48F (−208C)

100%

−498F (−458C)

In order to prevent freezing of washer
fluid, check the freezing temperatures in
the table above when adjusting the fluid
concentration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with
a different concentration from the one

used previously, purge the old fluid from
the piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washer
for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if
the concentration of the fluid remaining in
the piping is too low for the outside
temperature, it may freeze and block the
nozzles.

CAUTION

. Adjust the washer fluid concen-

tration appropriately for the out-
side temperature. If the concen-
tration is inappropriate, sprayed
washer fluid may freeze on the
windshield and obstruct your
view, and the fluid may freeze in
the reservoir tank.

. State or local regulations on

volatile organic compounds may
restrict the use of methanol, a
common windshield washer anti-
freeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol anti-
freeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather
protection without damaging
your vehicle’s paint, wiper blades
or washer system.

Before driving your vehicle

Before entering the vehicle, remove any
snow or ice from your shoes because that
could make the pedals slippery and
driving dangerous.

While warming up the vehicle before
driving, check that the accelerator pedal,
brake pedal, and all other controls operate
smoothly.

Clear away ice and snow that has
accumulated under the fenders to avoid
making steering difficult. During severe
winter driving, stop when and where it is
safe to do so and check under the fenders
periodically.

Parking in cold weather

Do not use the parking brake when
parking for long periods in cold weather
since it could freeze in that position.
Instead, you should observe the following
tips.
1. Place the shift lever in “1” or “R”.
2. Use tire stops under the tires to
prevent the vehicle from moving.

When the vehicle is parked in snow or
when it snows, raise the wiper blades off
the glass to prevent damage to them.

When the vehicle has been left parked
after use on roads heavily covered with

snow, or has been left parked during a
snowstorm, icing may develop on the
brake system, which could cause poor
braking action. Check for snow or ice
buildup on the suspension, disc brakes
and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-
ness.

WARNING

Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep
snow clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around your vehicle if you park
the vehicle in snow with the engine
running.

Refueling in cold weather

To help prevent moisture from forming in
the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,
use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel
tank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specifically
designed for this purpose. When an
antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty.

If your SUBARU is not going to be used

for an extended period, it is best to have
the fuel tank filled to capacity.

Driving on snowy and icy
roads

To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid
sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-
speed driving, and sharp turning when
driving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
to avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use the
engine brake effectively to control the
vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear
when necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-
vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly
leading to loss of vehicle control.

An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-
hances your vehicle’s braking perfor-
mance on snowy and icy roads. For
information on braking on slippery sur-
faces, refer to “ABS (Anti-lock Brake
System)” F7-26 and “Vehicle Dynamics
Control system” F7-28.

WARNING

Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads such as snowy or icy
roads. This may cause loss of

Driving tips/Winter driving

8-7

– CONTINUED –

8-8

Driving tips/Winter driving

vehicle control.

CAUTION

Avoid prolonged continuous driving
in snowstorms. Snow will enter the
engine’s intake system and may
hinder the airflow, which could re-
sult in engine shutdown or even
breakdown.

Wiper operation when snowing

Before driving in cold weather, make sure
the wiper blades are not frozen to the
windshield or rear window.

If the front wiper blades are frozen to the
windshield, use the defroster with the
airflow control dial in the “

” position

and the temperature control dial set for
maximum warmth until the wiper blades
are completely thawed out. For details,
refer to the following section.
. For the instruction climate control system,
refer to “Defrosting or defogging the
windshield” F4-5.
. For the automatic climate control sys-
tem, refer to “Control panel” F4-8.

If your vehicle is equipped with a wind-
shield wiper deicer, it is helpful to thaw the
windshield wiper blades. Refer to “Defog-

ger and deicer” F3-47.

If the rear wiper blade is frozen to the rear
window, use the rear window defogger.
Refer to “Defogger and deicer” F3-47.

When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts
to stick on the surface of the windshield
despite wiper operation, use the defroster
with the airflow control dial in “

” and the

temperature control dial set for maximum
warmth. After the windshield gets warmed
enough to melt the frozen snow on it,
wash it away using the windshield washer.
Refer to “Washer” F3-37.

Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the
wiper from working effectively. If snow is
stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to
a safe place, then remove it. If you stop
the vehicle at road side, use the hazard
warning flasher to alert other drivers.

We recommend use of non-freezing type
wiper blades (winter blades) during the
seasons you could have snow and freez-
ing temperatures. Blades of this type give
superior wiping performance in snowy
conditions. Be sure to use blades that
are suitable for your vehicle.

CAUTION

During high-speed driving, non-
freezing type wiper blades may not

perform as well as standard wiper
blades. If this happens, reduce the
vehicle speed.

NOTE

When the season requiring non-freez-
ing type wiper blades is over, replace
them with standard wiper blades.

Corrosion protection

Refer to “Corrosion protection” F10-4.

Snow tires

WARNING

. When you replacing or installing

winter tire(s), all four tires must
be the same for following items.

(a) Size

(b) Circumference

(d) Load index

(e) Construction

(f) Manufacturer

(g) Brand (tread pattern)

(h) Degrees of wear

For the items (a) to (d), you must

obey the specification that is
printed on the tire placard. The
tire placard is located on the
bottom of driver’s door pillar.
If all of four winter tires are not
the same for items (a) to (h), there
is a possibility that serious me-
chanical damage could occur to
the drive train of your car, and
affect the following.

— Ride
— Handling
— Braking
— Speedometer/Odometer
calibration

— Clearance between the body
and tires

It also may be dangerous and
lead to loss of vehicle control,
and it can lead to an accident.

. Do not use a combination of

radial, belted bias or bias tires
since it may cause dangerous
handling characteristics and lead
to an accident.

Your vehicle is equipped with “summer
tires” as original equipment, which are
inadequate for driving on slippery roads
such as on snow-covered or icy roads.

Compared with winter and all-season
tires, summer tires give significantly less
grip on snowy and icy road surfaces.
Therefore, use of winter tires is strongly
recommended when driving with such
road conditions.
When you choose to install winter tires on
your vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire
size and type. You must install four winter
tires that are of the same size, construc-
tion, brand and load range and you should
never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires
since this may result in dangerous hand-
ling characteristics. When you choose a
tire, make sure that there is enough
clearance between the tire and vehicle
body.

Remember to drive with care at all times
regardless of the type of tires on your
vehicle.

Tire chains

CAUTION

Tire chains cannot be used on your
Impreza, WRX and STI because of
the lack of clearance between the
tires and vehicle body.

Rocking the vehicle

If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the accel-
erator pedal slightly and move the shift
lever back and forth between “1” and “R”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
When the road surface is extremely
slippery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st.

Driving tips/Winter driving

8-9

8-10

Driving tips/Loading your vehicle

Loading your vehicle

WARNING

. Never allow passengers to ride

on a folded rear seatback, in the
trunk or in the cargo area. Doing
so may result in serious injury.

. Never stack luggage or other

cargo higher than the top of the
seatback because it could tumble
forward and injure passengers in
the event of a sudden stop or
accident. Keep luggage or cargo
low, as close to the floor as
possible.

WARNING

. When you carry something inside

the vehicle, secure it whenever
you can to prevent it from being
thrown around inside the vehicle
during sudden stops, sharp turns
or in an accident.

. Do not pile heavy loads on the

roof. These loads raise the vehi-
cle’s center of gravity and make it
more prone to tip over.

. Secure lengthy items properly to

prevent them from shooting for-
ward and causing serious injury
during a sudden stop.

. Never exceed the maximum load

limit. If you do, some parts on
your vehicle can break, or it can
change the way your vehicle
handles. This could result in loss
of control and cause personal
injury. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle.

. Do not place anything on the rear

shelf behind the rear seatback
(for 4-door) or the extended car-
go area cover (for 5-door). Such
items could tumble forward in the
event of a sudden stop or a
collision. This could cause ser-

ious injury.

CAUTION

Do not carry spray cans, containers
with flammable or corrosive liquids
or any other dangerous items inside
the vehicle.

NOTE

For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded cargo.

Vehicle capacity weight

The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by available
cargo space. The maximum load you can
carry in your vehicle is shown on the
vehicle placard attached to the driver’s
side door pillar. It includes the total weight
of the driver and all passengers and their
belongings, any optional equipment such
as a roof rack or bike carrier, etc.

GVWR and GAWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating and
Gross Axle Weight Rating)

The certification label attached to the
driver’s side doorjamb shows GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must
never exceed the GVWR. GVW is the
combined total of weight of the vehicle,
fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage and
any optional equipment. Therefore, the
GVW changes depending on the situation.
The GVWR equals Curb Weight (actual
weight of your vehicle – including standard
equipment, fluids, emergency tools and
spare tire assembly) plus the vehicle
capacity weight.

In addition, the total weight applied to
each axle (GAW) must never exceed the
GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be
adjusted by relocating luggage inside the
vehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is
lower than the vehicle capacity weight,
either front or rear GAW may exceed the
GAWR, depending on the distribution of
the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly
distributed throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you
should confirm that GVW and front and
rear GAWs are within the GVWR and
GAWR by putting your vehicle on a
vehicle scale, found at a commercial
weighing station.

Do not use replacement tires with a lower
load range than the originals because they
may lower the GVWR and GAWR limita-
tions. Replacement tires with a higher load
range than the originals do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations.

Driving tips/Loading your vehicle

8-11

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8-12

Driving tips/Loading your vehicle

Roof molding and crossbar
(if equipped)

CAUTION

. For cargo carrying purposes, the

roof molding must be used to-
gether with a roof crossbar kit
and the appropriate carrying at-
tachment. Otherwise, damage to
the roof or paint or a dangerous
road hazard due to loss of cargo
could result.

. When using the roof crossbar kit,

make sure that the total weight of
the crossbars, carrying attach-
ment and cargo does not exceed
the maximum load limit. Over-
loading may cause damage to

the vehicle and create a safety
hazard.

Cargo can be carried after securing the
roof crossbar kit to the roof molding and
installing the appropriate carrying attach-
ment. When installing the roof crossbar
kit, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

When you carry cargo on the roof using
the roof crossbar kit and a carrying
attachment, never exceed the maximum
load limit as explained below. You should
also be careful that your vehicle does not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) and front and rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). For information
about loading cargo into or onto your
vehicle, refer to “Loading your vehicle”
F8-10. The maximum load limit of the
cargo, crossbars and carrying attachment
must not exceed 176 lbs (80 kg). Place
the heaviest load at the bottom, nearest
the roof, and evenly distribute the cargo.
Always properly secure all cargo.

Installing carrying attachments on
the crossbars

When installing any carrying attachment
such as a bike carrier, ski carrier, kayak
carrier, cargo basket, etc. on the cross-
bars, follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions and make sure that the attachment is
securely fixed to the crossbars. Use only
attachments designed specifically for the
crossbars. A set of the crossbars is
designed to carry loads (cargo and attach-
ment) of not more than 165 lbs (75 kg).
Before operating the vehicle, make sure
that the cargo is properly secured on the
attachment.

NOTE

Remember that the vehicle’s center of
gravity is altered with the weight of the
load on the roof, thus affecting the
driving characteristics.
Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, hard
cornering and abrupt stops. Crosswind
effects will be increased.

Removal and installation of the
crossbars

Each of the two roof moldings has two
mounting points for crossbars. Each
mounting point is fitted with a cover. Use
a screwdriver to remove the covers. When
installing the crossbars on the roof mold-
ing, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Trailer towing

Your vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to be used for trailer towing.
Therefore, never tow a trailer with your
vehicle.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for
injuries or vehicle damage that may result
from trailer towing, from any trailer towing
equipment or from any errors or omissions
in the instructions accompanying such
equipment. SUBARU warranties do not
apply to vehicle damage or malfunction
caused by trailer towing.

Driving tips/Trailer towing

8-13

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

If you park your vehicle in case of an

emergency ........................................................

9-2

Temporary spare tire...........................................

9-2

Maintenance tools ...............................................

9-3

Tool bag..............................................................

9-4

Under the rear floor.............................................

9-4

Flat tires ...............................................................

9-5

Changing a flat tire..............................................

9-5

Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

(U.S.-spec. models) ...........................................

9-8

Jump starting ......................................................

9-9

How to jump start...............................................

9-10

Engine overheating ...........................................

9-12

If steam is coming from the engine

compartment ...................................................

9-12

If no steam is coming from the engine

compartment ...................................................

9-12

Towing ................................................................

9-12

Towing and tie-down hooks................................

9-13

Using a flat-bed truck.........................................

9-15

Towing with all wheels on the ground.................

9-15

Rear gate – if the rear gate cannot be

unlocked..........................................................

9-16

In case of emergency

9-2

In case of emergency/If you park your vehicle in case of an emergency

If you park your vehicle in
case of an emergency

The hazard warning flasher should be
used in day or night to warn other drivers
when you have to park your vehicle under
emergency conditions.
Avoid stopping on the road. It is best to
safely pull off the road if a problem occurs.

The hazard warning flasher can be acti-
vated regardless of the ignition switch
position.
Turn on the hazard warning by pushing
the hazard warning flasher switch. Turn it
off by pushing the switch again.

NOTE

When the hazard warning flasher is on,
the turn signals do not work.

Temporary spare tire

WARNING

When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel rim is replaced without the
original pressure sensor/transmitter
being transferred, the low tire pres-
sure warning light will illuminate
steadily after blinking for approxi-
mately one minute. This indicates
the tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) is unable to monitor all four
road wheels. Contact your SUBARU
dealer as soon as possible for tire
and sensor replacement and/or sys-
tem resetting.

CAUTION

Never use any temporary spare tire
other than the original. Using other
sizes may result in severe mechan-
ical damage to the drive train of your
vehicle.

The temporary spare tire is smaller and
lighter than a conventional tire and is
designed for emergency use only. Re-
move the temporary spare tire and re-
install the conventional tire as soon as

possible because the spare tire is de-
signed only for temporary use.

Check the inflation pressure of the tem-
porary spare tire periodically to keep the
tire ready for use. The correct pressure is
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kg/cm

When using the temporary spare tire, note
the following.
. Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
. Do not put a tire chain on the temporary
spare tire. Because of the smaller tire size,
a tire chain will not fit properly.
. Do not use two or more temporary
spare tires at the same time.
. Do not drive over obstacles. This tire
has a smaller diameter, so road clearance
is reduced.

Tread wear indicator bar

Indicator location mark

. When the wear indicator appears on
the tread, replace the tire.
. The temporary spare tire must be used
only on a rear wheel. If a front wheel tire
gets punctured, replace the wheel with a
rear wheel and install the temporary spare
tire in place of the removed rear wheel.

Maintenance tools

Your vehicle is equipped with the following
maintenance tools.

. Jack
. Jack handle
. Screwdriver
. Towing hook (eye bolt)
. Wheel nut wrench

In case of emergency/Maintenance tools

9-3

– CONTINUED –

9-4

In case of emergency/Maintenance tools

Tool bag

Screwdriver

Wheel nut wrench

Tool bag

The screwdriver and wheel nut wrench are
stored in the tool bag.

Under the rear floor

Jack handle

4-door models

5-door models

Under-floor storage compartment (if
equipped) (Refer to “Under-floor storage

compartment” F6-14.)

Tool bucket

Spare tire

4-door models

5-door models

Wheel nut wrench

Screwdriver

Jack

Towing hook (eye bolt)

The jack handle is stored under the floor of
the trunk (4-door) or the cargo area (5-
door). The jack and towing hook are
stored in the tool bucket that is located in
the recess of the spare tire wheel.

Also, the tools in the tool bag can be
stored in the tool bucket as illustrated.

For how to use the jack, refer to “Flat tires”
F9-5.

Flat tires

If you have a flat tire while driving, never
brake suddenly; keep driving straight
ahead while gradually reducing speed.
Then slowly pull off the road to a safe
place.

Changing a flat tire

WARNING

. Do not jack up the vehicle on an

incline or a loose road surface.
The jack can come out of the
jacking point or sink into the
ground and this can result in a
severe accident.

. Use only the jack provided with

your vehicle. The jack supplied
with the vehicle is designed only
for changing a tire. Never get
under the vehicle while support-
ing the vehicle with this jack.

. Always turn off the engine before

raising the flat tire off the ground
using the jack. Never swing or
push the vehicle supported with
the jack. The jack can come out
of the jacking point due to a jolt
and this can result in a severe
accident.

1. Park on a hard, level surface, when-
ever possible, then stop the engine.
2. Set the parking brake securely and
shift the shift lever in reverse.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher
and have everyone get out of the vehicle.

4. Put wheel blocks at the front and rear
of the tire diagonally opposite the flat tire.
5. Take out the jack, jack handle and
wheel nut wrench.

In case of emergency/Flat tires

9-5

– CONTINUED –

9-6

In case of emergency/Flat tires

The tools and the spare tire are stored
under the floor of the trunk (4-door) or the
cargo area (5-door). Refer to “Mainte-
nance tools” F9-3.

NOTE

Make sure that the jack is well lubri-
cated before using it.

6. Take out the tool bucket and turn the
attaching bolt counterclockwise, then take
the spare tire out.

NOTE

If the spare tire provided in your vehicle
is a temporary spare tire, carefully read
“Temporary spare tire” F9-2 and
strictly follow the instructions.

Notch

Valve hole

7. If your vehicle has wheel covers, insert
a flat-head screwdriver into the notch on
the opposite side of the valve hole and pry
the wheel cover to remove it.

8. Loosen the wheel nuts using the wheel
nut wrench but do not remove the nuts.

Jack-up points

9. Place the jack under the side sill at the
front or rear jack-up point closest to the flat
tire.
Turn the jackscrew by hand until the jack
head engages firmly into the jack-up point.

10. Insert the jack handle into the jack-
screw, and turn the handle until the tire
clears the ground. Do not raise the vehicle
higher than necessary.
11. Remove the wheel nuts and the flat
tire.

12. Before putting the spare tire on, clean
the mounting surface of the wheel and hub
with a cloth.
13. Put on the spare tire. Replace the
wheel nuts. Tighten them by hand.

WARNING

Do not use oil or grease on the
wheel studs or nuts when the spare
tire is installed. This could cause the
nuts to become loose and lead to an
accident.

14. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
to lower the vehicle.

15. Use the wheel nut wrench to securely
tighten the wheel nuts to the specified
torque, following the tightening order in the
illustration.
For the wheel nut tightening torque, refer
to “Tires” F12-9. Never use your foot on
the wheel nut wrench or a pipe extension
on the wrench because you may exceed
the specified torque. Have the wheel nut
torque checked at the nearest automotive
service facility.

In case of emergency/Flat tires

9-7

– CONTINUED –

Subaru Impreza WRX (2014 year). Instruction - part 19