Subaru Legacy: Outback
Because of the AWD feature and higher ground clearance, your SUBARU can be driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But please keep in mind that an AWD SUBARU is a passenger car and is neither a conventional off-road vehicle nor an all-terrain vehicle. If you do take your SUBARU off-road, certain common sense precautions such as those in the following list should be taken:
● Make certain that you and all of your passengers are wearing seatbelts.
● Carry some emergency equipment, such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel, wheel
blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or citizens band radio.
● Drive carefully. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous areas or
over rough terrain.
● Slow down and employ extra caution at all times. When driving off-road, you will
not have the benefit of marked traffic lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and the
like.
● Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead, drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. A vehicle can much more easily tip over sideways than it can end
over end. Avoid driving straight up or down slopes that are too steep.
● Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, especially at higher speeds.
● Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk
the wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive with your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
● If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check the
depth of the water and the bottom of the stream bed for firmness and ensure that
the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly and completely through the stream. The
water should be shallow enough that it does not reach the vehicle’s undercarriage.
Water entering the engine air intake or the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto
electrical parts may damage your attempt to drive through rushing water; regardless
of its depth, it can wash away the ground from under your tires, resulting in possible
loss of traction and even vehicle rollover.
● Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand,
mud or water. Do this by driving slowly and stepping on the brake pedal. Repeat
that process several times to dry out the brake discs and brake pads.
● Do not drive or park over or near flammable materials such as dry grass or fallen
leaves, as they may burn easily. The exhaust system is very hot while the engine
is running and right after the engine stops. This could create a fire hazard.
● After driving through tall grass, mud, rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that there
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones, sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used
with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody, a mechanical breakdown
or fire could occur.
● Secure all cargo carried inside the vehicle and make certain that it is not piled
higher than the seatbacks. During sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo could be
thrown around in the vehicle and cause injury. Do not pile heavy loads on the roof.
Those loads raise the vehicle’s center of gravity and make it more prone to tip
over.
● If you must rock the vehicle to free it from sand or mud, depress the accelerator
pedal slightly and move the shift lever/ select lever back and forth between “1”/
“D” 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 (both for MT, AT and
CVT). For AT and CVT models, refer to “Selection of manual mode” F7-22.
● Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those specified in this manual.
● Wash the vehicle’s underbody after offroad driving. Suspension components are
particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they need to be washed thoroughly.
● Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle under hard-driving conditions such as rough
roads or off roads will necessitate more frequent replacement of engine oil, brake
fluid and transmission oil than that specified in the maintenance schedule described
in the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to your SUBARU while operating it off-road and not using common sense precautions such as those listed above is not eligible for warranty coverage.
Legacy
Your AWD vehicle is neither a conventional off-road vehicle nor an all terrain vehicle. It is a passenger car designed primarily for on-road use. The AWD feature gives it some limited off-road cap ...Winter driving
...See also:
Mobile communication devices in the
vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the vehicle
It is advised that you do not use mobile communication
devices, e.g., mobile phones, inside the
vehicle without connecting them directly to the
exte ...
Cockpit
...
Opening
You can open the trunk lid/tailgate
automatically using the SmartKey or the
handle in the trunk lid/tailgate.
•► Press and hold the button on the
SmartKey until the trunk lid/tailgate ...