Subaru Legacy (2023 year). Manual in english

(492,1)

9-6. Engine Overheating

WARNING

Never remove the radiator cap until
the engine has been shut off and has
fully cooled down. When the engine
is hot, the coolant is under pressure.
Removing the cap while the engine
is still hot could release a spray of
boiling hot coolant, which could
burn you very seriously.

CAUTION

If the engine overheats, the engine
speed or the vehicle speed may be
reduced. Stop the vehicle in a safe
place immediately.

If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment

Turn off the engine and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down.

If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment

NOTE

For details about how to check the
coolant level or how to add coolant,
refer to “Engine Coolant”

�

P524.

1. Keep the engine running at idling
speed.
2. Open the hood to ventilate the engine
compartment. Refer to “Engine Hood”

�

P517.

Confirm that the cooling fan is turning. If
the fan is not turning, immediately turn off
the engine and contact your authorized
dealer for repair.
3. After the engine coolant temperature
has dropped, turn off the engine.
If the temperature gauge stays in the
overheated zone, turn off the engine.
4. After the engine has fully cooled down,
check the coolant level in the reserve tank.
If the coolant level is below the “LOW”
mark, add coolant up to the “FULL” mark.
5. If there is no coolant in the reserve
tank, add coolant to the reserve tank. Then
remove the radiator cap and fill the radiator
with coolant.

If you remove the radiator cap from a hot
radiator, first wrap a thick cloth around the
radiator cap, then turn the cap counter-

clockwise slowly without pressing down
until it stops. Release the pressure from
the radiator. After the pressure has been
fully released, remove the cap by pressing
down and turning it.

Engine Overheating

490

(493,1)

9-7. Towing

WARNING

Never tow AWD vehicles with the
front wheels raised off the ground
while the rear wheels are on the
ground, or with the rear wheels
raised off the ground while the front
wheels are on the ground. This will
cause the vehicle to spin away due
to the operation or deterioration of
the center differential.

If towing is necessary, SUBARU recom-
mends it be done by your SUBARU dealer
or a commercial towing service.

Towing Hook and Tie-Down
Hooks/Holes

The towing hooks should be used only in
an emergency.
A towing hook is supplied with Outback/
Subaru Outback Wilderness only. Legacy
is not supplied with a towing hook (the
towing hook can be purchased at a
SUBARU dealer). On Legacy, the towing
access cover is on the rear bumper only.

SUBARU recommends towing be done
by your SUBARU dealer or a commer-
cial towing service.

CAUTION

Use only the specified towing

hook and tie-down hooks/holes.
Never use suspension parts or
other parts of the body for towing
or tie-down purposes.

Never use the tie-down hole clo-

sest to the muffler under the
vehicle for towing purposes.

Front towing hook (Outback/Subaru
Outback Wilderness):

1. Take out the screwdriver, towing hook,
wheel nut wrench and jack handle from the
under-floor storage compartment.

Towing hook covers (Depending on the
vehicle, there may be only one cover.)

2. Cover the tip of a flat-head screwdriver
with vinyl tape or cloth so that it will not
scratch the bumper. Insert the flat-head
screwdriver into the cutout of the cover and

– CONTINUED –

Towing

491

In
Case

of
Emergency

(494,1)

pry open the cover.

3. Screw the towing hook into the
threaded hole until the threads can no
longer be seen.

4. Tighten the towing hook securely using
the jack handle and wheel nut wrench.

After towing, remove the towing hook from
the vehicle and stow it in the under-floor
storage compartment.
Fit the towing hook cover on the bumper.

WARNING

Do not use the towing hook for

purposes other than towing your
vehicle.

Be sure to remove the towing

hook after towing. Leaving the
towing hook mounted on the
vehicle could interfere with prop-
er operation of the SRS airbag
system in a frontal collision.

CAUTION

To prevent deformation to the bum-
per and the towing hook, do not
apply excessive load to the towing
hook.

Rear towing hook:

1. Take out the screwdriver, towing hook,
wheel nut wrench and jack handle from the
under-floor storage compartment.

Towing hook covers (Depending on the
vehicle, there may be only one cover.)

Legacy

Towing

492

(495,1)

Outback/Subaru Outback Wilderness

2. Pry off the cover on the rear bumper
using a screwdriver, and you will find a
threaded hole for attaching the towing
hook.

3. Screw the towing hook into the

threaded hole until its thread can no longer
be seen.

4. Tighten the towing hook securely using
the jack handle and wheel nut wrench.

After towing, remove the towing hook from
the vehicle and stow it in the under-floor
storage compartment.
Fit the towing hook cover on the bumper.

WARNING

Do not use the towing hook for

purposes other than towing your
vehicle.

Be sure to remove the towing

hook after towing. Leaving the
towing hook mounted on the
vehicle could interfere with prop-

er operation of the fuel pump
shut off function when the vehi-
cle is struck from behind.

CAUTION

To prevent deformation to the bum-
per and the towing hook, do not
apply excessive load to the towing
hook.

Front tie-down hooks:

The front tie-down hooks are located
between each of the front tires and the
front bumper.

Front Tie-down Hooks

are for tying down

the vehicle. They are not for towing.

– CONTINUED –

Towing

493

In
Case

of
Emergency

(496,1)

Rear tie-down holes:

Rear tie-down hole

The rear tie-down holes are located near
each of the jack-up reinforcements.
There is a plug in each rear tie-down hole.
To use the rear tie-down holes, remove the

plugs. After using the rear tie-down holes,
return the plugs to their original places.

WARNING

Use the rear tie-down holes only for
downward anchoring. If they are
used to anchor the vehicle in any
other direction, cables may slip out
of the holes, possibly causing a
dangerous situation.

Using a Flat-Bed Truck

This is the best way to transport your
vehicle. Use the following procedures to
ensure safe transportation.
1. Shift the select lever into the “P”
position.
2. Apply the parking brake firmly.

3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier
properly with safety chains. Each safety
chain should be equally tightened and care
must be taken not to pull the chains so
tightly that the suspension bottoms out.

CAUTION

Transport by flat-bed truck may
cause the headlights to become
misaligned. In such a case, have
the headlight alignment checked by
a SUBARU dealer after transporting
the vehicle by flat-bed truck.

Towing with All Wheels on the
Ground

Towing

494

(497,1)

WARNING

Never turn the ignition switch to

the “LOCK”/“OFF” position while
the vehicle is being towed be-
cause the steering wheel and the
direction of the wheels will be
locked.

Remember that the brake booster

and power steering do not func-
tion when the engine is not run-
ning. Because the engine is
turned off, it will take greater
effort to operate the brake pedal
and steering wheel.

CAUTION

If transmission failure occurs,

transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.

Sometime damaged vehicles can-

not be towed because of their
damaged condition. In that case,
use a flat-bed truck for transpor-
tation.

The traveling speed must be

limited to less than 20 mph (32
km/h) and the traveling distance
to less than 31 miles (50 km). For
greater speeds and distances,

transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.

Use a flat-bed truck if there are

long distance downgrades or
steep slopes. However, do not
apply the brake pedal for a long
time because the engine braking
will not work while towing. Doing
so could overheat the brake.

Drive carefully and do not make

an impact on the towing rope by
suddenly starting.

Use a specific towing rope for

towing. If wire ropes and metal
chains are needed to be used for
towing, wrap the contact portion
of the bumper with cloth to pro-
tect it from damage.

1. Release the parking brake and put the
transmission in neutral.
2. The ignition switch should be in the
“ON” position while the vehicle is being
towed.
3. Take up slack in the towline slowly to
prevent damage to the vehicle.

9-8. Electronic Parking Brake
– If the Electronic Parking
Brake Cannot Be Released

Contact your SUBARU dealer and have
your SUBARU dealer release the electro-
nic parking brake.

Electronic Parking Brake – If the Electronic Parking Brake Cannot Be Released

495

In
Case

of
Emergency

(498,1)

9-9. Access Key Fob – If Ac-
cess Key Fob Does Not Op-
erate Properly

CAUTION

Keep metallic objects, magnetic
sources and signal transmitters
away from the area between the
access key fob and the push-button
ignition switch. They may interfere
with the communication between
the access key fob and the push-
button ignition switch.

The following functions may be inoperable
because of strong radio signals in the
surrounding area or a low battery condition
of the access key fob.

Locking/unlocking doors including rear

gate

Switching power status

Starting engine

In such cases, perform the following
procedure. When the battery of the access
key fob is discharged, replace it with a new
one. Refer to “Replacing Battery of Access
Key Fob”

�

P555.

Locking and Unlocking

Release button

Emergency key

While pressing the release button of the
access key fob, take out the emergency
key.
Lock or unlock the driver’s door with the
emergency key in the procedure described
in “Locking and Unlocking from the Out-
side”

�

P139.

NOTE

After locking or unlocking, be sure to
attach the emergency key back to the
access key fob.

Switching Power Status

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the select lever into the “P”
position.
3. Depress the brake pedal.

When the keyless access with push-

button start system is deactivated:
“ACC”

Under other conditions: “ON”

Access Key Fob – If Access Key Fob Does Not Operate Properly

496

(499,1)

5. When the keyless access with push-
button start system is deactivated, press
the push-button ignition switch with the
brake pedal released. The status of the
push-button ignition switch then changes
to “ON”.

NOTE

If the power does not switch even
though the above procedure was fol-
lowed precisely, contact your SUBARU
dealer.

Starting Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the select lever into the “P”
position.
3. Depress the brake pedal.

4. Hold the access key fob with the
buttons facing you, and touch the push-
button ignition switch with it.
When the communication between the
access key fob and the vehicle is com-
pleted, a chime (ding) will sound. At the
same time, the push-button ignition switch
turns to the “ACC” or “ON” position.
5. After the push-button ignition switch
turns to the “ACC” or “ON” position, while
depressing the brake pedal, press the
push-button ignition switch.

NOTE

If the engine does not start even though
the above procedure was followed
precisely, contact your SUBARU dealer.

9-10. Rear Gate (Outback/
Subaru Outback Wilderness)
– If the Rear Gate Cannot Be
Opened

In the event that you cannot open the rear
gate by pressing the rear gate opener
button (all models) or using the power rear
gate (if equipped), you can open it from
inside the cargo area.

1. Remove the access cover at the
bottom-center of the rear gate trim using
flat-head screwdriver.

– CONTINUED –

Rear Gate (Outback/Subaru Outback Wilderness) – If the Rear Gate Cannot Be Opened

497

In
Case

of
Emergency

(500,1)

CAUTION

Never operate the rear gate lock
release lever with your fingers be-
cause doing so may cause an injury.
Always use a flat-head screwdriver
or a similar tool.

Models without power rear gate

Rear gate lock release lever

Models with power rear gate

Rear gate lock release lever

2. Turn the rear gate lock release lever to
the right position using a flat-head screw-
driver or a similar tool. Then the rear gate
will open.

9-11. Malfunctions of the
Center Information Display

If the following screens are displayed,
temporary errors or malfunctions may
occur in the center information display.
If they are only temporary errors, the
following procedure may help to eliminate
them.

Shutting down the screen

Malfunctions of the Center Information Display

498

(501,1)

Freezing the screen

Blacking out the screen

Error A

Error B

1. Park the vehicle in a safe place.
2. Turn the ignition switch once to the
“LOCK/OFF” position, then start the en-
gine.

Volume button (dual 7.0-inch display
models)

Volume button (11.6-inch display models)

3. If the center information display cannot
be recovered even though the engine has
been restarted, press and hold the volume

– CONTINUED –

Malfunctions of the Center Information Display

499

In
Case

of
Emergency

(502,1)

button for more than 10 seconds. The
center information display will start up
again.
4. If the center information display is not
recovered by restarting it, contact your
SUBARU dealer.

9-12. If Your Vehicle Is In-
volved in an Accident

To Restart the Engine When
Involved in an Accident

CAUTION

If your vehicle is involved in an
accident, be sure to inspect the
ground under the vehicle before
restarting the engine. If you find that
fuel has leaked on the ground, do
not try to restart the engine. The fuel
system has been damaged and is in
need of repair. Immediately contact
the nearest automotive service facil-
ity. We recommend that you consult
your SUBARU dealer.

Your vehicle has a fuel pump shut off
system. When the vehicle sustains an
impact in an accident, etc., the fuel pump
shut off system stops supplying the fuel in
order to minimize fuel leakage.
Perform the following procedures to restart
the engine after the system is activated.

Models without “keyless access with
push-button start system”:

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
or “ACC” position.
2. Restart the engine.

Models with “keyless access with
push-button start system”:

1. Turn the push-button ignition switch to
the “ACC” or “OFF” position.
2. Restart the engine.

Automatic Door Locking/Un-
locking Operation When In-
volved in an Accident

When the automatic door locking/unlock-
ing function is ON, all the doors will be
locked automatically while driving. For
further details, refer to “Automatic Door
Locking/Unlocking”

�

P141.

When the vehicle sustains a strong impact
which may trigger the airbags to deploy,
the door locks may be unlocked automa-
tically to enable emergency escape. Gen-
erally, an impact sustained from a rear end
collision does not trigger the airbags to
deploy. However if the impact is strong
enough to deploy the airbags, it can also
trigger the unlocking function.
Under such circumstance, the automatic
door locking/unlocking function will be
suspended and the doors will remain
unlocked.
Confirm the safety of the surroundings first
and carry out the following to retrieve the
automatic door locking/unlocking function.

If Your Vehicle Is Involved in an Accident

500

(503,1)

Models without “keyless access with
push-button start system”:

1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”
position.

Models with “keyless access with
push-button start system”:

1. Turn the push-button ignition switch to
the “OFF” position.
2. Turn the push-button ignition switch to
the “ON” position.

NOTE

Depending on the severity of the im-
pact, the emergency unlocking may not
function.

CAUTION

If the following occur, there may be a
malfunction in the system.

Have the system inspected by a
SUBARU dealer.

The doors unlock automatically

while driving.

With all doors shut, the doors

unlock when pressing the lock
side of the power door locking
switch.

The automatic door locking/un-

locking function does not oper-
ate.

If Your Vehicle Is Involved in an Accident

501

In
Case

of
Emergency

(505,1)

10-1. Exterior Care ................................................. 504

Washing ............................................................. 504
Waxing and Polishing ......................................... 505
Cleaning Alloy Wheels ........................................ 506
Cleaning Tire (Vehicle with White Letter Tires) .... 506

10-2. Corrosion Protection .................................... 506

Most Common Causes of Corrosion.................... 506
To Help Prevent Corrosion .................................. 507

10-3. Cleaning the Interior .....................................507

Seat Fabric Material ........................................... 507
Leather Seat Materials........................................ 508
Synthetic Leather Upholstery ............................. 508
Instrument Panel, Console Panel, Switches,

Combination Meter, and Other Plastic
Surface ............................................................ 508

Center Information Display ................................. 509

Appearance Care

Appearance

Care

(506,1)

10-1. Exterior Care

Washing

CAUTION

When washing the vehicle, the

brakes may get wet. As a result,
the brake stopping distance will
be longer. To dry the brakes, drive
the vehicle at a safe speed while
lightly pressing the brake pedal
to heat up the brakes.

Do not wash the engine compart-

ment and areas adjacent to it. If
water enters the engine air intake
or electrical parts, it will cause
engine trouble or a malfunction
of the power steering.

When washing inner fenders, un-

derbody, bumpers and protrud-
ing objects such as exhaust
pipes and exhaust finishers, be
careful to prevent injuries from
contacting sharp ends.

Do not use any organic solvents

when washing the surface of the
bulb assembly cover. However, if
a detergent with organic solvents
is used to wash the cover sur-
face, completely rinse off the
detergent with water. Otherwise,

the cover surface may be da-
maged.

O u t b a c k / S u b a r u O u t b a c k

Wilderness: Since your vehicle
is equipped with a rear wiper,
automatic car-wash brushes
could become tangled around it,
damaging the wiper arm and
other components. Ask the auto-
matic car-wash operator not to let
the brushes touch the wiper arm
or to fix the wiper arm on the rear
window glass with adhesive tape
before operating the machine.

NOTE

When having your vehicle washed in an
automatic car wash, make sure before-
hand that the car wash is of suitable
type.

The best way to preserve your vehicle’s
beauty is frequent washing. Wash the
vehicle at least once a month to avoid
contamination by road grime.

Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of lukewarm or cold water. Do not wash the
vehicle with hot water and in direct sun-
light.

Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree sap,
and bird droppings should be washed off

by using a light detergent, as required. If
you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use
strong soap or chemical detergents. All
cleaning agents should be promptly
flushed from the surface and not allowed
to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly
with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the
remaining water off with a chamois or soft
cloth. Wear rubber gloves and use a hand
brush when washing down underbody,
inner fenders and suspension to effec-
tively remove mud and dirt off.

Washing the underbody

Chemicals, salts and gravel used for
deicing road surfaces are extremely cor-
rosive, accelerating the corrosion of un-
derbody components, such as the exhaust
system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables,
floor pan and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside
of the fenders with lukewarm or cold water
at frequent intervals to reduce the harmful
effects of such agents.

Mud and sand adhering to the underbody
components may accelerate their corro-
sion.
After driving off-road or on muddy or sandy
roads, wash the mud and sand off the
underbody.
Carefully flush the suspension and axle

Exterior Care

504

(507,1)

parts, as they are particularly prone to mud
and sand buildup. Do not use a sharp-
edged tool to remove caked mud.

CAUTION

Be careful not to damage brake

hoses, sensor harnesses, and
other parts when washing sus-
pension components.

Be careful not to flush the engine

bottom for a long time. It may
cause damage of some electrical
parts.

Using a warm water washer

Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm)

or more between the washer nozzle and
the vehicle.

Do not wash the same area continu-

ously.

If a stain will not come out easily, wash

by hand. Some warm water washers are of
the high temperature, high pressure type,
and they can damage or deform the resin
parts such as mouldings, or cause water to
leak into the vehicle.

Waxing and Polishing

Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing and polishing.
Use a good quality polish and wax and
apply them according to the manufac-
turer’s instructions. Wax or polish when
the painted surface is cool.

Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim,
as well as the painted surfaces. Loss of
wax on a painted surface leads to loss of
the original luster and also quickens the
deterioration of the surface. It is recom-
mended that a coat of wax be applied at
least once a month, or whenever the
surface no longer repels water.

If the appearance of the paint has dimin-
ished to the point where the luster or tone
cannot be restored, lightly polish the sur-
face with a fine-grained compound. Never
polish just the affected area, but include
the surrounding area as well. Always
polish in only one direction. A No. 2000
grain compound is recommended. Never
use a coarse-grained compound. Coarser
grained compounds have a smaller grain-
size number and could damage the paint.
After polishing with a compound, coat with
wax to restore the original luster. Frequent
polishing with a compound or an incorrect
polishing technique will result in removing
the paint layer and exposing the under-

coat. When in doubt, it is always best to
contact your SUBARU dealer or an auto
paint specialist.

CAUTION

Do not use any agents with organic
solvents on the surface of the bulb
assembly cover. However, if a polish
or wax with organic solvents is
applied to the cover surface, com-
pletely wipe off the polish or wax.
Otherwise, the cover surface may be
damaged.

NOTE

Be careful not to block the wind-

shield washer nozzles with wax when
waxing the vehicle.

For Subaru Outback Wilderness

models, if wax gets onto the hood decal
when you are waxing your vehicle, this
could enhance the reflective appear-
ance of the hood decal and impair the
anti-reflective function.

– CONTINUED –

Exterior Care

505

Appearance

Care

(508,1)

Cleaning Alloy Wheels

Vehicles without matte painted
wheels

Promptly wipe the alloy wheels clean of

any kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left on
too long, it may be difficult to clean off.

Do not use soap containing grit to clean

the wheels. Be sure to use a neutral
cleaning agent, and later rinse thoroughly
with water. Do not clean the wheels with a
stiff brush or expose them to a high-speed
washing device.

Clean the vehicle (including the alloy

wheels) with water as soon as possible
when it has been splashed with sea water,
exposed to sea breezes, or driven on
roads treated with salt or other agents.

Vehicles with matte painted wheels

CAUTION

Be sure to observe the following
precautions as matte painted
wheels can be damaged.

Do not scrub or polish the wheels

using a brush or dry cloth.

Do not use any wheel coatings or

abrasive detergents.

As matte painted wheels require different
cleaning methods than conventional alloy
wheels, be sure to observe the following.
For details, consult your SUBARU dealer.

Remove dirt using water. If the wheels

are excessively dirty, use a sponge or soft
cloth dampened with a diluted neutral
detergent to remove the dirt.

Cleaning Tire (Vehicle with
White Letter Tires)

It is recommended to clean the white letter
part on the side of the tire frequently
because it easily gets dirty. When clean-
ing, use a neutral detergent and wash with
a sponge.

10-2. Corrosion Protection

Your SUBARU has been designed and
built to resist corrosion. Special materials
and protective finishes have been used on
most parts of the vehicle to help maintain
fine appearance, strength, and reliable
operation.

Most Common Causes of
Corrosion

The most common causes of corrosion
are:

The accumulation of moisture retaining

dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.

Damage to paint and other protective

coatings caused by gravel and stone chips
or minor accidents.

Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle
when:

It is exposed to road salt or dust control

chemicals, or used in coastal areas where
there is more salt in the air, or in areas
where there is considerable industrial
pollution.

It is driven in areas of high humidity,

especially when temperatures range just
above freezing.

Corrosion Protection

506

Subaru Legacy (2023 year). Manual in english - page 31