Subaru Baja (2006 year). Instruction — part 19

8-10

Driving tips

less of its depth, it can wash away the ground from un-
der your tires, resulting in possible loss of traction and
even vehicle rollover.
y Always check your brakes for effectiveness immedi-
ately after driving in sand, mud or water. Do this by
driving slowly and stepping on the brake pedal. Re-
peat that process several times to dry out the brake
discs and brake pads.
y Do not drive or park over or near flammable materi-
als 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 engine stops. This
could create a fire hazard.
y 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 under-
body. If the vehicle is used with these materials
trapped or adhering to the underbody, a mechanical
breakdown or fire could occur.
y 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.
y 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.

y Cargo should be evenly distributed over the cargo
bed. Keep heavier items as low and far forward as
possible. Loading the vehicle improperly can deterio-
rate handling capability and contribute to loss of vehi-
cle control.
y Be sure the cargo is secured properly. Unsecured
cargo in the cargo bed can be thrown around when
driving on off-road. To prevent loose cargo from enter-
ing the passenger compartment, always close the
switchback door while driving off-road.
y Always close the tailgate while driving off-road. Also
remove the bed extender (if so equipped) to avoid
damage.
y If you must rock the vehicle to free it from sand or
mud, depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move
the selector lever back and forth between “D” and “R”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For the best pos-
sible traction, avoid spinning the wheels when trying to
free the vehicle.
y 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 and AT).
y Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those
specified in this manual.
y Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-road driving.
Suspension components are particularly prone to dirt
buildup, so they need to be washed thoroughly.

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Driving tips

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y Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle under hard-driv-
ing conditions such as rough roads or off roads will ne-
cessitate 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 pre-
cautions such as those listed above is not eligible for
warranty coverage.

Winter driving

„ Operation during cold weather

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

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

Use an engine oil of proper grade and viscosity for
cold weather. Heavy summer oil will cause harder

UB8046AA

8-12

Driving tips

starting.
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 afterwards
thoroughly wipe the water away.

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

In order to prevent freezing of washer fluid, check the
freezing temperatures in the table above when adjust-
ing 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 cer-
tain period of time. Otherwise, if the concentration of
the fluid remaining in the piping is too low for the out-
side temperature, it may freeze and block the nozzles.

Adjust the washer fluid concentration appropri-
ately for the outside 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.

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

Washer Fluid Concentration

Freezing Temperature

30%

10.4°F (–12°C)

50%

–4°F (–20°C)

100%

–49°F (–45°C)

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Driving tips

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severe winter driving, stop when and where it is safe
to do so and check under the fenders periodically.

T Parking in cold weather

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.

Do not use the parking brake when parking for long
periods in cold weather since it could freeze in that po-
sition. Instead, observe the following.
1. Place the shift lever in “1” or “R” for manual trans-
mission vehicles, and in “P” for automatic transmission
vehicles.
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 harness.

T Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in the fuel sys-
tem and the risk of its freezing, use of an antifreeze ad-
ditive 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 extend-
ed period, it is best to have the fuel tank filled to capac-
ity.

„ Driving on snowy and icy roads

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

8-14

Driving tips

Avoid prolonged continuous driving in snow-
storms. Snow will enter the engine’s intake sys-
tem and may hinder the air flow, which could re-
sult in engine shutdown or even breakdown.

To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid sudden brak-
ing, 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 sud-
den 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 behavior can
cause the wheels to lock, possibly leading to loss of
vehicle control.

An anti-lock brake system (ABS) enhances your vehi-
cle’s braking performance on snowy and icy roads.
Refer to the “ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)” section in
chapter 7 for information on braking on slippery sur-
faces.

T 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 wiper blades are frozen to the windshield or rear
window, 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. If your vehicle is equipped with
a wiper deicer, it is helpful to thaw the windshield wiper
blades.

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.

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 sub-zero temperatures. Blades of this type

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Driving tips

– CONTINUED –

give superior wiping performance in snowy conditions.
Be sure to use blades that are suitable for your vehi-
cle.

During high-speed driving, non-freezing type
wiper blades may not perform as well as stan-
dard wiper blades. If this happens, reduce the
vehicle speed.

NOTE

When the season requiring non-freezing type wip-
er blades is over, replace them with standard wip-
er blades.

„ Corrosion protection

Refer to the “Corrosion protection” section (chapter
10).

„ Snow tires

y When replacing original tires with winter
(snow) tires, make sure you use only the same

size and construction as recommended. Using
other sizes and construction may affect speed-
ometer/odometer calibration and clearance be-
tween the body and tires. It also may be danger-
ous and lead to loss of vehicle control.
y You must install four winter tires that are of
the same size, circumferences, construction,
brand, and load range. Mixing other sizes, cir-
cumferences or constructions may result in se-
vere mechanical damage to the drive train of
your vehicle and may affect ride, handling,
braking and speedometer/odometer calibra-
tion. It also may be dangerous and lead to loss
of vehicle control.
y Do not use a combination of radial, belted
bias or bias tires since it may cause dangerous
handling characteristics and lead to an acci-
dent.

Your vehicle is equipped with “all season tires” which
are designed to provide an adequate measure of trac-
tion, handling and braking performance in year-round
driving. In winter, it may be possible to enhance per-
formance through use of tires designed specifically for
winter driving conditions.
If you choose to install winter tires on your vehicle, be
sure to use the correct tire size and type. You must in-

8-16

Driving tips

stall four winter tires that are of the same size, con-
struction, brand and load range and you should never
mix radial, belted bias or bias tires since this may re-
sult in dangerous handling characteristics. When you
choose a tire, make sure that there is enough clear-
ance between the tire and vehicle body.

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

Your vehicle comes with P225/60R16 “all season
tires” as original equipment. You should be aware
that some winter tires with that same size designa-
tion may actually be too large for the vehicle and
may cause rubbing on sharp turns. Listed in the
following is the winter tire size that we recom-
mend.

Recommended winter (snow) tire size

P215/60R16 Studless

„ Tire chains

Tire chains cannot be used on tires listed in the
following because of lack of clearance between

the tires and vehicle body.
y P225/60R16 tires
y P215/60R16 winter (snow) tires

Driving on snowy grades or icy roads may require the
use of tire chains, in which case put the chains on the
front wheels only. Use only SAE class S type chains
that are of the correct size for your tires so as not to
damage the vehicle body or suspension.
When driving with tire chains, drive at speeds below
19 mph (30 km/h). When a temporary spare tire is on
a front wheel, replace the temporary spare tire with the
rear tire on the same side of the vehicle, and then fit
chains on the front tires.
Always use the utmost care when driving with tire
chains – overconfidence because you are driving with
tire chains could easily lead to a serious accident.

„ Rocking the vehicle

If you must rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand,
or mud, depress the accelerator pedal slightly and
move the selector lever back and forth between “D”
and “R” repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For the
best possible traction, avoid spinning the wheels when
trying to free the vehicle.

8-17

Driving tips

– CONTINUED –

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 and AT).

Refer to the “Automatic transmission” section in chap-
ter 7 for information on holding the transmission in 2nd
position.

Loading your vehicle

Never allow passengers to ride on a folded rear
seatback or in the cargo bed. Doing so may re-
sult in serious injury.

y Never stack luggage or other cargo higher
than the top of the seatback because it could
tumble forward and injure passengers in the

HS8005BA

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Driving tips

event of a sudden stop or accident. Keep lug-
gage or cargo low, as close to the floor as pos-
sible.
y 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.
y Do not pile heavy loads on the roof. These
loads raise the vehicle’s center of gravity and
make it more prone to tip over.
y Secure lengthy items properly to prevent
them from shooting forward and causing seri-
ous injury during a sudden stop.
y 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 per-
sonal injury. Also, overloading can shorten the
life of your vehicle.
y Cargo should be evenly distributed over the
cargo bed. Keep heavier items as low and far
forward as possible. Loading the vehicle im-
properly can deteriorate handling capability
and contribute to loss of vehicle control.
y Be sure the cargo is secured properly. Unse-
cured cargo in the cargo bed can be thrown
around during sudden braking, in a sharp turn

or during rapid acceleration, which could cre-
ate a dangerous road hazard.

Do not carry spray cans, containers with flam-
mable or corrosive liquids or any other danger-
ous items inside the passenger compartment.

NOTE

For better fuel economy, do not carry unneeded
cargo.

8-19

Driving tips

– CONTINUED –

„ 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 ve-
hicle placard attached to the driver’s side door pillar. It
includes the total weight of the driver and all passen-
gers and their belongings, any optional equipment
such as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier, etc.,
and the tongue load of a trailer.

„ GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight
Rating)

The certification label attached to the driver’s side

UB8031BA

UB8053BA

UB8043BA

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Driving tips

door 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, any op-
tional equipment and trailer tongue load. Therefore,
the GVW changes depending on the situation.

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 in-
side 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 con-
firm that GVW and front and rear GAWs are within the
GVWR and GAWR by putting your vehicle on a vehi-
cle 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 limitations. Replacement tires with a high-
er load range than the originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.

Trailer hitch (if equipped)

y Never exceed the maximum weight specified
for the trailer hitch. Exceeding the maximum
weight could cause an accident resulting in se-
rious personal injuries. Permissible trailer
weight changes depending on the situation. Re-
fer to the next section “Trailer towing” for pos-
sible recommendations and limitations.
y Trailer brakes are required when the towing
load exceeds 1,000 lbs (453 kg). Be sure your
trailer has safety chains and that each chain
will hold the trailer’s maximum gross weight.
Towing trailers without safety chains could cre-
ate a traffic safety hazard if the trailer separates
from the hitch due to coupling damage or hitch
ball damage.
y Be sure to check the hitch pin and safety pin
for positive locking placement before towing a
trailer. If the ball mount comes off the hitch re-
ceiver, the trailer could get loose and create a
traffic safety hazard.
y Use only the ball mount supplied with this
hitch. Use the hitch only as a weight carrying
hitch. Do not use with any type of weight dis-

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Driving tips

– CONTINUED –

tributing hitch.

The trailer hitch is designed to tow a Class 1 rated
load. A maximum of 2,400 lbs (1,087 kg) gross trailer
weight and a maximum of 200 lbs (90 kg) gross
tongue weight are permissible for the trailer hitch.
When you tow a trailer, follow the instructions in the
next section “Trailer towing”.

„ Connecting a trailer

The license plate bracket will hit the hitch ball
and may be damaged if the tailgate is opened
and the license plate bracket is at the lowered/
open position. Close the tailgate and return the
license plate bracket to its normal position
flush against the tailgate itself whenever you
tow a trailer or whenever a trailer is hitched to
the vehicle.

1. Before connecting the ball mount to the hitch re-
ceiver, close the tailgate and return the license plate
bracket to its normal retracted position up against the
tailgate. Refer to “License plate bracket” under the
heading “Tailgate” in chapter 2 for more information on
the function of the license plate bracket.
2. Remove the receiver cover from the hitch receiver
tube. Then insert the ball mount into the hitch receiver
tube.

UB8047BA

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Driving tips

3. Insert the hitch pin into the hole on the hitch receiv-
er tube so that the pin passes through the ball mount.

4. Insert the safety pin into the hitch pin securely.
5. Pull the ball mount to make sure it does not come
off the hitch receiver.

UB8018BA

HS8012BA

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Driving tips

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1) Hitch ball installation point
2) Hooks for safety chains

6. Use only a hitch ball that is appropriate for the ball
mount and your trailer. The hitch ball must be securely
installed on the ball mount.
7. Connect your trailer to the hitch ball.
8. Connect the trailer and the hitch with safety chains
that will hold the trailer’s maximum gross weight. The
chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent
the tongue from dropping onto the ground in case it
should disconnect from the hitch ball. Allow sufficient
slack in the chains taking tight-turn situations into ac-
count; however, be careful not to let them drag on the

ground.

Do not connect safety chains to part of the ve-
hicle other than the safety chain hooks.

1

2

UB8020BB

UG8034BA

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Driving tips

Hitch harness connector

9. Connect the hitch wire harness’s black four-pin
wire connector to the towing trailer’s wire harness.
10.Confirm proper function of the hitch wire harness
by individually activating the brake, right turn signal,
left turn signal, stop, and parking lights on the trailer.

NOTE

Always disconnect the trailer wire harness before
launching or retrieving a watercraft.

„ When you do not tow a trailer

Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver
tube when the tailgate is open and the bed ex-
tender is used. The rear license plate will not be
visible because the license plate bracket can
not be used at the lowered/open position when
the ball mount is connected.
In addition, the license plate bracket will hit the
hitch ball and may be damaged if the tailgate is
opened and the license plate bracket is at the
lowered/open position.

y Remove the ball mount from the hitch receiver tube
and insert the receiver cover onto the hitch receiver
tube.
y Place the dust cap over the four-pin connector of the
hitch wire harness to protect against possible damage.
y Occasionally lubricate terminals of the four-pin con-
nector using the terminal grease, and cover with the
attached rubber cap.

HS8015BA

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Driving tips

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Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed and intended to be used pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo. Towing a trailer
puts additional loads on your vehicle’s engine, driv-
etrain, brakes, tires and suspension and has an ad-
verse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety and satis-
faction depend upon proper use of correct equipment
and cautious operation of your vehicle. Seek the ad-
vice of your SUBARU dealer to assist you in purchas-
ing a hitch and other necessary towing equipment ap-
propriate for your vehicle. In addition, be sure to follow
the instructions on correct installation and use provid-
ed by the trailer and other towing equipment manufac-
turers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for injuries or ve-
hicle damage that result from trailer towing equipment,
or from any errors or omissions in the instructions ac-
companying such equipment or for your failure to fol-
low the proper instructions.

„ Warranties and maintenance

SUBARU warranties do not apply to vehicle damage
or malfunction caused by trailer towing. If you use your
vehicle to tow a trailer, more frequent maintenance will
be required due to the additional load. (Refer to “Main-

tenance schedule under severe driving conditions” in
the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer be towed with
a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new powertrain
component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of
driving.

„ Maximum load limits

Never exceed the maximum load limits ex-
plained in the following. Exceeding the maxi-
mum load limits could cause personal injury
and/or vehicle damage.

y Adequate size trailer brakes are required
when the trailer and its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs
(453 kg) total weight.
y Before towing a trailer, check the trailer total
weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load. Make
sure the load and its distribution in your vehicle