Get Starting and operating -> Vehicle Dynamics Control system Guide for Subaru Outback SUV Fourth Generation (2010-2014)

5. If the brake fluid level is not below the

“MIN” mark, the EBD system may be

mal functioning. Drive carefully to the

nearest SUBARU dealer and have the

system inspected.

6. If the brake fluid level is below the

“MIN” mark, DO NOT drive the vehicle.

Instead, have the vehicle towed to the

nearest SUBARU dealer for repair.

WARNING

. Driving with the brake system

warning light on is dangerous.

This indicates your brake system

may not be working properly. If

the light remains on, have the

brakes inspected by a SUBARU

dealer immediately.

. If at all in doubt about whether

the brakes are operating prop-

erly, do not drive the vehicle.

Have your vehicle towed to the

nearest SUBARU dealer for re-

pair.

Vehicle Dynamics Control

system

WARNING

A lwa ys use the utmost care in

driving – overconfidence because

you are driving with a Vehicle Dy-

namics Control system equipped

vehicle could easily lead to a ser-

ious accident.

CAUTION

. Even if your vehicle is equipped

with Vehicle Dynamics Control

system, winter tires should be

used when driving on snow-cov-

ered or icy roads; in addition,

vehicle speed should be reduced

considerably. Simply ha ving a

Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-

tem does not guarantee that the

vehicle will be able to avoid

accidents in any situation.

. Activation of the Vehicle Dy-

namics Control system is an

indication that the road being

travelled on has a slippery sur-

face; since having Vehicle Dy-

namics Control is no guarantee

that full vehicle control will be

maintained at all times and under

all conditions, its activation

should be seen as a sign that

the speed of the vehicle should

be reduced considerably.

. Whenever suspension compo-

nents, steering components, or

an axle are removed from a

vehicle equipped with the Vehicle

Dynamics Control system, have

a n inspection of that system

performed by an authorized

SUBARU dealer.

. The following precautions should

be observed in order to ensure

that the Vehicle Dynamics Con-

trol system is operating properly.

– All four wheels should be

fitted with tires of the same

size, type, and brand. Further-

more, the amount of wear

should be the same for all

four tires.

– Keep the tire pressure at the

proper level as shown on the

vehicle placard attached to

the driver’s side door pillar.

– Use only the specified tem-

porary spare tire to replace a

flat tire . Wit h a temporary

Starting and operating 7-31

– CONTINUED –

7-32 Starting and operating

spare tire, the effectiveness of

the Vehicle Dynamics Control

system is reduced and this

should be taken into account

when driving the vehicle in

such a condition.

. If non-matching tires are used,

the Vehicle Dynamics Control

system may not operate cor-

rectly.

In the event of wheelspin and/or skidding

on a slippery road surface and/or during

cornering and/or an evasive maneuver,

the Vehicle Dynamics Control system

adjusts the engine’s output and the

wheels’ respective braking forces to help

maintain traction and directional control.

. Traction Control Function

The traction control function is designed to

prevent spinning of the driving wheels on

slippery road surfaces, thereby helping to

maintain traction and directional control.

Activation of this function is indicated by

flashing of the Vehicle Dynamics Control

operation indicator light.

. Skid Suppression Function

The skid suppression function is designed

to help maintain directional stability by

suppressing the wheels’ tendency to slide

sideways during steering operations. Acti-

vation of this function is indicated by

flashing of the Vehicle Dynamics Control

operation indicator light.

NOTE

. The Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-

tem may be considered normal when

the following conditions occur.

– Sli ght twitchi ng of the brake

pedal is felt.

– The vehicle or steering wheel

shakes to a small degree.

– An operati ng sound from the

engine compartment is heard

briefly when starting the engine

and when driving off after starting

the engine.

– The brake pedal seems to jolt

when driving off after starting the

engine.

. In the following circumstances, the

vehicle may be less stable than it feels

to the driver. The Vehicle Dynamics

Control System may therefore operate.

Such operation does not indicate a

system malfunction.

– on gravel-covered or rutted

roads

– on unfinished roads

– when the vehicle is towing a

trailer

– when the vehicle is fitted with

snow tires or winter tires

. Activation of the Vehicle Dynamics

Control system will cause operation of

the steering wheel to feel slightly

different compared to that for normal

conditions.

. It is always important to reduc e

speed when approaching a corner,

even if the vehicle is equipped with

Vehicle Dynamics Control.

. Always turn off the engine before

replacing a tire as failure to do so may

render the Vehicle Dynamics Control

system unable to operate correctly.

& Vehicle Dynamics Control

system monitor

Refer to “Vehicle Dynamics Control warn-

ing light/Vehicle Dynamics Control opera-

tion indicator light” F3-24 and “Vehicle

Dynamics Control OFF indicator light” F3-

25.

& Vehicle Dynamics Control

OFF switch

Pressing the switch to deactivate the

Vehicle Dynamics Control system can

facilitate the following operations.

. a standing start on a steeply sloping

road with a snowy, gravel-covered, or

otherwise slippery surface

. extrication of the vehicle when its

wheels are stuck in mud or deep snow

When the switch is pressed during engine

operation, the Vehicle Dynamics Control

OFF indicator light on the combination

meter illuminates. The Vehicle Dynamics

Control system will be deactivated. When

the switch is pressed again to reactivate

the Vehicle Dynamics Control system, the

Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF indicator

light turns off.

You should not deactivate the Vehicle

Dynamics Control system except under

the above-mentioned situations.

CAUTION

The Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-

tem helps prevent unstable vehicle

motion such as skidding using con-

trol of the brakes and engine power.

Do not turn off the Vehicle Dynamics

Control system unless it is abso-

lutely necessary. If you must turn off

the Vehicle Dynamics Control sys-

tem, drive very carefully based on

the road surface condition.

NOTE

. When the switch has been pressed

to deactivate the Vehicle Dynamics

Control system, the Vehicle Dynamics

Control system automatically reacti-

vates itself the next time the ignition

switch is turned to the “LOCK”/“OFF”

position and the engine is restarted.

. If the switch is held down for 10

seconds or longer, the indicator light

turns off, the Vehicle Dynamics Control

system is activated, and the system

ignores any further pressing of the

switch. To make the switch usable

again, turn the ignition switch to the

“LOCK”/“OFF” position and restart the

engine.

. When the switch is pressed to

deactivate the Vehicle Dynamics Con-

trol system, the vehicle’s running per-

formance is comparable with that of a

vehicle that does not have a Vehicle

Dynamics Control system. Do not de-

activate the Vehicle Dynamics Control

system except when absolutely neces-

sary.

. Even when the Vehicle Dynamics

Control system is deactivated, compo-

nents of the brake control system may

still activate. When the brake control

system is activated, the Vehicle Dy-

namics Control oper ation indicator

light illuminates.

Starting and operating 7-33

7-34 Starting and operating

Tire pressure monitoring

system (TPMS) (if equipped)

Low tire pressure warning light (type A)

Low tire pressure warning light (type B)

The tire pressure monitoring system pro-

vides the driver with a warning message

by sending a signal from a sensor that is

installed in each wheel when tire pressure

is severely low.

The tire pressure monitoring system will

activate only when the vehicle is driven at

speeds above 20 mph (32 km/h). Also,

this system may not react immediately to a

sudden drop in tire pressure (for example,

a blow-out caused by running over a

sharp object).

WARNING

If the low tire pressure warning light

illuminates while driving, never

brake suddenly and keep driving

straight ahead while gradually redu-

cing speed. Then slowly pull off the

road to a safe place. Otherwise an

accident involving serious vehicle

damage and serious personal injury

could occur.

Check the pressure for all four tires

and adjust the pressure to the COLD

tire pressure shown on the tire

placard on the door pillar on the

driver’s side.

Even when the vehicle is driven a

very short distance, the tires get

warm and their pressures increase

accordingly. Be sure to let the tires

cool thoroughly before adjusting

their pressures to the standard

values shown on the tire placard.

Refer to “Tires and wheels” F11-28.

The tire pressure monitoring system

does not function when the vehicle

is stationary. After adjusting the tire

pressures, increase the vehicle

speed to at least 20 mph (32 km/h)

to start the TPMS re-checking of the

tire inflation pressures. If the tire

pressures are now above the severe

low pressure threshold, the low tire

pressure warning light should turn

off a few minutes later.

If this light still illuminates while

driving after adjusting the tire pres-

sure, a tire may have significant

damage and a fast leak that causes

the tire to lose air rapidly. If you have

a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire

as soon as possible.

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 TPMS is unable to monitor all

four road wheels. Co ntact your

SUBARU dealer as soon as possible

Starting and operating -> Vehicle Dynamics Control system for Your Subaru Outback SUV Fourth Generation (2010-2014)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals