Fall 2002 Forward to a Friend


Quick Stops



Remote Keyless Entry • Emergency Camera • Roof Rail and Crossbars • Warning: Exit Cautiously • Which Octane? • Deer Prudence • Holding Back



The transmitter for your remote keyless entry system is powered by a battery. If the transmitter’s range seems to be decreasing or if the LED doesn’t illuminate when you’re trying to operate it, chances are that the battery is weak and requires replacement. In that case, replace it as soon as possible.

The transmitter is designed to operate the keyless entry system from a distance of approximately 30 feet. However, environmental conditions can vary the transmitter’s range. For instance, obstacles can block the transmitter’s signal, and radio frequency (RF) interference from such sources as power plants and radio/ television broadcasting towers can interfere with the signal. Also, the transmitter may not function well from inside a building.

As a precaution, the remote keyless entry system does not operate when the key is inserted in the ignition switch. This helps to prevent accidental lockout.

Follow your owner’s manual to replace the battery:

1. Remove the two screws on the back of the transmitter case using a Phillips screwdriver.
2. Separate the case.
3. Remove the old battery from its holder.
4. Replace the old battery with a new one
(type CR2032 or equivalent), making sure the
positive (+) side faces up.
5. Realign the two parts of the case.
6. Reinstall the two screws on the back of the case.
Note: You will have to synchronize the transmitter with the keyless entry system’s control unit. To do so, press either of the transmitter’s buttons (LOCK/ARM or UNLOCK/DISARM) six times.

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IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, a disposable camera kept in your car’s emergency kit will help document what happened and the extent of damage. The photos can be used as defense against fraudulent claims.

You can also use a camera kept in your car to record suspicious incidents. Photos can help you recall details if you must make a police report.

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Make sure that the attachments and cargo are secure before operating your Subaru vehicle. Also, use only attachments intended for the crossbars, which are designed to carry only up to a specific weight that includes both the attachment and the cargo itself.

Load limits (includes weight of crossbars, cargo and carrier attachments):
• Legacy, Outback, Impreza – 100 pounds
• Forester – 150 pounds


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Thanks to Drive reader Melissa Sherwood of Gig Harbor, Washington, for this tip.

Just a warning to other Subaru owners who drive on slippery roads: Not only drive cautiously, but exit cautiously. You will not realize how slippery the roads really are until you step out of the car.


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Thanks to Drive reader Dick Mastin for these questions.

In some locations, “regular” fuel has a lower octane rating than 87 – the minimum fuel octane for some Subaru vehicles. Can mixing 86 octane with 88 octane meet this requirement at minimum cost? Is this necessary? The altitude here is 6,800 feet. Can lower octane fuels be used safely at higher altitudes? If so, at what altitude can I use 86 octane in my 2002 Forester?

Jim Sinclair, Vice-President, Service for Subaru of America, Inc., replies that the recommended octane is 87, even at 6,800 feet. Using 86 octane may not cause any problems at that altitude or above, but if the customer drives in lower altitudes with 86 octane, there could be some performance problems and possible spark knock. If the customer cannot find 87, he should be careful with the use of 86 or continue to “mix” as he is doing.

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These tips from the American Automobile Association (AAA) can help you to avoid collisions with deer:
• Watch for signs posted in areas where deer are numerous.
• Drive more cautiously during low-light situations, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Expect more than one.
• Scan the roadside.
• Startle fixated deer by flashing the lights and honking the horn.

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In frontal impacts, objects and people from the second-row seat and the cargo area of wagons and SUVs can become deadly projectiles. Researchers have determined that 80 percent of front-seat fatalities in which front occupants wore seat belts could have been prevented if rear-seat occupants had been wearing theirs.


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