Fall 2006 Forward to a Friend


Quick Stops


Seven Indicators of Potential Battery Failure •  Alignment Reminder! •  Avoid Being Stuck with a Dead Battery • 
B9 Tribeca Wiper Safety Facts •  Regular or Premium Fuel? •  Subaru Rally and Tuning on DVD



Seven Indicators of Potential Battery Failure
1.  The headlights dim when the engine is idling.
2.  The lights dim when electrical accessories such as air conditioning are run.
3.  The engine turns over slowly, especially in cold weather.
4.  The battery terminals or cables are corroded.
5.  The battery requires jump-starting or charging.
6.  The alternator or fan belt is broken or not working properly.
7.  The instrument panel battery charge warning light indicates a problem.
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Tire
Alignment Reminder!

Most of the country experienced heavy road construction and high heat through the summer months, leading to rough road surfaces. These can play havoc with your wheel alignment, leading to abnormal and premature tire wear. Misalignment also can cause your steering wheel to vibrate, shimmy, or appear off-center. Watch your tires, and have your wheels aligned with the first indication that tire wear is unusual.

Remember, alignments are not part of scheduled maintenance, but done on an as-needed basis. With you and your dealer’s service department paying attention to your tires and drivability, you’ll get the most wear from your tires.

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battery
Avoid being stuck with a dead battery
Have your car’s battery checked by your Subaru dealer regularly. Checks include:
• Diagnosis of the condition of your car’s battery and related electrical components
• Examination of cable connections for cleanliness and tightness
Four conditions that lead to battery problems, from the Battery Council International:
1.  EXTREME HEAT (both external and under the hood) – heat accelerates corrosion that causes failure.
2.  EXTREME COLD – cold slows down the chemical reactions that make a battery work.
3.  CONSTANT STARTS with little driving activity – this drains power out of the battery without allowing the engine time to recharge it.
4.  AGE – more than 30 percent of all vehicles with batteries three years old or older experience battery failure.

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The windshield and rear window wipers on the B9 Tribeca have automatic functions that enhance safety. To clarify their operation:

• When the windshield wiper control is set in any of its nine intermittent (INT) positions, the wipers will operate at intervals corresponding to vehicle speed – i.e., longer intervals when vehicle speed is low and shorter intervals when vehicle speed is high
• When the rear window wiper control is set in the intermittent (INT) mode, the wiper will operate at intervals corresponding to the vehicle speed – i.e., longer intervals when the vehicle speed is low and shorter intervals when the vehicle speed is high
• When the rear window wiper control is set in the intermittent (INT) mode and the transmission is placed in reverse (R), the rear window wiper will automatically switch to continuous operation
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QUESTION: Can regular fuel be used in the Subaru 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine on a regular basis?

ANSWER: The 3.0-liter engine is designed to operate using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or higher. Regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or higher may be used on any six-cylinder model for the 2005-2007 model years, but the gasoline with a 91 AKI rating is recommended for optimum performance and drivability.

Be aware that using 87 AKI rated gasoline could lead to reduced power output, poor accelerator response, and reduced fuel economy. The effects depend on your driving habits and conditions. Should you experience any of these effects, return to using 91 AKI rated fuel.

Also note that if your vehicle exhibits heavy or persistent knocking (pinging), or if you have heavy loads or are towing a trailer, the use of 91 AKI rated fuel is required.

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SUBARU RALLY AND TUNING ON DVD

For anyone wondering what the sport of rally racing is like or who wants another look at coverage of recent Subaru performance events, check out the Driving Sports DVD series from SubieSport Magazine.

Contact: www.drivingsports.com or call 800/DVD-0566.