Get Starting and operating -> Continuously variable transmission Guide for Subaru Forester SUV 2024

^{Continuously variable transmission}323

Never move the vehicle as fol-

lows. Doing so may result in an

unexpected accident or malfunc-

tion.

& Continuously variable trans-

7-7. Continuously variable

transmission

mission features

The continuously variable transmission is

electronically controlled and provides an

infinite number of forward speeds and 1

reverse speed. It also has a manual mode

or an “L” position.

WARNING

–

Moving rearward by inertia

with the select lever set in a

forward driving position.

Do not shift from the “P” or “N”

position into the “D” or “R” position

while depressing the accelerator

pedal. This may cause the vehicle

to jump forward or backward.

–

Moving forward by inertia with

the select lever set in the “R”

position.

NOTE

When the engine coolant tempera-

ture is still low, the transmission will

shift at higher engine speeds than

when the coolant temperature is

sufficiently high in order to shorten

the warm-up time and improve dri-

veability. The gearshift timing will

automatically shift to the normal

timing after the engine has warmed

up.

When parking the vehicle, first

securely apply the parking brake

and then place the select lever in

the “P” position. Avoid parking

for a long time with the select

lever in any other position as

doing so could result in a dead

battery.

CAUTION

Observe the following precau-

tions. Otherwise, the transmis-

sion could be damaged.

–

Shift into the “P” or “R” posi-

tion only after the vehicle has

completely stopped.

Immediately after transmission fluid

is replaced, you may feel that the

transmission operation is somewhat

unusual. This results from invalida-

tion of data which the on-board

computer has collected and stored

in memory to allow the transmission

to shift at the most appropriate times

for the current condition of your

vehicle. Optimized shifting will be

restored as the vehicle continues to

be driven for a while.

–

Do not shift from the “D”

position into the “R” position

or vice versa until the vehicle

has completely stopped.

Do not race the engine for more

than 5 seconds in any position

except the “N” or “P” position

when the brake is applied or

when chocks are used in the

wheels. This may cause the

transmission fluid to overheat.

When driving a CVT model under

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Continuously variable transmission

324

continuous heavy load conditions

such as when towing a camper or

climbing a long, steep hill, the en-

gine speed or the vehicle speed may

automatically be reduced. This is not

a malfunction. This results from the

engine control function maintaining

the cooling performance of the ve-

hicle. The engine and vehicle speed

will return to a normal speed when

the engine is able to maintain the

optimum cooling performance after

the heavy load decreases. Driving

under a heavy load must be per-

formed with extreme care. Do not try

to pass a vehicle in front when

driving on an uphill slope while

towing.

The continuously variable transmis-

sion is a chain type system that

provides superior transmission effi-

ciency for maximum fuel economy.

At times, depending on varying

driving conditions, a chain operat-

ing sound may be heard that is

characteristic of this type of system.

& Select lever

Models with “L” position

Models with manual mode

Type A

Select lever button

: With the brake pedal depressed, shift

while pressing the select lever button

in.

: Shift while pressing the select lever

button in.

: Shift without pressing the select lever

button.

The select lever has four positions, “P”,

“R”, “N”, “D” and it also has an “L” or “M”

gate.

NOTE

For some models, to protect the

engine while the select lever is in

the “P” or “N” position, the engine is

controlled so that the engine speed

may not become too high even if the

Type B

Select lever button

^{Continuously variable transmission}325

accelerator pedal is depressed hard.

When you change the select lever

position, make sure to move the

select lever firmly to the selected

position.

pedal. For details, refer to “Shift lock

function” �P327.

ing while corresponding to the road grade.

When more acceleration is required in the

“D” position, depress the accelerator pedal

fully to the floor and hold that position. The

transmission will automatically downshift.

In this case, the transmission will operate

like a conventional automatic transmis-

sion. When you release the pedal, the

transmission will return to the original gear

position.

! N (Neutral)

This position is for restarting a stalled

engine. In this position, the transmission is

neutral, meaning that the wheels and

transmission are not locked. Therefore,

the vehicle will roll freely, even on the

slightest incline unless the parking brake

or foot brake is applied.

! P (Park)

This position is for parking the vehicle and

starting the engine. In this position, the

transmission is mechanically locked to

prevent the vehicle from rolling freely.

For models with manual mode, if one of the

shift paddles behind the steering wheel is

operated while driving in the “D” position,

the transmission will temporarily switch to

the manual mode. In this mode, you can

shift into any gear position using the shift

paddles. For details about the manual

mode, refer to “Selection of manual mode”

�P326. Once the vehicle speed stabi-

lizes, the transmission will switch from the

manual mode back to the “D” position for

normal driving.

Avoid coasting with the transmission in

neutral. Engine braking has no effect in

this condition.

When you park the vehicle, first apply the

parking brake firmly, then shift into the “P”

position. Do not hold the vehicle with only

the mechanical friction of the transmission.

WARNING

To shift the select lever from the “P”

position to any other position, you should

depress the brake pedal fully then move

the select lever. This prevents the vehicle

from lurching when it is started.

Do not drive the vehicle with the

select lever in the “N” (neutral)

position. Engine braking has no

effect in this condition and the risk

of an accident is consequently in-

creased.

! R (Reverse)

This position is for backing the vehicle. To

shift from the “N” to “R” position, stop the

vehicle completely then move the lever to

the “R” position while pressing the select

lever button in.

! D (Drive)

This position is for normal driving. The

transmission shifts automatically and con-

tinuously into a suitable gear according to

the vehicle speed and the acceleration you

require. Also, while driving up and down a

hill, the transmission assists and controls

the driving performance and engine brak-

When the ignition switch has been turned

to the “ACC” position, the movement of the

select lever from the “N” to “R” position is

only possible by depressing the brake

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Continuously variable transmission

326

position to the “M” position to select the

manual mode.

possible. When both indicators illuminate,

upshifting and downshifting are both pos-

sible. When the vehicle stops (for exam-

ple, at traffic signals), the downshift in-

dicator turns off.

& Selection of manual mode (if

equipped)

Gearshifts can be performed using the

shift paddle behind the steering wheel.

Select lever/gear position indicator

Type A

Upshift indicator

Downshift indicator

Gear position indicator

When the manual mode is selected, the

gear position indicator and upshift indica-

tor and/or downshift indicator on the

combination meter illuminate.

To upshift to the next higher gear position,

pull the shift paddle that has “+” indicated

on it. To downshift to the next lower gear

position, pull the shift paddle that has “–”

indicated on it.

The gear position indicator shows the

currently selected gear in the 1st-to-8th-

gear range.

To deselect the manual mode, return the

select lever to the “D” position from the “M”

position.

The upshift and downshift indicators show

when a gear shift is possible. When the

upshift indicator “ ” illuminates, upshift-

ing is possible. When the downshift in-

dicator “ ” illuminates, downshifting is

Type B

With the vehicle either moving or station-

ary, move the select lever from the “D”

^{Continuously variable transmission}327

safe location and let the engine idle

until the warning light turns off.

“L” is for using engine braking when going

down a hill, etc. To select this mode, move

the select lever from the “D” position to the

“L” position.

CAUTION

Do not place or hang anything on the

shift paddles. Doing so may result in

accidental gear shifting.

& Selection of “L” (if equipped)

NOTE

Please read the following points care-

fully and bear them in mind when using

the manual mode.

If you attempt to shift down when the

engine speed is too high, i.e., when a

downshift would push the tach-

ometer needle beyond the red zone,

beeps will be emitted to warn you

that the downshift is not possible.

If you attempt to shift up when the

vehicle speed is too low, the trans-

mission will not respond.

You can perform a skip-shift (for

example, from 4th to 2nd) by operat-

ing the shift paddle twice in rapid

succession.

When selected, the indicator “L” will

illuminate on the combination meter.

Type A

To deselect “L”, move the select lever to

the “D” position.

& Shift lock function

The transmission automatically se-

lects 1st gear when the vehicle stops

moving.

If the temperature of the transmis-

sion fluid becomes too high, the “AT

OIL TEMP” warning light on the

combination meter will illuminate.

Immediately stop the vehicle in a

The shift lock function helps prevent the

improper operation of the select lever.

The select lever cannot be operated

unless the ignition switch is turned to

the “ON” position and the brake pedal is

depressed.

The select lever cannot be moved from

the “P” position to any other position

Type B

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Continuously variable transmission

328

before the brake pedal is depressed.

Depress the brake pedal first, and then

operate the select lever.

Only the “P” position allows you to turn

the ignition switch from the “ACC”

position to the “LOCK”/“OFF” position

and remove the key from the ignition

switch.

If the ignition switch is turned to the

“ACC” position while the select lever is

in the “N” position, the select lever may

not be moved to the “P” position without

depressing the brake pedal and press-

ing the select lever button.

When the select lever cannot be

shifted from “N” to “R”, “P”:

Place the ignition switch in the “ACC”

position, then move the select lever to the

“P” position with the brake pedal de-

pressed.

If the select lever still does not move, refer

to “Shift lock release using the shift lock

release button” �P328.

If the shift lock cannot be released without

using the shift lock release button in the

above cases, there may be a malfunction

in the shift lock system or the vehicle

control system.

2. Wrap the tip of a flat-head screwdriver

with vinyl tape or a cloth and use it to

remove the shift lock cover. The shift

lock release button is located under the

shift lock cover.

! Shift lock release

Contact a SUBARU dealer for an inspec-

tion as soon as possible.

If the select lever cannot be operated, turn

the ignition switch back to the “ON”

position then move the select lever to the

“P” position with the select lever button

pressed and the brake pedal depressed.

! Shift lock release using the shift

lock release button

Perform the following procedure to release

the shift lock.

1. Apply the parking brake and stop the

engine.

If the select lever does not move after

performing the above procedure, check

and confirm the following and release the

shift lock accordingly.

When the select lever cannot be

shifted from “P” to “N”:

Refer to “Shift lock release using the shift

lock release button” �P328.

3. While depressing the brake pedal,

^SI-DRIVE329

insert a screwdriver into the hole, press

the shift lock release button using a

screwdriver, and then move the select

lever.

standstill. This phenomenon does not

indicate a malfunction.

7-8. SI-DRIVE

SI-DRIVE (SUBARU Intelligent Drive)

works to maximize engine performance,

control and efficiency.

This system consists of two modes:

Intelligent (I), Sport (S), and Sport Sharp

(S#). By operating the SI-DRIVE switches,

the character of the power unit changes.

If the select lever does not move after

performing the above procedure, the shift

lock system may be malfunctioning. Con-

tact a SUBARU dealer for an inspection as

soon as possible.

& Driving tips

& Intelligent (I) mode

CAUTION

! For smooth, efficient performance

driving

If the accelerator and brake pedals

are depressed at the same time,

driving torque may be restrained.

This is not a malfunction.

Always apply the foot or parking brake

when the vehicle is stopped in the “D” or

“R” position.

Make sure to apply the parking brake

when parking your vehicle. Do not hold

the vehicle with only the mechanical

friction of the transmission.

Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary

position on an uphill grade by using the

“D” position. Use the brake instead.

The engine may, on rare occasions,

knock when the vehicle rapidly accel-

erates or rapidly pulls away from a

The linear acceleration characteristic of

the Intelligent (I) mode is ideal for normal

driving usage.

The Intelligent (I) mode provides well-

balanced performance with greater fuel

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Starting and operating -> Continuously variable transmission for Your Subaru Forester SUV 2024

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