Positioning:
High-performance compact sedan/hatchback, rally-bred heritage
Competitors:
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru WRX (non-STI), Honda Civic Si, Volkswagen GTI, MazdaSpeed3
Performance Orientation:
Emphasis on turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive (AWD), and agile handling
Rally Heritage:
Direct lineage from Subaru's World Rally Championship (WRC) success
Primary Coverage:
All models and all repairs A-Z
Specific Systems Covered:
Engine, Transmission, Chassis, Body, Electrical System
Estimated Page Count:
High (typical FSMs are 1000+ pages)
Type:
Official Factory Service Manual (FSM) / Repair Manual / Workshop Manual
Operating Systems:
Windows & Mac
Engine Mechanical:
Mechanical parts, diagnostics, cooling, lubrication, ignition, starting
Engine Fuel Air Exhaust:
Fuel injection, air intake, exhaust systems
Transmission Manual:
5-speed manual (5MT) and 6-speed manual (6MT) transmissions
Transmission Automatic:
4-speed automatic transmission (4AT) (less common for STI, but often included in comprehensive FSMs for model range)
Drivetrain:
Transfer case, driveshaft, differentials, clutch
Suspension:
Front and rear suspension systems
Brakes:
Antilock Braking System (ABS), brake system components, parking brake
Steering:
Steering system components
Body Exterior:
Body panels, glass, windows, mirrors, lighting, wipers/washers
Body Interior:
Instrument panel, seats, locks, security, sunroof, interior finishing
Climate Control:
HVAC system, climate system components
Safety Restraints:
Airbags, seatbelts
Electrical General:
General diagnosis, component locations
Electrical Wiring:
Comprehensive wiring diagrams, signals
Maintenance:
Scheduled maintenance, fluid checks and changes, filter replacements
Diagnostics:
Dedicated troubleshooting guides, diagnostic procedures for various systems
Repair:
Step-by-step repair instructions for all major components
Disassembly Assembly:
Exploded diagrams for component disassembly and reassembly
Wiring Diagrams Detail:
High level of detail in wiring schematics, showing component connections and routing.
Depth:
Comprehensive (covers maintenance to major overhauls and diagnostics)
Engine Type:
2.5L Boxer-4 Turbocharged (EJ257)
Horsepower Hp:
300 hp @ 6000 RPM (approximate, US spec)
Torque Lb Ft:
300 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM (approximate, US spec)
Fuel Delivery:
Multi-point Fuel Injection (MPI)
Recommended Fuel:
Premium Unleaded (91+ Octane)
ECU Type:
Subaru Select Monitor (SSM)
NHTSA Front Impact:
5-Star (for driver and passenger, typical for this era)
NHTSA Side Impact:
5-Star (typical for this era)
Traction Control:
Yes (often linked to AWD system)
Electronic Stability Control:
Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system
Airbags:
Front airbags, side-impact airbags
Seatbelts:
Front pre-tensioners and load limiters
Audio System:
Factory AM/FM/CD player, premium sound system (optional)
ABS:
Standard Antilock Braking System (ABS)
AWD Control:
Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) for manual transmission models, allowing variable front/rear torque split adjustment.
Oil Change Interval:
Every 3,750 miles or 3.75 months, or 7,500 miles/7.5 months with synthetic oil (check specific recommendations)
Timing Belt Replacement:
105,000 miles (for EJ257 engine)
Engine Oil Type:
SAE 0W-30 or 5W-30 Synthetic (refer to manual for specific viscosity based on temperature)
Coolant Type:
Subaru Super Coolant (Blue) or equivalent
Transmission Fluid Type 6Mt:
Subaru Extra-S Gear Oil or equivalent SAE 75W-90 GL-5
Head Gaskets:
Less prone to blown head gaskets than earlier EJ20/EJ25 engines due to improved design, but still a potential failure point under high stress.
Ring Lands:
Susceptible to ring land failure on pistons, especially with aggressive tuning or detonation, common in high-mileage or abused EJ257 engines.
Clutch Wear:
Clutch wear can be accelerated with aggressive driving and frequent launches.