2004 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 291

Driving tips lower gear when necessary.) Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such behavior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly leading to loss of vehicle control. An anti-lock brake system (ABS) enhances your vehicle's braking performance on snowy and icy roads. Refer to the "ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)" section in chapter 7 for information on braking on slippery surfaces. blade, use the rear window defogger. When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts to stick on the surface of the windshield despite wiper operation, use the defroster with the airflow control button/dial in " " and the temperature control dial set for maximum warmth. After the windshield gets warmed enough to melt the frozen snow on it, wash it away using the windshield washer. Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the wiper from working effectively. If snow is stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to a safe place, then remove it. If you stop the car at road side, use the hazard warning flasher to alert other drivers. We recommend use of non-freezing type wiper blades (winter blades) during the seasons you could have snow and sub-zero temperatures. Blades of this type give superior wiping performance in snowy conditions. Be sure to use blades that are suitable for your vehicle. Do not use the cruise control on slippery roads such as snowy or icy roads. This may cause loss of vehicle control. Wiper operation when snowing Before driving in cold weather, make sure the wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield or rear window. If the wiper blades are frozen to the windshield or rear window, use the defroster with the airflow control button/dial in the " " position and the temperature control dial set for maximum warmth until the wiper blades are completely thawed out. If your vehicle is equipped with a wiper deicer, it is helpful to thaw the windshield wiper blades. To thaw out the rear wiper 8-12 Corrosion protection Refer to the "Corrosion protection" section (chapter 10).