Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Idle Speed & Ignition Timing
Verify idle speed and ignition timing are set to specification. See IDLE SPEED SPECIFICATIONS and IGNITION TIMING tables. For adjustment procedures, see ADJUSTMENTS article in this section.
| Application | RPM | |
|---|---|---|
| Forester | ||
| With A/C Off | 650-750 | |
| With A/C On | 800-900 | |
| Impreza | ||
| With A/C Off | 600-800 | |
| With A/C On | 750-850 | |
| Legacy | ||
| With A/C Off | 600-800 | |
| With A/C On | 800-900 | |
| Application | Auto. Trans. | Man. Trans. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester | 15 @ 700 | 15 @ 700 | |||
| Impreza & Legacy | |||||
| 2.2L | 20 @ 700 | 14 @ 700 | |||
| 2.5L | 15 @ 700 | 15 @ 700 | |||
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Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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