Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find information pertaining to my vehicle?
Information on this site is broken up into Online Reference (PDF based information) and Service Diagnostics (interactive information). Online Reference information is segmented into Publication Types, searchable by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and by model year / vehicle line drop down selectors. Select the publication type you would like to perform a search for, and enter in any search words or vehicle information you may have.

For a brief tutorial on how to use this site, and its various search features, please click on the Online Reference tab (above), and select "Other/Miscellaneous" as a publication type using the drop-down selector. After clicking on "Search" you will see a short listing of documents; please choose " The New STIS Users Guide ". This is a free document, and can be viewed without a subscription to this site..


Are there charges or limitations to access information on this site?
Yes. The creation of technical information requires time and money. Maintaining a web site with constantly changing/evolving information requires time and money. To assume that information on this web site should be without cost, you would also need to assume that the creation and delivery of the information is without cost, and that is just not the case.

Information on this site is available on a tiered-subscription basis. You currently may select one of three subscription periods:

72 Hours (3 days) @ $34.95
30 Days @ $299.95
365 Days (1 year) @ $2499.95

Although all information on this site is available to you when you purchase a subscription, users are limited to access a maximum of 50 PDFs per hour. This will assist Subaru in keeping subscription rates from increasing, as well as allowing better service levels for all users. If a subscribed user attempts to access more than 50 PDFs in one hour, they will be taken to a warning page and will be prohibited from accessing any additional PDFs until the start of the current hour has expired.

Browsing and searching on certain areas of the site may be performed at any time, without a subscription.

This policy may change at any time, without warning or notification to current web site subscribers.


After I printout/download all of the information for my vehicle, why would I need to come back to this web site?
Subaru of America releases thousands of pages of corrected Service Manual information every year. The STIS web site has been set up to incorporate these changes automatically into the electronic Service Manual pages.  In this, Subaru has taken on the burden of keeping the content of each publication current on STIS, so that you do not have to keep track of updates yourself.

Information obtained from any source other than this site cannot be guaranteed to be correct and up-to-date with all of the current changes approved by Subaru.


Why is the information broken up into so many "little" PDFs?
Since our Service Manuals and Owners Manuals are very large, it would be quite cumbersome for most individuals to access the technical information they need as a single download. By breaking the manuals into easy to download, smaller sections – and by allowing the web site to act as the table of contents – we've created a level playing field to let all users quickly search for information and get the technical documentation they need..


Do I need to fill out all the search boxes on the search screen of the Online Reference page?
No. There are many levels of searches you can perform in this area.
 

  • Search Just by Publication Type - Select the publication type you are interested in from the drop down menu. When you click on “Search” you will get a complete listing of all documents that fall under that Publication Type. Caution: the list could be quite long.
  • Search by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) - Here you would type the last 8 digits of your VIN to search for documents pertaining to your specific vehicle.
  • Search by Literature Number or Bulletin Number - Enter the part number, MSA number, or bulletin code of the publication you are interested in searching for.  The results you get should only be documents that have that publication number in common.

How do I narrow down my search on the Online Reference page?
Refine your search using the text input field. You could also add vehicle information (using the available drop-down boxes) as a part of your search, to limit the number of resulting documents.


How much information do I need to know about my vehicle in order to perform a search?
You only need the model year and vehicle line information for most publications. You can narrow your search using other criteria, but they are not required to perform a search.


How do I use a Text Search?
Use this search option when you are looking for a specific word that would appear within a document. The more general the word (example: wheel) the larger the result set you will see.


What do all those abbreviations mean?
You will see, from time to time, industry-standard abbreviations for some of the search/result items on STIS. Here is a partial list:

4EAT: 4-Speed, Electronic Automatic Transmission
MT5: 5-Speed, Manual Transmission
5AT: 5-Speed, Automatic Transmission
Sport Shift: Automatic Transmission that you can use as you would a Manual Transmission
AWD: All-Wheel Drive
FWD: Front Wheel Drive
 

After I choose my vehicle parameters, how do I get to view the documents I need?
After performing a search, you will see a list of topics that pertain to the criteria you entered for your search. Each topic will have a PDF icon next to it. When you click on the icon, you will be directed to a customer login screen. Click on the new customer button. You will be prompted to enter a User Name and Password. Then you will be taken to a subscription page, where you can sign up for time-based rights to view all of the information contained on this site. Once you have purchased your Subscription, you can click on the icon, which will allow you to view or download a PDF of that document. If you don't have a PDF reader on your computer, you will need to download Adobe Acrobat.

Please note that there are a few free documents available on this web site.  They will be noted with a small [free] next to the document's title. You do not need a subscription to view this type of document.

 

What is a PDF?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a universal file format that preserves spans, formatting, colors, and graphics of any source document. The files are compact and can be viewed, navigated, and printed by using Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is downloadable for free from the Adobe Web site.
 

Is there a way I can see what a particular document covers in more detail before I decide to purchase a hard copy or subscription?
From the search results page of certain sections, you will see a link that says “Description”. If you click on the link, a pop-up window will open with a brief description of that item.


Can hardcopy manuals be ordered from this site?
Currently, you can order owner or service manuals from the "Service Technical Information Company" Help Desk at 1-866-428-2278. You may also order manuals through your local Subaru Dealer.


What are the system recommendations for using this site?
The site should work with all popular operating systems.  We strongly suggest using only Internet Explorer for your browser when accessing this site. A screen size of at least 1024x768 is recommended, although not required. You will need a PDF viewer (one from Adobe can be downloaded without charge from www.adobe.com) to view documents.

Javascript and cookies (temporary) are required to use the site.

Note: the Service Diagnostics section is primary designed for Internet Explorer. Using a different browser in that section may result in reduced functionality..


I am not able to login to the system. It is giving me error messages.
There are a number of scenarios that could lead to this situation. If you receive the error message,  "Invalid user name or password",  it could mean various things.

Issues that may lead to this message are:  1) simple typo in the username or password field, 2) you are typing with CAPS-lock on (passwords are case sensitive), 3) you typed in an incorrect password, 4) you typed in an incorrect username, or 5) the problem may be specific to your computer or browser.

Make sure that you are only accessing the web site using Internet Explorer – other browsers have not been tested with the site functions, and may cause log-in or information retrieval issues.

If you receive an error message from the site, try to clear your browsers history and temporary internet files.  For information on this operation, please research the steps needed under the “Help” command of your particular browser.


Where can I purchase an electronic generic diagnostic scan tool (akin to the Subaru Select Monitor) for engine diagnostics?

Please see the Special Tools page for details.


Where can I purchase Subaru-specific scan tools, like the Subaru Select Monitor, for engine diagnostics?

Please see the Special Tools page for details.


Why am I not able to download the full 50 documents per hour?  Is the download file limit incorrectly set?
This happens when you right-click on the PDF icon and then save the PDF file. The server is counting it as 2 downloads instead of one. The STIS web site is designed to download the files by LEFT-clicking on the PDF icon ONLY, and then selecting "Open" (recommended) or "Save". If you select "Save" you will need to open that file once it has been downloaded and saved to a location that you specify on your computer. (Please keep in mind that information is constantly modified on the STIS web site, and a PDF file saved to your computer may not contain accurate information in the future, as updates become available.)


Why am I not able to download the PDF files even though I have a valid subscription?
Please see the same reasons above for the FAQ item "I am not able to login to the system. It is giving me error messages."


What do the numbers in a Technical Service Bulletin number mean?
Service Bulletin numbers have three components (in this order): subject code, sequential number, and year created (displayed as 00-000-00). The following is a list of the subject codes used:

01 -  General Specifications, Get Ready Procedures and Lubrication
02 -  Engine: Cylinder Heads, Crankcase, Clutch, Manifolds, System Engine Accessories
03 -  Drive Train: Transaxle, Axle Shafts, Shifter System
04 -  Steering
05 -  Suspension: Road Wheels and Tires, Shocks, Springs, Torsion Bars, Control Arms, Trailing Arms
06 -  Brakes: Master Cylinder, Wheel Cylinder, Calipers, Drums and Rotors, Lining and Pads, Hand Brake
07 -  Electrical: Battery Ignition, Charging and Starting, Circuits, Lights, Switches and Motors
08 -  Instruments and Controls: Motors, Pedal Assemblies, Cables
09 - Cooling, Fuel, and Exhaust Systems: Radiator, Water Pump and Hoses, Thermostat, Fuel Tank, Fuel Pump, Exhaust Pipe, Resonator, Manifold and Mounting
10 -  Heating Ventilation: A/C Systems, Heater Core, Hoses
11 -  Emission Systems: Exhaust and Evaporative Systems
12 -  Body: Glass, Sheet Metal, Trim, Upholstery
13 -  Paint
14 -  Special Tools: Applications, Modifications
15 -  Accessory Parts:
16 -  Automatic Transmission
17 -  Occupant Restraint: Air Bags, Seat belts
18 -  Service Manual Corrections: Corrections/additions to vehicle service manuals


How can I access State I/M Program Advisory Bulletins for free?
You can access State I/M Program Advisory Bulletins by navigating to the "Online Reference" area (using the top navigation bar).  Once in this area, select "State Inspection /Maintenance Advisory Bulletin" as the publication type. You may choose a specific model year, car line, and trim level, but you may also leave this information blank, and simply cilck on the "Search" button directly under "Keywords".  This will bring up a resulting list of possible bulletins, and all are free to view.  You do not need to be logged in with a subscription to view these documents.