2005 Subaru Outback Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 2005 Subaru Outback reflects a three-engine lineup. A turbocharged 2.5L flat-four with double overhead camshafts joins a naturally aspirated 2.5L flat-four with a single overhead camshaft, and a 3.0L H6, also naturally aspirated and double-overhead-cam, tops the range; gasoline fuels the three. The 4-door wagon and 4-door sedan come in seven trims, from i and Limited through R, R L.L. Bean Edition, VDC Limited, XT and XT Limited. Procedures and torque values apply to the engine, fuel, cooling, transmission and chassis systems.

Engines covered

• 2.5L flat-four — DOHC, turbocharged, gasoline
• 2.5L flat-four — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.0L H6 — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door wagon
• 4-door sedan

Trims covered

• i
• Limited
• R
• R L.L. Bean Edition
• VDC Limited
• XT
• XT Limited

Known issues on the 2005 Outback. Nine recalls cover the 2005 Outback. One reaches certain 2005 Outback vehicles whose mechanical-key ignition switch was fitted later as a service part: a spring inside can snap, letting a heavy key ring or rough road knock the key to accessory and stop the engine. Others address passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture on certain 2005 Outback vehicles built in a specific window, registered in high-humidity areas, or registered in listed states where the inflator had already been replaced once with a same-design unit. Suspension tops the 272 owner complaints at 56, then vehicle speed control at 40; 13 complaints reported a crash and 7 an injury. Suspension, ignition and air bag diagnostics are included.