belt SUBARU OUTBACK 2003 3.G User Guide

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags Front seats1-2
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Seat heater (if equipped) 1-9
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Rear seats 1-10
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Armrest (if equipped) 1-10
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Headrest adjustment — Rear center seating position on Station wagon 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Folding down the rear seat — Station wagon 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelts 1-16
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Seatbelt safety tips 1-16
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Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening the seatbelt 1-19
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Seatbelt maintenance 1-28
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Front seatbelt pretensioners 1-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint systems 1-33
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Top tether anchorages 1-40
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SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 1-43 . . . . . . . .
Vehicle with driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS airbags and
lap/shoulder restraints 1-43
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SRS frontal airbag 1-48
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SRS side airbag (if equipped) 1-55
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SRS airbag system monitors 1-62
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SRS airbag system servicing 1-63
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Precautions against vehicle modification 1-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Front seats
WARNING
Never adjust the seat while driving to avoid the possibility of
loss of vehicle control and of personal injury. Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed be-
cause they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury
in the event that the vehicle is struck from the rear. Before adjusting the seat, make sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers are clear of the adjusting mechanism. Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-der the seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks should be al-ways used in the upright position while the vehicle is running. Ifthe front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a colli-
sion, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt slid-ing up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in se-rious internal injury or death. Do not put cushions or any other materials between occupants
and seatbacks or seat cushions. If you do so, the risk of sliding
under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomen
will increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death. The SRS airbags deploy with considerable speed and force.
Occupants who are out of proper position when the SRS airbag
deploys could suffer very serious injuries. Because the SRS air-bag needs enough space for deployment, the driver should al-ways sit upright and well back in the seat as far from the steeringwheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control and
the front passenger should move the seat as far back as possibleand sit upright and well back in the seat. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially if
they are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-
properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than

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adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. For
that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (including
those in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a
child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for
the child
’s age, height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward fac-
ing child seat) in the REAR seats at all times.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE
SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions. For instructions and precautions concerning child re-
straint systems, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter.
HB0290
HS0233
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.
Move the seat as far from the steering wheel as practical. Adjust the seatback toupright position. Sit well back and upright.Move the seat as far back as possible.

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n
Power seat (if equipped)
HB1060BA
To adjust the seat forward or backward, move the control switch for-
ward or backward. Seat cushion angle and height adjustment (Power seat only)
HB1062BA
HB1078BA
To adjust the angle and height of the seat cushion, move the control
switch in the corresponding direction.

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NOTE While adjusting the seatback, you can not at the same time adjust the seat position or the seat cushion angle and height.
Head restraint adjustment
HB1016BA
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, push the head
restraint down while pressing the release button on the top of theseatback.
The head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of the occupant ’s ears.
NOTE If the seatback is reclined rearward to the same level as the rear seat cushion with the head restraint removed, a wide flat bed ismade available.
WARNING
Never drive your car with the seats converted in a flat bed
position. If you do so, occupants will have a greater chance of
being injured even during simple deceleration, acceleration andcornering since no firm restraint will be available for them. Before you lie on the flat bed to take a rest, read the descrip-
tion “ Parking your vehicle ” in Chapter 7 carefully and follow the
instructions.

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Seat heater (if equipped)
CAUTION
Use of the seat heater for a long period of time while the
engine is not running can cause battery discharge. Do not put anything on the seat which insulates against heat,
such as a blanket, cushion, or similar items. This may cause theseat heater to overheat. When cleaning the seat, do not use benzine, paint thinner, or
any similar materials.
The seat heater operates when the ignition switch is either in the “ACC”
or “ON” position.
HB1073BB
HB1093BB
To turn on the seat heater, push the “LO” or “HI” position on the switch,
as desired, depending on the temperature. Selecting the “HI” position
will cause the seat to heat up quicker. LO: Normal heating
HI: Rapid heating
The indicator located on the switch comes on when the seat heater is in
operation. When the vehicle ’s interior is warmed enough or before you
leave the vehicle, be sure to turn the switch off.

1-10Rear seats
WARNING
Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. Do not put cushions or any other
materials between occupants and seatbacks or seat cushions. If
you do so, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt
sliding up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in
serious internal injury or death. Never allow passengers to ride on the folded rear seatback, in
the cargo area. Doing so may result in serious injury or death. Never stack luggage or other cargo higher than the top of the
seatback because it could tumble forward and injure passengersin the event of a sudden stop or accident. Secure skis and other lengthy items properly to prevent them
from being thrown around inside the vehicle and causing serious
injury during a sudden stop, a sudden steering or a rapid accel-eration.
HB0302
Sit well back and upright.
Armrest (if equipped)
WARNING
To avoid the possibility of serious injury, passengers must never be allowed to sit on the center armrest while the vehicle is in mo-tion.

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HB1068BBHB1100BB
To lower the armrest, pull on the top edge of the armrest.
Loading long objects (Sedan)
WARNING
Secure long objects properly to prevent them from shooting
forward and causing serious injury during a sudden stop or
sharp cornering. Tie long objects down with a rope or somethingequivalent. Avoid loading objects longer than 6.6 ft (2 m) and heavier than
55 lb (25 kg). Such objects can interfere with the driver ’s proper
operation of the car, possibly causing an accident and serious
injury.
HB1053BA
HB1052BA

1-12Folding down the armrest and opening the seatback panel affords a
loading space for long objects.
To open the seatback panel, pull the panel down while pressing the
release tab down.
Headrest adjustment — Rear center seating position
on Station wagon
HB1099BA
To raise the headrest, pull it up. To lower it, push the headrest down while
pressing the release button on the top of the seatback.
When the rear center seating position is occupied, place the headrest in
its highest position. When the rear center seating position is not occu-
pied, lower the headrest to improve rearward visibility. Folding down the rear seat — Station wagon
WARNING
After returning the rear seat to its original position, be certain
to place all of the seatbelts and the tab attached to the seat cush- ion above the seat cushion. And make certain that the shoulderbelts are fully visible. Never permit anyone to ride in the cargo area.

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Folding down the seatback
HB1095BA
HB1094BA
1. Lower the headrests.
2. Unlock the seatback by pulling the release knob and then fold theseatback down. Folding down the seat cushion and seatback
1. Move the front seat forward.
2. Close the rear passengers ’ cup holder and ashtray.
3. Remove the headrests (if so equipped).
Window-side seating positions: Pull the headrest up while pressing
the release button located on the backside of the seatback.Center seating position: Pull the headrest up while pressing the re-
lease button located on the top of the seatback.
HB1099CB
HB1096BB