airbag SUBARU FORESTER 2001 SF / 1.G User Guide

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Folding down the seatback
WARNING
Never permit anyone to ride in the cargo area.
HB1023BA
HB1022BA
Unloc k the seatb ac k b y p ulling the release knob and
then fold the
seatb ac k d own.
To return the seatb ac k to its orig inal p osition, ra ise the seatb ac k until
it loc ks into p lac e and make sure that it is sec ure ly loc ked .
Head rest adjustment
HS1013BA OM-H2735
To raise the head rest, p ull it up . To lower it, p u sh the head rest d own
while d ep ressing the release b utton on the top of t he seatb ac k.
The b est p osition for the head rest is just ab ove o r level with the top of

1-10the ears.
Seatbelts Seatbelt safety tips
WARNING
All persons in the vehicle should fasten their seatbelts BE-
FORE the vehicle starts to move. Otherwise, the possibility of se-
rious injury becomes greater in the event of a sudden stop or ac-cident. All belts should fit snugly in order to provide full restraint.
Loose fitting belts are not as effective in preventing or reducing
injury. Each seatbelt is designed to support only one person. Never
use a single belt for two or more persons — even children. Other-
wise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result. Replace all seatbelt assemblies including retractors and at-
taching hardware worn by occupants of a vehicle that has been ina serious accident. The entire assembly should be replaced evenif damage is not obvious. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerablespeed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially ifthey are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. Forthat reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (includingthose in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in achild restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate forthe child ’s height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forwardfacing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE

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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 properlyrestrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. For instructions and precautions concerning the childrestraint system, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter.
Infants or small children
Use a c hild restraint system that is suitab le for y our vehic le. See in-
formation on “Child restraint systems ” in this c hap ter.
Children
If a c hild is too b ig for a c hild restraint system, the c hild should sit in
the rear seat and b e restrained using the seatb elts . Ac c ord ing to ac -
c id ent statistic s, c hild ren are safer when p rop erly restrained in the
rear seating p ositions than in the front seating p o sitions. Never allow a
c hild to stand up or kneel on the seat.
If the should er p ortion of the b elt c rosses the fac e or nec k, move the
c hild c loser to the b elt b uc kle to help p rovid e a g ood should er b elt fit.
Care must b e taken to sec urely p lac e the lap b elt a s low as p ossib le
on the hip s and not on the c hild ’s waist. If the should er p ortion of the
b elt c annot b e p rop erly p ositioned , a c hild restrai nt system should b e
used . Never p lac e the should er b elt und er the c hild ’s arm or b ehind
the c hild ’s b ac k.
Expectant mothers
Exp ec tant mothers also need to use the seatb elts. T hey should c on-
sult their d oc tor for sp ec ific rec ommend ations. The lap b elt should b e
worn sec urely and as low as p ossib le over the hip s, not over the
waist.

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Fastening the seatbelt
WARNING
Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In an accident, this
can increase the risk or severity of injury. Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the
back. If an accident occurs, this can increase the risk or severity
of injury. Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your hips. In a colli-
sion, this spreads the force of the lap belt over stronger hipbones instead of across the weaker abdomen. 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 slidingunder the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomenwill increase, and both can result in serious internal injury ordeath.
HS0231
Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.
HS0230
Always wear the
seatbelts correctly.
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.

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n
Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height
WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjust the
seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder beltover the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking orin a collision.
HB1029BB
The should er b elt anc hor heig ht should b e ad justed to the p osition
b est suited for you. To lower the anc hor heig ht, p u sh the release b ut-
ton and slid e the anc hor d own. To raise the anc hor heig ht, slid e the
anc hor up . Pull d own on the anc hor to make sure tha t it is loc ked in
p lac e.
Always ad just the anc hor heig ht so that the should e r b elt p asses over
the mid d le of the should er without touc hing the nec k.

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4. To make the lap p art tig ht, p ull up on the should
er b elt. And p lac e
the lap b elt as low as p ossib le on your hip s, not o n your waist.
n Adjusting the rear seat shoulder belt anchor height
WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjust the
seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder beltover the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking orin a collision.
HS1020BB
The should er b elt anc hor heig ht should b e ad justed to the p osition
b est suited for you. To ad just the should er b elt an c hor heig ht, p ush
the release b utton and slid e the anc hor d own or up . Pull d own on the
anc hor to make sure that it is loc ked in p lac e.
Always ad just the anc hor heig ht so that the should e r b elt p asses over
the mid d le of the should er without touc hing the nec k.

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HB1031BA
HB1030BA
HS1017BB
HS1025BB
HB1032BA
1. Pull out the seatb elt slowly from the overhead re
trac tor, then p ass
the seatb elt throug h the seatb elt c omfort g uid e loc ated b esid e the
1. Center seatb elt tong ue
p late
2. Connec tor (tong ue)
3. Connec tor (b uc kle)
4. Center seatb elt b uc kle

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HS1019BA
nUnfastening the seatbelt
HS0317
Push
Push the release b utton of the c enter seatb elt b uc k le (on the left-hand
sid e) to unfasten the seatb elt. NOTE When the seatback is folded down for greater luggage space, it is
necessary to disconnect the connector.
CAUTION
Do not allow the retractor to roll up the seatbelt too quickly.
Otherwise, the metal tongue plates may hit against the trim,resulting in damaged trim.

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Seatbelt maintenance
CAUTION
Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemicals and particularly
battery acid. Never attempt to make modifications or changes that will pre-
vent the seatbelt from operating properly.
To c lean the seatb elts, use a mild soap and lukewar m water. Never
b leac h or d ye the b elts b ec ause this c ould seriousl y affec t their streng th.
Insp ec t the seatb elts and attac hments inc lud ing the web b ing and all
hard ware p eriod ic ally for c rac ks, c uts, g ashes, tea rs, d amag e, loose
b olts or worn areas. Rep lac e the seatb elts even if only minor d amag e is
found .
Child restraint systems
WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the
vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a collision, because the child will be caught between the
passenger and objects inside the vehicle. Additionally, holding achild in your lap or arms in the front seat exposes that child to
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag deploys with con-
siderable speed and force, the child could be injured or evenkilled. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerablespeed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially ifthey are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater.For that reason, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint
devices (including forward facing child seats) in the REAR seats

1-24at all times. You should choose a restraint device which is appropriate for the child
’s age, height and weight.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properlyrestrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER ’S
SRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD
SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SE-
RIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’ S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
Children should be properly restrained in the rear seat at all
times. Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front
passenger’ s seat. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill the child.
HS1031BB
HS0229
HS0228
HS0042
Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front passenger ’s seat
or any other seat.
Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms in the front passenger ’s
seat or any other seat.
Never install rearward facing child seat in the front passenger ’s seat.