warning SUBARU FORESTER 2001 SF / 1.G User Guide

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-9
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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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Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The d river ’s seatb elt has an Emerg enc y Loc king Retrac tor (ELR) .
The emerg enc y loc king retrac tor allows normal b od y movement b ut the
retrac tor loc ks automatic ally d uring a sud d en stop , imp ac t or if you p ull
the b elt very q uic kly out of the retrac tor. Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)
Eac h p asseng er ’s seatb elt has an Automatic /Emerg enc y Loc king Re-
trac tor (A/ELR). The Automatic /Emerg enc y Loc king Re trac tor normally
func tions as an Emerg enc y Loc king Retrac tor (ELR). The A/ELR has an
ad d itional loc king mod e “Automatic Loc king Retrac tor (ALR) mod e ” in-
tend ed to sec ure a c hild restraint system. When the seatb elt is onc e
d rawn out c omp letely and is then retrac ted even sli g htly, the retrac tor
loc ks the seatb elt in that p osition and the seatb el t c annot b e extend ed .
As the b elt is rewind ing , c lic ks will b e heard whic h ind ic ate the retrac tor
func tions as ALR. When the seatb elt is retrac ted fu lly, ALR mod e is re-
leased .
When sec uring a c hild restraint system on the p asse ng ers’ seats, the
seatb elt must b e c hang ed over to the Automatic Loc k ing Retrac tor (ALR)
mod e.
When the c hild restraint system is removed , make su re that the retrac tor
op erates as an Emerg enc y Loc king Retrac tor (ELR).
For instruc tions on how to c onvert the retrac tor to the ALR mod e and re-
store it to the ELR mod e, see the “Child restraint systems ” sec tion in this
c hap ter. Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehic le is eq uip p ed with a seatb elt warning d e vic e at the d river’s
seat, as req uired b y c urrent safety stand ard s.
This d evic e c auses the seatb elt warning lig ht on th e instrument p anel to
lig ht up for ab out six sec ond s when the ig nition sw itc h is turned to “ON ”
to remind the d river to wear the seatb elt. If the d river’s seatb elt is not fas-
tened , a warning c hime sound s at the same time.

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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.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-15
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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.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-17
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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.

1-18n
Unfastening the seatbelt
HB0303
Push
Push the b utton on the b uc kle.
Before c losing the d oor, make sure that the b elts a re retrac ted p rop -
erly to avoid c atc hing the b elt web b ing in the d oor .
Rear center seatbelt
WARNING
Before fastening the seatbelt, confirm that the seatbelt is
routed through the seatbelt comfort guide. A seatbelt not routed through the guide can cause neck injuries during sudden brakingor in a collision since it may slip up on your neck. Fastening the seatbelt with the webbing twisted can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an accident. When fastening the
belt after it is pulled out from the retractor, especially wheninserting the connector ’s tongue plate into the mating buckle (on
right-hand side), always check that the webbing is not twisted. Be sure to fasten both tongue plates to the respective buckles.
If the seatbelt is used only as a shoulder belt (with the connec-
tor’ s tongue plate not fastened to the connector ’s buckle on the
right-hand side), it cannot properly restrain the wearer in positionin an accident, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.

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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

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-25
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WARNING
Child restraint systems and seatbelts can become hot in a ve-
hicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check the child restraint system before you place achild in it. Do not leave an unsecured child restraint system in your vehi-
cle. Unsecured child restraint systems can be thrown around in-
side of the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn or accident; it can strikeand injure vehicle occupants as well as result in serious injuriesor death to the child.
Infants and small c hild ren should always b e p lac ed in an infant or c hild
restraint system in the rear seat while rid ing in t he vehic le. You should use
an infant or c hild restraint system that meets Fed e ral Motor Vehic le Safety
Stand ard s or Canad a Motor Vehic le Safety Stand ard s, is c omp atib le with
your vehic le and is ap p rop riate for the c hild ’s ag e and size. All c hild re-
straint systems are d esig ned to b e sec ured in vehic le seats b y lap b elts or
the lap p ortion of a lap /should er b elt.
Child ren c ould b e end ang ered in an ac c id ent if thei r c hild restraints are
not p rop erly sec ured in the vehic le. When installin g the c hild restraint
system, c arefully follow the manufac turer ’s instruc tions.
Ac c ord ing to ac c id ent statistic s, c hild ren are safe r when p rop erly re-
strained in the rear seating p ositions than in the front seating p ositions.
These statistic s also ind ic ate that the safest p osi tion for a c hild restraint
system is the c enter of the rear seat.
All U.S. states and Canad ian p rovinc es req uire that infants and small
c hild ren b e restrained in an ap p roved c hild restrai nt system at all times
while the vehic le is moving .
Installing child restraint systems
NOTE When the child restraint system is no longer in use, remove it and
restore the ELR function of the retractor. That function is restored
by allowing the seatbelt to retract fully.

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HS1029BA
HSS001BA
1. Remove the head rest at the seat p osition where t he c hild restraint
has b een installed with the seatb elt: lift up the h ead rest while p ress-
ing the release b utton. Store the head rest in the c arg o area. Avoid
p lac ing the head rest in the p asseng er c omp artment to p revent it from
b eing thrown around in the p asseng er c omp artment in a sud d en stop
or a sharp turn.
2. Fasten the top strap hook of the c hild restraint to the ap p rop riate
anc hor b rac ket.
3. Tig hten the top strap sec urely.
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag)
*SRS: This stand s for sup p lemental restraint system . This name is used
b ec ause the airb ag system sup p lements the vehic le ’s seatb elts.
Vehicle with driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS air-
bags and lap/shoulder restraints
WARNING
To obtain maximum protection in the event of an accident, the
driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear seat- belts when the vehicle is moving. The SRS airbag is designed
only as a supplement to the primary protection provided by the