height SUBARU FORESTER 2005 SG / 2.G User Guide

1-37
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
„Where to place a child restraint system
The following are SUBARU’s recommendations on
where to place a child restraint system in your vehicle.
A: Front passenger’s seat
You should not install a child restraint system due to
the hazard to children posed by the passenger’s air-
bag.
B: Rear seat, window-side seating positions
Recommended positions for all types of child restraint systems.
In these positions, Automatic/Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (A/ELR) seatbelts and lower anchorages (bars)
are provided for installing a child restraint system. C: Rear seat, center seating position
Installing a child restraint system is not recommended,
although the A/ELR seatbelt is provided in this posi-
tion.
Some types of child restraints might not be able to be
secured firmly due to projection of the seat cushion.
In this seating position, you should use only a child re-
straint system that has a bottom base that fits snugly
against the contours of the seat cushion and can be
securely retained using the seatbelt.
Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat
properly restrained 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 improperly 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 fac-
ing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times.
You should choose a restraint device which is
appropriate for the child’s age, height and
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
weight. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions.
SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER’S SRS AIRBAG, NEVER INSTALL
A REARWARD FACING CHILD SAFETY SEAT
IN THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SEAT. DOINGSO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD’S HEAD
TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
„ Choosing a child restraint system
Choose a child restraint system that is appropriate for
the child’s age and size (weight and height) in order to
provide the child with proper protection. The child re-
straint system should meet all applicable requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for United
States or Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for
Canada. It can be identified by locking for the label on
the child restraint system or the manufacture’s state-
ment of compliance in the document attached to the
HG1043BA
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
es) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at
all times in a child restraint device or in a seat-
belt, whichever is appropriate for the child’s
age, height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (in-
cluding forward facing child seats) in the REAR
seats at all times.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear seat-
ing positions than in the front seating posi- tions.
For instructions and precautions concerning
the child restraint system, see the “Child re-
straint systems” section in this chapter. yNEVER 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. y Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on
the front passenger’s seat, or never hold a child
on your lap or in your arms. The SRS airbag de-
ploys with considerable force and can injure or
even kill the child.
y When the SRS airbag deploys, some smoke
will be released. This smoke could cause
breathing problems for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble. If you or
your passengers have breathing problems after
SRS airbag deploys, get fresh air promptly. y A deploying SRS airbag releases hot gas. Oc-
cupants could get burnt if they come into direct
contact with the hot gas.
NOTE
When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to explain
to the buyer that it is equipped with SRS airbags
by alerting him to the applicable section in this
owner’s manual.

7-44
Starting and operating
Owing to the self-leveling suspension, the vehicle
body is adjusted to the proper position after several
drive trips, even if the rear of the vehicle is lowered by
loaded cargos or a coupled trailer.
If cargos are unloaded all at once, the vehicle height
may become higher than the normal level. This is be-
cause that the hydraulic pressure in the self-leveling
suspension was increased for leveling the body when
the cargos were loaded. In such a case, the vehicle
height will return to the original level after several driv-
ing trips.
NOTE
If the rear axle is loaded excessively, the vehicle
body may not be adjusted to the proper position.
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Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
Be sure that all cargo is firmly secured to prevent a
change in weight distribution while driving. TTongue load
Tongue load
Ensure that the trailer tongue load is from 8 to 11 per-
cent of the total trailer weight and does not exceed the
maximum value of 200 lbs (90 kg). A) Jack
B) Bathroom scale
The tongue load can be weighed with a bathroom
scale as shown in the illustration above. When weigh-
ing the tongue load, be sure to position the towing cou-
pler at the height at which it would be during actual
towing, using a jack as shown.
HS8019AA
A B
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11 - 3 8
Maintenance and service
Brake booster
If the brake booster does not operate as described be-
low, have it checked by your SUBARU dealer.
1. With the engine off, depress the brake pedal sever-
al times, applying the same pedal force each time. The
distance the pedal travels should not vary.
2. With the brake pedal depressed, start the engine.
The pedal should move slightly down to the floor.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the engine
and keep the pedal depressed for 30 seconds. The
pedal height should not change.
4. Start the engine again and run for about one minute
then turn it off. Depress the brake pedal several times
to check the brake booster. Brake booster operates
properly if the pedal stroke decreases with each de-pression.Brake pedal
Check the brake pedal free play and reserve distance
according to the maintenance schedule in the “War-
ranty and Maintenance Booklet”. „
Checking the brake pedal free play
A) 0.04 – 0.12 in (1.0 – 3.0 mm)
Stop the engine and firmly depress the brake pedal
several times. Lightly press the brake pedal down with
one finger to check the free play with a force of less
than 2 lbs (10 N, 1 kg).
If the free play is not within proper specification, con-
A
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12-2
Specifications
SpecificationsSpecifications
These specifications are subject to change without notice. „
Dimensions
in (mm)
*1: Measured with vehicle empty
AT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmission
Item2.5-liter non-turbo models2.5-liter turbo models
Drive systemAWD
Transmission typeATMTATMT
Overall length175.2 (4,450)
Overall width68.3 (1,735)
Overall height62.6 (1,590)62.4 (1,585)
Wheel base99.4 (2,525)
TreadFront58.9 (1,495)
Rear58.5 (1,485)
Ground clearance* 17.5 (190)7.7 (195)

13-2
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Consumer information and Reporting safety defectsFor U.S.A.
The following information has been compiled accord-
ing to Code of Federal Regulations “Title 49, Part
575”.
Tire information „
Tire labeling
Many markings (e.g. Tire size, Tire Identification
Number or TIN) are placed on the sidewall of a
tire by tire manufacturers. These marking can
provide you with useful information on the tire. T Tire size
Your vehicle comes equipped with P-Metric tire
size. It is important to understand the sizing sys-
tem in selecting the proper tire for your vehicles.
Here is a brief review of the tire sizing system
with a breakdown of its individual elements. V P Metric
With the P-Metric system, Section Width is mea-
sured in millimeters. To convert millimeters into
inches, divide by 25.4. The Aspect Ratio (Sec-
tion Height divided by Section Width) helps pro- vide more dimensional information about the tire
size. Example:
(1) P = Certain tire type used on light duty vehi-
cles such as passenger cars
(2) Section Width in millimeters
(3) Aspect Ratio (= section height
÷ section
width).
(4) R = Radial Construction
(5) Rim diameter in inches V Load and Speed Rating Descriptions
The load and speed rating descriptions will ap-
pear following the size designation.
They provide two important facts about the tire.
First, the number designation is its load index.
Second, the letter designation indicates the tire’s
speed rating.P 215 / 60 R 16
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

14-6
Index
Outside temperature indicator ........................... 3-11
Overhead console ............................................... 6-6 P
Parking brake ......................................... 7-34, 11-42
Stroke ......................................................... 11-42
Parking light switch ............................................ 3-27
Parking your vehicle .......................................... 7-34
Periodic inspections ............................................ 8-5 Power
Door locking switches ..................................... 2-8
Seat ................................................................ 1-5
Steering ........................................................ 7-21
Steering fluid level ...................................... 11-34
Windows ....................................................... 2-24
R
Rear Combination lights ...................................... 11-70
Differential gear oil level ............................. 11-33
Gate ..................................................... 2-27, 9-17
Seats ............................................................ 1-11
Viscous limited slip differential (LSD) ........... 7-21
Rear window
Defogger button ............................................ 3-33
Wiper and washer switch .............................. 3-31
Wiper blades ............................................... 11-54 Remote keyless entry system ............................. 2-9
Replacing
Air cleaner element .................................... 11-21
Battery (remote keyless entry) ..................... 2-11
Bulbs .......................................................... 11-63
Transmitters ................................................. 2-13
Rocking the vehicle ........................................... 8-14
Roof rail and crossbar ....................................... 8-17 S
Seat height adjustment (driver’s side) ................. 1-5
Seatbelt
Extender ....................................................... 1-29
Maintenance ................................................. 1-29
Pretensioners ............................................... 1-31
Safety tips ..................................................... 1-14
Warning light and chime ...................... 1-16, 3-13
Seatbelts ........................................................... 1-14Seats
Fabric ........................................................... 10-6
Heater ........................................................... 1-10
Security system ................................................. 2-17
Selector lever (AT vehicles) .............................. 7-16
Self-leveling rear suspension ............................ 7-43
Shift lock release ............................................... 7-20
Shift position indicator ....................................... 3-20
Shopping bag hook ........................................... 6-18