belt SUBARU FORESTER 2005 SG / 2.G Repair Manual

1-53
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System airbag) *SRS: This stands for supplemental restraint system.
This name is used because the airbag system supple-
ments the vehicle’s seatbelts. „Vehicle with driver’s and front passen-
ger’s SRS airbags and lap/shoulder re-straints
Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental restraint
system in addition to a lap/shoulder belt at each front
seating position.
The supplemental restraint system (SRS) consists of
two airbag (driver’s and front passenger’s frontal air-
bags) or four airbags (driver’s and front passenger’sfrontal airbags and driver’s and front passenger’s
side airbags).
These SRS airbags are designed only as a supple-
ment to the primary protection provided by the
seatbelt.
y To obtain maximum protection in the event of
an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear seatbelts when the
vehicle is moving. The SRS airbag is designed
only as a supplement to the primary protection
provided by the seatbelt. It does not do away
with the need to fasten seatbelts. In combina-
tion with the seatbelts, it offers the best com-
bined protection in case of a serious accident.
Not wearing a seatbelt increases the chance of
severe injury or death in a crash even when the
vehicle has the SRS airbag.
For instructions and precautions concerning
the seatbelt system, see the “Seatbelts” sec- tions in this chapter. y
Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to the
SRS airbag. Because the SRS airbag deploys
with considerable speed – faster than the blink
of an eye – and force to protect in high speed
collisions, the force of an airbag can injure an
occupant whose body is too close to SRS air-
bag.
It is also important to wear your seatbelt to help
avoid injuries that can result when the SRS air-
bag contacts an occupant not in proper posi-
tion such as one thrown forward during pre-ac-
cident braking.
Even when properly positioned, there remains
a possibility that an occupant may suffer minor

1-54
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
injury such as abrasions and bruises to the
face or arms because of the SRS airbag deploy-
ment force. y
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 airbag needs enough space for deploy-
ment, the driver should always sit upright and
well back in the seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still maintaining full ve-
hicle control and the front passenger should
move the seat as far back as possible and sit
upright and well back in the seat.y Do not place any objects over or near the
SRS airbag cover or between you and the SRS
airbag. If the SRS airbag deploys, those objects
could interfere with its proper operation and
could be propelled inside the vehicle and cause
injury.
y 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, espe-
cially if they are 12 years of age and under and
are not restrained or improperly restrained. Be-
cause children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deploy-
ment is greater.
For that reason, we strongly recommend that
ALL children (including those in child seats and
those that have outgrown child restraint devic-
HS1034BA

1-55
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.

1-56
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
4
3
1
7
9
12
5
2
10
6
8
11
US1116BB
1) Airbag control module (including impact sensors)
2) Airbag module (driver’s side)
3) Airbag module (passenger’s
side)
4) Front sub sensor (right hand
side)
5) Front sub sensor (left hand side)
6) Side airbag module (driver’s side if equipped)
7) Side airbag module (passen- ger’s side if equipped)
8) Side airbag sensor (driver’s
side)
9) Side airbag sensor (passenger’s side)
10) Airbag wiring
11) Seatbelt pretensioner (driver’s side)
12) Seatbelt pretensioner (passen- ger’s side)

1-57
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
„SRS frontal airbag
The driver’s SRS frontal airbag is stowed in the center
portion of the steering wheel. The passenger’s SRS
frontal airbag is stowed near the top of the dashboard
under an “SRS AIRBAG” mark.
In a moderate to severe frontal collision, the driver’s
and front passenger’s SRS frontal airbags deploy and
supplement the seatbelts by reducing the impact on
the driver’s and front passenger’s head and chest.
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.
Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on
the front passenger’s seat. The SRS airbag de-
ploys with considerable force and can injure or
even kill the child.
HG1043BA
HS1070BA

1-58
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms.
The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill the child.
The SRS airbag deploys 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 airbag needs enough space for deploy-
ment, the driver should always sit upright and
well back in the seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still maintaining full ve-
hicle control and the front passenger should
move the seat as far back as possible and sit
upright and well back in the seat.
It is also important to wear your seatbelt to help
HS1069BAHS1084BA

1-59
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
avoid injuries that can result when the SRS air-
bag contacts an occupant not in proper posi-
tion such as one thrown toward the front of the
vehicle during pre-accident braking.
Do not put any objects over the steering wheel
pad and dashboard. If the SRS frontal airbag
deploys, those objects could interfere with its
proper operation and could be propelled inside
the vehicle and cause injury.
Do not attach accessories to the windshield, or
fit an extra-wide mirror over the rear view mir-
ror. If the SRS airbag deploys, those objects
could become projectiles that could seriously
injure vehicle occupants.
HS1085BA
HS1086BA

1-60
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags T
Operation
A) Driver’s side
B) Passenger’s side
1) SRS AIRBAGs deploy as soon as a collision occurs.
2) After deployment, SRS AIRBAGs start to deflate immediately so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed.
A B
1
2
HS1087BB

1-61
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
The SRS airbag can function only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position.
If the sensors detect a certain predetermined amount
of force during a frontal collision, the control module
sends signals to the frontal airbag modules instructing
them to inflate the SRS frontal airbags. Then both air-
bag modules produce gas, which instantly inflates
driver’s and passenger’s SRS frontal airbags. After the
deployment, the SRS airbags immediately start to de-
flate so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed. The
time required from detecting impact to the deflation of
the SRS airbag after deployment is shorter than the
blink of an eye.
The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag deploys to-
gether with driver’s SRS frontal airbag even when no
one occupies the front passenger’s seat.
Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS airbag would
activate in a non-accident situation, should it occur,
the SRS airbag will deflate quickly, not obscuring vi-
sion and will not interfere with the driver’s ability to
maintain control of the vehicle.
When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud
inflation noise will be heard and some smoke will be
released. These occurrences are normal result of the
deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.
Do not touch the SRS airbag system compo-
nents around the steering wheel and dash-
board with bare hands right after deployment.
Doing so can cause burns because the compo-
nents can be very hot as a result of deployment.
The SRS frontal airbag is designed to deploy in the
event of an accident involving a moderate to severe
frontal collision. It is basically not designed to deploy
in lesser frontal impacts because the necessary pro-
tection can be achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, it
is basically not designed to deploy in side or rear im-
pacts or in roll-over accidents because deployment of
the SRS frontal airbag would not help the occupant in
those situations. The SRS airbag is designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis.
SRS airbag deployment depends on the level of force
experienced in the passenger compartment during a
collision. That level differs from one type of collision to
another, and it may have no bearing on the visible
damage done to the vehicle itself.

1-62
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
V
When will the SRS frontal airbag most likely de-
ploy?
A head-on collision against a thick concrete wall at a
vehicle speed of 12 to 19 mph (20 to 30 km/h) or high-
er activates the SRS frontal airbag. The SRS frontal
airbag will also be activated when the vehicle is ex-
posed to a frontal impact similar in fashion and magni-
tude to the above-mentioned collision. V
At what other times might the SRS frontal air-
bag deploy?
The SRS frontal airbag may be activated when the ve-
hicle sustains a hard impact in the undercarriage area
from the road surface (such as when the vehicle
HS1088BA
US1556BA