belt SUBARU IMPREZA 2003 2.G Owner's Manual

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-13
– CONTINUED –
pecially if they are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or improperly re-strained. Because children are lighter and
weaker than adults, their risk of being injured
from deployment is greater. For that reason,we strongly recommend that ALL children (in- cluding those in child seats and those that
have outgrown child restraint devices) sit inthe REAR seat properly restrained at all times
in a child restraint device or in a seatbelt,whichever is appropriate for the child ’s height
and weight. Secure ALL types of child restraint devices
(including forward facing child seats) 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 rearseating positions than in the front seating
positions. For instructions and precautions
concerning the child restraint system, see the “ Child restraint systems ” section in this chap-
ter.
Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your
vehicle. See information on “Child restraint systems ”
in this chapter.
Children
If a child is too big for a child restraint system, the
child should sit in the rear seat and be restrained
using the seatbelts. According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seating posi-tions. Never allow a child to stand up or kneel on theseat.
If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses the face or
neck, adjust the shoulder belt anchor height (win- dow-side seating positions only) and then if neces-
sary move the child closer to the belt buckle to help
provide a good shoulder belt fit. Care must be taken
to securely place the lap belt as low as possible onthe hips and not on the child ’s waist. If the shoulder
portion of the belt cannot be properly positioned, a
child restraint system should be used. Never placethe shoulder belt under the child ’s arm or behind the
child’ s back.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-14
Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts.
They should consult their doctor for specific recom-
mendations. The lap belt should be worn securely
and as low as possible over the hips, not over thewaist. Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The driver ’s seatbelt has an Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (ELR).
The emergency locking retractor allows normal
body movement but the retractor locks automaticallyduring a sudden stop, impact or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)
Each passenger ’s seatbelt has an Automatic/Emer-
gency Locking Retractor (A/ELR). The Automatic/
Emergency Locking Retractor normally functions asan Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/ELR
has an additional locking mode “Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) mode ” intended to secure a child
restraint system. When the seatbelt is once drawn
out completely and is then retracted even slightly,
the retractor locks the seatbelt in that position and
the seatbelt cannot be extended. As the belt is re-
winding, clicks will be heard which indicate the re-
tractor functions as an ALR. When the seatbelt is re-
tracted fully, the ALR mode is released.
When securing a child restraint system on the rear seats by the use of the seatbelt, the seatbelt mustbe changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.
When the child restraint system is removed, make
sure that the seatbelt retracts fully and the retractor
returned to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)mode.
For instructions on how to convert the retractor to

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-15
– CONTINUED –
the ALR mode and restore it to the ELR mode, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this chapter.
Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warningdevice at the driver ’s seat, as required by current
safety standards.
This device causes the seatbelt warning light on the
instrument panel to light up for about six seconds
when the ignition switch is turned to “ON” to remind
the driver to wear the seatbelt. If the driver ’s seatbelt
is not fastened, a warning chime sounds at thesame time. 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. Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your
hips. In a collision, this spreads the force of the lap belt over stronger hip bones instead ofacross the weaker abdomen.
Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when
the occupant sits well back and upright in the
seat. To reduce the risk of sliding under the
seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacksshould be always used in the upright position
while the vehicle is running. If the front seat-
backs are not used in the upright position in a
collision, the risk of sliding under the lap belt
and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdo-men will increase, and both can result in seri-ous 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 slidingup over the abdomen will increase, and bothcan result in serious internal injury or death.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-16
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very hot in a vehicle that has been closed up insunny weather; they could burn an occupant.Do not touch such hot parts until they cool.
Front seatbelts
1. Adjust the seat position:
Driver’ s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright
position. Move the seatback as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle
control.Front passenger ’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the
upright position. Move the seat as far back as pos-sible.
2. Sit well back in the seat.
3. Pick up the tongue plate and pull the belt out
slowly. Do not let it get twisted. If the belt stops be-
fore reaching the buckle, return the belt slightly and
pull it out more slowly. If the belt still cannot be
unlocked, let the belt retract slightly after giving it a
strong pull, then pull it out slowly again.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-17
– CONTINUED –
4. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoul- der belt.
6. Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-18
nAdjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height
The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position best suited for you.
To lower the anchor height, push the release buttonand slide the anchor down.
To raise the anchor height, slide the anchor up. Pull
down on the anchor to make sure that it is locked inplace.
Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without
touching the neck.
WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the
shoulder portion of the webbing does notpass over your neck. If it does, adjust the
seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder belt over the neck may result in
neck injury during sudden braking or in a col-lision.
n Unfastening the seatbelt
Push the button on the buckle.
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-19
– CONTINUED –
retracted properly to avoid catching the belt web-
bing in the door.
Rear seatbelts (except rear center seatbelt on
Wagon)
1. Sit well back in the seat.
2. Pick up the tongue plate and pull the belt out
slowly. Do not let it get twisted. If the belt stops be-
fore reaching the buckle, return the belt slightly and
pull it out more slowly. If the belt still cannot be
unlocked, let the belt retract slightly after giving a
strong pull on it, then pull it out slowly again.3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.
4. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoul- der belt.
5. Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-20
nAdjusting the rear seat shoulder belt anchor height (window-side seating positions only)
The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted
to the position best suited for you. To adjust the an-
chor height, push the release button and slide the
anchor up or down. Pull down on the anchor to
make sure that it is locked in place.
Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without
touching the neck.
WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the
shoulder portion of the webbing does notpass over your neck. If it does, adjust the
seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder belt over the neck may result in
neck injury during sudden braking or in a col-lision.
n Unfastening the seatbelt
Push the button on the buckle.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-21
– CONTINUED –
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are
retracted properly to avoid catching the belt web-
bing in the door.
Rear center seatbelt on Wagon
1) Center seatbelt tongue plate
2) Connector (tongue)
3) Connector (buckle)
4) Center seatbelt buckle
WARNING
Fastening the seatbelt with the webbing twisted can increase the risk or severity ofinjury in an accident. When fastening the belt
after it is pulled out from the retractor, espe-
cially when inserting the connector ’s tongue
plate into the mating buckle (on right-handside), always check that the webbing is nottwisted.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-22
WARNING
Be sure to fasten both tongue plates to the
respective buckles. If the seatbelt is used onlyas a shoulder belt (with the connector’s
tongue plate not fastened to the connector ’s
buckle on the right-hand side), it cannot prop- erly restrain the wearer in position in an acci- dent, possibly resulting in serious injury ordeath.
1. Remove the tongue plate from the belt holder lo-
cated under the right rear quarter glass and pull out
the seatbelt slowly.