SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 2003 2.G Workshop Manual

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-26
slot in the connector (buckle) on the right-hand side and push it in, and the connector (tongue) plate will
disconnect from the buckle.
2. Allow the retractor to roll up the belt. You should
hold the webbing end and guide it back into the re-
tractor while it is rolling up. Insert the tongue plate
into the belt holder.
CAUTION
Do not allow the retractor to roll up the seat-
belt too quickly. Otherwise, the metal tongue plates may hit against the trim, resulting in
damaged trim. Have the seatbelt fully rolled up so that the
tongue plates are neatly stored. A hangingtongue plate can swing and hit against the trim during driving, causing damage to the trim.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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Seatbelt maintenance
To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap and luke-
warm water. Never bleach or dye the belts because
this could seriously affect their strength. Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the
webbing and all hardware periodically for cracks,
cuts, gashes, tears, damage, loose bolts or worn
areas. Replace the seatbelts even if only minor dam- age is found.
CAUTION
Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemi-
cals and particularly battery acid. Never attempt to make modifications or
changes that will prevent the seatbelt from op-
erating properly. Front seatbelt pretensioners
The driver
’s and front passenger ’s seatbelts have a
seatbelt pretensioner. The seatbelt pretensioners are designed to be activated in the event of an accident
involving a moderate to severe frontal collision.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as the frontal
SRS airbag sensor. If the sensor detects a certain
predetermined amount of force during a frontal colli-
sion, the front seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by
the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt
more effectively restrains the front seat occupant.
When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an oper-

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-28
ating noise will be heard and a small amount of
smoke will be released. These occurrences are nor-
mal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a
fire in the vehicle.
Once the seatbelt pretensioner has been activated,
the seatbelt retractor remains locked. Consequently,
the seatbelt can not be pulled out and retracted and
therefore must be replaced. NOTE Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to
activate in minor frontal impacts, in side or rear
impacts or in roll-over accidents. The driver ’s seat and passenger ’s seat preten-
sioners and frontal SRS airbag operate simulta-
neously. Pretensioners are designed to function on a
one-time-only basis. In the event that a preten-sioner is activated, both the driver ’s and front
passenger’ s seatbelt retractor assemblies must
be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU
dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assem-
blies, use only genuine SUBARU parts. If either front seatbelt does not retract or can-
not be pulled out due to a malfunction or activa-
tion of the pretensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
If the front seatbelt retractor assembly or sur-
rounding area has been damaged, contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to
explain to the buyer that it has seatbelt preten-sioners by alerting him to the contents of this section.
WARNING
To obtain maximum protection, the occu-
pants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to the
“Seatbelts” section in this chapter.
Do not modify, remove or strike the front
seatbelt retractor assemblies or surrounding
area. This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pretensioners or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in
serious injury. Seatbelt pretensioners have no
user-serviceable parts. For required servicingof front seatbelt retractors equipped with seat-
belt pretensioners, see your nearest SUBARU
dealer. When discarding front seatbelt retractor
assemblies or scrapping the entire car due to
collision damage or for other reasons, consult
your SUBARU dealer.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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System monitors
A diagnostic system continually monitors the readi-
ness of the seatbelt pretensioner while the vehicle is
being driven. The seatbelt pretensioners share the
control module with the SRS airbag system. There-
fore, if any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt preten-
sioner, the SRS airbag system warning light will illu-
minate. The SRS airbag system warning light will
show normal system operation by lighting for about
6 seconds when the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position.
The following components are monitored by the indi- cator:
Front sub sensor (Right hand side)
Front sub sensor (Left hand side)
Airbag control module (including impact sensors)
Seatbelt pretensioner (driver ’s side)
Seatbelt pretensioner (Passenger ’s side)
All related wiring
In the event of a malfunction indicated by any of fol-
lowing, the vehicle should be taken promptly to your
nearest SUBARU dealer to have the system
checked. Unless checked and repaired, the seatbelt
pretensioners and SRS airbag will not function reli- ably: Flashing or flickering of the indicator light.
No illumination of the warning light when the igni-
tion switch is first turned to the “ON” position.
Continuous illumination of the warning light.
Illumination of the warning light while driving.
System servicing
WARNING
When discarding a seatbelt retractor assem-
bly or scrapping the entire car damaged by a
collision, consult your SUBARU dealer. Tampering with or disconnecting the sys-
tem’ s wiring could result in accidental activa-

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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tion of the seatbelt pretensioner and/or SRS airbag or could make the system inoperative,
which may result in serious injury. The wiring
harnesses of the seatbelt pretensioner and
SRS airbag systems are covered with yellowinsulation and the connectors of the system are yellow for easy identification. Do not use
electrical test equipment on any circuit relatedto the seatbelt pretensioner and SRS airbag
systems. For required servicing of the seat-
belt pretensioner, see your nearest SUBARU
dealer.
CAUTION
The front sub sensors are located in both front fenders and the SRS airbag control mod-
ule including the impact sensors is located
under the center console. If you need service or repair in those areas or near the front seat-belt retractors, we recommend that you have
an authorized SUBARU dealer perform thework.
NOTE If the front part of the vehicle is damaged in an
accident to the extent that the seatbelt preten- sioner does not operate, contact your SUBARUdealer as soon as possible.
Precautions against vehicle modifica- tion
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifica- tions. Such modifications can interfere with proper operation of the seatbelt pretension- ers.Attachment of any equipment (bush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) otherthan SUBARU genuine accessory parts to thefront end. Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure. Installation of a tire of different size and
construction from the tires specified on thetire placard attached to the driver ’s door jamb.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to
install any accessory parts to your vehicle.

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Child restraint systems
Infants and small children should always be placed
in an infant or child restraint system in the rear seat
while riding in the vehicle. You should use an infant
or child restraint system that meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards, is compatible with your vehicle
and is appropriate for the child ’s age and size. All
child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of
a lap/shoulder belt (except those covered under the section in this manual, entitled “Installation of child
restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchor-
ages”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their
child restraints are not properly secured in the ve-
hicle. When installing the child restraint system,
carefully follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating posi-
tions than in the front seating positions.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces require that
infants and small children be restrained in an
approved child restraint system at all times while the
vehicle is moving.
WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap or in his or her arms while the vehicleis moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from injury in a collision, because the
child will be caught between the passengerand objects inside the vehicle.
Additionally, holding a child in your lap orarms in the front seat exposes that child to
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag
deploys with considerable speed and force, the child could be injured or even killed.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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WARNING
Children should be properly restrained at all times. Never allow a child to stand up, or tokneel on any seat. Unrestrained children willbe thrown forward during sudden stop or in
an accident and can be injured seriously.
Additionally, children standing up or kneeling on or in front of the front seat are exposed
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag
deploys with considerable speed and force,the child could be injured or even killed.
WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly restrained at all times. The SRSairbag deploys with considerable speed andforce and can injure or even kill children, es-
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, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward
facing child seats) in the REAR seats at all
times. You should choose a restraint devicewhich is appropriate for the child’s age, height
and weight. According to accident statistics,children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.

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WARNING
SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A
PASSENGER’ S SRS AIRBAG, NEVER
INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SAFE-
TY SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT.
DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’ S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIR-
BAG.
WARNING
Child restraint systems and seatbelts can
become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a smallchild. Check the child restraint system before you place a child in it. Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
system in your vehicle. Unsecured child re-straint systems can be thrown around insideof the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn or acci-
dent; it can strike and injure vehicle occu- pants as well as result in serious injuries or death to the child.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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Installing child restraint systems with seatbelt
1. Set the child restraint system in the seating posi- tion.
2. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around
the child restraint system following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer. If the shoulder belt
goes in front of the child ’s face or neck, put it behind
the child restraint system.
3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle.
4. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
5. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the retractor to
change the retractor over from the Emergency Lock- ing Retractor (ELR) to the Automatic Locking Re-
tractor (ALR) function. Then, allow the belt to rewind
into the retractor. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will
be heard which indicate the retractor functions asALR.
6. Before having a child sit in the child restraint sys-
tem, move it back and forth to check if it is firmly
secured. Sometimes a child restraint can be more
firmly secured by pushing it down into the seat
cushion and then tightening the seatbelt.
7. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt to confirm
that it cannot be pulled out (ALR properly function- ing).

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If the child restraint system requires a top tether,
latch the hook onto the top tether anchor and tighten
the top tether. See the “Top tether anchorages ” for
additional instructions.
8. To remove the child restraint system, press the
release button on the seatbelt buckle and allow the
belt to retract completely. The belt will return to theELR mode.
If you have any question concerning this type of
child restraint system, ask your SUBARU dealer.
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 allow-
ing the seatbelt to retract fully.
WARNING
When you install a child restraint system, fol- low the manufacturer
’s instructions supplied
with it. After installing the child restraint sys-tem, check to ensure that it is held securely in
position. If it is not held tight and secure, the
danger of your child suffering personal injury in the event of an accident may be increased.