chapter 9 SUBARU OUTBACK 2003 3.G User Guide

1-44Not wearing a seatbelt increases the chance of severe injury or death in a crash even when the car has the SRS airbag.
For instructions and precautions concerning the seatbelt system,see the
“Seatbelts” sections in this chapter.
Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to the SRS airbag. Be-
cause the SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed – faster
than the blink of an eye – and force to protect in high speed colli-
sions, the force of an airbag can injure an occupant whose bodyis too close to SRS airbag. It is also important to wear your seatbelt to help avoid injuriesthat can result when the SRS airbag contacts an occupant not inproper position such as one thrown forward during pre-accidentbraking.Even when properly positioned, there remains a possibility thatan occupant may suffer minor injury such as abrasions andbruises to the face or arms because of the SRS airbag deploy-ment force. 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 air-bag needs enough space for deployment, the driver should al-ways sit upright and well back in the seat as far from the steeringwheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control and
the front passenger should move the seat as far back as possibleand sit upright and well back in the seat. 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 car and cause injury. 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, we strongly recommend that ALL children

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-45
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(including those in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained atall times in a child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever isappropriate for the child
’s age, height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forwardfacing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times.According to accident statistics, children are safer when properlyrestrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions.For instructions and precautions concerning the child restraint
system, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this chapter.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TOTHE 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 pas-
senger’ s seat, or never hold a child on your lap or in your arms.
The SRS airbag deploys with considerable force and can injure oreven kill the child.
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Put children in the REAR seat prop- erly restrained at all times.

1-46CAUTION
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 pas-
sengers have breathing problems after SRS airbag deploys, get
fresh air promptly. A deploying SRS airbag releases hot gas. Occupants could get
burnt if they come into direct contact with the hot gas.
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 airbags (driver ’s
and front passenger ’s frontal airbags) or four airbags (driver ’s and front
passenger’ s frontal airbags and driver ’s and front passenger ’s side air-
bags).These SRS airbags are designed only as a supplement to the prima-ry protection provided by the seatbelt.
The system also controls front seatbelt pretensioners. For operation,
instructions are precautions concerning the seatbelt pretensioner, seethe “Front seatbelt pretensioner ” section in this chapter.
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 applicablesection in this owner ’s manual.

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Keys and doors2-29
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Rear gate (Station wagon)
WARNING
To prevent dangerous exhaust gas from entering the vehicle, always keep the rear gate closed while driving.
CAUTION
Do not jam a plastic bag in or place cellophane tape on the reargate stays or scratch the stays while loading or unloading cargo.That could cause leakage of gas from the stays, which may resultin their inability to hold the rear gate open.
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To unlock the rear gate, insert the key in the keyhole and turn it clock-
wise. To lock the rear gate, insert the key in the keyhole and turn it coun-
terclockwise. If your vehicle is equipped with power door locking
switches, the rear gate can also be locked and unlocked through use ofthe power door locking switches. Refer to “Power door locking switches ”
section in this chapter.
To open the rear gate, first unlock the rear gate lock then pull the outside
handle up. To close the rear gate, lower it slowly and push down firmly
until the latch engages.

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Keys and doors2-31
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To raise or lower the moonroof
The tilting function will only operate when the moonroof is fully closed.
Push the rear side of the “Tilt” switch to raise the moonroof.
Push the front side of the “Tilt” switch to lower the moonroof.
Release the switch after the moonroof has been raised or has been
lowered completely. Pushing the switch continuously may cause dam-
age to the moonroof. To open or close the moonroof
Push the “Open/Close” switch rearward to open the moonroof. The
sun shade will be also opened together with the moonroof. Push the “Open/Close” switch forward to close the moonroof. The
moonroof will stop halfway if you continue to press on the switch.
Release the switch once and push it again to close the moonroof
completely.
After washing the vehicle or after it rains, wipe away water on the roof
prior to opening the moonroof to prevent water drops from falling into
the passenger compartment.
NOTE If the moonroof cannot be closed through the switch operation
because of system failure, it can be closed manually using a hex-headed wrench. For the procedure, refer to “Moonroof — if the
moonroof cannot be closed ” in Chapter 9 “In case of emer-

2-34
NOTE
Driving with the moonroof fully open can cause a great deal of
wind noise. If such a condition has been encountered, close the
moonroof up to the initial stop position of 7.9 in (20 cm), and thewind noise should diminish. If the moonroof cannot be closed through switch operation
because of system failure, it can be closed manually using a hex-headed wrench. For the procedure, refer to “Moonroof — if the
moonroof cannot be closed ” in Chapter 9 “In case of emergency ”.
Sun shades
OM-H2355
nFront sun shade
The front sun shade can be slid forward or backward by hand regard-
less of the moonroof position. n Rear sun shade
The rear sun shade can be slid forward or backward by hand while
the rear moonroof is closed. If the rear moonroof is opened, the sunshade also moves back.

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Instruments and controls3-9
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Tachometer
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the pointer of the tachometer in
the red zone. In this range, fuel injection will be cut by the enginecontrol module to protect the engine from overrevving. Theengine will resume running normally after the engine speed isreduced below the red zone.
The tachometer shows the engine speed in thousands of revolutions perminute. Outside temperature indicator (if equipped)
The outside temperature indicator shows the outside temperature in a
range from –22F to 122 F ( –30 C to 50 C).
The indicator can give a false reading under any of the following condi-tions: When there is too much sun.
During idling; while running at low speeds in a traffic jam; when the
engine is restarted immediately following a shutdown. When the actual outside temperature falls outside the specified indi-
cator range. For vehicles with an automatic climate control, outside temperature can be displayed on the climate control display panel. Refer to the“ Automatic climate control system ” in chapter 4.
Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge shows the approximate amount of fuel remaining in thetank.
The gauge does not return to “E” even though the ignition switch is in the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position.
The gauge may move slightly during braking, turning or acceleration dueto fuel level movement in the tank.

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Temperature gauge
CAUTION
If the pointer exceeds the normal operating range, safely stop the
vehicle as soon as possible.
See “ In case of emergency ” in chapter 9.
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The temperature gauge shows engine coolant temperature when the
ignition switch is in the “ON” position.
The coolant temperature will vary in accordance with the outside temper-
ature and driving conditions.
We recommend that you drive moderately until the pointer of the temper-
ature gauge reaches near the middle of the range. Engine operation is
optimum with the engine coolant at this temperature range and high rev-
ving operation when the engine is not warmed up enough should beavoided.
Warning and indicator lights
Several of the warning and indicator lights come on momentarily and
then go out when the ignition switch is initially turned to the “ON” posi-
tion. This permits checking the operation of the bulbs.
Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position.
The following lights come on:

3-18the ignition switch has been turned to the
“ON” position.
VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) OFF indicator light (if equipped)
This indicator light comes on when the ignition switch is turned ON
and goes out about 6 seconds after the engine has started. It comes on when the VDC system is deactivated (by operating “VDC
OFF” switch or in the standby state).
NOTE The light may stay on for a while after the engine has been
started, especially in cold weather. This does not indicate the exis- tence of a problem. The light should go out as soon as the enginehas warmed up. The “VDC OFF ” indicator light comes on when the engine has de-
veloped a problem and the CHECK ENGINE warning light is on.
The VDC system is probably faulty under any of the following conditions. Have your vehicle checked at a SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. The VDC OFF indicator light does not come on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position.
The light does not go out even after several minutes have passed (the
engine has warmed up) after the engine has been started. Security system status indicator light (if equipped)
This light is found at the bottom center of the combination meter panel. On vehicles equipped with a security system, it blinks to show the driver
the operational status of the security system. For detailed information, re-fer to the “Security system ” in Chapter 2.
Shift position indicator (for AT vehicles)
This indicator shows the position of the shift lever.
If the transmission has a Sport Shift mode, the position of the shift lever is
shown by another indicator during Sport Shift mode operation. For de-
tails, refer to Chapter 7, “Automatic transmission ”.

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Instruments and controls3-19
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Turn signal indicator lights
These lights show the operation of the turn signal or lane change signal.
If the indicator lights do not blink or blink rapidly, the turn signal bulb
may be burned out. Replace the bulb as soon as possible. Refer to the“ Replacing bulbs ” section in chapter 11.
High beam indicator light
This light shows that the headlights are in the high beam mode.This indicator light also comes on when the headlight flasher is operated. Clock
HB2013BA
To set the time, turn the setting knob clockwise to advance and counter-
clockwise to retard the time.