belt SUBARU OUTBACK 2003 3.G Owner's Manual

1-144. Store the seatbelts in the seatbelt pockets to prevent them from fal- ling below the cushion.
HB1074BB
5. Raise the seat cushion by pulling up the tab.
Make certain that the rear passenger
’s cup holder is fully retracted
before raising the seat cushion.
HB1097BA
6. Unlock the seatback by pulling the release knob and fold the seat-
back down. Confirm that the pin located at the bottom of the seat
cushion is inserted into the slot at the top of the seatback.

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HB1027BA
7. Install the headrests (if so equipped) onto the backside of the seat- back (window-side positions only).
HB1098BA
To return the rear seat to its original position, raise the seatback and seat
cushion until they lock into place and make sure that they are securelylocked.
Make sure that the rear seatbelts are not under the seat cushion or seat-back.
Place the headrests (if so equipped) back in their normal position.

1-16Seatbelts
Seatbelt safety tips
WARNING
All persons in the vehicle should fasten their seatbelts BE-
FORE the vehicle starts to move. Otherwise, the possibility of se-
rious injury becomes greater in the event of a sudden stop or ac-cident. All belts should fit snugly in order to provide full restraint.
Loose fitting belts are not as effective in preventing or reducing
injury. Each seatbelt is designed to support only one person. Never
use a single belt for two or more persons — even children. Other-
wise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result. Replace all seatbelt assemblies including retractors and at-
taching hardware worn by occupants of a vehicle that has been ina serious accident. The entire assembly should be replaced evenif damage is not obvious. 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. Forthat reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (includingthose in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in achild restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate forthe child ’s height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forwardfacing 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 TOTHE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.

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According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. For instructions and precautions concerning the childrestraint system, see the
“Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter.
Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your vehicle. See in-
formation 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 ac-
cident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. Never allow a
child to stand up or kneel on the seat.
If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses the face or neck, 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 possibleon the hips and not on the child ’s waist. If the shoulder portion of the
belt cannot be properly positioned, a child restraint system should beused. Never place the shoulder belt under the child ’s arm or behind
the child ’s back.
Expectant mothers
HS1107AA

1-18Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts. They should con-
sult their doctor for specific recommendations. 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 Retractor (ELR).
The emergency locking retractor allows normal body movement but the
retractor locks automatically during 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/Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (A/ELR). The Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor normally
functions as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/ELR has an
additional locking mode “Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode ” in-
tended to secure a child restraint system. When the seatbelt is once
drawn out completely and is then retracted even slightly, the retractorlocks the seatbelt in that position and the seatbelt cannot be extended.
As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indicate the retractor
functions as ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, ALR mode is re-leased.
When securing a child restraint system on the passengers ’ seats, the
seatbelt must be changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.
When the child restraint system is removed, make sure that the retractor
is restored to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function by allow-
ing the seatbelt to retract fully.
For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the ALR mode and re-
store 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 warning device at the driver ’s
seat.

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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 the
“ON”
position to remind the driver to wear the seatbelt. If the driver ’s
seatbelt is not fastened, a warning chime sounds at the same 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. 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. Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your hips. In a colli-
sion, this spreads the force of the lap belt over stronger hipbones instead of across the weaker abdomen. Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-der the seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks should be al-ways used in the upright position while the vehicle is running. Ifthe front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a colli-
sion, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt slid-ing up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in se-rious 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 sliding up over the abdomenwill increase, and both can result in serious internal injury ordeath.

1-20
HS0231
Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.
HS0230
Always wear the
seatbelts correctly.
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.
CAUTION
Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn an oc-cupant. Do not touch such hot parts until they cool.
Front seatbelts
OM-H0044OM-H0043
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 main-
taining full vehicle control.Front passenger ’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright position.
Move the seat as far back as possible.

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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 before 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, thenpull it out slowly again.
4. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. And placethe lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist. n
Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height
WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjust the
seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder beltover the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking orin a collision.
HB1029BB
The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position
best suited for you. To lower the anchor height, push the release but-
ton and 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.

1-22Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without touching the neck. n
Unfastening the seatbelt
HB0303
Push
Push the button on the buckle.
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted prop-
erly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door. Rear seatbelts (except rear center seatbelt on wagon)
OM-H0044OM-H0043
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 before 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,

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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 shoulder belt. And placethe lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist. n
Unfastening the seatbelt
HB0303
Push
Push the button on the buckle.
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted prop-
erly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door. Rear center seatbelt on wagon model
WARNING
Fastening the seatbelt with the webbing twisted can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an accident. When fastening the
belt after it is pulled out from the retractor, especially wheninserting the connector ’s tongue plate into the mating buckle (on
right-hand side), always check that the webbing is not twisted. Be sure to fasten both tongue plates to the respective
buckles. If the seatbelt is used only as a shoulder belt (with theconnector ’s tongue plate not fastened to the connector ’s buckle
on the right-hand side), it cannot properly restrain the wearer in
position in an accident, possibly resulting in serious injury ordeath.