seats SUBARU OUTBACK 2005 4.G User Guide

1-38
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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 ap-
propriate 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 manu-
al, entitled “Installation of child restraint systems by
use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH)”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their
child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle.When installing the child restraint system, carefully fol-
low the manufacturer’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating positions
than in the front seating positions.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces require that in-
fants and small children be restrained in an approved
child restraint system at all times while the vehicle is
moving.
US1590BA
HS1069BA

1-40
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
!
Where to place a child restraint system
The following are SUBARU’s recommendations on
where to place a child restraint system in your vehicle.
A: Front passenger’s seat
You should not install a child restraint system due to
the hazard to children posed by the passenger’s air-
bag.
B: Rear seat, window-side seating positions
Recommended positions for all types of child restraint
systems.
In these positions, Automatic/Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (A/ELR) seatbelts and lower anchorages (bars)
are provided for installing a child restraint system. C: Rear seat, center seating position
Installing a child restraint system is not recommended,
although the A/ELR seatbelt is provided in this posi- tion.
Some types of child restraints might not be able to be
secured firmly due to projection of the seat cushion.
In this seating position, you should use only a child re-
straint system that has a bottom base that fits snugly
against the contours of the seat cushion and can be
securely retained using the seatbelt.
"
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, be sure to secure ALL types of
child restraint devices (including forward fac-
ing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times.
You should choose a restraint device which is
appropriate for the child’s age, height and
weight. According to accident statistics, chil-
UG1530BA

1-61
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
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.
"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-
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. "
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
HS1034BA

1-69
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
NOTE
The driver’s SRS side airbag, SRS curtain airbag
and seatbelt pretensioner are not controlled by the
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system. !Front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag
The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag uses a dual
stage inflator. The inflator operates in different ways
depending on the severity of impact and the total load
on the seat.
The total load on the seat is monitored by the passen-
ger’s occupant detection system weight sensor under
the seat.
The detection system monitors the total load on the
seat and, based on this, determines as to whether or
not the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag should be
activated.
Depending on the weight sensor output, only the driv-
er’s SRS frontal airbag may deploy. This is normal.
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so
may prevent the Subaru advanced frontal airbag sys-
tem from functioning correctly or cause the system to fail." Do not apply any strong impact to the front passen-
ger’s seat such as by kicking." Do not spill liquid on the front passenger’s seat. If
liquid is spilt, wipe it off immediately. "
Do not remove or disassemble the front passen-
ger’s seat." Do not install any accessory (such as an audio am-
plifier) other than a genuine SUBARU accessory un-
der the front passenger’s seat." Do not place anything (shoes, umbrella, etc.) under
the front passenger’s seat." The front passenger’s seat must not be used with
the head restraint removed. " Do not leave any article including a child restraint
system on the front passenger’s seat or the seatbelt
tongue and buckle engaged when you leave your ve-
hicle. " Do not place a magnet near the seatbelt buckle.
" Do not use front seats with their backward-forward
position and seatback not being locked into place se-
curely. If any of them are not locked securely, adjust
them again. For adjusting procedure, refer to the
“Manual seat” in the front seats section in Chapter 1 in
this owner’s manual. (Models equipped with manualseats only)
If the seatbelt buckle switch and/or passenger’s occu-
pant detection system weight sensor have failed, the
SRS airbag system warning light will illuminate. Have
the system inspected by your SUBARU dealer imme-
diately if the SRS airbag system warning light comeson.

1-71
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
– CONTINUED –
ing the system check, both indicators extinguish for 2
seconds. After this, one of the indicators illuminates
depending on the status of the front passenger’s SRS
frontal airbag reached by the Subaru advanced frontal airbag system monitoring.
If the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is activated,
the passenger’s frontal airbag ON indicator will illumi-
nate while the OFF indicator will remain extinguished.
If the front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag is deacti-
vated, the passenger’s frontal airbag ON indicator will
remain extinguished while the OFF indicator will illumi-
nate.
If both the ON and OFF indicators remain lit or extin-
guished simultaneously, the system is faulty. Contact
your SUBARU dealer immediately for an inspection. !Conditions in which front passenger’s SRS
frontal airbag is not activated
The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag will not be
activated when any of the following conditions are met
regarding the front passenger’s seat: " The seat is empty.
" The seat is equipped with a rearward facing child re-
straint system and an infant is restrained with it." The seat is equipped with a forward facing child re-
straint system and a small child is restrained with it. " The seat is equipped with a booster seat and a small
child is in the booster seat. "
The seat is relieved of the occupant load for a time
exceeding the predetermined period. " The seat is occupied by a child who has outgrown a
child restraint system or a small adult." The front passenger’s occupant detection system is
faulty.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD
SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SEAT
EVEN IF THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SRS
FRONTAL AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. Be sure
to install it in the REAR seat in a correct man-
ner. Also, it is strongly recommended that any
forward facing child seat or booster seat be in-
stalled in the REAR seat, and that even children
who have outgrown a child restraint system be
also seated in the REAR seat. This is because
children sitting in the front passenger’s seat
may be killed or severely injured should the
front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag deploy.
REAR seats are the safest place for children.
When the front passenger’s seat is occupied by a
child, observe the following precautions. Failure to do
so may increase the load on the front passenger’s

1-72
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
seat, activating the front passenger’s SRS frontal air-
bag even though that seat is occupied by a child."
Do not place any article on the seat other than the
child occupant and a child restraint system." Do not place more than one child on the seat.
" Do not install any accessory such as a table or TV
onto the seatback." Do not store a heavy load in the seatback pocket.
" Do not allow the rear seat occupant to place his/her
hands or legs on the front passenger’s seatback, or al-
low him/her to pull the seatback. " If the front passenger’s frontal airbag ON indi-
cator illuminates and the OFF indicator extin-
guishes even when an infant or a small child is
in a child restraint system (including booster
seat)
Turn the ignition switch to the “OFF” position if the
front passenger’s frontal airbag ON indicator illumi-
nates and the OFF indicator extinguishes even when
an infant or a small child is in a child restraint system
(including booster seat). Remove the child restraint
system from the seat. By referring to the child restraint
manufacturer’s recommendations as well as the child
restraint system installation procedures in the “Child
restraint systems” section in this chapter, correctly in-
stall the child restraint system. Turn the ignition switch
to the “ON” position and make sure that the front pas- senger’s frontal airbag ON indicator goes out and the
OFF indicator comes on.
If still the ON indicator illuminates while the OFF indi-
cator extinguishes, take the following actions. "
Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other
than the child restraint system and the child occupant. " Ensure that there is no article left in the seatback
pocket. " Ensure that the backward-forward position and
seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into
place securely by moving the seat back and forth.
(Models equipped with manual seats only)
If the ON indicator still illuminates while the OFF indi-
cator extinguishes after taking relevant corrective ac-
tions described above, relocate the child restraint sys-
tem to the rear seat and immediately contact your
SUBARU dealer for an inspection.
NOTE
When a child who has outgrown a child restraint
system or a small adult is seated in the front pas-
senger’s seat, the Subaru advanced frontal airbag
system may or may not activate the front passen-
ger’s SRS frontal airbag depending on the occu-
pant’s seating posture. If the front passenger’s
SRS frontal airbag is activated (the ON indicator il-
luminates while the OFF indicator extinguishes),

1-74
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
the side of the seat. "
Ensure that the backward-forward position and
seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into
place securely by moving the seat back and forth.
(Models equipped with manual seats only)" Next, turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position
and let the system complete the self check. Now, the
ON indicator should illuminate while the OFF indicator
remains extinguished.
If the OFF indicator still illuminates while the ON indi-
cator remains extinguished, ask the occupant to move
to the rear seat and immediately contact your SUBA-
RU dealer for an inspection. ! Effect vehicle modifications made for persons
with disabilities may have on Subaru advanced
frontal airbag system operation (U.S. only)
Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, seat
belts, front bumper, front side frame, instrument panel,
combination meter, steering wheel, steering column,
tire, suspension or floor panel can affect the operation of the Subaru advanced airbag system. If you have
any questions, you may contact the following Subaru
distributors: bia>
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer Dealer Services Department P.O. Box 6000
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000
1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)

Schuman Carriage Motors, Inc.
1234 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
808-592-4497

Triple J Enterprises, Inc.
P. O. Box 6066, Tamuning, Guam 96931
671-646-9126

Trebol Subaru of Puerto Rico, Inc.
P. O. Box 11204, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910
787-793-2828
There are no Subaru distributors in any other U.S. ter-
ritories as of May 2004. If you are in such an area,
please contact the Subaru distributor or dealer from
which you bought your vehicle.

1-92
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
roof side (from the front pillar to a point over the
rear seat) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged. "
Either center pillar and rear wheel house or a
nearby area of the vehicle was involved in an acci-
dent in which the SRS side airbag and SRS curtain
airbag did not deploy. " The fabric or leather of either front seatback is
cut, frayed, or otherwise damaged. ! Precautions against vehicle modifica- tion
"To avoid accidental activation of the system
or rendering the system inoperative, which may
result in serious injury, no modifications
should be made to any components or wiring of
the SRS airbag system.
This includes following modifications: "Installation of custom steering wheels
" Attachment of additional trim materials to
the dashboard " Installation of custom seats
" Replacement of seat fabric or leather
" Installation of additional fabric or leather on the front seat "
Attachment of a hands-free microphone or
any other accessory to a front pillar, a center
pillar, a rear pillar, the windshield, a side win-
dow, an assist grip, or any other cabin sur-
face that would be near a deploying SRS cur-
tain airbag.
" Installation of additional electrical/electronic
equipment such as a mobile two-way radio on
or near the SRS airbag system components
and/or wiring is not advisable. This could inter-
fere with proper operation of the SRS airbag
system.
Do not perform any of the following modifica-
tions. Such modifications can interfere with
proper operation of the SRS airbag system. " Attachment of any equipment (bush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) other than
genuine SUBARU accessory parts. " Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure. " Installation of a tire of different size and con-
struction from the tires specified on the vehicle

3-23
Instruments and controls
– CONTINUED –
seconds later (21 seconds after turning ON the ignition
switch), the warning lights will alternate between flash-
ing and steady illumination at 15-second intervals, and
the chime will sound while the warning light(s) is/are
flashing.
Alternate flashing and steady illumination of the warn-
ing lights and sounding of the chime will continue until
both driver and front passenger fasten their seatbelts.
NOTE "If the driver and/or front passenger unfasten(s)
the seatbelt(s) after fastening, the seatbelt warn-
ing device operates as follows according to the
vehicle speed. "At speeds lower than approximately 9 mph (15
km/h)
The warning light(s) for unfastened seatbelt(s)
will alternate between flashing and steady illu-
mination at 15-second intervals. The chime will
not sound. " At approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or higher
speeds
The warning light(s) for unfastened seatbelt(s)
will alternate between flashing and steady illu-
mination at 15-second intervals and the chime
will sound while the warning light(s) is/are flash-
ing.
" If you unfasten and refasten driver’s seatbelt three times within six seconds after turning ON
the ignition switch, the warning operation that fol-lows the 6-second warning after turning ON the ig-
nition switch is canceled. When the ignition switch
is turned ON next time, however, the complete se-
quence of warning operation resumes.
If there is no passenger on the front passenger’s seat,
the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s seat
will be deactivated. The front passenger’s occupant
detection system monitors whether or not there is a
passenger on the front passenger’s seat. Observe the
following precautions. Failure to do so may prevent
the device from functioning correctly or cause the de-
vice to fail."
Do not install any accessory such as a table or TV
onto the seatback." Do not store a heavy load in the seatback pocket.
" Do not allow the rear seat occupant to place his/her
hands or legs on the front passenger’s seatback, or al-
low him/her to pull the seatback." Do not use front seats with their backward-forward
position and seatback not being locked into place se-
curely. If any of them are not locked securely, adjust
them again. For adjusting procedure, refer to the
“Manual seat” in the front seats section in Chapter 1 in
this owner’s manual. (Models equipped with manualseats only)

3-24
Instruments and controls
If the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s
seat does not function correctly (e.g., it is activated
even when the front passenger’s seat is empty or it is
deactivated even when the front passenger has not
fastened his/her seatbelt), take the following actions."
Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other
than the child restraint system and the child occupant." Ensure that there is no article left in the seatback
pocket. " Ensure that the backward-forward position and
seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into
place securely by moving the seat back and forth.
(Models equipped with manual seats only)
If still the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s
seat does not function correctly after taking relevant
corrective actions described above, immediately con-
tact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection. ! SRS airbag system warning light
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position,
the SRS airbag system warning light will come on for
about seven seconds and go out. This shows the SRS
frontal airbag and SRS side airbag and SRS curtain
airbag and seatbelt pretensioners are in normal oper-
ation. If this light comes on while driving or remains illuminat-
ed even after a period of about 7 seconds from when
the ignition has been turned on, it may indicate that the
SRS frontal airbag system or SRS side airbag system
(if equipped) or SRS curtain airbag or seatbelt preten-
sioner system is not working properly. Contact your
nearest SUBARU dealer immediately. !
Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON
and OFF indicators
“ ”: Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON
indicator
PASS AIR BAGPASS AIR BAGONONOUT.DISPOFF
PASS AIR BAG
OFFON
UB3208EA
ON or