2000 SUBARU FORESTER warning

1-22Power windows
WARNING
When operating power windows, be extremely careful to pre-
vent anyone ’s fingers, arms or head from being caught in the
window. Always lock the passengers ’ windows using the lock switch
when children are riding in the vehicle. Before leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the
ignition switch for safety and never allow an unattended child toremain in the vehicle. Failure to follow this procedure could result
in injury to a child operating the power window.
The p ower wind ows op erate only when the ig nition sw itc h is in the “ON ”
p osition.
Power window switch cluster (driver ’s side)
HS0017
For front
passenger’s window
Lock switch
For rear right
passenger’s window“AUTO” switch for
driver’s window
For rear left
passenger’s window

Doors and locks1-25
–
CONTINUED –
the d river
’s sid e d oor, is in the “LOCK ” p osition, the rear p asseng ers ’
wind ows c annot b e op erated with the rear p asseng ers ’ switc hes.
Rear gate
WARNING
To prevent dangerous exhaust gas from entering the vehicle, al- ways keep the rear gate closed while driving.
HS0021
Unlock
Lock
To unloc k the rear g ate, insert the key in the keyh ole and turn it c loc k-
wise. To loc k the rear g ate, insert the key in the keyhole and turn it c oun-
terc loc kwise. If your vehic le is eq uip p ed with p owe r d oor loc king
switc hes, the rear g ate c an also b e loc ked and unlo c ked throug h use of
the p ower d oor loc king switc hes. Refer to “Power d oor loc king switc hes ”
sec tion in this c hap ter.
To op en the rear g ate, first unloc k the rear g ate l oc k then p ull the outsid e
hand le up . To c lose the rear g ate, lower it slowly and p ush d own firmly
until the latc h eng ag es.

1-26Fuel filler door and cap
WARNING
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. Before refueling, always
first stop the engine and make sure that there are no lighted ciga- rettes, open flames or electrical sparks in the adjacent area. When opening the cap, do not remove the cap quickly. Fuel
may be under pressure and spray out of the fuel filler neck espe-
cially in hot weather, which may cause injury.
CAUTION
Never add any cleaning agents to the fuel tank. The addition of a
cleaning agent may cause damage to the fuel system.
For c hoosing the rig ht fuel for your SUBARU, refer to the “Fuel req uire-
ments ” sec tion (loc ated in c hap ter 7).
To open and close the fuel filler door
HS0022
To op en the fuel filler d oor, p ull it outward . Afte r refueling , b e sure to
c lose the fuel filler d oor c omp letely.

Doors and locks1-27
–
CONTINUED –

Fuel filler cap CAUTION
Make sure that the cap is tightened until it clicks to prevent
fuel spillage in the event of an accident. Always use a genuine SUBARU fuel filler cap. If you use the
wrong cap, it may not fit or have proper venting, and your fueltank and emission control system might be damaged.
OM-H2399
Close
Open
To take off the fuel filler c ap , turn it slowly c ou nterc loc kwise and re-
move the c ap .
To p ut the c ap b ac k on, turn it c loc kwise until you hear a c lic king
noise.
Be c ertain not to c atc h the c ap tether und er the c a p while tig htening .
NOTE If the fuel filler cap is not tightened until it clicks or if the tether is caught under the cap, the CHECK ENGINE warning light maycome on. Refer to the “Warning and indicator lights ” section
located in chapter 3. Refueling
After the fuel filler nozzle has automatic ally stop p ed , d o not ad d more
fuel.
If you sp ill any fuel on the p ainted surfac e, rinse it off immed iately.
Otherwise, the p ainted surfac e c ould b e d amag ed . Su c h d amag e is
not c overed und er the SUBARU Limited Warranty.

1-28Engine hood
WARNING
Always check that the hood is properly locked before you start
driving. If it is not, it might fly open while the vehicle is moving
and block your view, which may cause an accident and serious
bodily injury.
HS0025
HS0026 HS0024
To op en the hood :
1. Pull the hood release knob und er the instrument p
anel.
2. Release the sec ond ary hood release loc ated und er the front of the
eng ine hood b y moving the lever toward the left. Li ft up the hood , release
the hood p rop from its retainer and p ut the end of the hood p rop into the
slot in the hood .

2
Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag Front seats2-2
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Seat heater (if equipped) 2-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 2-8
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Seatbelts 2-12
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Seatbelt safety tips 2-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function
(except 2-point type seatbelt) 2-13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function (except driver ’s and 2-point type seatbelt) 2-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 2-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening the seatbelt 2-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting the shoulder belt anchor height 2-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unfastening the seatbelt 2-18
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Seatbelt maintenance 2-20
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Child restraint systems 2-20
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Top strap anchors 2-25
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 2-27 . . . . . . . .
Vehicle with driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS airbags
and lap/shoulder restraint 2-27
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SRS airbag operation 2-32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system monitors 2-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system servicing 2-38
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Precautions against vehicle modification 2-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-2
Front seats
WARNING
Never adjust the seat while driving to avoid the possibility of
loss of vehicle control and of personal injury. Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed be-
cause they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury
in the event that the vehicle is struck from the rear. Before adjusting the seat, make sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers are clear of the adjusting mechanism. Seat belts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-der the seat belt 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 sliding
under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding up over the abdomen
will increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death. 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 airbag needs enough space for deployment, thedriver should always sit upright and well back in the seat as farfrom the steering wheel as practical while still maintaining full ve-hicle control and the front passenger should move the seat as farback as possible and sit upright and well back in the seat. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially if
they are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-
properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than

2-8
Rear seats
WARNING
Never drive the vehicle with the head rests removed because
they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury in the
event that the vehicle is struck from the rear. Seat belts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-der the seat belt in a collision, the seatbacks should be alwaysused in the upright position while the vehicle is running. If the
seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a collision, therisk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding upover the abdomen will increase, and both can result in serious in-ternal injury or death.
Especially when the occupant of the rear seat is a child, be sureto position the seatback upright. Children are more likely to slideunder the lap belt than adults if the seatback is reclined in a colli-sion. 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. Never allow passengers to ride on the folded rear seatback or
in the cargo area. Doing so may result in serious injury or death. Never stack luggage or other cargo higher than the top of the
seatback because it could tumble forward and injure passengersin the event of a sudden stop or accident. Secure skis and other lengthy items properly to prevent them
from shooting forward and causing serious injury during a sud-den stop a sudden steering or a rapid acceleration.