2000 SUBARU FORESTER height

v
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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.
Carefully read the sec tions “Seat b elts ” and “SRS airb ag ” in c hap ter 2 of
this owner ’s manual for instruc tions and p rec autions c onc ernin g the seat
b elt system and SRS airb ag system. CHILD SAFETY
WARNING
Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms while the ve-
hicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child from in- jury in a collision, because the child will be caught between the
passenger and objects inside the vehicle. While riding in the vehicle, infants and small children should
always be placed in the REAR seat in an infant or child restraint
system which is appropriate for the child ’s age, height and
weight. If a child is too big for a child restraint system, the childshould sit in the REAR seat and be restrained using the seatbelts.According to accident statistics, children are safer when properlyrestrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. Never allow a child to stand up or kneel on the seat. Put children aged 12 and under in the REAR seat properly re-
strained at all times in a child restraint device or in a seat belt.The SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force andcan injure or even kill children, especially if they are 12 years ofage and under and are not restrained or improperly restrained.
Because children are lighter and weaker than adults, their risk be-
ing injured from deployment is greater. NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO

2
Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag Front seats2-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat heater (if equipped) 2-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 2-8
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelts 2-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt maintenance 2-20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint systems 2-20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag operation 2-32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system monitors 2-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system servicing 2-38
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions against vehicle modification 2-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-3
–
CONTINUED –
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater.
For that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (includ-
ing those in child seats and those that have outgrown child re-
straint devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all
times in a child restraint device or in a seat belt, whichever is ap-
propriate for the child
’s age, height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward fac-
ing child seat) 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 TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE
SRS AIRBAG.
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 child restraint sys-
tems, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this chapter.
HS0234
HS0233
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.
Move the seat as far from the steering wheel as practical. Adjust the seatback toupright position. Sit well back and upright.Move the seat as far back as possible.

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-5
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Seat cushion angle and height adjustment (driver ’s seat)
HS0030
For front edge
For rear edge
LowerRaise
Raise
Lower
Turn either d ial to ad just the ang le and heig ht of the seat c ushion to
the d esired p osition. Head restraint adjustment
HS0031
To raise the head restraint, p ull it up . To lower i t, p ush the head re-
straint d own while d ep ressing the release b utton on the top of the
seatb ac k.

2-10
Folding down the seatback
HS0375
Unloc k the seatb ac k b y p ulling the release hand le a nd then fold the
seatb ac k d own. Then p ush the seatb ac k d ownward unti l it loc ks into
p lac e and make sure that it is sec urely loc ked .
To return the seatb ac k to its orig inal p osition, un loc k the seatb ac k b y
p ulling the release hand le and then raise the seatb ac k until it loc ks
into p lac e and make sure that it is sec urely loc ked .
Head rest adjustment
n Height adjustment
HS0376
To raise the head rest, p ull it up . To lower it, p u sh the head rest d own
while d ep ressing the release b utton on the top of t he seatb ac k.

2-12Seatbelts
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.

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-17
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2-point type seatbelt (lap only belts)
OM-H0049
OM-H0048
Too high
Keep as low on hip bone as possible.
1. Before sitting in the seat, ad just b oth seatb ac ks to the up rig ht p osi-
tion.
2. Sit well b ac k in the seat and p ic k up the tong ue p late marked
“ CENTER ”. Be c areful not to twist the b elt.
3. Insert the tong ue p late into the b uc kle marked “CENTER ” until you
hear a c lic k. The tong ue p late marked “CENTER ” c an b e fastened
only into the b uc kle marked “CENTER ”. If the b elt is not long enoug h
for you, hold the tong ue p late at a rig ht ang le to the b elt and p ull the
b elt to extend .
4. To make the b elt tig ht, p ull up on the b elt. And p lac e the lap b elt as
low as p ossib le on your hip s, not your waist.
Adjusting the shoulder belt anchor height
WARNING
When wearing the front seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portionof the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjustthe seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder beltover the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking orin a collision.

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag2-21
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CONTINUED –
at all times. You should choose a restraint device which is appropriate for the child
’s age, height and weight.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properlyrestrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER ’S
SRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD
SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SE-
RIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’ S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
Children should be properly restrained in the rear seat at all
times. Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front
passenger’ s seat. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill the child.
HS0043
HS0229
HS0228
HS0042
Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front passenger ’s seat
or any other seat.
Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms in the front passenger ’s
seat or any other seat.
Never install rearward facing child seat in the front passenger ’s seat.
Secure child restraint devices in the REAR seats at all times.