2000 SUBARU FORESTER seats

13-4Eng ine c oolant
10-13
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Eng ine exhaust g as (Carb on monoxid e) 7-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eng ine hood 1-28
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Eng ine oil 10-7
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Eng ine overheating 8-2
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Exterior c are 9-2
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F
Fastening the seatb elt 2-14
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Flat tires 8-6
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FM rec ep tion 5-4
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Fog lig ht (if eq uip p ed ) 10-48
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Fog lig ht switc h (if eq uip p ed ) 3-16
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Front d ifferential g ear oil (Automatic transmission vehic les) 10-22. . . . . . . . .
Front seats 2-2
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Front turn sig nal, p arking lig ht and front sid e mar ker lig ht 10-49. . . . . . . . . . . .
Front-wheel d rive warning lig ht (for AT vehic les) 3- 10
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Fuel ec onomy hints 7-9
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Fuel filler d oor and c ap 1-26
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Fuel g aug e 3-3
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Fuel req uirements 7-3
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Fuse p anel loc ated b ehind the c oin tray 11-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuse p anel loc ated in the eng ine c omp artment 11-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuses 10-42
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Fuses and c irc uits 11-4
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G
Gaug e p ac k ( if eq uip p ed) 6-8
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Gaug es 3-2
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Glove c omp artment 6-3
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GVWR and GAWR 7-48
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H
Hazard warning flasher 3-11, 8-2
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Head lig ht 10-47
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Heater op eration 4-4
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13-6Manual transmission oil
10-19
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Master, sub master and valet key 1-2
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Mirrors 3-23
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N
New vehic le b reak-in d riving – the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) 7-3 . . . . . .
O
Od ometer/Trip meter 3-2
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Off road d riving 7-38
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Oil p ressure warning lig ht 3-6
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Op erating tip s for heater and air c ond itioner 4-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outsid e mirrors 3-23
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Overhead c onsole 6-4
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P
Parking b rake stroke 10-38
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Parking lig ht switc h 3-15
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Parking your vehic le 7-30
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Period ic insp ec tions 7-10
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Power d oor loc king switc hes (if eq uip p ed ) 1-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering 7-27
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Power steering fluid 10-25
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Power wind ows 1-22
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Prec autions ag ainst vehic le mod ific ation 2-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prep aring to d rive 7-9
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R
Rad io 5-2
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Rad io op eration 5-4
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Rear c omb ination lig hts 10-50
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Rear d ifferential g ear oil 10-23
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Rear g ate 1-25
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Rear seats 2-8
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Rear visc ous limited slip d ifferential (for S mod el s) 7-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear wind ow d efog g er switc h 3-21
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2
Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag Front seats2-2
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Seat heater (if equipped) 2-7
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Rear seats 2-8
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Seatbelts 2-12
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Seatbelt safety tips 2-12
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Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function
(except 2-point type seatbelt) 2-13
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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
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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
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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
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SRS airbag system monitors 2-37
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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

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.

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.

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.

2-14
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function (except
driver’ s and 2-point type seatbelt)
When sec uring a c hild restraint system on the p asse ng ers’ seats, the
seatb elt must b e c hang ed over to the Automatic Loc k ing Retrac tor (ALR)
mod e.
When the c hild restraint system is removed , make su re that the retrac tor
op erates as an Emerg enc y Loc king Retrac tor (ELR).
For instruc tions on how to c onvert the retrac tor to the ALR mod e and re-
store it to the ELR mod e, see the “Child restraint systems ” sec tion in this
c hap ter. Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehic le is eq uip p ed with a seatb elt warning d e vic e at the d river’s
seat.
This d evic e c auses the seatb elt warning lig ht on th e instrument p anel to
lig ht up for ab out six sec ond s when the ig nition sw itc h is turned to the
“ ON ” p osition to remind the d river to wear the seatb elt . If the d river’s
seatb elt is not fastened , a warning c hime sound s 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. 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 seatbacks should be alwaysused in the upright position while the vehicle is running. If the
front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a collision,the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt sliding upover the abdomen will increase, and both can result in serious in-