2001 SUBARU OUTBACK airbag

1-68SRS side airbag deploys as soon as a collision occurs.
After deployment, SRS sideairbag starts to deflate immedi-
ately. HB0359
The SRS sid e airb ag c an func tion only when the ig nition switc h is in
the “ON ” p osition.
The d river ’s and front p asseng er ’s SRS sid e airb ag s d ep loy ind ep en-
d ently of eac h other sinc e eac h has its own imp ac t sensor. Also, the
SRS sid e airb ag d ep loys ind ep end ently of the fronta l airb ag s in the
steering wheel and instrument p anel.
An imp ac t sensor is inc orp orated into eac h of the v ehic le’s c enter p il-
lars. If either sensor d etec ts a c ertain p red etermi ned amount of forc e
d uring a sid e imp ac t c ollision, the c ontrol mod ule send s a sig nal to
the sid e airb ag mod ule on the imp ac ted sid e of the vehic le, instruc t-
ing it to inflate the SRS sid e airb ag . Then the sid e airb ag mod ule p ro-
d uc es g as, whic h instantly inflates the SRS sid e ai rb ag . After the d e-
p loyment, the SRS sid e airb ag immed iately starts to d eflate. The time
req uired from d etec ting imp ac t to d eflating of the SRS sid e airb ag af-
ter d ep loyment is shorter than the b link of an eye.
The SRS sid e airb ag d ep loys even when no one oc c up i es the seat on
the sid e of whic h an imp ac t is ap p lied .

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When the SRS sid e airb ag d ep loys, a sud d en, fairly
loud inflation
noise will b e heard and some smoke will b e released . These oc c ur-
renc es are normal result of the d ep loyment. This sm oke d oes not ind i-
c ate a fire in the vehic le.
The SRS sid e airb ag is d esig ned to d ep loy in the ev ent of an ac c id ent
involving a mod erate to severe sid e imp ac t c ollisio n. It is b asic ally not
d esig ned to d ep loy in lesser sid e imp ac t. Also, it is b asic ally not d e-
sig ned to d ep loy in frontal or rear imp ac ts b ec ause SRS sid e airb ag
d ep loyment would not help the oc c up ant in those sit uations.
Eac h SRS sid e airb ag is d esig ned to func tion on a o ne-time-only b a-
sis.
SRS sid e airb ag d ep loyment d ep end s on the level of forc e exp eri-
enc ed in the p asseng er c omp artment d uring a sid e im p ac t c ollision.
That level d iffers from one typ e of c ollision to an other, and it may have
no b earing on the visib le d amag e d one to the vehic l e itself.
n Example of the type of accident in which the SRS side airbag
will most likely deploy.
A severe sid e imp ac t near the front seat ac tivates the SRS sid e air-
b ag .
HB0313

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n
Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS side air-
bag will basically not deploy.
The SRS sid e airb ag is b asic ally not d esig ned to d e p loy if the vehic le
is involved in a frontal c ollision or is struc k fro m b ehind . Examp les of
suc h ac c id ents are illustrated b elow.
HB1043BB
HB1046AB
In an ac c id ent where the vehic le is struc k from the sid e more than
onc e, the SRS sid e airb ag d ep loys only onc e on the first imp ac t.
Examp le: In the c ase of a d oub le sid e imp ac t c ollis ion, first with one
vehic le and immed iately followed b y another from th e same d irec tion,
the SRS sid e airb ag is ac tivated on the first imp ac t b ut not on the se-
c ond .
HB1071BB

1-72
SRS airbag system monitors
HB4010EC
A d iag nostic system c ontinually monitors the read in ess of the SRS air-
b ag system (inc lud ing front seatb elt p retensioners) while the vehic le is
b eing d riven. The SRS airb ag system warning lig ht “AIRBAG ” will show
normal system op eration b y lig hting for ab out 6 sec ond s when the ig ni-
tion key is turned to the “ON ” p osition.
The following c omp onents are monitored b y the ind ic ator:
Front sub sensor (Rig ht hand sid e)
Front sub sensor (Left hand sid e)
Airb ag c ontrol mod ule (inc lud ing imp ac t sensors)
Frontal airb ag mod ule (Driver ’s sid e)
Frontal airb ag mod ule (Passeng er ’s sid e)
Sid e airb ag sensor (Driver ’s sid e — if eq uip p ed )
Sid e airb ag sensor (Passeng er ’s sid e — if eq uip p ed )
Sid e airb ag mod ule (Driver ’s sid e — if eq uip p ed )
Sid e airb ag mod ule (Passeng er ’s sid e — if eq uip p ed )
Seatb elt p retensioner (Driver ’s sid e)
Seatb elt p retensioner (Passeng er ’s sid e)
All related wiring
In the event of a malfunc tion ind ic ated b y any of f ollowing , the vehic le
should b e taken p romp tly to your nearest SUBARU d ea ler to have the
system c hec ked . Unless c hec ked and rep aired , the SR S airb ag s will not
func tion reliab ly:

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Flashing or flic kering of the ind ic ator lig ht.
No illumination of the warning lig ht when the ig nit ion switc h is first
turned to the “ON ” p osition.
Continuous illumination of the warning lig ht.
Illumination of the warning lig ht while d riving .
SRS airbag system servicing
WARNING
When discarding an airbag module or scrapping the entire car
damaged by a collision, consult your SUBARU dealer. The SRS airbag has no user-serviceable parts. Do not use
electrical test equipment on any circuit related to the SRS airbag
system. For required servicing of the SRS airbag, see your near-
est SUBARU dealer. Tampering with or disconnecting the sys-
tem’ s wiring could result in accidental inflation of the SRS airbag
or could make the system inoperative, which may result in seri-
ous injury. The wiring harnesses of the SRS airbag system arecovered with yellow insulation and system connectors are yellowfor easy identification.
CAUTION
If you need service or repair in areas listed below, we recommend
that you have an authorized SUBARU dealer perform the work. The
SRS airbag control module, impact sensors and airbag modules
are stored in these areas.
Under the center console
Inside each front fender
Steering wheel and column and nearby areas
Top of the dashboard on front passenger ’s side and nearby
areas Each front seat and nearby area (only for vehicle with SRS
side airbags) Inside each center pillar

1-74In the event that the SRS airbag is deployed, replacement of the sys-
tem should be performed only by an authorized SUBARU dealer.When the components of the SRS airbag system are replaced, useonly genuine SUBARU parts.
To ensure their long -term reliab ility, the SRS airb
ag s must b e insp ec ted
b y a SUBARU d ealer ten years after the d ate of manu fac ture, whic h is
shown on the c ertific ation lab el attac hed to the d r iver’s d oor.
NOTE In the following cases, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as pos- sible. The front part of the vehicle was involved in an accident in
which the SRS frontal airbags did not deploy. The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger ’s
frontal airbag cover is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
In addition, if your vehicle is equipped with SRS side airbags, con-tact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible in the followingcases. Either center pillar or a nearby area of the vehicle was involved
in an accident in which the SRS side airbag did not deploy. The fabric or leather of either front seatback is cut, frayed, or
otherwise damaged.
Precautions against vehicle modification
WARNING
To avoid accidental activation of the system or rendering the
system inoperative, which may result in serious injury, no modifi-cations should be made to any components or wiring of the SRSairbag system.This includes following modifications: Installation of custom steering wheels
Attachment of additional trim materials to the dashboard
Installation of custom seats (only for vehicles with SRS side
airbags)

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Replacement of seat fabric or leather (only for vehicles with
SRS side airbags) Installation of additional fabric or leather on the front seat
(only for vehicles with SRS side airbags)
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 interferewith proper operation of the SRS airbag system.
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifications. Such modifi-cations can interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag sys-tem. Attachment of any equipment (brush bar, winches, snow plow,
skid plate, etc.) other than SUBARU genuine accessory parts tothe front end. Modification of the suspension system or front end structure.
Installation of a tire of different size and construction from the
tires specified on the tire placard attached to the door jamb. Attachment of any equipment (side steps or side sill protec-
tors, etc.) other than SUBARU genuine accessory parts to theside body (only for vehicles with side airbags).
Always c onsult your SUBARU d ealer if you want to in stall any ac c essory
p arts to your vehic le.

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Passive arming
When p assive arming mod e has b een p rog rammed b y the d ealer,
arming of the system is automatic ally ac c omp lished without using the
remote transmitter. Note that in this mod e, DOORS M UST BE MANU-
ALLY LOCKED. n To enter the passive mode
WARNING
Do not disconnect or tamper with any yellow connector and/or any harness covered with yellow insulation and/or tape.Doing so could result in accidental inflation of the SRS airbag orcould make the SRS airbag system inoperative, which may result
in serious injury.
HB2038BB
HB2036BA
1. Remove the sid e sill c over on the d river ’s sid e.
1) Op en the d river ’s d oor.
2) Remove the c lip b y p rying the ed g e with sc rewd riv er.
3) Remove the sid e sill c over b y p ulling it up .
2. Connec t the white (1 p ole) c onnec tor.
3. Turn the ig nition switc h from the “LOCK ” to the “ON ” p osition.
4. Install the sid e sill c over.
To p lac e the system in ac tive arming mod e (remote r eq uired for ac -
tivation), d isc onnec t the white c onnec tor.