2002 SUBARU FORESTER flat

ii
How to use this owner’s manual
Using your Owner ’s manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully read this manual. To protect yourself and extend the service life of your vehicle, follow the instructions
in this manual. Failure to observe these instructions may result in serious
injury and damage to your vehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen chapters. Each chapter begins with a brief table of contents, so you can usually tell at a glance if that
chapter contains the information you want. Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This chapter informs you how to use the seat and seatbelt and contains
precautions for the SRS airbags.Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate the keys, locks and windows.Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the operation of instrument panel indica-tors and how to use the instruments and other switches.Chapter 4: Climate control
This chapter informs you how to operate the climate control.Chapter 5: Audio
This chapter informs you how to operate your audio system.Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This chapter informs you how to operate interior equipment.Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and operate your SUBARU.Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your SUBARU in various condi-tions and explains some safety tips on driving.Chapter 9: In case of emergency
This chapter informs you what to do if you have a problem while driving,
such as a flat tire or engine overheating.Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your SUBARU looking good.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-7
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CONTINUED –
NOTE While adjusting the seatback, you can not at the same time adjust the seat position or the seat cushion angle and height. Head restraint adjustment
HB1016BA
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, push the head
restraint down while pressing the release button on the top of theseatback.
The head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of the occupant ’s ears.
NOTE If the seatback is reclined rearward to the same level as the rear seat cushion with the head restraint removed, a wide flat bed ismade available.
WARNING
Never drive your car with the seats converted in a flat bed
position. If you do so, occupants will have a greater chance of
being injured even during simple deceleration, acceleration andcornering since no firm restraint will be available for them. Before you lie on the flat bed to take a rest, read the descrip-
tion “ Parking your vehicle ” in Chapter 7 carefully and follow the
instructions.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-51
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CONTINUED –
SRS airbags deploy as soon as a collision occurs. After deployment, SRS airbags start to deflate immediately
so that the driver’svision is not obstructed.
OM-H0384
Driver’s side Passenger’s side
The SRS airbag can function only when the ignition switch is in the
“ON”
position.
If the front sub sensors inside the both front fenders and the impact
sensors in the airbag control module detect a certain predetermined
amount of force during a frontal collision, the control module sends
signals to the frontal airbag modules instructing them to inflate the
SRS frontal airbags. Then both airbag modules produce gas, whichinstantly inflates driver ’s and passenger ’s SRS frontal airbags. After
the deployment, the SRS airbags immediately start to deflate so thatthe driver ’s vision is not obstructed. The time required from detecting
impact to the deflation of the SRS airbag after deployment is shorter
than the blink of an eye.
The front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag deploys together with driv-
er’ s SRS frontal airbag even when no one occupies the front passen-
ger’ s seat.
When the SRS frontal airbags deploy, the driver ’s and front passen-
ger’ s seatbelt pretensioners operate at the same time.
Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS airbag would activate in a
non-accident situation, should it occur, the SRS airbag will deflate
quickly, not obscuring vision and will not interfere with the driver ’s
ability to maintain control of the vehicle.

1-52
When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud inflation noise will
be heard and some smoke will be released. These occurrences are
normal result of the deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire inthe vehicle.
The SRS frontal airbag is designed to deploy in the event of an acci-
dent involving a moderate to severe frontal collision. It is basically not
designed to deploy in lesser frontal impacts because the necessary
protection can be achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, it is basically
not designed to deploy in side or rear impacts or in roll-over acci-
dents because deployment of the SRS frontal airbag would not helpthe occupant in those situations. The SRS airbag is designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis.
SRS airbag deployment depends on the level of force experienced in
the passenger compartment during a collision. That level differs from
one type of collision to another, and it may have no bearing on thevisible damage done to the vehicle itself. nExamples of accident in which the SRS frontal airbag will most
likely deploy.
A head-on collision against a thick concrete wall at a vehicle speed of
12 to 19 mph (20 to 30 km/h) or higher activates the SRS frontal air-
bag. The SRS frontal airbag will also be activated when the vehicle is
exposed to a frontal impact similar in fashion and magnitude to the
above-mentioned collision.
HB1055BA

1-58
SRS side airbag deploys as soon as a collision occurs.
After deployment, SRS sideairbag starts to deflate immedi-
ately. HB0359
The SRS side airbag can function only when the ignition switch is in the “ON” position.
The driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS side airbags deploy indepen-
dently of each other since each has its own impact sensor. Also, the
SRS side airbag deploys independently of the frontal airbags in thesteering wheel and instrument panel. An impact sensor is incorporated into each of the vehicle ’s center pil-
lars. If either sensor detects a certain predetermined amount of force
during a side impact collision, the control module sends a signal to
the side airbag module on the impacted side of the vehicle, instruct-
ing it to inflate the SRS side airbag. Then the side airbag module pro-duces gas, which instantly inflates the SRS side airbag. After the de-
ployment, the SRS side airbag immediately starts to deflate. The time
required from detecting impact to the deflation of the SRS side airbag
after deployment is shorter than the blink of an eye.
The SRS side airbag deploys even when no one occupies the seat on the side of which an impact is applied.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-59
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CONTINUED –
When the SRS side airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud inflation
noise will be heard and some smoke will be released. These occur-
rences are normal result of the deployment. This smoke does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The SRS side airbag is designed to deploy in the event of an accident
involving a moderate to severe side impact collision. It is basically notdesigned to deploy in lesser side impact. Also, it is basically not de-
signed to deploy in frontal or rear impacts because SRS side airbag
deployment would not help the occupant in those situations.Each SRS side airbag is designed to function on a one-time-only ba-sis.
SRS side airbag deployment depends on the level of force experi-
enced in the passenger compartment during a side impact collision.
That level differs from one type of collision to another, and it may haveno bearing on the visible damage done to the vehicle itself. nExample of the type of accident in which the SRS side airbag
will most likely deploy.
A severe side impact near the front seat activates the SRS side air-bag.
HB0313

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-63
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CONTINUED –
Flashing or flickering of the indicator light.
No illumination of the warning light when the ignition switch is first
turned to the “ON” position.
Continuous illumination of the warning light.
Illumination of the warning light while driving.
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 vehicles with SRS
side airbags) Inside each center pillar

Keys and doors2-17
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CONTINUED –
second indicating that the system is in the valet mode.
To exit valet mode, open the driver ’s door and keep the “UNLOCK/
DISARM” button pressed for more than two seconds. The indicator
will stop flashing. Passive arming
When passive arming mode has been programmed by the dealer,
arming of the system is automatically accomplished without using the
remote transmitter. Note that in this mode, DOORS MUST 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 side sill cover on the driver ’s side.
1) Open the driver ’s door.
2) Remove the two clips fastening the front portion of the cover
with a screwdriver.
3) Remove the side sill cover by pulling it up.