2002 SUBARU FORESTER Owners Manual

vi
CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG. Always use the child safety locks whenever a child rides in the
rear seat. Serious injury could result if a child accidentallyopened the door and fell out. Refer to the “Door locks ” section in
chapter 2. Always lock the passenger ’s windows using the lock switch
when children are riding in the vehicle. Failure to follow this pro-cedure could result in injury to a child operating the power win-
dow. Refer to the “Power windows ” section in chapter 2.
Never leave unattended children in the vehicle. They could ac-
cidentally injure themselves or others through inadvertent opera-
tion of the vehicle. Also, on hot or sunny days, temperature in a
closed vehicle could quickly become high enough to cause se-vere or possibly fatal injuries to them. Help prevent young children from locking themselves in the
trunk. When leaving the vehicle, either close all windows and lockall doors or cancel the inside trunk lid release. Also make certainthat the trunk is closed. On hot or sunny days, the temperature ina trunk could quickly become high enough to cause death or seri-ous heat-related injuries including brain damage, particularly for
small children.
Carefully read the sections “Child restraint systems ”, “SRS airbag ”, and
“Seatbelts” in chapter 1 of this owner ’s manual for instructions and pre-
cautions concerning the child restraint system, seatbelt system and SRSairbag system. ENGINE EXHAUST GAS (CARBON MONOXIDE)
WARNING
Never inhale engine exhaust gas. Engine exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas which is danger- ous, or even lethal, if inhaled. Always properly maintain the engine exhaust system to pre-
vent engine exhaust gas from entering the vehicle.

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CONTINUED –
Never run the engine in a closed space, such as a garage, ex-
cept for the brief time needed to drive the vehicle in or out of it. Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle for a lengthy time while
the engine is running. If that is unavoidable, then use the ventila-tion fan to force fresh air into the vehicle. Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille free from snow,
leaves or other obstructions to ensure that the ventilation system
always works properly. If at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the
vehicle, have the problem checked and corrected as soon as pos-
sible. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with allwindows fully open. Keep the trunk lid or rear gate closed while driving to prevent
exhaust gas from entering the vehicle.
DRINKING AND DRIVING WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Alcohol in the
bloodstream delays your reaction and impairs your perception,judgment and attentiveness. If you drive after drinking – even if
you drink just a little – it will increase the risk of being involved in
a serious or fatal accident, injuring or killing yourself, your pas-sengers and others. In addition, if you are injured in the accident,
alcohol may increase the severity of that injury. Please don ’t drink and drive.
Drunken driving is one of the most frequent causes of accidents. Since
alcohol affects all people differently, you may have consumed too much
alcohol to drive safely even if the level of alcohol in your blood is belowthe legal limit. The safest thing you can do is never drink and drive. How-ever if you have no choice but to drive, stop drinking and sober up com-
pletely before getting behind the wheel.

viii
DRUGS AND DRIVINGWARNING
There are some drugs (over the counter and prescription) that can delay your reaction time and impair your perception, judg-ment and attentiveness. If you drive after taking them, it may in-
crease your, your passengers ’ and other persons ’ risk of being
involved in a serious or fatal accident.
If you are taking any drugs, check with your doctor or pharmacist or read
the literature that accompanies the medication to determine if the drug
you are taking can impair your driving ability. Do not drive after taking
any medications that can make you drowsy or otherwise affect your abil-
ity to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you have a medical condition that
requires you to take drugs, please consult with your doctor.
Never drive if you are under the influence of any illicit mind-altering drugs. For your own health and well-being, we urge you not to take ille-
gal drugs in the first place and to seek treatment if you are addicted tothose drugs. DRIVING WHEN TIRED OR SLEEPY
WARNING
When you are tired or sleepy, your reaction will be delayed and your perception, judgment and attentiveness will be impaired. If
you drive when tired or sleepy, your, your passengers ’ and other
persons’ chances of being involved in a serious accident may in-
crease.
Please do not continue to drive but instead find a safe place to rest if you
are tired or sleepy. On long trips, you should make periodic rest stops to
refresh yourself before continuing on your journey. When possible, you
should share the driving with others.

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CAR PHONES AND DRIVING
CAUTION
A driver ’s use of a car phone can be distracting and if special
care is not taken, can lead to an accident. If you use a car phone while driving, make an extra effort to pay attention to the road
and to traffic at all times. If you can safely do so, it is best to pulloff to the side of the road before using your car phone.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE CAUTION
Your vehicle should not be modified. Modification could affect its
performance, safety or durability, and may even violate govern-mental regulations. In addition, damage or performance problemsresulting from modification may not be covered under warranties.
DRIVING WITH PETS
Unrestrained pets can interfere with your driving and distract your atten-
tion from driving. In a collision or sudden stop, unrestrained pets or
cages can be thrown around inside the vehicle and hurt you or your pas-
sengers. Besides, the pets can be hurt under these situations. It is also
for their own safety that pets should be properly restrained in your
vehicle. Restrain a pet with a special traveling harness which can be se-
cured to the rear seat with a seatbelt or use a pet carrier which can be
secured to the rear seat by routing a seatbelt through the carrier ’s han-
dle. Never restrain pets or pet carriers in the front passenger ’s seat. For
further information, consult your veterinarian, local animal protection so-ciety or pet shop.

x
TIRE PRESSURESWARNING
Driving at high speeds with excessively low tire pressures can
cause the tires to deform severely and to rapidly become hot. Asharp increase in temperature could cause tread separation, and
destruction of the tires. The resulting loss of vehicle controlcould lead to an accident.
Check and, if necessary, adjust the pressure of each tire (including the
spare) at least once a month and before any long journey.
Check the tire pressure when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to the values shown on
the tire placard.Refer to the “Tires and wheels ” section in chapter 11 for detailed
information.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to the State ofCalifornia to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductiveharm.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control
2
3
4
Audio
Interior equipment
Starting and operating
In case of emergency
5 67 9
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects13
Index14
10
11
12
1
Driving tips8
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Table of contents

1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags Front seats1-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat heater (if equipped) 1-9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 1-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest (if equipped) 1-10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headrest adjustment — Rear center seating position on Station wagon 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Folding down the rear seat — Station wagon 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelts 1-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt safety tips 1-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) 1-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening the seatbelt 1-18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt maintenance 1-28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seatbelt pretensioners 1-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint systems 1-33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Top tether anchorages 1-40
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 1-43 . . . . . . . .
Vehicle with driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS airbags and
lap/shoulder restraints 1-43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS frontal airbag 1-48
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS side airbag (if equipped) 1-55
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system monitors 1-62
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system servicing 1-63
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions against vehicle modification 1-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-2
Front seatsWARNING
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. 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 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 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. 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