2002 SUBARU IMPREZA belt

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-24
Front seatbelt pretensioners The driver’s and front passenger ’s seatbelts have a
seatbelt pretensioner. The seatbelt pretensioners are designed to be activated in the event of an accident
involving a moderate to severe frontal collision.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as the frontal
SRS airbag sensor. If the sensor detects a certain
predetermined amount of force during a frontal colli-
sion, the front seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by
the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt
more effectively restrains the front seat occupant.
HB0373
When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an oper-
ating noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke will be released. These occurrences are nor-
mal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a
fire in the vehicle.
Once the seatbelt pretensioner has been activated,
the seatbelt retractor remains locked. Consequently,
the seatbelt can not be pulled out and retracted. NOTE
Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to
activate in minor frontal impacts, in side or rear
impacts or in roll-over accidents. The driver ’s seat and passenger ’s seat preten-
sioners and frontal SRS airbag operate simulta-
neously. Pretensioners are designed to function on a
one-time-only basis. In the event that a preten-sioner is activated, both the driver ’s and front
passenger’ s seatbelt retractor assemblies must
be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU
dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assem-
blies, use only genuine SUBARU parts. If either front seatbelt does not retract or can-
not be pulled out due to a malfunction or activa-
tion of the pretensioner, contact your SUBARUdealer as soon as possible. If the front seatbelt retractor assembly or sur-
rounding area has been damaged, contact your

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SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to
explain to the buyer that it has seatbelt preten-sioners by alerting him to the contents of thissection.
WARNING
To obtain maximum protection, the occu-
pants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to the
“Seatbelts” section in this chapter.
Do not modify, remove or strike the front
seatbelt retractor assemblies or surrounding
area. This could result in accidental activationof the seatbelt pretensioners or could makethe system inoperative, possibly resulting in
serious injury. Seatbelt pretensioners have no
user-serviceable parts. For required servicingof front seatbelt retractors equipped with seat-
belt pretensioners, see your nearest SUBARU
dealer. When discarding front seatbelt retractor
assemblies or scrapping the entire car due to
collision damage or for other reasons, consult
your SUBARU dealer.
System monitors
HG1016BA
A diagnostic system continually monitors the readi-
ness of the seatbelt pretensioner while the vehicle is
being driven. The seatbelt pretensioners share the
control module with the SRS airbag system. There-
fore, if any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt preten-
sioner, the SRS airbag system warning light will illu-
minate. The SRS airbag system warning light will
show normal system operation by lighting for about
6 seconds when the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position.
The following components are monitored by the indi- cator: Front sub sensor (Right hand side)

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Front sub sensor (Left hand side)
Airbag control module (including impact sensors)
Seatbelt pretensioner (driver ’s side)
Seatbelt pretensioner (Passenger ’s side)
All related wiring
In the event of a malfunction indicated by any of fol-
lowing, the vehicle should be taken promptly to your
nearest SUBARU dealer to have the system
checked. Unless checked and repaired, the seatbelt
pretensioners and SRS airbag will not function reli-ably: Flashing or flickering of the indicator light.
No illumination of the warning light when the igni-
tion switch is first turned to the “ON” position.
Continuous illumination of the warning light.
Illumination of the warning light while driving.
System servicing
WARNING
When discarding a seatbelt retractor assem-
bly or scrapping the entire car damaged by a
collision, consult your SUBARU dealer. Tampering with or disconnecting the sys-
tem’ s wiring could result in accidental activa-
tion of the seatbelt pretensioner and/or SRS airbag or could make the system inoperative,
which may result in serious injury. The wiring
harnesses of the seatbelt pretensioner and
SRS airbag systems are covered with yellowinsulation and the connectors of the systemare yellow for easy identification. Do not use
electrical test equipment on any circuit related to the seatbelt pretensioner and SRS airbag
systems. For required servicing of the seat-
belt pretensioner, see your nearest SUBARU
dealer.
CAUTION
The front sub sensors are located in both front fenders and the SRS airbag control mod-
ule including the impact sensors is located
under the center console. If you need service or repair in those areas or near the front seat- belt retractors, we recommend that you have
an authorized SUBARU dealer perform thework.
NOTE If the front part of the vehicle is damaged in an
accident to the extent that the seatbelt preten-

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sioner does not operate, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. Precautions against vehicle modifica- tion
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifica- tions. Such modifications can interfere with proper operation of the seatbelt pretension- ers.Attachment of any equipment (bush bar,
winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) otherthan SUBARU genuine accessory parts to thefront end. Modification of the suspension system or
front end structure. Installation of a tire of different size and
construction from the tires specified on thetire placard attached to the door jamb.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to
install any accessory parts to your vehicle. Child restraint systems
Infants and small children should always be placed
in an infant or child restraint system in the rear seat
while riding in the vehicle. You should use an infant
or child restraint system that meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards, is compatible with your vehicle
and is appropriate for the child
’s age and size. All
child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of
a lap/shoulder belt (except those covered under the section in this manual, entitled “Installation of child
restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchor-
ages”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their
child restraints are not properly secured in the ve-
hicle. When installing the child restraint system,
carefully follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating posi-
tions than in the front seating positions.

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All U.S. states and Canadian provinces require that
infants and small children be restrained in an
approved child restraint system at all times while the
vehicle is moving.WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap or in his or her arms while the vehicleis moving. The passenger cannot protect thechild from injury in a collision, because the
child will be caught between the passenger and objects inside the vehicle.
Additionally, holding a child in your lap orarms in the front seat exposes that child to
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag
deploys with considerable speed and force, the child could be injured or even killed.
HG1013BA

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WARNING
Children should be properly restrained at all times. Never allow a child to stand up, or tokneel on any seat. Unrestrained children willbe thrown forward during sudden stop or in
an accident and can be injured seriously.
Additionally, children standing up or kneelingon or in front of the front seat are exposed
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag
deploys with considerable speed and force,the child could be injured or even killed.
HG1014BA
WARNING
Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly restrained at all times. The SRSairbag deploys with considerable speed andforce and can injure or even kill children, es-
pecially if they are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or improperly re-strained. Because children are lighter and
weaker than adults, their risk of being injured
from deployment is greater.
For that reason, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward
facing child seats) in the REAR seats at all
times. You should choose a restraint devicewhich is appropriate for the child ’s age, height
and weight. According to accident statistics,children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.

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HS1031BA
WARNING
SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A
PASSENGER’S SRS AIRBAG, NEVER
INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SAFE-
TY SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT.
DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’ S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIR-
BAG.
HS0042
WARNING
Child restraint systems and seatbelts can
become hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check the child restraint system beforeyou place a child in it. Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
system in your vehicle. Unsecured child re-straint systems can be thrown around inside of the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn or acci-
dent; it can strike and injure vehicle occu-pants as well as result in serious injuries ordeath to the child.

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Installing child restraint systems with seatbelt
HB1080BA
1. Set the child restraint system in the seating posi- tion.
2. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around
the child restraint system following the instructions
provided by its manufacturer. If the shoulder belt
goes in front of the child ’s face or neck, put it behind
the child restraint system.
3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle.
4. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
5. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the retractor to
change the retractor over from the Emergency Lock-ing Retractor (ELR) to the Automatic Locking Re-
tractor (ALR) function. Then, allow the belt to rewind into the retractor. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will
be heard which indicate the retractor functions asALR.
6. Before having a child sit in the child restraint sys-
tem, move it back and forth to check if it is firmly
secured. Sometimes a child restraint can be more
firmly secured by pushing it down into the seat
cushion and then tightening the seatbelt.
7. Pull at the shoulder portion of the belt to confirm
that it cannot be pulled out (ALR properly function-ing).
If the child restraint system requires a top tether,
latch the hook onto the top tether anchor and tighten
the top tether. See the
“Top tether anchorages ” for
additional instructions.
HG0188