2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX airbag off

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Safety precautions when driving Seatbelt and SRS airbag
WARNING
All persons in the vehicle should fasten
their seatbelts BEFORE the vehicle starts to
move. Otherwise, the possibility of serious in-jury becomes greater in the event of a suddenstop or accident. To obtain maximum protection in the event
of an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear seatbelts when the vehicle is moving. The SRS (Supple-mental Restraint System) airbag does not doaway with the need to fasten seatbelts. Incombination with the seatbelts, it offers thebest combined protection in case of a serious accident. Not wearing a seatbelt increases the chanceof severe injury or death in a crash even whenthe car has the SRS airbag. 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 de-ployment, the driver should always sit uprightand well back in the seat as far from the steer-ing wheel as practical while still maintainingfull vehicle control and the front passengershould move the seat as far back as possible and sit upright and well back in the seat.
Carefully read the sections “Seatbelts” and “SRS air-
bag” in chapter 1 of this owner ’s manual for instruc-
tions and precautions concerning the seatbelt sys- tem and SRS airbag system. Child safety
WARNING
Never hold a child on your lap or in your
arms while the vehicle is moving. The passen- ger cannot protect the child from injury in a
collision, because the child will be caught be-tween the passenger and objects inside thevehicle. While riding in the vehicle, infants and small
children should always be placed in the REAR seat in an infant or child restraint system which is appropriate for the child ’s age, height

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-6
Seat heater (if equipped)
HG1004BA
The seat heater operates when the ignition switch is
either in the “ACC” or “ON” position.
To turn on the seat heater, push the “LO” or “HI”
position on the switch, as desired, depending on the
temperature.
HG1007BB
1) HI – Rapid heating
2) LO – Normal heating
The indicator located on the switch comes on when the seat heater is in operation. When the vehicle ’s in-
terior is warmed enough or before you leave the ve-
hicle, be sure to turn the switch off.
CAUTION
There is a possibility that people with deli-
cate skin may suffer slight burns even at low
temperatures if he/she uses the seat heaterfor a long period of time. When using the
heater, always be sure to warn the personsconcerned.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-38
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag)
*SRS: This stands for supplemental restraint system. This name is used because the airbag system sup- plements the vehicle’s seatbelts.
Vehicle with driver ’s and front pas-
senger’ s SRS airbags and lap/shoul-
der restraints
The supplemental restraint system (SRS) consists oftwo airbags (driver ’s and front passenger ’s frontal
airbags) or four airbags (driver ’s and front passen-
ger’ s frontal airbags and driver ’s and front passen-
ger’ s side airbags).
These SRS airbags are designed only as a sup-plement to the primary protection provided bythe seatbelt.
WARNING
To obtain maximum protection in the event
of an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle should always wear seatbeltswhen the vehicle is moving. The SRS airbag is
designed only as a supplement to the primary protection provided by the seatbelt. It does
not do away with the need to fasten seatbelts.
In combination with the seatbelts, it offers thebest combined protection in case of a seriousaccident.Not wearing a seatbelt increases the chance of severe injury or death in a crash even when the car has the SRS airbag. For instructions and precautions concerningthe seatbelt system, see the
“Seatbelts” sec-
tions in this chapter. Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to the
SRS airbag. Because the SRS airbag deployswith considerable speed – faster than the
blink of an eye – and force to protect in high
speed collisions, the force of an airbag can in-jure an occupant whose body is too close toSRS airbag. It is also important to wear your seatbelt to
help avoid injuries that can result when theSRS airbag contacts an occupant not in prop-er position such as one thrown forward during
pre-accident braking.Even when properly positioned, there remains
a possibility that an occupant may suffer mi- nor injury such as abrasions and bruises to
the face or arms because of the SRS airbag

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-49
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nWhen is the SRS frontal airbag unlikely to deploy?
HG1035BA
There are many types of collisions which might not
necessarily require SRS frontal airbag deployment.
If the vehicle strikes an object, such as a telephonepole or sign pole, or if it slides under a truck ’s load
bed, or if it sustains an oblique offset frontal impact,
the SRS frontal airbag may not deploy depending on
the level of accident forces involved.

Instruments and controls
3-10
The seatbelt warning light remain on for about six
seconds and turn off automatically after sixseconds.
The seatbelt reminder chime will turn off by buckingthe driver’s side seatbelt or turn off automatically
after six seconds. SRS airbag system warning light AIRBAG
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, the SRS airbag system warning light will come on for about six seconds and go out. This shows theSRS airbag and SRS side airbag (if equipped) and
seatbelt pretensioners are in normal operation.
If this light comes on while driving or remains illumi-
nated even after a period of about 6 seconds from
when the ignition has been turned on, it may indi-
cate that the SRS airbag system or SRS side airbag
system (if equipped) or seatbelt pretensioner sys-
tem is not working properly. Contact your nearest
SUBARU dealer immediately.
CHECK ENGINE warning light/ Malfunction indicator lamp
CAUTION
If the CHECK ENGINE light comes on while you are driving, have your vehicle checked/re-paired by your SUBARU dealer as soon as
possible. Continued vehicle operation withouthaving the emission control system checked and repaired as necessary could cause seri- ous damage, which may not be covered byyour vehicle ’s warranty.
If this light comes on steadily or blinks while the en-
gine is running, it may indicate that there is a prob-
lem or potential problem somewhere in the emission
control system. If the light comes on steadily:
If the light comes on steadily while driving or does
not go out after the engine starts, an emission con-
trol system malfunction has been detected.
You should have your vehicle checked by an autho-
rized SUBARU dealer immediately.

In case of emergency
9-17
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1. Take out the towing eye, screwdriver and wheel
nut wrench from the on board tool bag.
2. Pry off the cover on the front bumper using a
screwdriver, and you will find a threaded hole for at-
taching the towing eye.
3. Screw the towing eye into the threaded hole until
its thread can no longer be seen.
4. Tighten the towing eye securely with a wheel nut
wrench.
After towing, remove the towing eye from the vehicle
and stow it in the tool bag. Put the threaded hole
cover on the front bumper.
WARNING
Do not use the towing eye except when tow-
ing your vehicle. Be sure to remove the towing eye after tow-
ing. Leaving the towing eye mounted on the
vehicle could interfere with proper operationof the SRS airbag system in a frontal collision. Rear towing eye:
HG9004CA
CAUTION
Do not apply excessive lateral load to the tow- ing eyes.