2003 SUBARU BAJA Owners Manual

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-25
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System servicing
WARNING
When discarding a seatbelt retractor assembly or scrapping
the entire car damaged by a collision, consult your SUBARU deal-
er. Tampering with or disconnecting the system ’s wiring could re-
sult in accidental activation of the seatbelt pretensioner and/orairbag or could make the system inoperative, which may result in
serious injury. The wiring harnesses of the seatbelt pretensionerand SRS airbag systems are covered with yellow insulation andthe connectors of the system are yellow for easy identification.Do not use electrical test equipment on any circuit related to theseatbelt pretensioner and airbag systems. For required servicing
of the seatbelt pretensioner, see your nearest SUBARU dealer.
CAUTION
The front sub sensors are located in both front fenders and theairbag control module including the impact sensors is locatedunder the center console. If you need service or repair in those
areas or near the front seatbelt retractors, we recommend thatyou have an authorized SUBARU dealer perform the work.
NOTE If the front part of the vehicle is damaged in an accident to the extent that the seatbelt pretensioner does not operate, contactyour SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

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Precautions against vehicle modification CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifications. Such modifi- cations can interfere with proper operation of the seatbelt perten-sioners. Attachment of any equipment (bush 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.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to install any acces-
sory parts to your vehicle.
Child restraint systems
WARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap while the
vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the child frominjury in a collision, because the child will be caught between the
passenger and objects inside the vehicle. Additionally, holding achild in your lap or arms in the front seat exposes that child to
another serious danger. Since the SRS airbag deploys with con-
siderable speed and force, the child could be injured or evenkilled. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerablespeed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially ifthey are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater.

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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 device which isappropriate for the child ’s age, height and weight. According to
accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained inthe rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER ’S
SRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD
SAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT. DOING SO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACINGTHE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
Children should be properly restrained in the rear seat at all
times. Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front
passenger’ s seat. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill the child.
HB0306
HB0308
HB0307
Never install rearward facing child safety seat in the front passen-
ger’
s seat.
Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front passenger ’s
seat or any other seat
Never hold a child on your lap or inyour arms in the front passenger
’s
seat or any other seat.
HB1117BB
Secure child restraint devices in the REAR seat at all times.

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WARNING
Child restraint systems and seatbelts can become hot in a ve-
hicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check the child restraint system before you place achild in it. Do not leave an unsecured child restraint system in your vehi-
cle. Unsecured child restraint systems can be thrown around in-
side of the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn or accident; it can strikeand injure vehicle occupants as well as result in serious injuriesor death to the child.
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 compat-
ible 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 cov-
ered under the section in this manual, entitled “Installation of child re-
straint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages ”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle. When installing the child restraint
system, carefully follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly re-
strained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces require that infants and small
children be restrained in an approved child restraint system at all timeswhile the vehicle is moving.

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Installing child restraint systems with seatbelt and tether anchorages
HB1148BA
NOTE When the child restraint system is no longer in use, remove it and
restore the ELR function of the retractor. The function is restored
by retracting the seatbelt fully.
CAUTION
When you install a child restraint system, follow the manufactur-
er’ s instructions supplied with it. After installing the child re-
straint system, check to ensure that it is held securely in posi-
tion. If it is not held tight and secure, the danger of your childsuffering personal injury in the event of an accident may be in-creased.
1. Set the child restraint system in the seating position on the rearseat cushion.

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HB1134BA
2. Pull the seatback locking knob and fold the seatback forward to see the tether anchorage on the backside of the seatback.
HB1144BA
3. Connect the tether belt hook onto the tether anchorage on the
backside of the seatback. Take up any slack in the tether belt after
connecting it to the tether anchorage.

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HB1146BA
4. Put the other end of the tether belt through under the headrest.
5. Return the seatback to the locked position. Confirm that the redmark on the locking knob is no longer visible and check that the seat-
back is securely locked by moving it back and forth.
6. Run the lap and shoulder belt through the child restraint system
following the instructions provided by its manufacturer.
HB1145BAHB1148BA
7. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle.
8. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the retractor to change the retractor
over from the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) to the Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) function. Then allow the belt to rewind into
the retractor. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indi-
cate the retractor function as ALR.
9. While pushing the child restraint into the seat cushion and moving

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it back and forth, tighten the seatbelt securely by taking up the slack in the belt.
HB1147BA
10. While pushing the child restraint into the seat cushion and moving
it back and forth, pull the upper tether belt straight up to secure the
child restraint system firmly by taking up the slack in the belt.11. The loose end of the tether belt should be placed into the gap onthe backside of the seatback.
12. To remove the child restraint system, follow the reverse proce-
dures of installation. Unbuckle the seatbelt and allow the belt to
retract completely. The belt will return to the ELR mode.
If you have any question concerning proper child restraint system
installation, ask your SUBARU dealer.