2003 SUBARU FORESTER belt

Always wear your seatbelt.
2003 OWNER S MANUAL
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Safety precautions when driving Seatbelt and SRS airbag
All persons in the vehicle should fasten their
seatbelts BEFORE the vehicle starts to move.
Otherwise, the possibility of serious injury be-
comes greater in the event of a sudden stop 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 (Supplemental Re-
straint System) airbag does not do away with
the need to fasten seatbelts. In combination
with the seatbelts, it offers the best combined
protection in case of a serious accident.
Not wearing a seatbelt increases the chance of
severe injury or death in a crash even when the
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 deploy-
Outside mirror defogger
Rear window defogger
Air recirculation
Engine oil Washer
Mark Name

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ment, the driver should always sit upright and
well back in the seat as far from the steering
wheel as practical while still maintaining full ve-
hicle control and the front passenger should
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 (Supplemental Restraint System airbag)” in chap-
ter 1 of this owner’s manual for instructions and
precautions concerning the seatbelt system and SRS
airbag system. Child safety
Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger
cannot protect the child from injury in a colli-
sion, because the child will be caught between
the passenger and objects inside the vehicle. 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

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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 car-
rier which can be secured to the rear seat by routing a
seatbelt through the carrier’s handle. Never restrain
pets or pet carriers in the front passenger’s seat. For
further information, consult yo ur veterinarian, local an-
imal protection society or pet shop. Tire pressures
Check and, if necessary, adjust the pressure of each
tire (including the spare) at least once a month and be-
fore any long journey.
Check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Use a
pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to the val-
ues shown on the tire placard.
Refer to the “Tires and wheels” section in chapter 11
for detailed information.
Driving at high speeds with excessively low tire
pressures can cause the tires to deform severe-
ly and to rapidly become hot. A sharp increase
in temperature could cause tread separation, and destruction of the tires. The resulting loss
of vehicle control could lead to an accident.
California proposition 65 warning
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and
certain vehicle components contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other repro-
ductive harm.

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Table of contentsSeat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Keys and doors
Instruments and controls
Climate control Audio
Interior equipment
Starting and operating
Driving tips
In case of emergency
Appearance care
Maintenance and service
Specifications
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Index

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Interior
Passenger compartment area
12 3
4
5
6
HSF022BB
1) Lower anchorage for child re-
straint system (page 1-35)
2) Seatbelt (page 1-12)
3) Moonroof (page 2-26)
4) Parking brake lever (page 7-27)
5) Front seat (page 1-2)
6) Rear seat (page 1-9)

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Warning and indicator light
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-9
SRS airbag system warning light 3-10
CHECK ENGINE warning
light/Malfunction indicatorlamp 3-10
Charge warning light 3-11
Oil pressure warning light 3-11
AT OIL temperature warning
light (if equipped) 3-12
or ABS warning light 3-12
or Brake system warning light 3-13
Door open warning light 3-14
Front-wheel drive warning
light (if equipped) 3-15
Low fuel warning light 3-14
Turn signal indicator lights 3-15
High beam indicator light 3-15
Security system indicator
light (if equipped) 2-14
Cruise control indicator light
(if equipped) 3-15
Mark Name Page

1-1
1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats ................................................... 1-2 Fore and aft adjustment ................................. 1-3
Reclining the seatback ................................... 1-4
Seat height adjustment (driver