2003 SUBARU FORESTER instrument panel

5
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CONTINUED –
Engine hood
Seat heater
Child restraint top tether anchorages
Child restraint lower anchorages
Horn
Windshield wiper deicer
Wiper intermittent
Windshield wiper and washer
Rear window wiper and washer
Mark NameLights
Parking lights, tail lights, license plate
light and instrument panel illumination
Head lights
Illumination brightness
Fan speed
Instrument panel outlets
Instrument panel outlets and foot
outlets
Foot outlets
Windshield defroster and foot outlets
Windshield defroster
Mark Name

18

Instrument panel
12 3 4 5 67
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16 13
HSF024BB
1) Door locks (page 2-3)
2) Outside mirror switch (page 3-
31)
3) Light control lever (page 3-17)
4) Combination meter (page 3-5)
5) Wiper control lever (page 3-22)
6) Hazard warning flasher switch
(page 3-5)
7) Audio (page 5-2)
8) Gear shift lever (MT) (page 7-
11)/Selector lever (AT) (page 7-
14)
9) Climate control (page 4-2)
10) Cruise control (page 7-31)
11) Horn (page 3-34)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-39)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-33)
14) Fuse (page 11-50)/Coin tray
(page 6-7)
15) Hood lock release (page 11-5)
16) Power window (page 2-21)

1-15
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warning de-
vice at the driver’s seat, as required by current safety
standards.
This device causes the seatbelt warning light on the
instrument panel to light up for about six seconds
when the ignition switch is turned to “ON” to remind the
driver to wear the seatbelt. If the driver’s seatbelt is not
fastened, a warning chime sounds at the same time. Fastening the seatbelt
Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In
an accident, this can increase the risk or sever-
ity of injury. Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your
hips. In a collision, this spreads the force of the
lap belt over stronger hip bones instead of
across the weaker abdomen. Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when
the occupant sits well back and upright in the
seat. To reduce the risk of sliding under the
seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks
should be always used in the upright position
whilethevehicleisrunning.Ifthefrontseat- backs are not used in the upright position in a
collision, 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 in-
ternal 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.
HS1049BA

1-56
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
and chest.
C) After deployment, SRS side airbag starts to deflate im- mediately.
The SRS side airbag can function only when the igni-
tion switch is in the “ON” position.
The driver’s and front passenger’s SRS side airbags
deploy independently of each other since each has its
own impact sensor. Also, the SRS side airbag deploys
independently of the frontal airbags in the steering
wheel and instrument panel.
An impact sensor is incorporated into each of the ve-
hicle’s center pillars. If either sensor detects a certain
predetermined amount of force during a side impact
collision, the control module sends a signal to the side
airbag module on the impacted side of the vehicle, in-
structing it to inflate the SRS side airbag. Then the
side airbag module produces gas, which instantly in-
flates the SRS side airbag. After the deployment, the
SRS side airbag immediately starts to deflate. The
time required from detecting impact to the deflation of
the SRS side airbag after deployment is shorter than
the blink of an eye.
The SRS side airbag deploys even when no one occu-
pies the seat on the side on which an impact is ap-
plied. When the SRS side airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly
loud inflation noise will be heard and some smoke will
be released. These occurrences are normal result of
the deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire in
the vehicle.
Do not touch the SRS side airbag system com-
ponents around the
front seatback with bare
hands right after deployment. Doing so can
cause burns because the components can be
very hot as a result of deployment.
The SRS side airbag is designed to deploy in the event
of an accident involving a moderate to severe side im-
pact collision. It is basically not designed to deploy in
lesser side impact. Also, it is basically not designed to
deploy in frontal or rear impacts because SRS side air-
bag deployment would not help the occupant in those
situations.
Each SRS side airbag is designed to function on a
one-time-only basis.
SRS side airbag deployment depends on the level of
force experienced in the passenger compartment dur-
ing a side impact collision. That level differs from one

3-5
Instruments and controls
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Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher is used to warn other driv-
ers when you have to park your vehicle under emer-
gency conditions. The hazard warning flasher works
with the ignition switch in any position.
To turn on the hazard warning flasher, push the haz-
ard warning button on the instrument panel. To turn off
the flasher, push the button again.
NOTE
When the hazard warning flasher is on, the turn
signals do not work.
Meters and gauges Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed. Odometer/Trip meter
1) Trip meter
2) Odometer
This meter displays the odometer and two trip meters
when the ignition switch is in the “LOCK”, “ACC” or
“ON” position.
HS3019BA
1
2
HS3020BB

3-18
Instruments and controls

High/low beam change (dimmer)
To change from low beam to high beam, push the turn
signal lever forward. When the headlights are on high
beam, the high beam indicator light “ ” on the in-
strument panel is also on.
To switch back to low beam, pull the lever back to the
detent position.
Headlight flasher
To flash the headlights, pull the lever toward you and
then release it. The high beam will stay on for as long
as you hold the lever. The headlight flasher works
even though the lighting switch is in the “OFF” posi-tion.
When the headlights are on high beam, the high beam
indicator light “ ” on the instrument panel also
comes on.
Do not hold the lever in the flashing position for
HS3026CAHS3026DA

3-20
Instruments and controls
or down slightly and hold it during the lane change.
The turn signal indicator lights will flash in the direction
of the turn or lane change. The lever will return auto-
matically to the neutral position when you release it.Illumination brightness control
When the lighting switch is in the “ ” or “ ”
position, you can adjust brightness of the instrument
panel illumination for better visibility.
To brighten, turn the control dial upward.
To darken, turn the control dial downward.
HS3028BA

3-28
Instruments and controls
Automatic climate control system
The rear window defogger operates only when the ig-
nition switch is in the “ON” position.
The rear window defogger switch is located on the cli-
mate control panel.
The defogger will automatically shut off after about 15
minutes. If the window clears before that time, push
the switch to turn it off. It also turns off when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position.
If defrosting or defogging is desired when you restart
your vehicle, you have to push the switch to turn it on
again.
To turn on the defogger, push the switch. To turn it off, push the switch again.
The indicator light located on the switch lights up while
the rear window defogger is operating.

Do not use sharp instruments or window
cleaner containing abrasives to clean the inner
surface of the rear window. They may damage
the conductors printed on the window. To prevent the battery from being dis-
charged, do not operate the defogger continu-
ously for any longer than necessary.HS4021DA