2003 SUBARU FORESTER sensor

1-27
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
–CONTINUED –
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 in-
volving a moderate to severe frontal collision.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as the frontal
SRS airbag sensor. If the sensor detects a certain pre-
determined amount of force during a frontal collision,
the front seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by the re-
tractor to take up the slack so that the belt more effec-
tively restrains the front seat occupant.
When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an operat- ing noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke
will be released. These occurrences are normal 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 and
therefore must be replaced.
NOTE
Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to acti-
vate in minor frontal impacts, in side or rear im-
pacts or in roll-over accidents. The driver

1-29
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
–CONTINUED –
position.
The following components are monitored by the indi-
cator: Front sub sensor (Right hand side)
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
And all other airbag components
In the event of a malfunction indicated by any of follow-
ing, the vehicle should be taken promptly to your near-
est SUBARU dealer to have the system checked.
Unless checked and repaired, the seatbelt pretension-
ers and SRS airbag will not function reliably: Flashing or flickering of the indicator light.
No illumination of the warning light when the ignition
switch is first turned to the “ON” position. Continuous illumination of the warning light.
Illumination of the warning light while driving.
System servicing
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

1-43
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
–CONTINUED –
4
3
1
7
9
12
5
2
10
6
8
11
HS1083BB
1) Airbag control module (including impact sensors)
2) Airbag module (driver’s side)
3) Airbag module (passenger’s
side)
4) Front sub sensor (left hand side)
5) Front sub sensor (right hand
side)
6) Side airbag module (driver’s
side if equipped)
7) Side airbag module (passen- ger’s side if equipped)
8) Side airbag sensor (driver’s
side)
9) Side airbag sensor (passenger’s side)
10) Airbag wiring
11) Seatbelt pretensioner (driver’s side)
12) Seatbelt pretensioner (passen- ger’s side)

1-48
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
The SRS airbag can function only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” position.
If the sensors detect a certain predetermined amount
of force during a frontal collision, the control module
sends signals to the frontal airbag modules instructing
them to inflate the SRS frontal airbags. Then both air-
bag modules produce gas, which instantly inflates
driver’s and passenger’s SRS frontal airbags. After the
deployment, the SRS airbags immediately start to de-
flate so that the driver’s vision is not obstructed. The
time required from detecting impact to the deflation of
the SRS airbag after deployment is shorter than the
blink of an eye.
The front passenger’s SRS frontal airbag deploys to-
gether with driver’s SRS frontal airbag even when no
one occupies the front passenger’s seat.
Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS airbag would
activate in a non-accident situation, should it occur,
the SRS airbag will deflate quickly, not obscuring vi-
sion and will not interfere with the driver’s ability to
maintain control of the vehicle.
When the SRS 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 airbag system compo-
nents around the steering wheel and dash-
board with bare hands right after deployment.
Doing so can cause burns because the compo-
nents can be very hot as a result of deployment.
TheSRSfrontalairbagisdesignedtodeployinthe
event of an accident involving a moderate to severe
frontal collision. It is basically not designed to deploy
in lesser frontal impacts because the necessary pro-
tection can be achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, it
is basically not designed to deploy in side or rear im-
pacts or in roll-over accidents because deployment of
the SRS frontal airbag would not help the occupant in
those situations. The SRS airbag is designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis.
SRS airbag deployment depends on the level of force
experienced in the passenger compartment during a
collision. That level differs from one type of collision to
another, and it may have no bearing on the visible
damage done to the vehicle itself.

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

1-60
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
The SRS side airbag is basically not designed to de-
ploy if the vehicle is involved in a frontal collision or is
struck from behind. Examples of such accidents are il-
lustrated.
1) First impact
2) Second impact
In an accident where the vehicle is struck from the side
more than once, the SRS side airbag deploys only
once.
Example: In the case of a double side impact collision,
first with one vehicle and immediately followed by an-
other from the same direction, once the SRS side air-
bag is activated on the first impact, it will not be activated on the second.
SRS airbag system monitors
A diagnostic system continually monitors the readi-
ness of the SRS airbag system while the vehicle is be-
ing driven. The SRS airbag system warning light
“AIRBAG” will show normal system operation by light-
ing 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)
Front sub sensor (Left hand side)
2
1
HS1102BBHS1103BA

1-61
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
–CONTINUED –
Airbag control module (including impact sensors)
Frontal airbag module (Driver’s side)
Frontal airbag module (Passenger’s side)
Side airbag sensor (Driver’s side – if equipped)
Side airbag sensor (Passenger’s side – if equipped)
Side airbag module (Driver’s side – if equipped)
Side airbag module (Passenger’s side – if
equipped) Seatbelt pretensioner (Driver’s side)
Seatbelt pretensioner (Passenger’s side)
All related wiring
In the event of a malfunction indicated by any of follow-
ing, the vehicle should be taken promptly to your near-
est SUBARU dealer to have the system checked.
Unless checked and repaired, the SRS airbags will not
function reliably: Flashing or flickering of the indicator light.
No illumination of the warning light when the ignition
switch is first turned to the “ON” position. Continuous illumination of the warning light.
Illumination of the warning light while driving.
SRS airbag system servicing
When discarding an airbag module or scrap- ping the entire car damaged by a collision, con-
sult your SUBARU dealer.
The SRS airbag has no user-serviceable
parts. Do not use electrical test equipment on
any circuit related to the SRS airbag system.
For required servicing of the SRS airbag, see
your nearest SUBARU dealer. Tampering with
or disconnecting the system

2-14
Keys and doors
Security system (if equipped)
The security system helps to protect your vehicle and
valuables from theft. The horn sounds and the turn
signal lights flash if someone attempts to break into
your vehicle. The starter motor is also interrupted to
prevent starting the vehicle without a key.
The system can be armed and disarmed with the re-
mote transmitter.
The system does not operate when the key is inserted
into the ignition switch.
System operation
The security system will give the following alarm indi-
cations when triggered: The turn signal lights will flash and the horn will
sound intermittently. In addition, the starter motor will
not operate. The alarm automatically resets after 30 seconds;
however, the alarm will reactivate if the vehicle is tam-
pered with again. The alarm will continue for six times
if any sensor continues to be activated.
The alarm is triggered by: Opening a door or the rear gate.
Application of physical shock to the vehicle (e.g. breaking glass or forced entry). Note that there are two
alarm levels for shock: warning and alarm. In warning
mode, the alarm detects lower level vibrations and
triggers 2 warning chirps on the horn and two flashes
on the lights as a deterrent to would be vandals. In
alarm mode, higher levels of shock are detected and
the system will go into full alarm.
Ignition switch being turned on while in armed state.
NOTE
With the valet mode selected, the security system
does not operate when the remote transmitter is
used for locking and unlocking. The security sys-
tem indicator light in the combination meter flash-
es twice per second to show that the valet mode is
selected. For details, refer to “Valet mode” in this section. Arming the system
To arm the system using remote transmitter
1. Close all windows.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Open the doors and get out of the vehicle.
4. Make sure that the engine hood is locked.
5. Close all doors and the rear gate.