2003 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX airbag

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How to use this owner’s manual
Using your Owner ’s manual
Before you operate your vehicle, carefully read this
manual. To protect yourself and extend the service
life of your vehicle, follow the instructions in this
manual. Failure to observe these instructions may
result in serious injury and damage to your vehicle.
This manual is composed of fourteen chapters. Each chapter begins with a brief table of contents,so you can usually tell at a glance if that chapter
contains the information you want. Chapter 1: Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
This chapter informs you how to use the seat and
seatbelt and contains precautions for the SRS air- bags.Chapter 2: Keys and doors
This chapter informs you how to operate the keys,locks and windows.Chapter 3: Instruments and controls
This chapter informs you about the operation of
instrument panel indicators and how to use theinstruments and other switches.Chapter 4: Climate Control
This chapter informs you how to operate the climate control.Chapter 5: Audio
This chapter informs you how to operate your audiosystem.Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This chapter informs you how to operate interior equipment. Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and operateyour SUBARU.Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your SUBARU in various conditions and explains some safety tips on driving.Chapter 9: In case of emergency
This chapter informs you what to do if you have a
problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engineoverheating. Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your SUBARUlooking good.
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This chapter informs you when you need to take
your SUBARU to the dealer for scheduled mainte-
nance and informs you how to keep your SUBARU
running properly.

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MarkName
Rear window defogger/Outside mirror defogger
Air recirculation
Outside air
Engine oil
Washer
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

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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 and weight. If a child is too big for a child re-straint system, the child should sit in the
REAR seat and be restrained using the seat-
belts. According to accident statistics, chil-dren are safer when properly restrained in therear seating positions than in the front seating positions. Never allow a child to stand up or
kneel on the seat.
Put children aged 12 and under in the REAR
seat properly restrained at all times in a childrestraint device or in a seatbelt. The SRS air-bag deploys with considerable speed and force and can injure or even kill children, es-
pecially if they are 12 years of age and underand are not restrained or improperly re-strained. Because children are lighter and
weaker than adults, their risk being injured
from deployment is greater. NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING
CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT SEAT. DOING SO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE
CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO
CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG. Always use the child safety locks whenever
a child rides in the rear seat. Serious injurycould result if a child accidentally opened thedoor and fell out. Refer to the “Child safety

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locks” section in chapter 2.
Always lock the passenger ’s windows using
the lock switch when children are riding in the
vehicle. Failure to follow this procedure couldresult in injury to a child operating the power
window. Refer to the “Windows” section in
chapter 2. Never leave unattended children in the ve-
hicle. They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent opera-tion of the vehicle. Also, on hot or sunny
days, temperature in a closed vehicle could
quickly become high enough to cause severe or possibly fatal injuries to them. Help prevent young children from locking
themselves in the trunk. When leaving the ve-
hicle, either close all windows and lock alldoors or cancel the inside trunk lid release. Also make certain that the trunk is closed. On hot or sunny days, the temperature in a trunkcould quickly become high enough to cause
death or serious heat-related injuries includ-ing brain damage, particularly for small chil-dren.
Carefully read the sections “Child restraint systems ”,
“ SRS airbag ”, and “Seatbelts” in chapter 1 of this owner’
s manual for instructions and precautions
concerning the child restraint system, seatbelt sys-tem and SRS airbag system.
Engine exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
Never inhale engine exhaust gas. Engine ex-
haust gas contains carbon monoxide, a color-
less and odorless gas which is dangerous, oreven lethal, if inhaled. Always properly maintain the engine ex-
haust system to prevent engine exhaust gasfrom entering the vehicle. Never run the engine in a closed space,
such as a garage, except for the brief timeneeded to drive the vehicle in or out of it. Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle for a
lengthy time while the engine is running. Ifthat is unavoidable, then use the ventilationfan to force fresh air into the vehicle. Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free from snow, leaves or other obstructionsto ensure that the ventilation system always
works properly.

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1
Table of contents
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Seat, 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 careMaintenance and service Specifications
Index
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

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Instrument panel
1) Door locks (page 2-3)
2) Light control lever (page 3-16)
3) Combination meter (page 3-6)
4) Wiper control lever (page 3-21)
5) Hazard warning flasher switch
(page 3-6)
6) Audio (page 5-1)
7) Gear shift lever (MT) (page
7-11)/Selector lever (AT) (page7-14)
8) Outside mirror switch (page 3-29)
9) Climate control (page 4-1)
10) Cruise control (page 7-28)
11) Horn (page 3-32)
12) SRS airbag (page 1-42)
13) Tilt steering (page 3-31)
14) Fuse box (page 11-56)
15) Hood lock release (page 11-5)
16) Power window (page 2-22)

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Warning and indicator light
Mark
NamePage
Seatbelt warning light3-10
AIRBAGSRS airbag system warn- ing light3-11
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicatorlamp3-11
Charge warning light3-12
Oil pressure warning light3-12
AT OIL temperature warn- ing light (if equipped)3-13
orABS warning light3-13
orBrake system warning light3-14
Door open warning light3-14
MarkNamePage
Front-wheel drive warning light (if equipped)3-15
Turn signal indicator lights3-15
High beam indicator light3-15
Security system indicator light (if equipped)2-14

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Front seats 1-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fore and aft adjustment 1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reclining the seatback 1-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat cushion height adjustment
(driver’ s seat) 1-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraint adjustment 1-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat heater (if equipped) 1-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats 1-8
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest (if equipped) 1-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headrest adjustment – Wagon 1-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Folding down the rear seat – Wagon 1-11 . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelts 1-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt safety tips 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) 1-14 . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) 1-14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening the seatbelt 1-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt maintenance 1-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seatbelt pretensioners 1-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
System monitors 1-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
System servicing 1-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions against vehicle modification 1-30 . . . . .
Child restraint systems 1-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing child restraint systems with seatbelt 1-34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages 1-36 . . . . . . . . . Top tether anchorages 1-39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag
(Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 1-42 .
Vehicle with driver ’s and front passenger ’s
SRS airbags and lap/shoulder restraints 1-42 . . . .
SRS frontal airbag 1-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS side airbag (if equipped) 1-55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system monitors 1-63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system servicing 1-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions against vehicle modification 1-66 . . . . .
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags