2003 SUBARU LEGACY Owners Manual

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HS0353
Do not put any kind of cover over either seatback.Do not attach accessories to the door trim or near either side airbag and do not place objects near either side air- bag.
HB0366
The SRS side airbag is stored in the door side of each front seatback, which bears an “SRS AIRBAG ” label.
In a moderate to severe side impact collision, the SRS side airbag on the
impacted side of the vehicle deploys between the occupant and the
door panel and supplements the seatbelt by reducing the impact on the
occupant’ s chest.
Operation
CAUTION
Do not touch the SRS side airbag system components around thefront seatback with bare hands right after deployment. Doing socan cause burns because the components can be very hot as aresult of deployment.

1-58SRS side airbag deploys as soon as a collision occurs.
After deployment, SRS sideairbag starts to deflate immedi-
ately. HB0359
The SRS side airbag can function only when the ignition switch is in the “ON” position.
The driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS side airbags deploy indepen-
dently of each other since each has its own impact sensor. Also, the
SRS side airbag deploys independently of the frontal airbags in thesteering wheel and instrument panel. An impact sensor is incorporated into each of the vehicle ’s center pil-
lars. 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, instruct-
ing it to inflate the SRS side airbag. Then the side airbag module pro-duces gas, which instantly inflates the SRS side airbag. After the de-
ployment, 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 occupies the seat on the side of which an impact is applied.

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When the SRS side airbag deploys, a sudden, fairly loud inflation
noise will be heard and some smoke will be released. These occur-
rences are normal result of the deployment. This smoke does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The SRS side airbag is designed to deploy in the event of an accident
involving a moderate to severe side impact collision. It is basically notdesigned to deploy in lesser side impact. Also, it is basically not de-
signed to deploy in frontal or rear impacts because SRS side airbag
deployment would not help the occupant in those situations.Each SRS side airbag is designed to function on a one-time-only ba-sis.
SRS side airbag deployment depends on the level of force experi-
enced in the passenger compartment during a side impact collision.
That level differs from one type of collision to another, and it may haveno bearing on the visible damage done to the vehicle itself. n
Example of the type of accident in which the SRS side airbag
will most likely deploy.
A severe side impact near the front seat activates the SRS side air-bag.
HB0313

1-60n
Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS side air-
bag is unlikely to deploy.
There are many types of collisions which might not necessarily requireSRS side airbag deployment. In the event of accidents like those illus-
trated below, the SRS side airbag may not deploy depending on the
level of accident forces involved.
HB0363HB0362
HB0361 The vehicle strikes a telephone pole or similar object.
The vehicle is involved in a side impact in an area outside the vicinity of the passenger compartment.
The vehicle is involved inan oblique side impact.
HB1044AB
HB1045AB

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n
Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS side air-
bag will basically not deploy.
The SRS side airbag is basically not designed to deploy if the vehicle
is involved in a frontal collision or is struck from behind. Examples of
such accidents are illustrated below.
HB1043BB
HB1046AB
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 another from the same direction,
once the SRS side airbag is activated on the first impact, it will not be
activated on the second.
HB1071BB

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SRS airbag system monitors
HB4010EC
A diagnostic system continually monitors the readiness of the SRS air-
bag system (including front seatbelt pretensioners) while the vehicle is
being driven. The SRS airbag system warning light “AIRBAG” will show
normal system operation by lighting for about 6 seconds when the igni-
tion key is turned to the “ON” position.
The following components are monitored by the indicator: Front sub sensor (Right hand side)
Front sub sensor (Left hand side)
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 following, the vehicle
should be taken promptly to your nearest SUBARU dealer to have the
system checked. Unless checked and repaired, the SRS airbags will not
function reliably:

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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
WARNING
When discarding an airbag module or scrapping the entire car
damaged by a collision, consult 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 near-
est SUBARU dealer. Tampering with or disconnecting the sys-
tem’ s wiring could result in accidental inflation of the SRS airbag
or could make the system inoperative, which may result in seri-
ous injury. The wiring harnesses of the SRS airbag system arecovered with yellow insulation and system connectors are yellowfor easy identification.
CAUTION
If you need service or repair in areas listed below, we recommend
that you have an authorized SUBARU dealer perform the work. The
SRS airbag control module, impact sensors and airbag modules
are stored in these areas.
Under the center console
Inside each front fender
Steering wheel and column and nearby areas
Top of the dashboard on front passenger ’s side and nearby
areas Each front seat and nearby area (only for vehicles with SRS
side airbags) Inside each center pillar

1-64In the event that the SRS airbag is deployed, replacement of the sys-
tem should be performed only by an authorized SUBARU dealer.When the components of the SRS airbag system are replaced, useonly genuine SUBARU parts.
To ensure their long-term reliability, the SRS airbags must be inspected
by a SUBARU dealer ten years after the date of manufacture, which is
shown on the certification label attached to the driver
’s door.
NOTE In the following cases, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as pos- sible. The front part of the vehicle was involved in an accident in
which the SRS frontal airbags did not deploy. The pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger ’s
frontal airbag cover is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
In addition, if your vehicle is equipped with SRS side airbags, con-tact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible in the followingcases. Either center pillar or a nearby area of the vehicle was involved
in an accident in which the SRS side airbag did not deploy. The fabric or leather of either front seatback is cut, frayed, or
otherwise damaged.
Precautions against vehicle modification
WARNING
To avoid accidental activation of the system or rendering the
system inoperative, which may result in serious injury, no modifi-cations should be made to any components or wiring of the SRSairbag system.This includes following modifications: Installation of custom steering wheels
Attachment of additional trim materials to the dashboard
Installation of custom seats (only for vehicles with SRS side
airbags)