2003 SUBARU LEGACY ECU

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-15
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HB1027BA
7. Install the headrests (if so equipped) onto the backside of the seat- back (window-side positions only).
HB1098BA
To return the rear seat to its original position, raise the seatback and seat
cushion until they lock into place and make sure that they are securelylocked.
Make sure that the rear seatbelts are not under the seat cushion or seat-back.
Place the headrests (if so equipped) back in their normal position.

1-16Seatbelts
Seatbelt safety tips
WARNING
All persons in the vehicle should fasten their seatbelts BE-
FORE the vehicle starts to move. Otherwise, the possibility of se-
rious injury becomes greater in the event of a sudden stop or ac-cident. All belts should fit snugly in order to provide full restraint.
Loose fitting belts are not as effective in preventing or reducing
injury. Each seatbelt is designed to support only one person. Never
use a single belt for two or more persons — even children. Other-
wise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result. Replace all seatbelt assemblies including retractors and at-
taching hardware worn by occupants of a vehicle that has been ina serious accident. The entire assembly should be replaced evenif damage is not obvious. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerablespeed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially ifthey are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. Forthat reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (includingthose in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in achild restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate forthe child ’s height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forwardfacing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TOTHE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.

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According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seatingpositions. For instructions and precautions concerning the childrestraint system, see the
“Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter.
Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your vehicle. See in-
formation on “Child restraint systems ” in this chapter.
Children
If a child is too big for a child restraint system, the child should sit in
the rear seat and be restrained using the seatbelts. According to ac-
cident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. Never allow a
child to stand up or kneel on the seat.
If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses the face or neck, move the
child closer to the belt buckle to help provide a good shoulder belt fit.
Care must be taken to securely place the lap belt as low as possibleon the hips and not on the child ’s waist. If the shoulder portion of the
belt cannot be properly positioned, a child restraint system should beused. Never place the shoulder belt under the child ’s arm or behind
the child ’s back.
Expectant mothers
HS1107AA

1-18Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts. They should con-
sult their doctor for specific recommendations. The lap belt should be
worn securely and as low as possible over the hips, not over thewaist.
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The driver ’s seatbelt has an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR).
The emergency locking retractor allows normal body movement but the
retractor locks automatically during a sudden stop, impact or if you pull
the belt very quickly out of the retractor. Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)
Each passenger ’s seatbelt has an Automatic/Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (A/ELR). The Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor normally
functions as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/ELR has an
additional locking mode “Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode ” in-
tended to secure a child restraint system. When the seatbelt is once
drawn out completely and is then retracted even slightly, the retractorlocks the seatbelt in that position and the seatbelt cannot be extended.
As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indicate the retractor
functions as ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, ALR mode is re-leased.
When securing a child restraint system on the passengers ’ seats, the
seatbelt must be changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.
When the child restraint system is removed, make sure that the retractor
is restored to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function by allow-
ing the seatbelt to retract fully.
For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the ALR mode and re-
store it to the ELR mode, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter. Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warning device at the driver ’s
seat.

1-34For that reason, be sure to secure ALL types of child restraint
devices (including forward facing child seats) in the REAR seats
at all times. You should choose a restraint device which isappropriate for the child
’s age, height and weight. According to
accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained inthe rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A PASSENGER ’S
SRS AIRBAG, DO NOT INSTALL A REARWARD FACING CHILD
SAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER ’S SEAT. DOING SO
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACINGTHE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
Children should be properly restrained in the rear seat at all
times. Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front
passenger’ s seat. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
force and can injure or even kill the child.
HB0306
HB0308
HB0307
Never install rearward facing child safety seat in the front passen-
ger’
s seat.
Never allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on the front passenger ’s
seat or any other seat
Never hold a child on your lap or inyour arms in the front passenger
’s
seat or any other seat.
HS1031BB

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WARNING
Child restraint systems and seatbelts can become hot in a ve-
hicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn a small child. Check the child restraint system before you place achild in it. Do not leave an unsecured child restraint system in your vehi-
cle. Unsecured child restraint systems can be thrown around in-
side of the vehicle in a sudden stop, turn or accident; it can strikeand injure vehicle occupants as well as result in serious injuriesor death to the child.
Infants and small children should always be placed in an infant or child
restraint system in the rear seat while riding in the vehicle. You should
use an infant or child restraint system that meets Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards or Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, is compat-
ible with your vehicle and is appropriate for the child ’s age and size. All
child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by
lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt (except those cov-
ered under the section in this manual, entitled “Instruction of child re-
straint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages ”).
Children could be endangered in an accident if their child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle. When installing the child restraint
system, carefully follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly re-
strained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces require that infants and small
children be restrained in an approved child restraint system at all timeswhile the vehicle is moving. Installing child restraint systems with seatbelt
NOTE When the child restraint system is no longer in use, remove it and
restore the ELR function of the retractor. That function is restored
by allowing the seatbelt to retract fully.

1-36CAUTION
When you install a child restraint system, follow the manufactur-
er’ s instructions supplied with it. After installing the child re-
straint system, check to ensure that it is held securely in posi-
tion. If it is not held tight and secure, the danger of your childsuffering personal injury in the event of an accident may be in-creased.
HB1080BA
1. Set the child restraint system in the seating position.
2. Run the lap and shoulder belt through or around the child restraint
system following the instructions provided by its manufacturer. If the
shoulder belt goes in front of the child ’s face or neck, put it behind the
child restraint system.
3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle.
4. Take up the slack in the lap belt.
5. Pull out the seatbelt fully from the retractor to change the retractor
over from the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) to the Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) function. Then, allow the belt to rewind into
the retractor. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indi-
cate the retractor functions as ALR.
6. Before having a child sit in the child restraint system, move it back
and forth to check if it is firmly secured. Sometimes a child restraint
can be more firmly secured by pushing it down into the seat cushionand then tightening the seatbelt.

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Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and teth- er anchorages
Some types of child restraint systems can be installed on the rear
seat of your vehicle without use of the seatbelts. Such child restraint
systems are secured to the dedicated anchorages provided on the
vehicle body.
HB1086BA
Your vehicle is equipped with four lower anchorages (bars) and three upper anchorages (tether anchorages) for accommodating such child
restraint systems.
HB1090BAHB1087BA
The lower anchorages (bars) are used for installing a child restraint
system only on the rear seat window-side seating positions. For each
window-side seating position, two lower anchorages are provided.
The tether anchorages (upper anchorages) are provided for all the
seating positions (middle and both window-side ones) of the rear seat.