2003 SUBARU LEGACY Owners Manual

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags Front seats1-2
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Seat heater (if equipped) 1-9
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Rear seats 1-10
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Armrest (if equipped) 1-10
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Headrest adjustment — Rear center seating position on Station wagon 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Folding down the rear seat — Station wagon 1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelts 1-16
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Seatbelt safety tips 1-16
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Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 1-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fastening the seatbelt 1-19
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Seatbelt maintenance 1-28
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Front seatbelt pretensioners 1-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint systems 1-33
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Top tether anchorages 1-40
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SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 1-43 . . . . . . . .
Vehicle with driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS airbags and
lap/shoulder restraints 1-43
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SRS frontal airbag 1-48
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SRS side airbag (if equipped) 1-55
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SRS airbag system monitors 1-62
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SRS airbag system servicing 1-63
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Precautions against vehicle modification 1-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Front seats
WARNING
Never adjust the seat while driving to avoid the possibility of
loss of vehicle control and of personal injury. Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed be-
cause they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury
in the event that the vehicle is struck from the rear. Before adjusting the seat, make sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers are clear of the adjusting mechanism. Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-der the seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks should be al-ways used in the upright position while the vehicle is running. Ifthe front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a colli-
sion, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt slid-ing up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in se-rious internal 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. 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 the SRS air-bag needs enough space for deployment, the driver should al-ways sit upright and well back in the seat as far from the steeringwheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control and
the front passenger should move the seat as far back as possibleand sit upright and well back in the seat. Put children aged 12 and under in the rear seat properly re-
strained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable
speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially if
they are 12 years of age and under and are not restrained or im-
properly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-3
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adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. For
that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (including
those in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a
child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for
the child
’s age, height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward fac-
ing child seat) 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 TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD ’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE
SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions. For instructions and precautions concerning child re-
straint systems, see the “Child restraint systems ” section in this
chapter.
HB0290
HS0233
Adjust the seatback to upright position. Sit well back and upright.
Move the seat as far from the steering wheel as practical. Adjust the seatback toupright position. Sit well back and upright.Move the seat as far back as possible.

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HS0247
HB0291
Put children in the rearseat properly restrained at all times. Do not recline the seatback whilevehicle is moving.

Fore and aft adjustment
n Manual type
HB1058BA
Pull the lever upward and slide the seat to the desired position. Then
release the lever and move the seatback and forth to make sure that it
is securely locked into place.

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n
Power seat (if equipped)
HB1060BA
To adjust the seat forward or backward, move the control switch for-
ward or backward. Seat cushion angle and height adjustment (Power seat only)
HB1062BA
HB1078BA
To adjust the angle and height of the seat cushion, move the control
switch in the corresponding direction.

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Reclining the seatback
n Manual type
HB1072BA
Pull the reclining lever up and adjust the seatback to the desired posi-
tion. Then release the lever and make sure the seat is securely locked
into place.
The seatback placed in a reclined position can spring back upward
with force when released. When operating the reclining lever to return
the seatback, hold it lightly so that it may be raised back gradually. nPower seat (if equipped)
HB1084BA
To adjust the angle of the seatback, move the control switch.

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NOTE While adjusting the seatback, you can not at the same time adjust the seat position or the seat cushion angle and height.
Head restraint adjustment
HB1016BA
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, push the head
restraint down while pressing the release button on the top of theseatback.
The head restraint should be adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of the occupant ’s ears.
NOTE If the seatback is reclined rearward to the same level as the rear seat cushion with the head restraint removed, a wide flat bed ismade available.
WARNING
Never drive your car with the seats converted in a flat bed
position. If you do so, occupants will have a greater chance of
being injured even during simple deceleration, acceleration andcornering since no firm restraint will be available for them. Before you lie on the flat bed to take a rest, read the descrip-
tion “ Parking your vehicle ” in Chapter 7 carefully and follow the
instructions.

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HBS011AA
1. Slide the front seat forward as far as possible.
2. Pull off the head restraint while pressing the release button.
3. Recline the seatback rearward up to the lowest position. Remem-
ber to reinstall the head restraint whenever the seatback is raisedback. Lumbar support (if equipped)
HB1059BA
Pull the lever forward or backward.
Pulling the lever forward will increase the amount of support for yourlower back.