2003 SUBARU OUTBACK belt

1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags1-65
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Replacement of seat fabric or leather (only for vehicles with
SRS side airbags) Installation of additional fabric or leather on the front seat
(only for vehicles with SRS side airbags)
Installation of additional electrical/electronic equipment such
as a mobile two-way radio on or near the SRS airbag system
components and/or wiring is not advisable. This could interferewith proper operation of the SRS airbag system.
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following modifications. Such modifi-cations can interfere with proper operation of the SRS airbag sys-tem. Attachment of any equipment (brush bar, winches, snow plow,
skid plate, etc.) other than SUBARU genuine accessory parts tothe front end. Modification of the suspension system or front end structure.
Installation of a tire of different size and construction from the
tires specified on the tire placard attached to the driver ’s door
jamb. Attachment of any equipment (side steps or side sill protec-
tors, etc.) other than SUBARU genuine accessory parts to theside body (only for vehicles with side airbags).
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to install any accessory
parts to your vehicle.

2-4Always make sure that all doors and the rear gate are locked before leaving your vehicle. NOTE
Make sure that you do not leave the key inside the vehicle before
locking the doors from the outside without the key.
Locking and unlocking from the inside
WARNING
Keep all doors locked when you drive, especially when small chil- dren are in your vehicle.
Along with the proper use of seat belts and child restraints, lock-ing the doors reduces the chance of being thrown out of the ve-hicle in an accident.It also helps prevent passengers from falling out if a door is acci-
dentally opened, and intruders from unexpectedly opening doorsand entering your vehicle.
HB2001BB
To lock the door from the inside, rotate the lock lever rearward. To un-
lock the door from the inside, rotate the lock lever forward.
The red mark on the lock lever appears when the door is unlocked.
Pull the inside door handle to open an unlocked door.
Always make sure that all doors and the rear gate (station wagon) are
closed and locked before starting to drive.

3
Instruments and controls Ignition switch3-3
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Key reminder chime 3-5
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Ignition switch light 3-5
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Key interlock release (AT vehicles only) 3-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hazard warning flasher 3-7
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Meters and gauges 3-7
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Speedometer 3-7
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Odometer/Trip meter 3-7
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Tachometer 3-9
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Outside temperature indicator (if equipped) 3-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel gauge 3-9
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Temperature gauge 3-10
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Warning and indicator lights 3-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seatbelt warning light and chime 3-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS airbag system warning light 3-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicator lamp 3-12
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Charge warning light 3-13
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Oil pressure warning light 3-13
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AT OIL TEMPerature warning light (for AT vehicles) 3-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABS warning light 3-14
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VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) warning light (if equipped) 3-15
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Brake system warning light 3-16
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Door open warning lights 3-17
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Low fuel warning light 3-17
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Front-wheel drive warning light (for AT vehicles
except GT and vehicle with VDC) 3-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) operation indicator
light (if equipped) 3-17
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VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) OFF indicator light
(if equipped) 3-18
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Security system status indicator light (if equipped) 3-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shift position indicator (for AT vehicles) 3-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signal indicator lights 3-19
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High beam indicator light 3-19
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Clock 3-19
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Light control switch 3-20
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Daytime running light system 3-21
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Turn signal lever 3-22
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Illumination brightness control 3-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3
Instruments and controls3-11
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CONTINUED –
Seatbelt warning light
SRS airbag system warning light
CHECK ENGINE warning light / Malfunction indicator lamp
Charge warning light
Oil pressure warning light
AT OIL temperature warning light (AT vehicles)
ABS warning light
VDC warning light (if equipped)VDC operation indicator light (if equipped)VDC OFF indicator light (if equipped)
Brake system warning light
If any lights fail to come on, it indicates a burned-out bulb or a malfunc-
tion of the corresponding system.
Consult your authorized SUBARU dealer for repair. Seatbelt warning light and chime
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, the seatbelt
warning light will come on and the reminder chime will sound for about
six seconds to remind the driver to fasten the seatbelt.
The seatbelt warning light remains on for about six seconds and turns off
automatically after six seconds.
The seatbelt reminder chime will turn off when the driver ’s side seatbelt is
buckled or it will turn off automatically after six seconds. SRS airbag system warning light AIRBAG
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, the SRS airbag
system warning light will come on for about six seconds and go out. This
shows the SRS frontal airbag and SRS side airbag (if equipped) and
seatbelt pretensioners are in normal operation.
If this light comes on while driving or remains illuminated even after a
period of about 6 seconds from when the ignition has been turned on, it
may indicate that the SRS frontal airbag system or SRS side airbag sys-
tem (if equipped) or seatbelt pretensioner system is not working proper-
ly. Contact your nearest SUBARU dealer immediately.

3
Instruments and controls3-13
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To prevent serious damage to the emission control system, you should do the following:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard acceleration.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
Reduce the amount of cargo, if possible.
Stop towing a trailer as soon as possible.
The CHECK ENGINE warning light may stop blinking and come on
steadily after several driving trips. You should have your vehicle
checked by an authorized SUBARU dealer immediately.
Charge warning light
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it may indicate that the
charging system is not working properly. If the light comes on while driving or does not go out after the engine
starts, stop the engine at the first safe opportunity and check the alterna-
tor belt. If the belt is loose, broken or if the belt is in good condition but
the light remains on, contact your nearest SUBARU dealer immediately. Oil pressure warning light
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the oil pressure warning light on. This may cause serious engine damage.
If this light comes on when the engine is running, it may indicate that the
engine oil pressure is low and the lubricating system is not working prop-
erly.If the light comes on while driving or does not go out after the engine
starts, stop the engine at the first safe opportunity and check the engine
oil level. If the oil level is low, add oil immediately. If the engine oil is at
the proper level but the light remains on, contact your nearest SUBARU
dealer immediately.

7
Starting and operating7-9
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CONTINUED –
than three. Under this condition, the vehicle operator should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few days to set the monitors and
return for an emission re-inspection.
Owners of rejected or failing vehicles should contact their Subaru
Dealer for service.
Preparing to drive
You should perform the following checks and adjustments every day be-
fore you start driving.
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and lights are clean and unob- structed.
2. Check the appearance and condition of the tires. Also check tires for
proper inflation.
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
4. Check that the hood, trunk and rear gate are fully closed.
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors.
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your passengers have fastened theirseatbelts.
8. Check the operation of the warning and indicator lights when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON” position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warning lights after starting the en-gine. NOTE Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid and other fluid
levels should be checked daily, weekly or at fuel stops.

8-8and otherwise similar to on-road driving conditions. Operating it under other than those conditions could subject the vehicle to excessive
stress which might result in damage not eligible for repair under war-
ranty. If you do take your SUBARU off road, you should review the
common sense precautions in the next section (applicable to the
OUTBACK) for general guidance. But please keep in mind that your
vehicle’
s off-road capabilities are more limited than those of the OUT-
BACK.
Never attempt to drive through pools and puddles, or roads flooded
with water. Water entering the engine air intake or the exhaust pipe or
water splashing onto electrical parts may damage your vehicle andmay cause it to stall. OUTBACK
Because of the AWD feature and higher ground clearance, your
Subaru can be driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But please keep
in mind that an AWD Subaru is a passenger car and is neither a con-
ventional off-road vehicle nor an all-terrain vehicle. If you do take your
Subaru off-road, certain common sense precautions such as the fol-lowing should be taken: Make certain that you and all of your passengers are wearing seat
belts. Carry some emergency equipment, such as a towing rope or
chain, a shovel, wheel blocks, first aid kit and portable phone or citi-zens band radio. Drive carefully. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in danger-
ous areas or over rough terrain. Slow down and employ extra caution at all times. When driving off-
road, you will not have the benefit of marked traffic lanes, banked
curves, traffic signs and the like. Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead, drive either straight up
or straight down the slopes. A vehicle can much more easily tip over
sideways than it can end over end. Avoid driving straight up or down
slopes that are too steep. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, especially at higher speeds.
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel. A bad

8-14
Snow tires All models except Outback
WARNING
When replacing original tires with winter (snow) tires, make
sure you use only the same size, construction and load range as the original tires listed on the tire placard. Using other sizes andconstruction may affect speedometer/odometer calibration and
clearance between the body and tires. It also may be dangerousand lead to loss of vehicle control. You must install four winter tires that are of the same size, cir-
cumferences, construction, brand, and load range. Mixing othersizes, circumferences or constructions may result in severe me-
chanical damage to the drive train of your vehicle and may affect
ride, handling, braking and speedometer/odometer calibration. Italso may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control. Do not use a combination of radial, belted bias or bias tires
since it may cause dangerous handling characteristics and leadto an accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with “all season tires ” which are designed to
provide an adequate measure of traction, handling and braking per-
formance in year-round driving. In winter, it may be possible to en-
hance performance through use of tires designed specifically for win-ter driving conditions.
If you choose to install winter tires on your vehicle, be sure to use the
correct tire size and type. You must install four winter tires that are ofthe same size, construction, brand and load range and you should
never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires since this may result in dan-
gerous handling characteristics. When you choose a tire, make sure
that there is enough clearance between the tire and vehicle body.
Remember to drive with care at all times regardless of the type of tires on your vehicle.