2005 SUBARU LEGACY Owners Manual

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
!
Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts.
They should consult their doctor for specific recom-
mendations. The lap belt should be worn securely and
as low as possible over the hips, not over the waist. ! Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The driver’s seatbelt has an Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (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 quick-
ly out of the retractor. !
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retrac- tor (A/ELR)
Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic/Emer-
gency Locking Retractor (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” intended to secure a child re-
straint system. When the seatbelt is once drawn out
completely and is then retracted even slightly, the re-
tractor locks the seatbelt in that position and the seat-
belt cannot be extended. As the belt is rewinding,
clicks will be heard which indicate the retractor func-
tions as ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, ALR
mode is released.
When securing a child restraint system on the passen-
gers’ 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 allowing the seat-
belt to retract fully.
For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the
ALR mode and restore it to the ELR mode, see the “Child restraint systems” section in this chapter.
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!Seatbelt warning light and chime
Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warning de-
vice at the driver’s and front passenger’s seat.
With the ignition switch turned to the “ON” position,
this device reminds the driver and front passenger to
fasten their seatbelts by illuminating the warning lights
in the locations indicated below and sounding a chime.
Driver: Instrument panel Front passenger: Between map lights !
Operation
If the driver and/or front passenger have/has not yet
fastened the seatbelt(s) when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position, the seatbelt warning
light(s) will flash for 6 seconds, to warn that the seat-
belt(s) is/are unfastened. If the driver’s seatbelt is not
fastened, a chime will also sound simultaneously.
If the driver’s and/or front passenger’s seatbelt(s) are/
is still not fastened 6 seconds later, both warning lights
or the warning light for the unfastened seatbelt will re-
main lit for 15 seconds. If the driver’s and/or front pas-
senger’s seatbelt(s) are/is still not fastened even 15
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
seconds later (21 seconds after turning ON the ignition
switch), the warning lights will alternate between flash-
ing and steady illumination at 15-second intervals, and
the chime will sound while the warning light(s) is/are
flashing.
Alternate flashing and steady illumination of the warn-
ing lights and sounding of the chime will continue until
both driver and front passenger fasten their seatbelts.
NOTE "
If the driver and/or front passenger unfasten(s)
the seatbelt(s) after fastening, the seatbelt warn-
ing device operates as follows according to the
vehicle speed. "At speeds lower than approximately 9 mph (15
km/h)The warning light(s) for unfastened seatbelt(s)
will alternate between flashing and steady illu-
mination at 15-second intervals. The chime will
not sound. " At approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or higher
speeds The warning light(s) for unfastened seatbelt(s)
will alternate between flashing and steady illu-
mination at 15-second intervals and the chime
will sound while the warning light(s) is/are flash-
ing.
" It is possible to cancel the warning operation that follows the 6-second warning after turning ON
the ignition switch by unfastening and refastening
the driver’s seatbelt. When the ignition switch is
turned ON next time, however, the complete se-
quence of warning operation resumes. For further
details about canceling the warning operation,
please contact your SUBARU dealer.
If there is no passenger on the front passenger’s seat,
the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s seat
will be deactivated. The front passenger’s occupant
detection system monitors whether or not there is a
passenger on the front passenger’s seat.
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so
may prevent the device from functioning correctly or
cause the device to fail. "
Do not install any accessory such as a table or TV
onto the seatback. " Do not store a heavy load in the seatback pocket.
" Do not allow the rear seat occupant to place his/her
hands or legs on the front passenger’s seatback, or al-
low him/her to pull the seatback. " Do not use front seats with their backward-forward
position and seatback not being locked into place se-
curely. If any of them are not locked securely, adjust
them again. For adjusting procedure, refer to the
“Manual seat” in the front seats section in Chapter 1 in
this owner’s manual. (Models equipped with manual

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seats only)
If the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s
seat does not function correctly (e.g., it is activated
even when the front passenger’s seat is empty or it is
deactivated even when the front passenger has not
fastened his/her seatbelt), take the following actions. "Ensure that no article is placed on the seat other
than the child restraint system and the child occupant. " Ensure that there is no article left in the seatback
pocket." Ensure that the backward-forward position and
seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into
place securely by moving the seat back and forth.
(Models equipped with manual seats only)
If still the seatbelt warning device for front passenger’s
seat does not function correctly after taking relevant
corrective actions described above, immediately con-
tact your SUBARU dealer for an inspection. ! Fastening the seatbelt
"Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In
an accident, this can increase the risk or sever-
ity of injury. "
Keep the lap belt as low as possible on your
hips. In a collision, this spreads the force of the
lap belt over stronger hip bones instead of
across the weaker abdomen. " Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when
the occupant sits well back and upright in the
seat. To reduce the risk of sliding under the
seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks
should be always used in the upright position
while the vehicle is running. If the front seat-
backs are not used in the upright position in a
collision, 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 in-
ternal 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.

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or
behind the back. If an accident occurs, this can
increase the risk or severity of injury.
Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very
hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sun-
ny weather; they could burn an occupant. Do
not touch such hot parts until they cool.
!
Front seatbelts
1. Adjust the seat position:
Driver’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright posi-
tion. Move the seatback as far from the steering wheel
as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control.
Front passenger’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the
upright position. Move the seat as far back as possi-
ble.
2. Sit well back in the seat.
3. Pick up the tongue plate and pull the belt out slowly.
Do not let it get twisted. If the belt stops before reach-
ing the buckle, return the belt slightly and pull it out
more slowly. If the belt still cannot be unlocked, let the
belt retract slightly after giving it a strong pull, then pull
it out slowly again.
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4. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you
hear a click. 5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder
belt.
6. Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips,
not on your waist.
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"
Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor
height
The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to
the position best suited for you. To lower the anchor
height, push the release button and slide the anchor
down. To raise the anchor height, slide the anchor up.
Pull down on the anchor to make sure that it is locked
in place.
Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder
belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without
touching the neck.
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the
shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass
over your neck. If it does, adjust the seatbelt an-
chor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder
belt over the neck may result in neck injury dur-
ing sudden braking or in a collision.
" Unfastening the seatbelt
Push the button on the buckle.
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are
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retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing
in the door. !Rear seatbelts (except rear center seatbelt on
Station wagon)
1. Sit well back in the seat.
2. Pick up the tongue plate and pull the belt out slowly.
Do not let it get twisted. If the belt stops before reach-
ing the buckle, return the belt slightly and pull it out
more slowly. If the belt still cannot be unlocked, let the
belt retract slightly after giving a strong pull on it, then
pull it out slowly again.
3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you
hear a click. 4. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder
belt.
5. Place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips,
not on your waist.
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