
4
ual. This symbol means “Do not”, “Do not do this”, or 
“Do not let this happen”, depending upon the context.Vehicle symbols 
There are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.Mark Name CAUTION 
Passengers’ windows lock Fuel 
Front fog lights 
Parking lights 
Hazard warning flasher 
Cigarette lighter Seat heater 

1-1
1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats  .................................................... 1-2 Manual seat  ....................................................... 1-3 
Power seat (if equipped)  .................................. 1-5 
Reclining the seatback  ..................................... 1-6
Head restraint adjustment ................................ 1-8 
Active head restraint  ........................................ 1-8 
Lumbar support (if equipped)  .......................... 1-9
Seat heater (if equipped) .............................. 1-10 
Rear seats  ..................................................... 1-11 Folding down the rear seat – Station wagon .. 1-12 
Head restraint adjustment ................................ 1-12
Armrest (if equipped)  ................................... 1-14 Loading long objects (Sedan) .......................... 1-15
Seatbelts ....................................................... 1-16 Seatbelt safety tips  ........................................... 1-16
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)  .............. 1-18 
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) ............................................................ 1-18
Seatbelt warning light and chime  .................... 1-19
Fastening the seatbelt  ...................................... 1-21 
Seatbelt maintenance  ....................................... 1-33
Front seatbelt pretensioners  ....................... 1-33 System monitors  ............................................... 1-35
System servicing  .............................................. 1-36 
Precautions against vehicle modification  ...... 1-37
Child restraint systems ................................ 1-38 Where to place a child restraint system  ......... 1-40 
Choosing a child restraint system  .................. 1-41
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt ............................................................ 1-42 Installing a booster seat ................................... 1-47 
Installation of child restraint systems by use 
of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH)  .... 1-49
Top tether anchorages  ..................................... 1-55
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint  System airbag) ........................................... 1-59Vehicle with SRS airbags and lap/shoulder  restraints for driver, front passenger, and  
window-side rear passengers  ....................... 1-59
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system  ........ 1-65 
SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag  ........ 1-80 
SRS airbag system monitors  ........................... 1-89
SRS airbag system servicing  .......................... 1-91 
Precautions against vehicle modification  ...... 1-92 

1-10
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Seat heater (if equipped) 
The seat heater operates when the ignition switch is 
either in the “ACC” or “ON” position. 
Each seat heater has four levels of adjustment. To use 
the heater in the right hand seat, turn the “R” adjust-
ment knob forward until the “ ” mark reaches the 
desired position. To activate the heater in the left hand 
seat, turn the “L” adjustment knob forward until the
“ ” mark reaches the desired position. Each heater 
warms the seat most quickly with the “ ” mark on 
the adjustment knob in the furthest-forward position.
An indicator light on the adjustment knob for each seat
heater comes on when that seat heater is activated. 
When the vehicle’s interior is warmed enough or be- 
fore you leave the vehicle, be sure to turn the switch 
off.
"
There is a possibility that people with delicate
skin may suffer slight burns even at low tem- 
peratures if they use the seat heater for a long
period of time. When using the heater, always 
be sure to warn the persons concerned. " Do not put anything on the seat which insu-
lates against heat, such as a blanket, cushion, 
or similar items. This may cause the seat heater
to overheat.
NOTE " Use of the seat heater for a long period of time
while the engine is not running can cause battery 
discharge." When cleaning the seat, do not use benzine,
paint thinner, or any similar materials.
UB1208BA 

3-60
Instruments and controls
dicator light (green) located to the right of the button 
will illuminate."
By pressing and releasing the right button, the com-
pass display is toggled on or off. When the compass is
on, an illuminated compass reading will appear in the
lower part of the mirror. 
Even with the mirror in anti-glare mode, the mirror sur- 
face turns bright if the transmission is shifted into re-
verse. This is to ensure good rearward visibility during reversing. ! Photosensors
The mirror has a photosensor attached on both the 
front and back sides. If the glare from the headlights of vehicles behind you strikes the mirror, these sensors
detect it and make the reflection surface of the mirror
dimmer to help prevent you from being blinded. For 
this reason, use care not to cover the sensors with 
stickers, or other similar items. Periodically wipe the
sensors clean using a piece of dry soft cotton cloth or 
an applicator. !
Compass calibration
1. For optimum calibration, switch off all nonessential 
electrical accessories (rear window defogger, heater/ 
air conditioning system, spotlight, etc.) and ensure all 
doors are shut.
2. Drive to an open, level area away from large metal- 
lic objects or structures and make certain the ignition 
switch is in the “ON” position.
3. Press and hold the left button for 3 seconds then re- 
lease, and the compass will enter the calibration 
mode. “CAL” and direction will be displayed.
4. Drive slowly in a circle until “CAL” disappears from 
the display (about two or three circles). The compass 
is now calibrated.
5. Further calibration may be necessary should out- 
side influences cause the mirror to read inaccurately. 
You will know that this has occurred if your compass
begins to read in only limited directions. Should you 
encounter this situation, return to step one of the 
above procedure and recalibrate the mirror.
HS3038BA 

4-1
4
Climate control
Ventilator ....................................................... 4-2 Air flow selection  .............................................. 4-2 
Center and side ventilators .............................. 4-3
Manual climate control system  (if equipped)  ............................................... 4-4Control panel ..................................................... 4-4 
Heater operation  ............................................... 4-7
Air conditioner operation  ................................. 4-9
Automatic climate control system  (if equipped)  ............................................... 4-10Temperature sensors  ....................................... 4-16
Operating tips for heater and  air conditioner  ........................................... 4-17Cleaning ventilator grille  .................................. 4-17 
Efficient cooling after parking in direct  sunlight ........................................................... 4-18
Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant 
circuit .............................................................. 4-18
Checking air conditioning system  before summer season  .................................. 4-18
Cooling and dehumidifying in high humidity  and low temperature weather condition  ...... 4-18
Air conditioner compressor shut-off 
when engine is heavily loaded ...................... 4-18
Refrigerant for your climate control system  .. 4-18
Air filtration system (if equipped)  ................ 4-19 

4-7
Climate control
–  CONTINUED  –
!Air inlet selection button
ON position (Recirculation): Interior air is recirculated inside the vehicle. 
Push the air inlet button to the ON position. The indi-
cator light will come on.  
Place this button in the ON position when you wish to 
cool the cabin quickly (in a vehicle with an air condi-
tioner) or are driving on a dusty road. 
OFF position (Outside air): Outside air is drawn into 
the passenger compartment.
Push the air inlet button again to the OFF position. The 
indicator light will go off.  
Place this button in the OFF position when you reach
a road that is not dusty and when you wish to achieve a comfortable temperature in the cabin.
Continued operation in the ON position may fog 
up the windows. Switch to the OFF position as
soon as the outside dusty condition clears.
! Heater operation
! Defrosting or defogging the windshield
To direct warm air to the windshield and front door win- 
dows: 
1. Set the air inlet selection button to the OFF posi- 
tion.
2. Set the air flow control dial to the “ ” position. 
3. Turn the temperature control dial all the way to the right.
4. Set the fan speed control dial to the highest speed.
NOTE " In a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner,
when the dial is placed in the “ ” position or 
“ ” position the air conditioner compressor au- 
tomatically operates to quickly defog the wind-
shield. However the indicator on the air condition-
UB4517BA 

4-17
Climate control
–  CONTINUED  –
The sensors are located as follows: 
– Solar sensor: beside windshield defroster grille
– Interior air temperature sensor: on the side of the 
driver-side part of the center panel 
– Outside temperature sensor: behind front grille. Operating tips for heater and air con-
ditioner !
Cleaning ventilator grille
Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille free of 
snow, leaves, or other obstructions to ensure efficient 
heating and defrosting. Since the condenser is located 
in front of the radiator, this area should be kept clean
because cooling performance is impaired by any ac- 
cumulation of insects and leaves on the condenser.
UB4203BA 

5-59
Audio
–  CONTINUED  –
"In cold and/or rainy weather, dew can form inside
the CD player, preventing normal operation. If this 
happens, eject the CD and wait for the player to dry 
out. " Skipping may occur when the CD player is subject-
ed to severe vibration (for example, when the vehicle 
is driven on a rough surface). " To remove a disc from the case, press the center of
the case and hold both edges of the disc. If the disc 
surface is touched directly, contamination could cause 
poor tone quality. Do not touch the disc surface. " Use a clean disc whenever possible. If there are de-
posits, wipe the disc surface from the center outward
with a dry, soft cloth. Be sure not to use a hard cloth,
thinner, benzene, alcohol, etc. " Do not use any disc that is scratched, deformed, or
cracked. Also, do not use any disc that has a non-stan- 
dard shape (for example, a heart shape). Malfunctions 
or problems might result. " A disc is vulnerable to heat. Never keep it either in
places exposed to direct sunlight, near heaters or in 
vehicles parked in the sun or hot days.
HS5018BA