2006 SUBARU IMPREZA steering

1-48 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
case of the front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbag. After deployment, the SRS airbag
immediately starts to deflate so that the
driver ’s vision is not obstructed. The time
required from detecting impact to the de-
flation of the SRS airbag after deployment
is shorter than the blink of an eye.
Both when only the driver ’s SRS frontal
airbag deploys and the driver ’s and front
passenger ’s SRS frontal airbags deploy,
the driver ’s and front passenger ’s seatbelt
pretensioners operate at the same time.
Although it is highly unlikely that the SRS
airbag would activate in a non-accident
situation, should it occur, the SRS airbag
will deflate quickly, not obscuring vision
and will not interfere with the driver ’s abil-
ity to maintain control of the vehicle.
When the SRS airbag deploys, a sudden,
fairly loud inflation noise will be heard and
some smoke will be released. These oc-
currences are a normal result of the de-
ployment. This smoke does not indicate a
fire in the vehicle.
The driver ’s SRS frontal airbag and front
passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag are de-
signed to deploy in the event of an acci-
dent involving a moderate to severe fron-
tal collision. It is basically not designed to
deploy in lesser frontal impacts because
the necessary protection can be achieved
by the seatbelt alone. Also, they are basi-
cally not designed to deploy in side or rear
impacts or in roll-over accidents because
deployment of only the driver ’s SRS fron-
tal airbag or both driver ’s and front pas-
senger ’s SRS frontal airbags would not
help the occupant in those situations. The
driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbags are designed to function on a one-
time-only basis.
SRS airbag deployment depends on the
level of force experienced in the passen-
ger compartment during a collision. That
level differs from one type of collision to
another, and it may have no bearing on the visible damage done to the vehicle it-
self.
Examples of accident in which the
driver
’s/driver ’s and front passen-
ger ’s SRS frontal airbag(s) will most
likely deploy.
A head-on collision against a thick con-
crete wall at a vehicle speed of 12 to 19
mph (20 to 30 km/h) or higher activates
only the driver ’s SRS frontal airbag or both
driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbags. The airbag(s) will also be activat-
ed when the vehicle is exposed to a frontal
impact similar in fashion and magnitude to
the collision described above.
Do not touch the SRS airbag system
components around the steering
wheel and dashboard with bare
hands right after deployment. Doing
so can cause burns because the
components can be very hot as a re-
sult of deployment.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-53
– CONTINUED –
Operation
1) SRS side airbag deploys as soon as a
collision occurs.
2) SRS side airbag protects the front pas- senger ’s head and chest.
3) After deployment, SRS side airbag starts to deflate immediately.
The SRS side airbag can function only
when the ignition switch is in the “ON ” po-
sition.
The driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS
side airbags deploy independently of each
other since each has its own impact sen-
sor. Also, the SRS side airbag deploys in-
dependently of the frontal airbags in the
steering wheel and instrument panel.
An impact sensor is incorporated into
each of the vehicle ’s center pillars. If ei-
ther sensor detects a certain predeter-
mined amount of force during a side im-
pact collision, the control module sends a
signal to the side airbag module on the im-
pacted side of the vehicle, instructing it to
inflate the SRS side airbag. Then the side
airbag module produces gas, which in-
stantly inflates the SRS side airbag. After
deployment, the SRS side airbag will de-
flate in a few seconds.
The SRS side airbag deploys even when
no one occupies the seat on the side on
which an impact is applied.
When the SRS side airbag deploys, a sud-
den, fairly loud inflation noise will be heard
and some smoke will be released. These
occurrences are normal result of the de-
ployment. This smoke does not indicate a
fire in the vehicle.
Do not put any kind of cover or
clothes or other objects over either
front seatback and do not attach la-
bels or stickers to the front seat sur-
face on or near the SRS side airbag.
They could prevent proper deploy-
ment of the SRS side airbag, reduc-
ing protection available to the front
seat ’s occupant.
1 2 3
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1-58 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
In the event that the SRS airbag is de-
ployed, replacement of the system
should be performed only by an autho-
rized SUBARU dealer. When the com-
ponents of the SRS airbag system are
replaced, use only genuine SUBARU
parts.
To ensure their long-term reliability, the
SRS airbags must be inspected by a
SUBARU dealer ten years after the date
of manufacture, which is shown on the
certification plate attached to the driver ’s door jamb.
NOTE
In the following cases, contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
The front part of the vehicle was in-
volved in an accident in which only the
driver ’s SRS frontal airbag or both driv-
er ’s and front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbags did not deploy.
The pad section of the steering
wheel or front passenger ’s frontal air-
bag cover is scratched, cracked, or
otherwise damaged.
In addition, if your vehicle is equipped
with SRS side airbags, contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible in
the following cases.
Either center pillar or a nearby area
of the vehicle was involved in an acci-
dent in which the SRS side airbag did
not deploy.
The fabric or leather of either front
seatback is cut, frayed, or otherwise
damaged.
Precautions against vehicle
modification
If you need service or repair in areas
listed in the following, have an au-
thorized SUBARU dealer perform
the work. The SRS airbag control
module, impact sensors and airbag
modules are stored in these areas.
Under the center console
Inside each front fender
Steering wheel and column and
nearby areas
Top of the dashboard on front
passenger ’s side and nearby ar-
eas
Each front seat and nearby area
Inside each center pillar
To avoid accidental activation of
the system or rendering the sys-
tem inoperative, which may result
in serious injury, no modifications
should be made to any compo-
nents or wiring of the SRS airbag
system.
This includes following modifica-
tions:
Installation of custom steering
wheels
Attachment of additional trim
materials to the dashboard
Installation of custom seats
Replacement of seat fabric or
leather
Installation of additional fabric
or leather on the front seat

Instruments and controls
Clock .................................................................... 3-22
Light control switch .............................. ............. 3-22
Headlights ........................................ ....................... 3-22
High/low beam change (dimmer) ..................... ..... 3-23
Headlight flasher ................................. ................... 3-23
Daytime running light system ...................... ......... 3-23
Turn signal lever ................................. ................ 3-24
Illumination brightness control ................... ...... 3-25
Headlight beam leveler (U.S.-spec. WRX-STI) .............................. ........ 3-25
Parking light switch .............................. ............. 3-25
Front fog light button (if equipped) .............. .... 3-26
Wiper and washer .................................. ............. 3-26
Windshield wiper and washer switches .............. . 3-27
Rear window wiper and washer switch – Wagon ............................................ .................... 3-28
Rear window defogger button ....................... .... 3-29
Windshield wiper deicer (if equipped) ............. . 3-30
Intercooler water spray switch (WRX-STI) ....... 3-3 1
Mirrors ........................................... ...................... 3-32
Inside mirror ..................................... ...................... 3-32
Outside mirrors ................................... .................... 3-33
Tilt steering wheel ............................... ............... 3-35
Horn .............................................. ....................... 3-35

Instruments and controls 3-3
– CONTINUED –
Instrum ents and controlsIgnition switch
The ignition switch has four positions:
LOCK, ACC, ON and START.
LOCK
The key can only be inserted or removed
in this position. The ignition switch will lock
the steering wheel when you remove the
key.
If turning the key is difficult, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the right and left as
you turn the key.
Automatic transmission vehicles
The key can be turned from “ACC ” to
“ LOCK ” only when the selector lever is in
the “P ” position.Manual transmission vehicles
The key can be turned from “ACC ” to
“ LOCK ” only when the key is pushed in
while turning it.
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300566
Never turn the ignition switch to “ LOCK ” while the vehicle is being
driven or towed because that will
lock the steering wheel, prevent-
ing steering control. And when
the engine is turned off, it takes a
much greater effort than usual to
steer.
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3-4 Instruments and controls
NOTE
Keep the ignition switch in the
“ LOCK ” position when the engine is
not running.
Using electrical accessories for a
long time with the ignition switch in the “ ON ” or “ACC ” position can cause the
battery to go dead.
If the ignition switch will not move from
the “LOCK ” position to the “ACC ” po-
sition, turn the steering wheel slightly
to the left and right as you turn the ig-
nition switch.
If the key is attached to a keyholder
or to a large bunch of other keys, cen-
trifugal force may act on it as the vehi-
cle moves, resulting in unwanted turn-
ing of the ignition switch. Also, if a
large keyholder is attached to the key,
your knees or hands may accidentally
touch it in a way that turns the ignition switch.
ACC
In this position the electrical accessories
(radio, cigarette lighter, etc.) can be used.
ON
This is the normal operating position after
the engine is started.
START
The engine is started in this position. The
starter cranks the engine to start it. When
the key is released (after the engine has
started), the key automatically returns to
the
“ON ” position.
For vehicle with immobilizer
If your registered key fails to start the en-
gine, pull out the key once (the security in-
dicator light will blink), and then insert the
key in the ignition switch and turn it to the“ START ” position and again try to start the
engine.
NOTE
The engine may not start in the follow-
ing cases:
The key grip is touching another key
or a metallic key holder.
Before leaving the vehicle, always
remove the key from the ignition
switch for safety and never allow
an unattended child to remain in
the vehicle. Failure to follow this
procedure could result in injury to
a child or others. Children could
operate the power windows, the
sunroof or other controls or even
make the vehicle move.
Do not turn the ignition switch to the “ START ” position while the engine
is running.
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Instruments and controls 3-5
The key is near another key that con-
tains an immobilizer transponder.
Key reminder chime
The reminder chime sounds when the
driver ’s door opens and the key is in the
“ LOCK ” or “ACC ” positions. The chime
stops when the key is removed from the
ignition switch.
Ignition switch light
For easy access to the ignition switch in
the dark, the ignition switch light comes on
when driver ’s door is opened. The light re-
mains on for 10 seconds and goes out af-
ter driver ’s door is closed or if the key is
turned to the “ON ” position.
Key interlock release (AT ve-
hicles only)
If the key can not be turned to the “LOCK ”
position even when the selector lever is in
the “P ” position:
1. Take out the screwdriver from the tool
bag. 2. Remove the cover under the steering
column using a Phillips screwdriver.
3. Turn the ignition key while pressing the
key interlock release lever.
Take your vehicle to the nearest SUBARUdealer immediately to have the key inter-
lock system repaired.
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Instruments and controls 3-35
Tilt steering wheel
1. Adjust the seat position. Refer to the “Front seats ” section (chapter 1).
2. Push the tilt lock lever down.
3. Move the steering wheel to the desired
level.
4. Pull the lever up to lock the steering
wheel in place.
5. Make sure that the steering wheel is
securely locked by moving it up and down.
Horn
To sound the horn, push the horn pad.
Do not adjust the steering wheel tilt
position while driving. This may
cause loss of vehicle control and re-
sult in personal injury.
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