2006 SUBARU OUTBACK airbag

1-18 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Rear center seatbelt is stowed in the re-
cess of the ceiling.
1. Remove the connector (tongue) plate
from the slot located at the front of the re-
cess by pulling the connector (tongue)
plate rearward.Fastening the seatb elt with the web-
bing twisted can increase the risk or
severity of injury in an accident.
When fastening the belt after it is
pulled out from the retractor, espe-
cially when inserting the connec-
tor’s tongue plat e into the mating
buckle (on right-hand side), always
check that the webbing is not twist-
ed. 100108
Be sure to fasten both tongue plates
to the respective buckles. If the
seatbelt is used only as a shoulder
belt (with the co nnector’s tongue
plate not fastened to the connec-
tor’s buckle on the right-hand side),
it cannot properly restrain the wear-
er in position in an accident, possi-
bly resulting in serious injury or
death. 100109 100734

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-19
– CONTINUED –2. Pull out the seatbelt slowly from the
overhead retractor.
3. After confirming that the webbing is not
twisted, insert the connector (tongue) at-
tached at the webbing end into the buckle
on the right-hand side until a click is heard. If the belt stops befor e reaching the buck-
le, return the belt slightly and pull it out
more slowly. If the belt still cannot be un-
locked, let the belt retract slightly after giv-
ing it a strong pull, th en pull it out slowly
again.
4. After fastening the seatbelt, make sure
that the “ ” mark on the connector
(tongue) and the “ ” mark on the buck-
le face outwards. 5. Insert the center s eatbelt tongue plate
in the center seatbelt buckle marked
“CENTER” on the left-hand side until it
clicks.
6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on
the shoulder belt. And place the lap belt as100735
100309 200298 100114
100310

1-20 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
low as possible on your hips, not on your
waist.
V Unfastening the seatbelt
Push the release button of the center
seatbelt buckle (on the left-hand side) to
unfasten the seatbelt. 0
1. Insert a key or other hard pointed ob-
ject into the slot in the connector (buckle)
on the right-hand side and push it in, and
the connector (tongue) plate will discon-
nect from the buckle. 2. Allow the retractor to roll up the belt.
You should hold the webbing end and
guide it back into the retractor while it is
rolling up. Neatly store the tongue plate in
the recess on the ceiling and then insert
the connector (tongue) plate into the slot
located at the front of the recess.100116 100381
100382 200300

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-21
– CONTINUED –„ Seatbelt maintenance To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap
and lukewarm water. Never bleach or dye
the belts because this could seriously af-
fect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments in-
cluding the webbing and all hardware pe-
riodically for cracks, cuts, gashes, tears,
damage, loose bolts or worn areas. Re-
place the seatbelts even if only minor
damage is found. Front seatbelt pretensioners
The driver’s and front passenger’s seat-
belts have a seatbelt pretensioner. The
seatbelt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in the event of an accident in-
volving a moderate to severe frontal colli-
sion.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as a
SRS frontal airbag sensor. If the sensor
detects a certain predetermined amount
of force during a frontal collision, the front
seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by the re-
tractor to take up the slack so that the belt
more effectively rest rains the front seat
occupant.
When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated,y Do not allow the retractor to roll
up the seatbelt too quickly. Other-
wise, the metal tongue plates may
hit against the trim, resulting in
damaged trim.
y Have the seatbelt fully rolled up
so that the tongue plates are neat-
ly stored. A hanging tongue plate
can swing and hit against the trim
during driving, causing damage to
the trim. 100736
y Keep the belts free of polishes,
oils, chemicals and particularly
battery acid.
y Never attempt to make modifica-
tions or changes that will prevent
the seatbelt from operating prop-
erly. 100121

1-22 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
an operating noise will be heard and a
small amount of smoke will be released.
These occurrences are normal and not
harmful. This smoke does not indicate a
fire in the vehicle.
Once the seatbelt pretensioner has been
activated, the seatbelt retractor remains
locked. Consequently, the seatbelt can
not be pulled out and retracted and there-
fore must be replaced.
NOTE y Seatbelt pretensioners are not de-
signed to activate in minor frontal im-
pacts, in side or rear impacts or in roll-
over accidents.
y The driver’s seat and passenger’s
seat pretensioners and frontal airbag
operate simultaneously.
y Pretensioners are designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis. In the
event that a pretensioner is activated,
both the driver’s and front passenger’s
seatbelt retractor assemblies must be
replaced and only by an authorized
SUBARU dealer. When replacing seat-
belt retractor assemblies, use only
genuine SUBARU parts.
y If either front seatbelt does not re-
tract or cannot be pulled out due to a
malfunction or activation of the preten-
sioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.
y If the front seatbe lt retractor assem-
bly or surrounding area has been dam-
aged, contact your SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible.
y When you sell your vehicle, we urge
you to explain to the buyer that it has
seatbelt pretensioners by alerting him
to the contents of this section.
„ System monitors
SRS airbag system warning light
A diagnostic system continually monitors
the readiness of the seatbelt pretensioner
while the vehicle is being driven. The seat-
belt pretensioners share the control mod-
ule with the airbag system. Therefore, if
any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt pre-
tensioner, the SRS airbag system warning
light will illuminate. The SRS airbag sys-
tem warning light wi ll show normal systemy To obtain maximum protection,
occupants should sit in an upright
position with thei r seatbelts prop-
erly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts”
section in this chapter.
y Do not modify, remove or strike
the front seatbelt retractor assem-
blies or surrounding area. This
could result in accidental activa-
tion of the seatbelt pretensioners
or could make the system inoper-
ative, possibly resulting in seri-
ous injury. Seatbelt pretensioners
have no user-serviceable parts.
For required servicing of front
seatbelt retractors equipped with
seatbelt pretensioners, see your
nearest SUBARU dealer. y When discarding front seatbelt re-
tractor assemblies or scrapping
the entire vehicle due to collision
damage or for other reasons, con-
sult your SUBARU dealer.
200326

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-23
– CONTINUED –operation by lighting for approximately 6
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the “ON” position.
The following components are monitored
by the indicator:
y Front sub sensor (Right-hand side)
y Front sub sensor (Left-hand side)
y Airbag control module (including impact
sensors)
y Frontal airbag module (Driver’s side)
y Frontal airbag module (Front passen-
ger’s side)
y Side airbag sensor (Center pillar right-
hand side)
y Side airbag sensor (Center pillar left-
hand side)
y Side airbag module (Driver’s side)
y Side airbag module (Front passenger’s
side)
y Curtain airbag sensor (Rear wheel
house right-hand side)
y Curtain airbag sensor (Rear wheel
house left-hand side)
y Curtain airbag module (Right side)
y Curtain airbag module (Left side)
y Seatbelt pretensioner (Driver’s side)
y Seatbelt pretensioner (Front passen-
ger’s side)
y Seatbelt buckle switch (Driver’s side)
y Seatbelt buckle switch (Front passen-
ger’s side)
y Driver’s seat position sensor y Front passenger’s seatbelt tension sen-
sor
y Front passenger’s occupant detection
system weight sensor
y Front passenger’s occupant detection
control module
y Front passenger’s frontal airbag ON
and OFF indicator
y All related wiring
„ System servicing
If the warning light exhibits any of
the following conditions, there may
be a malfunction in the seatbelt pre-
tensioners and/or SRS airbag sys-
tem. Immediately take your vehicle
to your nearest SUBARU dealer to
have the system checked. Unless
checked and properly repaired, the
seatbelt pretensioners and/or SRS
airbags will operate improperly (e.g.
SRS airbags may inflate in a very mi-
nor collision or not inflate in a se-
vere collision), which may increase
the risk of injury.
y Flashing or flickering of the warn-
ing light
y No illumination of the warning
light when the ig nition switch is
first turned to the “ON” position y Continuous illumination of the
warning light
y Illumination of the warning light
while driving
y When discarding a seatbelt retrac-
tor assembly or scrapping the en-
tire vehicle damaged by a colli-
sion, consult yo ur SUBARU deal-
er.

1-24 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
NOTE If the front part of the vehicle is dam-
aged in an accident to the extent that
the seatbelt pretensioner does not op-
erate, contact your SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible.
„ Precautions against vehicle
modification Always consult your SUBARU dealer if
you want to install any accessory parts to
your vehicle.y Tampering with or disconnecting
the system’s wiring could result in
accidental activation of the seat-
belt pretensioner and/or airbag or
could make the system inopera-
tive, which may result in serious
injury. The wiring harnesses of
the seatbelt pretensioner and SRS
airbag systems are covered with
yellow insulation and the connec-
tors of the system are yellow for
easy identification. Do not use
electrical test equipment on any
circuit related to the seatbelt pre-
tensioner and airbag systems. For
required servicing of the seatbelt
pretensioner, see your nearest
SUBARU dealer.
The front sub sensors are located in
both front fenders and the airbag
control module including the impact
sensors is located under the center
console. If you need service or re-
pair in those areas or near the front
seatbelt retractors, have an autho-
rized SUBARU dealer perform the
work. Do not perform any of the following
modifications. Such modifications
can interfere with proper operation
of the seatbelt pertensioners.
y Attachment of any equipment
(bush bar, winches, snow plow,
skid plate, etc.) other than genu-
ine SUBARU accessory parts to
the front end.
y Modification of the suspension
system or front end structure. y Installation of a tire of different
size and construction from the
tires specified on the vehicle plac-
ard attached to the door pillar or
specified for individual vehicle
models in this Owner’s Manual.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-25
– CONTINUED –Child restraint systems
Infants and small children should always
be placed in an infant or child restraint
system in the rear seat while riding in the
vehicle. You should use an infant or child
restraint system that meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canada Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards, is compati-
ble with your vehicle and is appropriate for
the child’s age and size. All child restraint
systems are designed to be secured in ve-
hicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt por-
tion of a lap/shoulder belt (except those
covered under the section in this manual,
entitled “Installation of child restraint sys-
tems by use of lower and tether anchorag-
es (LATCH)”). Children could be endangered in an acci-
dent if their child restraints are not proper-
ly secured in the vehicle. When installing
the child restraint system, carefully follow
the manufacturer’s instructions.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front
seating positions.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces
require that infants and small children be
restrained in an approved child restraint
system at all times while the vehicle is
moving. 100124
100125Never let a passenger hold a child
on his or her lap while the vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot pro-
tect the child from injury in a colli-
sion, because the child will be
caught between the passenger and
objects inside the vehicle. Addition-
ally, holding a child in your lap or
arms in the front seat exposes that
child to another serious danger.
Since the SRS airbag deploys with
considerable speed and force, the
child could be injured or even killed.
100126