2006 SUBARU TRIBECA light

1
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Front seats .......................................................... 1-2 Power seat ............................................................... 1-3
Reclining the seatback ........................................... 1-3
Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-4
Active head restraint .............................................. 1-5
Lumbar support ...................................................... 1-5
Seat heater (if equipped) ................................... 1-6
Rear seats (5-seater models)/Second-row seats (7-seater models) .................................. 1-6Fore and aft adjustment ......................................... 1-7
Reclining the seatback ........................................... 1-8
Folding down the seatback .................................... 1-9
Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-10
Armrest .................................................................... 1-11
Third-row seat (7-seater models) ...................... 1-11 Access to the third-row seat .................................. 1-12
Folding down the seatback .................................... 1-13
Head restraint adjustment ..................................... 1-14
Seatbelts ............................................................. 1-15 Seatbelt safety tips ................................................. 1-15
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) .................... 1-16
Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR) .................................................................. 1-16
Seatbelt warning light and chime .......................... 1-17
Fastening the seatbelt ............................................ 1-18
Seatbelt maintenance ............................................. 1-26
Front seatbelt pretensioners ............................. 1-27 System monitors .................................................... 1-28
System servicing .................................................... 1-29 Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-29
Child restraint systems ...................................... 1-30 Where to place a child restraint system ............... 1-31
Choosing a child restraint system ........................ 1-33
Installing child restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt .................................................................. 1-33
Installing a booster seat ......................................... 1-37
Installation of child restraint systems by use of lower and tether anchorages (LATCH) ............... 1-38
Top tether anchorages ........................................... 1-41
*SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) .............................................................. 1-44Your vehicle’s SRS configuration ......................... 1-44
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system .............. 1-49
SRS side airbag and SRS curtain airbag .............. 1-59
SRS airbag system monitors ................................. 1-66
SRS airbag system servicing ................................ 1-67
Precautions against vehicle modification ............ 1-68

1-2 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbagsFront seats
yNever adjust the seat while driv-
ing to avoid the possibility of loss
of vehicle control and of personal
injury.
yBefore adjusting the seat, make
sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers are clear of the
adjusting mechanism.
ySeatbelts provide maximum re-
straint 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
seatbacks are not used in the up-
right 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 internal
injury or death.
yThe SRS airbags deploy with con-
siderable speed and force. Occu-
pants who are out of proper posi-
tion when the SRS airbag deploys
could suffer very serious injuries.
Because the SRS airbag needs
enough space for deployment, the
driver should always sit upright
and well back in the seat as far
from the steering wheel as practi-
cal while still maintaining full ve-
hicle control and the front passen-
ger should move the seat as far
back as possible and sit upright
and well back in the seat.
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Put children aged 12 and under in a
rear seat properly restrained at all
times. The SRS airbag deploys with
considerable speed and force and
can injure or even kill children, es-
pecially if they are 12 years of age
and under and are not restrained or
improperly restrained. Because chil-
dren are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured
from deployment is greater. Conse-
quently, we strongly recommend
that ALL children (including those in
child seats and those that have out-
grown child restraint devices) sit in
a REAR seat properly restrained at
all times in a child restraint device or
in a seatbelt, whichever is appropri-
ate for the child’s age, height and
weight.
Always secure ALL types of child re-
straint devices (including forward
facing child seats) in one of the rear
seating positions recommended in
this owner’s manual.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-5
„Active head restraint
The front seats of your vehicle are
equipped with active head restraints. They
automatically tilt forward slightly in the
event the vehicle is struck from the rear,
decreasing the amount of rearward head
movement and thus reducing the risk of
whiplash. For maximum effectiveness the
head restraint should be adjusted so that
the center of the head restraint is closest
to the top of the occupant’s ears.„ Lumbar support
Pull the lever forward or backward.
Pulling the lever forward will increase the
amount of support for your lower back.
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y Each active head restraint is ef-
fective only when its height is
properly adjusted and the driver/
passenger sits in the correct posi-
tion on the seat.
y If your vehicle is involved in a
rear-end collision, have an autho-
rized SUBARU dealer inspect the
active head restraints.
y The active head restraints may
not operate in the event the vehi-
cle experiences only a slight im-
pact in the rear.
y The active head restraints may be
damaged if they are pushed hard
from behind or subjected to
shock. As a result, they may not
function if the vehicle suffers a
rear impact.
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1-6 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
Seat heater (if equipped)
The seat heater operates when the igni-
tion switch is in the “ON” position.
The seat heater can be adjusted in three
levels. Press the button to activate the
seat heater. Each subsequent press of the
button will reduce the level. Pushing the
button four times or keeping the button
pressed for approximately 1 second will
turn the heater off. While the seat heater is
operating, its operating level is shown by
the number of illuminated indicators. To
warm the seat as quickly as possible, set
the heater with three indicators illuminat-
ed.
When the vehicle’s interior is warmed enough or before you leave the vehicle,
be sure to turn the switch off.
NOTE
Use of the seat heater for a long period
of time while the engine is not running
can cause battery discharge.
Rear seats (5-seater models)/
Second-row seats (7-seater
models)
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y
There is a possibility that people
with delicate skin may suffer
slight burns even at low tempera-
tures if they use the seat heater
for a long period of time. When us-
ing the heater, always be sure to
warn the persons concerned.
y Do not put anything on the seat
which insulates against heat,
such as a blanket, cushion, or
similar items. This may cause the
seat heater to overheat.
ySeatbelts provide maximum re-
straint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat.
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 in-
crease, and both can result in se-
rious internal injury or death.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-15
– CONTINUED –
Seatbelts „Seatbelt safety tips
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module, which will
record the use of the seatbelt(s) by the
driver and front passenger when any of
the SRS frontal, side and curtain airbags
deploys. TInfants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suit-
able for your vehicle. See information on
“Child restraint systems” in this chapter. T Children
If a child is too big for a child restraint sys-
tem, the child should sit in the rear seat
y All persons in the vehicle should
fasten their seatbelts BEFORE the
vehicle starts to move. Otherwise,
the possibility of serious injury
becomes greater in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.
yAll belts should fit snugly in order
to provide full restraint. Loose fit-
ting belts are not as effective in
preventing or reducing injury.
yEach seatbelt is designed to sup-
port only one person. Never use a
single belt for two or more per-
sons – even children. Otherwise,
in an accident, serious injury or
death could result.
yReplace all seatbelt assemblies
including retractors and attaching
hardware worn by occupants of a
vehicle that has been in a serious
accident. The entire assembly
should be replaced even if dam-
age is not obvious.
yPut children aged 12 and under in
a rear seat properly restrained at
all times. The SRS airbag deploys
with considerable speed and
force and can injure or even kill
children, especially if they are 12
years of age and under and are
not restrained or improperly re-
strained. Because children are
lighter and weaker than adults,
their risk of being injured from de-
ployment is greater. Consequent-
ly, we strongly recommend that
ALL children (including those in
child seats and those that have
outgrown child restraint devices)
sit in a REAR seat properly re-
strained at all times in a child re-
straint device or in a seatbelt,
whichever is appropriate for the
child’s height and weight.
Always secure ALL types of child
restraint devices (including for-
ward facing child seats) in one of
the rear seating positions recom-
mended in this owner’s manual.
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD
FACING CHILD SEAT IN THE
FRONT SEAT. DOING SO RISKS
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO
THE CHILD BY PLACING THE
CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TOTHE SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating posi-
tions than in the front seating po-
sitions. For instructions and pre-
cautions concerning the child re-
straint system, see the “Child re-
straint systems” section in this
chapter.

1-16 Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
and be restrained using the seatbelts. Ac-
cording to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
positions. Never allow a child to stand up
or kneel on the seat.
If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses
the face or neck, adjust the shoulder belt
anchor height (window-side seating posi-
tions only) and then if necessary move the
child closer to the belt buckle to help pro-
vide a good shoulder belt fit. Care must be
taken to securely place the lap belt as low
as possible on the hips and not on the
child’s waist. If the shoulder portion of the
belt cannot be properly positioned, a child
restraint system should be used. Never
place the shoulder belt under the child’s
arm or behind the child’s back. T
Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers also need to use the
seatbelts. They should consult their doctor
for specific recommendations. The lap
belt should be worn securely and as low
as possible over the hips, not over the
waist. „ Emergency Locking Retrac- tor (ELR)
The driver’s seatbelt has an Emergency
Locking Retractor (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 quickly
out of the retractor. „
Automatic/Emergency Lock- ing Retractor (A/ELR)
Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Auto-
matic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/
ELR). The Automatic/Emergency Locking
Retractor normally functions as an Emer-
gency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/
ELR has an additional locking mode “Au-
tomatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode” in-
tended to secure a child restraint system.
When the seatbelt is once drawn out com-
pletely and is then retracted even slightly,
the retractor locks the seatbelt in that po-
sition and the seatbelt cannot be extend-
ed. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be
heard which indicate the retractor func-
tions as ALR. When the seatbelt is retract-
ed fully, ALR mode is released.
When securing a child restraint system on
the passengers’ seats, the seatbelt must
be changed over to the Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) mode.
When the child restraint system is re-
moved, make sure that the retractor is re-
stored to the Emergency Locking Retrac-
tor (ELR) function by allowing the seatbelt
to retract fully.
For instructions on how to convert the re-
tractor to the ALR mode and restore it to
the ELR mode, see the “Child restraint
systems” section in this chapter.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-17
– CONTINUED –
„
Seatbelt warning light
and chime
Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt
warning device 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 seat-
belts by illuminating the warning lights in
the locations indicated in the following il-
lustrations and sounding a chime.
Driver’s warning light Front passenger’s warning light
T 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” po-
sition, 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 sec-
onds later, both warning lights or the
warning light for the unfastened seatbelt
will remain lit for 15 seconds. If the driver’s
and/or front passenger’s seatbelt(s) are/is
still not fastened even 15 seconds later
(21 seconds after turning ON the ignition switch), the warning lights will alternate
between flashing 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 warning lights and sounding of the
chime will continue until both driver and
front passenger fasten their seatbelts.
NOTE y
If the driver and/or front passenger
unfasten(s) the seatbelt(s) after fasten-
ing, the seatbelt warning device oper-
ates as follows according to the vehi-
cle speed. yAt speeds lower than approximate-
ly 9 mph (15 km/h)
The warning light(s) for unfastened
seatbelt(s) will alternate between
flashing and steady illumination at
15-second intervals. The chime will
not sound. y At speeds higher than approxi-
mately 9 mph (15 km/h)
The warning light(s) for unfastened
seatbelt(s) will alternate between
flashing and steady illumination at
15-second intervals and the chime
will sound while the warning light(s)
is/are flashing.
y It is possible to cancel the warning
operation that follows the 6-second
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PASS
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags 1-19
– CONTINUED –
TFront seatbelts
1. Adjust the seat position:
Driver’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the
upright position. Move the seatback as far from the steering wheel as practical while
still maintaining full vehicle control.
Front passenger’s seat:
Adjust the seat-
back to the upright position. Move the seat
as far back as possible.
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 reaching 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.
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.
Never place the shoulder belt under
the arm or behind the back. If an ac-
cident occurs, this can increase the
risk or severity of injury.
Metallic parts of the seatbelt can be-
come very hot in a vehicle that has
been closed up in sunny weather;
they could burn an occupant. Do not
touch such hot parts until they cool.
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