and warnings could reduce the
effectiveness of the seatbelt and
result in more serious injury in the
event of a collision. .Never use the extender when the
belt itself is long enough to
permit it to be buckled properly.
If removal of heavy clothing is all
that is needed to permit the
seatbelt to be buckled properly,
remove the heavy clothing and
do not use the extender.
. Do not use the extender if the
buckle of the extender rests over
the abdomen.
. Do not let someone else use the
extender. Use of an extender
when it is not needed could
reduce the effectiveness of the
seatbelt and result in more ser-
ious injury in the event of acollision.
. Use the extender only for the
front seatbelts and only for the
model for which it was originally
provided. Never use the extender
for the rear seatbelts or for a
different model. NOTE
When the seatbelt extender is used by
a pregnant passenger, consult a doctor
to get approval in advance.
To connect the extender to the seatbelt,
insert the tongue plate into the seatbelt
buckle so that the
“PRESS ”signs on the
buckle-release buttons of the extender
and the seatbelt are both facing outward
as shown in the diagram. You will hear a
click when the tongue plate locks into thebuckle.
When releasing the seatbelt, press on the
buckle-release button on the extender, not
on the seatbelt. This helps to prevent
damage to the vehicle interior and ex-
tender itself. 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
involving a moderate to severe frontalcollision.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as
the frontal SRS 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 retractor to take up the slack so that
the belt more effectively restrains the front
seat occupant.
When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated,
an operating noise will be heard and a Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-19
– CONTINUED –
tion switch is turned to the“ON ”position.
The following components are monitored
by the indicator: . Front sub sensor (Right-hand side)
. Front sub sensor (Left-hand side)
. Airbag control module (including im-
pact sensors). Frontal airbag module (Driver ’s side)
. Frontal airbag module (Front passen-
ger ’s side)
. Side airbag sensor (Center pillar right-
hand side). Side airbag sensor (Center pillar left-
hand side). Side airbag module (Driver ’s side)
. Side airbag module (Front passenger ’s
side). Seatbelt pretensioner (Driver ’s side)
. Seatbelt pretensioner (Front passen-
ger ’s side)
. Seatbelt buckle switch (Driver ’s side)
. Seatbelt buckle switch (Front passen-
ger ’s side)
. Driver ’s seat position sensor
. Front passenger ’s seatbelt tension
sensor. Front passenger ’s occupant detection
system weight sensor. Front passenger ’s occupant detection
control module .
Front passenger ’s frontal airbag ON
and OFF indicator. All related wiring
WARNING
If the warning light exhibits any of
the following conditions, there may
be a malfunction in the seatbelt
pretensioners and/or SRS airbag
system. Immediately take your vehi-
cle to your nearest SUBARU dealer
to have the system checked. Unless
checked and properly repaired, the
seatbelt pretensioners and/or SRS
airbag will not operate properly in
the event of a collision, which may
increase the risk of injury. . Flashing or flickering of the warn-
ing light
. No illumination of the warning
light when the ignition switch is
first turned to the “ON ”position
. Continuous illumination of the
warning light
. Illumination of the warning light
while driving &
System servicing
WARNING
. When discarding a seatbelt re-
tractor assembly or scrapping
the entire vehicle damaged by a
collision, consult your SUBARU
dealer.
. Tampering with or disconnecting
the system ’s wiring could result
in accidental activation of the
seatbelt pretensioner and/or
SRS airbag or could make the
system inoperative, which may
result in serious injury. The wir-
ing harnesses of the seatbelt
pretensioner and SRS airbag
systems are covered with yellow
insulation and the connectors of
the system are yellow for easy
identification. Do not use electri-
cal test equipment on any circuit
related to the seatbelt preten-
sioner and SRS airbag systems.
For required servicing of the
seatbelt pretensioner, see your
nearest SUBARU dealer.
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-21
– CONTINUED –
1-22Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
CAUTION
The front sub sensors are located in
both front fenders and the SRS
airbag control module including the
impact sensors is located under the
center console. If you need service
or repair in those areas or near the
front seatbelt retractors, we recom-
mend that you have an authorized
SUBARU dealer perform the work.
NOTE
If the front part of the vehicle is
damaged in an accident to the extent
that the seatbelt pretensioner does not
operate, 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.
CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following
modifications. Such modifications
can interfere with proper operation
of the seatbelt pretensioners. .
Attachment of any equipment
(bush bar, winches, snow plow,
skid plate, etc.) other than genu-
ine SUBARU accessory parts to
the front end.
. Modification of the suspension
system or front end structure.
. Installation of a tire of different
size and construction from the
tires specified on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver ’s
door pillar or specified for indivi-
dual vehicle models in this Own-er ’s Manual. 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
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, is com-
patible with your vehicle and is appro-
priate for the child
’s age and size. All child
restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or
the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt
(except those covered under the section in
this manual, entitled “Installation of child
restraint systems by use of lower and
tether anchorages (LATCH) ”).
Children could be endangered in an
1-38Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
! Components
1) Airbag control module (including impact
sensors)
2) Frontal airbag module (Driver ’s side)
3) Frontal airbag module (Front passen- ger’s side)
4) Front sub sensor (Left-hand side)
5) Front sub sensor (Right-hand side)
6) Side airbag module (Driver ’s side)
7) Side airbag module (Front passenger ’s
side)
8) Side airbag sensor (Center pillar left- hand side)
9) Side airbag sensor (Center pillar right- hand side)
10) Airbag wiring (Yellow)
11) Seatbelt pretensioner (Driver ’s side)
12) Seatbelt pretensioner (Front passenger ’s
side)
13) Seatbelt buckle switch (Front passen- ger’s side)
14) Seatbelt buckle switch (Driver ’s side)
15) Driver ’s seat position sensor
16) Front passenger ’s seatbelt tension sen-
sor
17) Front passenger ’s occupant detection
system weight sensor
18) Front passenger ’s occupant detection
control module
19) Front passenger ’s frontal airbag ON and
OFF indicator
20) SRS airbag system warning light
WARNING
Do not attach accessories to the
windshield, or fit an extra-wide mir-
ror over the rear view mirror. If the
SRS airbag deploys, those objects
could become projectiles that could
seriously injure vehicle occupants.
! Driver ’s SRS frontal airbag
The driver ’s SRS frontal airbag uses a
dual stage inflator. The inflator operates in
different ways depending on the severity
of impact, backward-forward adjustment
of the driver ’s seat position and whether or
not he/she is wearing the seatbelt.
The backward-forward adjustment of the driver ’s seat position is monitored by the driver
’s seat position sensor under the
driver ’s seat.
Whether or not the driver is wearing the
seatbelt is monitored by the seatbelt
buckle switch.
Observe the following precautions. Failure
to do so may cause the seatbelt buckle
switch and/or the seat position sensor to
malfunction, preventing the Subaru ad-
vanced frontal airbag system from func-
tioning correctly or causing the system tofail. . Do not place articles/metal objects or
install any accessory other than a genuine
SUBARU accessory under the driver ’s
seat. Do not allow the rear seat occupant
to kick the driver ’s seat or push up its
bottom surface with his/her feet. . Do not place a magnet near the
seatbelt buckle or under the driver ’s seat.
If the seatbelt buckle switch and/or the driver ’s seat position sensor have failed,
the SRS airbag system warning light will
illuminate. Although the driver ’sSRS
frontal airbag can deploy regardless of
the backward-forward adjustment of the
driver ’s seat position even when the
warning light is on, have the system
inspected by your SUBARU dealer im-
mediately if the SRS airbag system warn-
ing light comes on. NOTE
The driver
’s SRS side airbag and
seatbelt pretensioner are not controlled
by the Subaru advanced frontal airbagsystem. ! Front passenger ’s SRS frontal air-
bag
The front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag
uses a dual stage inflator. The inflator
operates in different ways depending on
the severity of impact.
The total load on the seat is monitored by
the occupant detection system ’s weight
sensor located under the seat.
The system has another sensor that
monitors the tension of the front passen-
ger seatbelt. Using the total seat load and
seatbelt tension data from the sensors,
the occupant detection system determines
whether the front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbag should or should not be inflated.
The occupant detection system may not
inflate the front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbag even when the driver ’s SRS frontal
airbag deploys. This is normal.
Observe the following precautions. Failure
to do so may prevent the Subaru ad-
vanced frontal airbag system from func-
tioning correctly or cause the system to fail. Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-41
– CONTINUED –
The SRS airbag can function only when
the ignition switch is in the“ON ”position.
The Subaru advanced frontal airbag sys-
tem is designed to determine the activa-
tion or deactivation condition of the frontpassenger ’s SRS frontal airbag depend-
ing on the total load on the front passen-ger ’s seat monitored by the front passen-
ger ’s occupant detection system weight
sensor. For this reason, only the driver ’s
SRS frontal airbag may deploy in the
event of a collision, but this does not mean
failure of the system.
If the front sub sensors inside both front
fenders and the impact sensors in the
airbag control module detect a predeter-
mined amount of force during a frontal
collision, the control module sends signals
to the airbag module(s) (only driver ’s
module or both driver ’s and front passen-
ger ’s modules) instructing the module(s)
to inflate the SRS frontal airbag(s). Thedriver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS frontal
airbags use dual stage inflators.
The two inflators of each airbag are
triggered either sequentially or simulta-
neously, depending on the severity of
impact, backward-forward adjustment of
the driver ’s seat position and fastening/
unfastening of the seatbelt in the case of
the driver ’s SRS frontal airbag and de-
pending on the severity of impact and the total load on the seat in the 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 deflation 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
ability 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
occurrences are a normal result of the
deployment. This smoke does not indicate
a fire in the vehicle.
CAUTION
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
result of deployment.
The driver ’s SRS frontal airbag and front
passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag are de-
signed to deploy in the event of an
accident involving a moderate to severe
frontal collision. It is basically not designed
to deploy in lesser frontal impacts be-
cause the necessary protection can be
achieved by the seatbelt alone. Also, they
are basically not designed to deploy in
side or rear impacts or in roll-over acci-
dents because deployment of only thedriver ’s SRS frontal airbag or both driver ’s
and front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbags
would not help the occupant in those
situations. The driver ’s and front passen-
ger ’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 vehicleitself. Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-47
– CONTINUED –
1-52Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
event of the SRS side airbag deploy-
ment, they could be propelled dan-
gerously toward the vehicle ’s occu-
pants and cause injuries.
WARNING
Do not put any kind of cover or
clothes or other objects over either
front seatback and do not attach
labels or stickers to the front seat
surface on or near the SRS side
airbag. They could prevent proper
deployment of the SRS side airbag,
reducing protection available to the
front seat ’s occupant. !
Operation
1) SRS side airbag deploys as soon as a
collision occurs.
2) SRS side airbag protects the front passenger ’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 ”
position.
The driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS
side airbags deploy independently of each
other since each has its own impact
sensor. Also, the SRS side airbag deploys
independently 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
either sensor detects a certain predeter-
mined amount of force during a side
impact collision, the control module sends
a signal to the side airbag module on the
impacted side of the vehicle, instructing it
to inflate the SRS side airbag. Then the
side airbag module produces gas, which
instantly inflates the SRS side airbag.
After deployment, the SRS side airbag
will deflate 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
sudden, fairly loud inflation noise will be
heard and some smoke will be released.
These occurrences are normal result of
the deployment. This smoke does not
indicate a fire in the vehicle.
!Examples of the types of accidents
in which the SRS side airbag will
basically not deploy.
1) The vehicle is involved in a frontal
collision with another vehicle (moving or stationary).
2) The vehicle is struck from behind. The SRS side airbag is basically not
designed to deploy if the vehicle is
involved in a frontal collision or is struck
from behind. Examples of such accidents
are illustrated.
1) First impact
2) Second impact
In an accident where the vehicle is struck
from the side more than once, the SRS
side airbag deploys only once on the firstimpact.
Example: In the case of a double side
impact collision, first with one vehicle and
immediately followed by another from the
same direction, once the SRS side airbag
is activated on the first impact, it will not be
activated on the second. &
SRS airbag system monitors
A diagnostic system continually monitors
the readiness of the SRS airbag system
(including front seatbelt pretensioners)
while the vehicle is being driven. The
SRS airbag system warning light “AIR-
BAG ”will show normal system 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: . Front sub sensor (Right-hand side)
. Front sub sensor (Left-hand side)
. Airbag control module (including im-
pact sensors). Frontal airbag module (Driver ’s side)
. Frontal airbag module (Front passen-Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-55
– CONTINUED –