2008 SUBARU TRIBECA ignition

&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
“ Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
mode ”intended to secure a child restraint
system. When the seatbelt is once drawn
out completely and is then retracted even
slightly, the retractor locks the seatbelt in
that position and the seatbelt cannot be
extended. As the belt is rewinding, clicks
will be heard which indicate the retractor
functions as ALR. When the seatbelt is
retracted 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
restored to the Emergency Locking Re-
tractor (ELR) function by allowing the
seatbelt to retract fully.
For instructions on how to convert the
retractor to the ALR mode and restore it to
the ELR mode, refer to the
“Installing child
restraint systems with A/ELR seatbelt ”
section in this chapter.
&
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
illustrations and sounding a chime.
Driver ’s warning lightFront passenger ’s warning light! Operation
If the driver and/or front passenger have/
has not yet fastened the seatbelt(s) when
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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1-18
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
the ignition switch is turned to the“ON”
position, the seatbelt warning light(s) will
flash for 6 seconds, to warn that the
seatbelt(s) is/are unfastened. If the dri-
ver ’s seatbelt is not fastened, a chime will
also sound simultaneously.NOTE. If the driver ’s and/or front passen-
ger ’s seatbelt(s) is/are still not fastened
6 seconds later, the seatbelt warning
device operates as follows according
to the vehicle speed.
.At speeds lower than approxi-
mately 9 mph (15 km/h)
The warning light(s) for unfastened
seatbelt(s) will alternate between
steady illumination and flashing at
15-second intervals. The chime will
not sound.
. 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.
. It is possible to cancel the warning
operation that follows the 6-second
warning after turning ON the ignition
switch. When the ignition switch is turned ON next time, however, the
complete sequence of the warning
operation resumes. For further details
about canceling the warning operation,
please contact your SUBARU dealer.
If there is no passenger on the front
passenger
’s seat, the seatbelt warning
device for the front passenger ’s seat will
be deactivated. The front passenger ’s
occupant detection system monitors
whether or not there is a passenger on
the front passenger ’s seat.
Observe the following precautions. Failure
to do so may prevent the device from
functioning correctly or cause the device
to fail.
. Do not install any accessory such as a
table or TV onto the seatback.
. Do not store a heavy load in the
seatback pocket.
. Do not allow the rear seat/second-row
seat occupant to place his/her hands or
legs on the front passenger ’s seatback, or
allow him/her to pull the seatback.
If the seatbelt warning device for the front
passenger ’s seat does not function cor-
rectly (e.g., it is activated even when the
front passenger ’s seat is empty or it is
deactivated even when the front passen-
ger has not fastened his/her seatbelt),
take the following actions. .
Ensure that no article is placed on the
seat other than a child restraint system
and the child occupant.
. Ensure that there is no article left in the
seatback pocket.
If the seatbelt warning device for front
passenger ’s seat still does not function
correctly after taking relevant corrective
actions described above, immediately
contact your SUB ARU dealer for an
inspection.
& Fastening the seatbelt
WARNING
. Never use a belt that is twisted or
reversed. In an accident, this can
increase the risk or severity of
injury.
. Keep the lap belt as low as
possible on your hips. In a colli-
sion, this spreads the force of the
lap belt over stronger hip bones
instead of across the weaker
abdomen.
. Seatbelts 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,
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.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
airbags will operate improperly (e.g.
SRS airbags may inflate in a very
minor collision or not inflate in a
severe collision), which may in- crease 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 air-
bag or could make the system
inoperative, which may result in
serious injury. The wiring har-
nesses of the seatbelt preten-
sioner and SRS airbag systems
are covered with yellow insula- tion and the connectors of the
system are yellow for easy iden-
tification. Do not use electrical
test equipment on any circuit
related to the seatbelt preten-
sioner and airbag systems. For
required servicing of the seatbelt
pretensioner, see your nearest
SUBARU dealer.
CAUTION
The front sub sensors are located
on both sides of the radiator panel,
and the airbag control module in-
cluding the impact sensors is lo-
cated under the center console. If
you need service or repair in those
areas or near the front seatbelt
retractors, we recommend that you
have an authorized SUBARU dealer
perform the work.NOTEIf 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.
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front passenger’s seat such as by kicking.
. Do not spill liquid on the front passen-
ger ’s seat. If liquid is spilled, wipe it off
immediately.
. Do not remove or disassemble the front
passenger ’s seat.
. Do not install any accessory (such as
an audio amplifier) other than a genuine
SUBARU accessory under the front pas-
senger ’s seat.
. Do not place anything (shoes, umbrel-
la, etc.) under the front passenger ’s seat.
. The front passenger ’s seat must not be
used with the head restraint removed.
. Do not leave any article including a
child restraint system on the front passen-
ger ’s seat or the seatbelt tongue and
buckle engaged when you leave your
vehicle.
. Do not place a magnet near the
seatbelt buckle and the seatbelt retractor.
If the seatbelt buckle switch and/or front
passenger ’s occupant detection system
have failed, the SRS airbag system
warning light will illuminate. Have the
system inspected by your SUBARU deal-
er immediately if the SRS airbag system
warning light comes on.
If your vehicle has sustained impact, this
may affect the proper function of the
Subaru advanced frontal airbag system. Have your vehicle inspected at your
SUBARU dealer.
NOTEThe front passenger
’s SRS side airbag,
SRS curtain airbag and seatbelt pre-
tensioner are not controlled by the
Subaru advanced frontal airbag sys-
tem.
! Passenger ’s frontal airbag ON and
OFF indicators
: Front passenger ’s frontal airbag ON
indicator: Front passenger ’s frontal airbag OFF
indicator
The front passenger ’s frontal airbag ON
and OFF indicators show you the status of
the front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag. The indicators are located in the center
portion of the instrument panel.
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“
ON ”position, both the ON and OFF
indicators illuminate for 6 seconds during
which time the system is checked. Follow-
ing the system check, both indicators
extinguish for 2 seconds. After that, one
of the indicators illuminates depending on
the status of the front passenger ’s SRS
frontal airbag determined by the Subaru
advanced frontal airbag system monitor-
ing.
If the front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag
is activated, the passenger ’s frontal airbag
ON indicator will illuminate while the OFF
indicator will remain extinguished.
If the front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag
is deactivated, the passenger ’s frontal
airbag ON indicator will remain extin-
guished while the OFF indicator will
illuminate.
With the ignition switch turned to the “ON”
position, if both the ON and OFF indica-
tors remain lit or extinguished simulta-
neously even after the system check
period, the system is faulty. Contact your
SUBARU dealer immediately for an in-
spection.
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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
!Conditions in which front passen-
ger’s SRS frontal airbag is not
activated
The front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag
will not be activated when any of the
following conditions are met regarding the
front passenger ’s seat:
. The seat is empty.
. The seat is equipped with a rearward
facing child restraint system and an infant
is restrained with it. (See WARNING that
follows.)
. The seat is equipped with a forward
facing child restraint system and a small
child is restrained with it. (See WARNING
that follows.)
. The seat is equipped with a booster
seat and a small child is in the booster
seat. (See WARNING that follows.)
. The seat is relieved of the occupant
load for a time exceeding the predeter-
mined monitoring time period.
. The seat is occupied by a child who
has outgrown a child restraint system
(See WARNING that follows.) or by a
small adult.
. The front passenger ’s occupant detec-
tion system is faulty.
WARNING
NEVER INSTALL A REARWARD FA-
CING CHILD SEAT IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER ’S SEAT EVEN IF THE
FRONT PASSENGER ’S SRS FRON-
TAL AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. Be
sure to install it in one of the rear
seating positions recommended in
this Owner ’s Manual in a correct
manner. Also, it is strongly recom-
mended that any forward facing
child seat or booster seat be in-
stalled in one of the rear seating
positions recommended in this
Owner ’s Manual, and that even
children who have outgrown a child
restraint system be also seated in a
REAR seat. This is because children
sitting in the front passenger ’s seat
may be killed or severely injured
should the front passenger ’s SRS
frontal airbag deploy. REAR seats
are the safest place for children.
When the front passenger ’s seat is occu-
pied by a child, observe the following
precautions. Failure to do so may increase
the load on the front passenger ’s seat,
activating the front passenger ’sSRS
frontal airbag even though that seat is
occupied by a child. .
Do not place any article on the seat
other than the child occupant and a child
restraint system.
. Do not place more than one child on
the seat.
. Do not install any accessory such as a
table or TV onto the seatback.
. Do not store a heavy load in the
seatback pocket.
. Do not allow the rear/second-row seat
occupant to place his/her hands or legs on
the front passenger ’s seatback, or allow
him/her to pull the seatback.
! If the front passenger ’s frontal air-
bag ON indicator illuminates and the
OFF indicator extinguishes even
when an infant or a small child is in
a child restraint system (including
booster seat)
Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position if the front passenger ’s frontal
airbag ON indicator illuminates and the
OFF indicator extinguishes even when an
infant or a small child is in a child restraint
system (including booster seat). Remove
the child restraint system from the seat. By
referring to the child restraint manufac-
turer ’s recommendations as well as the
child restraint system installation proce-
dures in the “Child restraint systems ”
section in this chapter, correctly install
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the child restraint system. Turn the ignition
switch to the“ON ”position and make sure
that the front passenger ’s frontal airbag
ON indicator goes out and the OFF
indicator comes on.
If still the ON indicator remains illuminated
while the OFF indicator extinguishes, take
the following actions.
. Ensure that no article is placed on the
seat other than the child restraint system
and the child occupant.
. Ensure that there is no article left in the
seatback pocket.
If the ON indicator still illuminates while
the OFF indicator extinguishes after taking
relevant corrective actions described
above, relocate the child restraint system
to one of the rear seating positions
recommended in this Owner ’sManual
and immediately contact your SUBARU
dealer for an inspection.NOTEWhen a child who has outgrown a child
restraint system or a small adult is
seated in the front passenger ’s seat,
the Subaru advanced frontal airbag
system may or may not activate the
front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag
depending on the occupant’ s seating
posture. If the front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag is activated (the ON
indicator illuminates while the OFF
indicator extinguishes), take the follow-
ing actions.
.
Ensure that no article is placed on
the seat other than the occupant.
. Ensure that there is no article left in
the seatback pocket.
If the ON indicator still illuminates while
the OFF indicator extinguishes despite
the fact that the actions noted above
have been taken, seat the child/small
adult in the rear seat and immediately
contact your SUBARU dealer for an
inspection. Even if the system has
passed the dealer inspection, it is
recommended that on subsequent trips
the child/small adult always take the
rear seat.
Children who have outgrown a child
restraint system should always wear the
seatbelt irrespective of whether the airbag
is deactivated or activated.
! Conditions in which front passen-
ger’s SRS frontal airbag is activated
The front passenger ’s SRS frontal airbag
will be activated for deployment upon
impact when any of the following condi-
tions is met regarding the front passen-
ger ’s seat.
. When the seat is occupied by an adult. .
When a heavy article is placed on the
seat.
When the front passenger ’s seat is occu-
pied by an adult, observe the following
precautions. Failure to do so may lessen
the load on the front passenger ’s seat,
deactivating the front passenger ’s SRS
frontal airbag despite the fact that the seat
is occupied by an adult.
. Do not allow the rear seat occupant to
lift the front passenger ’s seat cushion
using his/her feet.
. Do not place any article under the front
passenger ’s seat, or squeeze any article
from behind and under the seat. This may
lift the seat cushion.
. Do not squeeze any article between
the front passenger ’s seat and side trim/
pillar, door or center console box. This
may lift the seat cushion.
! If the passenger ’s frontal airbag OFF
indicator illuminates and the ON
indicator extinguishes even when
the front passenger ’s seat is occu-
pied by an adult
This can be caused by the adult incor-
rectly sitting in the front passenger ’s seat.
Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position. Ask the front passenger to set
the seatback to the upright position, sit up
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1-54
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
straight in the center of the seat cushion,
correctly fasten the seatbelt, position his/
her legs out forward, and adjust the seat to
the rearmost position. Turn the ignition
switch to the“ON”position. If the OFF
indicator remains illuminated while the ON
indicator remains extinguished, take the
following actions.
. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position.
. Ensure that there are no articles,
books, shoes, or other objects trapped
under the seat, at the rear of the seat, or
on the side of the seat.
. Next, turn the ignition switch to the
“ON ”position and wait 6 seconds to allow
the system to complete self-checking.
Following the system check, both indica-
tors extinguish for 2 seconds. Now, the
ON indicator should illuminate while the
OFF indicator remains extinguished.
If the OFF indicator still illuminates while
the ON indicator remains extinguished,
ask the occupant to move to the rear seat
and immediately contact your SUBARU
dealer for an inspection.
! Effect vehicle modifications made
for persons with disabilities may
have on Subaru advanced frontal
airbag system operation (U.S. only)
Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, seatbelts, front bumper, front side
frame, instrument panel, combination me-
ter, steering wheel, steering column, tire,
suspension or floor panel can affect the
operation of the Subaru advanced airbag
system. If you have any questions, you
may contact the following Subaru distribu-
tors:
of Columbia>
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer Dealer Services Department
P.O. Box 6000
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000
1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)

Servco Subaru Inc., dba Subaru Hawaii
2850 Pukoloa Street, Suite 202, Honolulu,
HI 96819
808-839-2273

Trebol Motors
P.O. Box 11204, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00910
787-793-2828
There are currently no Subaru distributors
in any other U.S. territories. If you are in
such an area, please contact the Subaru
distributor or dealer from which youbought your vehicle.
!
Operation
1) Driver ’s side
2) Passenger ’s sideThe SRS airbag can function only when
the ignition switch is in the “ON”position.
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preventing deployment of the cur-
tain airbags.
Before hanging clothing on the coat
hooks, make sure there are no sharp
objects in the pockets. Hang cloth-
ing directly on the coat hooks with-
out using hangers.
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 thefront seat
’s occupant.
! Operation
The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain
airbag can function only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON”position.
The driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS
side airbags and SRS curtain airbags
deploy independently of each other since
each has its own impact sensor. There-
fore, they may not both deploy in the same
accident. Also, the SRS side airbag and
SRS curtain airbag deploys independently
of the driver ’s and front passenger ’s SRS
frontal airbags in the steering wheel and
instrument panel.
An impact sensor is located in each of the left and right center pillars and rear wheel
houses. In addition, the rollover sensor is
inside the airbag control module. If a
center pillar impact sensor senses an
impact force above a predetermined level
in a side collision, the control module
causes both the SRS side airbag and
curtain airbag on the impacted side to
inflate regardless of whether the rear
wheel house impact sensor on the same
side senses an impact. If it is a rear wheel
house impact sensor alone that senses a
sufficiently strong impact force, the control
module causes only the SRS curtain
airbag on the impacted side to inflate. If
the rollover sensor detects rollover of the
vehicle, the control module inflates the
curtain airbag. After deployment, the SRS
side airbag immediately starts to deflate.
The time required from detection of an
impact to deflation of an SRS side airbag
after deployment is shorter than the blink
of an eye.
The SRS curtain airbag remains inflated
for a while following deployment then
slowly deflates.
The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain
airbag deploy even when no one occupies
the seat on the side on which an impact is
applied.
When the SRS side airbag and SRS
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