2009 SUBARU FORESTER Owners Manual

1-56Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
! Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS side airbag is unlikely to
deploy.
1) The vehicle is involved in an oblique
side-on impact.
2) The vehicle is involved in a side-on impact in an area outside the vicinity of
the passenger compartment.
3) The vehicle strikes a telephone pole or similar object.
4) The vehicle is involved in a side-on impact from a motorcycle.
5) The vehicle rolls onto its side or roof.
There are many types of collisions which
might not necessarily require SRS side
airbag deployment. In the event of acci-
dents like those illustrated, the SRS side
airbag may not deploy depending on the
level of accident forces involved.

!Examples of the types of accidents in which the SRS curtain airbag is unlikely
to deploy.1) The vehicle is involved in an oblique
side-on impact.
2) The vehicle is involved in a side-on impact in an area outside the vicinity of
the passenger compartment.
3) The vehicle is involved in a side-on impact from a motorcycle.
There are many types of collisions which
might not necessarily require SRS curtain
airbag deployment. In the event of acci-
dents like those illustrated, the SRS
curtain airbag may not deploy depending
on the level of accident forces involved. Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-57
– CONTINUED –

1-58Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
! Examples of the types of accidents
in which the SRS side airbag and
SRS curtain airbag will basically not
deploy.
1) The vehicle is involved in frontal collision
with another vehicle (moving or station- ary). 2) The vehicle is struck from behind.
The SRS side airbag and SRS curtain
airbag are basically not designed to
deploy if the vehicle is involved in a frontal
collision or is struck from behind. Exam-
ples of such accidents are illustrated.
1) First impact
2) Second impact
A) SRS curtain airbag
B) SRS side airbag
In an accident where the vehicle is struck
from the side more than once, the SRS
side airbag and SRS curtain airbag deploy
only once on the first impact.
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 and SRS curtain airbag are activated on
the first impact, they will not be activated
on the second. !
Example of the type of accident in
which the SRS curtain airbag will
basically not deploy.The SRS curtain airbags are not basically
designed to deploy if the vehicle pitches
end over end.

&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 and rollover 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). Curtain airbag sensor (rear wheel
house right-hand side). Curtain airbag sensor (rear wheel
house left-hand side). Curtain airbag module (right side)
. Curtain airbag module (left side)
. Satellite safing sensor (under the rear
center seat) . Seatbelt pretensioner (driver ’s side)
. Seatbelt pretensioner (front passen-
ger ’s side)
. Seatbelt buckle switch (front passen-
ger ’s side)
. 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
& SRS airbag system servicing
WARNING
. When discarding an airbag mod-
ule or scrapping the entire vehi-
Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-59
– CONTINUED –

1-60Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
cle damaged by a collision, con-
sult your SUBARU dealer.
. The SRS airbag has no user-
serviceable parts. Do not use
electrical test equipment on any
circuit related to the SRS airbag
system. For required servicing of
the SRS airbag, see your nearest
SUBARU dealer. Tampering with
or disconnecting the system ’s
wiring could result in accidental
inflation of the SRS airbag or
could make the system inopera-
tive, which may result in serious
injury.
CAUTION
If you need service or repair in areas
indicated in the following list, have
an authorized SUBARU dealer per-
form the work. The SRS airbag
control module, impact sensors
and airbag modules are stored in
these areas. . Under the center console
. On both the right and left sides at
the front of the vehicle
. Steering wheel and column and
nearby areas .
Top of the dashboard on front
passenger ’s side and nearby
areas
. Each front seat and nearby area
. Inside each center pillar
. In each roof side (from the front
pillar to a point over the rear seat)
. Between the rear seat cushion
and rear wheel house on each side
. Under the rear center seat
In the event that the SRS airbag is
deployed, replacement of the system
should be performed only by an author-
ized SUBARU dealer. When the compo-
nents of the SRS airbag system are
replaced, use only genuine SUBARUparts. NOTE
In the following cases, contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible. . The front part of the vehicle was
involved in an accident in which only
the driver ’s SRS frontal airbag or both
driver ’s and front passenger ’sSRS
frontal airbags did not deploy.. The pad of the steering wheel, the
cover over the front passenger ’s SRS
frontal airbag, or either roof side (from the front pillar to a point over the rear
seat) is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged..
Center pillar, rear wheel house or
rear sub frame, or an area near these
parts, was involved in an accident in
which the SRS side airbag and SRS
curtain airbag did not deploy.. The fabric or leather of either front
seatback is cut, frayed, or otherwisedamaged. & Precautions against vehicle modification
WARNING
. To avoid accidental activation of
the system or rendering the sys-
tem inoperative, which may re-
sult in serious injury, no modifi-
cations should be made to any
components 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
. Attachment of a hands-free
microphone or any other ac-
cessory to a front pillar, a
center pillar, a rear pillar, the
windshield, a side window, an
assist grip, or any other cabin
surface that would be near a
deploying SRS curtain airbag.
. Installation of additional elec-
trical/electronic equipment
such as a mobile two-way
radio on or near the SRS
airbag system components
and/or wiring is not advisable.
This could interfere with prop-
er operation of the SRS airbagsystem.CAUTION
Do not perform any of the following
modifications. Such modifications
can interfere with proper operation
of the SRS airbag system. . 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.
. Attachment of any equipment
(side steps or side sill protectors,
etc.) other than genuine SUBARU
accessory parts to the side body.
Always consult your SUBARU dealer if
you want to install any accessory parts on
your vehicle. Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
1-61

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Keys..................................................................... 2-2
Key number plate ................................................ 2-2
Immobilizer .......................................................... 2-2
Security ID plate .................................................. 2-3
Security indicator light ........................................ 2-3
Key replacement ................................................. 2-4
Door locks ........................................................... 2-4
Locking and unlocking from the outside .. ............ 2-4
Locking and unlocking from the inside ................ 2-5
Battery drainage prevention function ................... 2-5
Power door locking switches ............................. 2-6
Key lock-in prevention function ........................... 2-6
Remote keyless entry system ............................ 2-7
Locking the doors ............................................... 2-8
Unlocking the doors ............................................ 2-8
Unlocking the rear gate ....................................... 2-9
Illuminated entry ................................................. 2-9
Vehicle finder function ......................................... 2-9
Sounding a panic alarm ....................................... 2-9
Selecting audible signal operation ....................... 2-9
Replacing the battery ......................................... 2-10 Replacing lost transmitters
................................ 2-10
Alarm system ..................................................... 2-14
System operation ............................................... 2-14
Activating and deactivating the alarm system ..... 2-14
If you have accidentally triggered the alarm system ............................................................ 2-14
Arming the system ............................................ 2-15
Disarming the system ........................................ 2-16
Valet mode ........................................................ 2-16
Passive arming .................................................. 2-16
Tripped sensor identification .............................. 2-17
Shock sensors (dealer option).. .......................... 2-18
Child safety locks .............................................. 2-18
Windows ............................................................. 2-19
Power windows ................................................. 2-19
Rear gate ............................................................ 2-21
Moonroof (if equipped) ...................................... 2-22
To open the moonroof ....................................... 2-23
To close the moonroof ....................................... 2-23
Anti-entrapment function .................................... 2-23
Sun shade ......................................................... 2-23 Keys and doors
2