Subaru Impreza 2 2001 Owner's Manual

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag

Front seats 2-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rear seat access (Coupe) 2-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rear seats 2-7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fold down rear seat — Wagon and OUTBACK SPORT 2-8. . . . . . . . . . .

Seatbelts 2-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seatbelt safety tips 2-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function

(except 2-point type seatbelt) 2-12

Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function

(except driver’s and 2-point type seatbelt) 2-13

Seatbelt warning light and chime 2-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fastening the seatbelt 2-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seatbelt maintenance 2-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Child restraint systems 2-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Top tether anchorages 2-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) 2-27. . . . . . . .

Vehicle with driver’s and front passenger’s SRS airbags

and lap/shoulder restraint 2-27

SRS airbag operation 2-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SRS airbag system monitors 2-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SRS airbag system servicing 2-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Precautions against vehicle modification 2-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2

Front seats

WARNING

D Never adjust the seat while driving to avoid the possibility of
loss of vehicle control and of personal injury .
D Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed be­cause they are designed to reduce the risk of serious neck injury
in the event that the vehicle is struck from the rear.
D Before adjusting the seat, make sure the hands and feet of rear
seat passengers are clear of the adjusting mechanism.
D Seat belts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits
well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un­der the seat belt 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 upright 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.
D 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 increase, and both can result in serious internal injury or death.
D The SRS airbags deploy with considerable speed and force.
Occupants who are out of proper position 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 practical while still maintaining full vehicle control and
the front passenger should move the seat as far back as possible
and sit upright and well back in the seat.
D Put children aged 12 and under in the 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 restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than

2-2

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag

adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. For
that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (including
those in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a
child restraint device or in a seat belt, whichever is appropriate for
the child’s age, height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward fac­ing child seat) in the REAR seats at all times.
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 TO THE
SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions. For instructions and precautions concerning child re­straint systems, see the “Child restraint systems” section in this
chapter.

Adjust the seatback to
upright position. Sit well
back and upright.

Move the seat as far from the
steering wheel as practical.

Adjust the seatback to
upright position. Sit
well back and upright.

Move the seat
as far back as
possible.

HS0234HS0233

– CONTINUED –

2-3

Put children in the rear seat properly
restrained at all times.

Do not recline the seatback while
vehicle is moving.

HS0247HG0356

B Fore and aft adjustment

OM-H0032OM-H0031

Pull the lever upward and slide the seat to the desired position. Then
release the lever and move the seat back and forth to make sure that
it is securely locked into place.

B Reclining the seatback

Pull the reclining lever up and adjust the seatback to the desired posi­tion. Then release the lever and make sure the seatback is securely
locked into place.

2-4

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag

B Head restraint adjustment

HS0031

To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, push the head re­straint down while depressing the release button on the top of the
seatback.

OM-H2735

The best position for the head restraint is just above or level with the
top of the ears.

– CONTINUED –

2-5

J Rear seat access (Coupe)

CAUTION

D Never operate the reclining pedal with your fingers or with
bare feet. Doing so could result in injury to your fingers or toes.
D Never allow children to operate the reclining pedal or lever.
Their fingers or feet could be caught in the reclining mechanism,
which may result in injury .

For access to the rear seat, pull up the reclining lever at the right side of
the passenger’s seat cushion. The seat back will recline forward fully, al-
lowing you to access to the rear seat.

For egress from the rear seat, depress the reclining pedal at the back of
the passenger’s seat cushion. The seat back will recline forward fully, al-
lowing you room to exit.

Raise the seat back until it locks after access to or egress from the rear
seat and make sure that the seat back is locked in position by moving
the top of it fore and aft.

Reclining pedal

2-6

Reclining lever

OM-H0425

Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag

Rear seats

WARNING

D Seat belts provide maximum restraint 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 increase, and both can result in
serious internal injury or death.
D Never allow passengers to ride on the folded rear seatback, in
the cargo area. Doing so may result in serious injury or death.
D Never stack luggage or other cargo higher than the top of the
seatback because it could tumble forward and injure passengers
in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
D Secure skis and other lengthy items properly to prevent them
from shooting forward and causing serious injury during a sud­den stop, a sudden steering or a rapid acceleration.

Sit well back and
upright.

HG0339

– CONTINUED –

2-7

J Fold down rear seat — Wagon and OUTBACK SPORT

WARNING

D After returning the rear seat to its original position, be certain
to place all of the seat belts and the tab attached to the seat cush­ion above the seat cushion. And make certain that the shoulder
belts are fully visible.

D Never permit anyone to ride in the cargo area.

B Folding down the seatback

HG0276OM-H0037

Unlock the seatback by pulling the release knob and then fold the
seatback down.

B Folding down the seat cushion and seatback

1. Move the front seat forward.

2. Store the seat belts in the seat belt pocket to prevent them falling
below the cushion.

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Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag

Buckle
(center seatbelt)

Tongue
(center seatbelt)

OM-H0041

3. Raise the seat cushion by pulling up the tab.

OM-H0040

4. Unlock the seatback by pulling the release knob and fold the seat­back down. Confirm that the pin located at the bottom of the seat
cushion is inserted into the slot at the top of the seatback.

– CONTINUED –

2-9

OM-H0042

To return the rear seat to its original position, raise the seatback and seat
cushion until they lock into place and make sure that they are securely
locked.

Make sure that the rear seat belts are not under the seat cushion or seat­back.

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Seat, seat belt and SRS airbag

Seatbelts

J Seatbelt safety tips

WARNING

D 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.
D All belts should fit snugly in order to provide full restraint.
Loose fitting belts are not as effective in preventing or reducing
injury.
D Each seatbelt is designed to support only one person. Never
use a single belt for two or more persons — even children. Other-
wise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result.
D Replace 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 damage is not obvious.
D Put children aged 12 and under in the 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 restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. For
that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL children (including
those in child seats and those that have outgrown child restraint
devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a
child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for
the child’s height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward
facing child seats) in the REAR seats at all times.
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 TO
THE SRS AIRBAG.

– CONTINUED –

2-11

According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating
positions. For instructions and precautions concerning the child
restraint system, see the “Child restraint systems” section in this
chapter.

B Infants or small children

Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your vehicle. See in­formation on “Child restraint systems” in this chapter.

B Children

If a child is too big for a child restraint system, the child should sit in
the rear seat and be restrained using the seatbelts. According 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, move the
child closer to the belt buckle to help provide 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.

B 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.

J Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function (except

2-point type seatbelt)

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.

2-12