Get Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags -> Seatbelts Guide for Subaru Outback SUV Second Generation (2000-2004)

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Seatbelts

J Seatbelt safety tips

WARNING

D All persons in the vehicle should fasten their seatbelts BE-

FORE the vehicle starts to move. Otherwise, the possibility of se-

rious injury becomes greater in the event of a sudden stop or ac-

cident.

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 at-

taching 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 re-

strained 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 im-

properly 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.

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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 in-

formation 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 ac-

cident 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

HS1107AA

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Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts. They should con-

sult 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)

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.

J Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)

Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic/Emergency Locking Re-

tractor (A/ELR). The Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor normally

functions as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/ELR has an

additional locking mode “Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode” in-

tended 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 re-

leased.

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 removed, make sure that the retractor

is restored to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function by allow-

ing the seatbelt to retract fully.

For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the ALR mode and re-

store it to the ELR mode, see the “Child restraint systems” section in this

chapter.

J Seatbelt warning light and chime

Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warning device at the driver’s

seat.

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This device causes the seatbelt warning light on the instrument panel to

light up for about six seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the

“ON” position to remind the driver to wear the seatbelt. If the driver’s

seatbelt is not fastened, a warning chime sounds at the same time.

J Fastening the seatbelt

WARNING

D Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In an accident, this

can increase the risk or severity of injury.

D Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.

If an accident occurs, this can increase the risk or severity of injury.

D 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.

D Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits

well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding un-

der the seatbelt in a collision, the front seatbacks should be al-

ways used in the upright position while the vehicle is running. If

the front seatbacks are not used in the upright position in a colli-

sion, the risk of sliding under the lap belt and of the lap belt slid-

ing up over the abdomen will increase, and both can result in se-

rious 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.

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HS0231

Never place the shoulder belt under

the arm or behind the back.

HS0230

Always wear the

seatbelts correctly.

Adjust the seatback

to upright position.

Sit well back and

upright.

CAUTION

Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very hot in a vehicle

that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn an oc-

cupant. Do not touch such hot parts until they cool.

B Front seatbelts

OM-H0044OM-H0043

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 main-

taining full vehicle control.

Front passenger’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright position.

Move the seat as far back as possible.

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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. And place

the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

n Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height

WARNING

When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portion of

the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjust the

seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder belt

over the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking or

in a collision.

HB1029BB

The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position

best suited for you. To lower the anchor height, push the release but-

ton and slide the anchor down. To raise the anchor height, slide the

anchor up. Pull down on the anchor to make sure that it is locked in

place.

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Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over

the middle of the shoulder without touching the neck.

n Unfastening the seatbelt

HB0303

Push

Push the button on the buckle.

Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted prop-

erly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.

B Rear seatbelts (except rear center seatbelt on wagon)

OM-H0044OM-H0043

1. Sit well back in the seat.

2. 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 a strong pull on it,

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then pull it out slowly again.

3. Insert the tongue plate into the buckle until you hear a click.

4. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. And place

the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

n Unfastening the seatbelt

HB0303

Push

Push the button on the buckle.

Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted prop-

erly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.

B Rear center seatbelt on wagon model

WARNING

D Fastening the seatbelt with the webbing twisted can increase

the risk or severity of injury in an accident. When fastening the

belt after it is pulled out from the retractor, especially when

inserting the connector’s tongue plate into the mating buckle (on

right-hand side), always check that the webbing is not twisted.

D Be sure to fasten both tongue plates to the respective

buckles. If the seatbelt is used only as a shoulder belt (with the

connector’s tongue plate not fastened to the connector’s buckle

on the right-hand side), it cannot properly restrain the wearer in

position in an accident, possibly resulting in serious injury or

death.

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HB1031BAHB1030BA

HS1017BB

HB1032BA

1. Pull out the seatbelt slowly from the overhead retractor.

1. Center seatbelt tongue

plate

2. Connector (tongue)

3. Connector (buckle)

4. Center seatbelt buckle

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HB1033BA

2. After confirming that the webbing is not twisted, insert the connec-

tor (tongue) attached at the webbing end into the buckle on the right-

hand side until a click is heard. 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.

HB1034BA

3. Insert the center seatbelt tongue plate in the center seatbelt buckle

marked “CENTER” on the left-hand side until it clicks. To make the lap

part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. And place the lap belt as low

as possible on your hips, not on your waist.

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HS1019BA

n Unfastening the seatbelt

HS0317

Push

Push the release button of the center seatbelt buckle (on the left-hand

side) to unfasten the seatbelt.

NOTE

When the seatback is folded down for greater luggage space, it is

necessary to disconnect the connector.

CAUTION

D Do not allow the retractor to roll up the seatbelt too quickly.

Otherwise, the metal tongue plates may hit against the trim,

resulting in damaged trim.

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D Have the seatbelt fully rolled up so that the tongue plates are

neatly stored. A hanging tongue plate can swing and hit against

the trim during driving, causing damage to the trim.

HB1037BAHB1036BA

1. Insert a key or other hard pointed object into the slot in the con-

nector (buckle) on the right-hand side and push it in, and the connec-

tor (tongue) plate will disconnect from the buckle.

HB1048BAHB1038CA

2. Allow the retractor to roll up the belt. You should hold the webbing

end and guide it back into the retractor while it is rolling up. Neatly

store the tongue plates in the recess in the retractor and then insert

the connector (tongue) plate into the slot located at the front of the

recess.

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NOTE

When folding down the rear seat cushion, store the seatbelts in

the seatbelt pocket to prevent them falling below the cushion.

HB1074BB

J Seatbelt maintenance

CAUTION

D Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemicals and particularly

battery acid.

D Never attempt to make modifications or changes that will pre-

vent the seatbelt from operating properly.

To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap and lukewarm water. Never

bleach or dye the belts because this could seriously affect their strength.

Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the webbing and all

hardware periodically for cracks, cuts, gashes, tears, damage, loose

bolts or worn areas. Replace the seatbelts even if only minor damage is

found.

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags -> Seatbelts for Your Subaru Outback SUV Second Generation (2000-2004)

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