Subaru Legacy: Seatbelts

Subaru Legacy: Seatbelts

• Seatbelt safety tips
• Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
• Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)
• Seatbelt warning light and chime
• Fastening the seatbelt
• Seatbelt maintenance

Seatbelt safety tips

WARNING

● 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.

● All belts should fit snugly in order to provide full restraint. Loose fitting belts are not as effective in preventing or reducing injury.

● Each seatbelt is designed to support only one person. Never use a single belt for two or more persons – even children. Otherwise, in an accident, serious injury or death could result.

● 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.

● Put children 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 not restrained or improperly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. Consequently, 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.

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, refer to “Child restraint systems” F1-25.

Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which will record the use of the seatbelt by the front passenger when any of the SRS frontal, side and curtain airbags deploys.

Infants or small children

Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your vehicle. Refer to “Child restraint systems” F1-25.

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.

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.

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.

Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)

Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic/ Emergency Locking Retractor (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”, intended to secure a child restraint system.

The ALR mode functions as follows. 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 an ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, the ALR mode is canceled and the ELR mode is restored.

When securing a child restraint system on the rear seats by using a seatbelt, the seatbelt must be changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode. For instructions on how to install the child restraint system using a seatbelt, refer to “Installing child restraint systems with A/ ELR seatbelt” F1-28.

When the child restraint system is removed, make sure that the retractor is restored to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode by allowing the seatbelt to retract fully.

Seatbelt warning light and chime

NOTE

If your seatbelt warning device does not operate as described in the following, it may be out of order. Have the device inspected and, if necessary, repaired by the nearest SUBARU dealer.

Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warning device at the driver’s and front passenger’s seat, as required by current safety standards.

With the ignition switch turned to the “ON” position, this device reminds the driver and front passenger to fasten their seatbelts by the warning lights in the locations indicated in the following illustration and a chime.

Driver’s warning light

Front passenger’s warning light

Operation

If the driver and/or front passenger have/ has not yet fastened the seatbelt(s) when 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 driver’s seatbelt is not fastened, a chime will also sound simultaneously.

NOTE

● If the driver’s and/or front passenger’s seatbelt(s) are/is still not fastened 6 seconds later, the seatbelt warning device operates as follows according to the vehicle speed.

– At speeds lower than approximately 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 approximately 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 occupant to place his/her hands or legs on the front passenger’s seatback, or allow him/her to pull the seatback.

● Do not use front seats with their backward- forward position and seatback not being locked into place securely. If any of them are not locked securely, adjust them again. For the adjusting procedure, refer to “Manual seat” F1-3 (models equipped with manual seats only).

If the seatbelt warning device for the front passenger’s seat does not function correctly (e.g., it is activated even when the front passenger’s seat is empty or it is deactivated even when the front passenger 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.

● Ensure that the backward-forward position and seatback of front passenger’s seat are locked into place securely by moving the seat back and forth. (Models equipped with manual seats only)

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 collision, this spreads the force of the lap belt over stronger hip bones instead of across the weaker abdomen.

● Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when the occupant sits well back and upright in the seat. To reduce the risk of sliding under the seatbelt 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.

● 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.

WARNING

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.

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

Front seatbelts

1. Adjust the seat position:

Driver’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright position. Move the seat as far from the steering wheel as practical while still maintaining full vehicle control. Front passenger’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright position. Move the seat as far back as possible.

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.

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

Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height

The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position best suited for the driver/front passenger. Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without touching the neck.

To raise:

Slide the anchor up.

To lower:

Push the release button and slide the anchor down.

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

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.

Unfastening the front seatbelt

Push the button on the buckle.

Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.

Rear seatbelts (except rear center seatbelt on Outback)

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, 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.

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

Unfastening the rear seatbelts seatbelt

Push the button on the buckle.

Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.

Rear center seatbelt on Outback

1) Center seatbelt tongue plate
2) Connector (tongue)
3) Connector (buckle)
4) Center seatbelt buckle

WARNING

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.

WARNING

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.

Rear center seatbelt is stowed in the recess of the ceiling.

1. Retrieve the connector (tongue) plate from the slot in the recess by pulling the connector (tongue) plate.

2. Pull out the seatbelt slowly from the retractor.

3. After confirming that the webbing is not twisted, insert the connector (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.

4. After fastening the seatbelt, make sure that the “” mark on the connector (tongue) and the “” mark on the buckle face outwards.

5. Insert the center seatbelt tongue plate into the center seatbelt buckle marked “CENTER” on the left-hand side until it clicks.

6. 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.

Unfastening the rear center seatbelt

Push the release button of the center seatbelt buckle (on the left-hand side) to unfasten the seatbelt.

1. Insert a key or other hard pointed object into the slot in the connector (buckle) on the right-hand side and push it in, and the connector (tongue) plate will disconnect from the buckle.

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 plate in the recess and then insert the connector (tongue) plate into the slot.

CAUTION

● 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.

● 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.

Seatbelt maintenance

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.

CAUTION

● Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemicals and particularly battery acid.

● Never attempt to make modifications or changes that will prevent the seatbelt from operating properly.