Subaru Forester: Front seatbelt pretensioners

The driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelts

The driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelts have a seatbelt pretensioner. The seatbelt pretensioners for the driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat operate at the same time as the frontal, and side SRS airbags. If the vehicle rolls over, they operate simultaneously with the curtain airbag.

The front and side airbag sensors and the rollover sensor are used as the pretensioner sensors. If a sensor detects a certain predetermined amount of force during a frontal collision, a side impact collision or a rollover collision, the front seatbelt is quickly drawn back in by the retractor to take up the slack so that the belt more effectively restrains the front seat occupant.

When a seatbelt pretensioner is activated, an operating noise will be heard and a small amount of smoke will be released.

These occurrences are normal and not harmful. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

Once the seatbelt pretensioner has been activated, the seatbelt retractor remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt can not be pulled out and retracted and therefore must be replaced.

NOTE
- Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to activate in minor frontal or side impacts or in rear impacts.

- The driver’s seat and passenger’s seat pretensioners and frontal, side or curtain SRS airbags operate simultaneously.

- Pretensioners are designed to function on a one-time-only basis. In the event that a pretensioner is activated, both the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelt retractor assemblies must be replaced only by an authorized SUBARU dealer. When replacing seatbelt retractor assemblies, use only genuine SUBARU parts.

- If either front seatbelt does not retract or cannot be pulled out due to a malfunction or activation of the pretensioner, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

- If the front seatbelt retractor assembly or surrounding area has been damaged, contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possible.

- When you sell your vehicle, we urge you to explain to the buyer that it has seatbelt pretensioners by alerting the buyer to the contents of this section.

- To obtain maximum protection,

- To obtain maximum protection, the occupants should sit in an upright position with their seatbelts properly fastened. Refer to “Seatbelts”.

- Do not modify, remove or strike the front seatbelt retractor assemblies or surrounding area.

This could result in accidental activation of the seatbelt pretensioners or could make the system inoperative, possibly resulting in serious injury. Seatbelt pretensioners have no user-serviceable parts. For required servicing of front seatbelt retractors equipped with seatbelt pretensioners, see your nearest SUBARU dealer.

- When discarding front seatbelt retractor assemblies or scrapping the entire vehicle due to collision damage or for other reasons, consult your SUBARU dealer.

System monitors

A diagnostic system continually monitors the readiness of the seatbelt pretensioner while the vehicle is being driven. The seatbelt pretensioners share the control module with the SRS airbag system.

Therefore, if any malfunction occurs in a seatbelt pretensioner, the SRS airbag system warning light will illuminate. For details, refer to “SRS airbag system monitors”.

System servicing

- When discarding a seatbelt retractor

- When discarding a seatbelt retractor 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 SRS airbag or could make the system inoperative, which may result in serious injury. Do not use electrical test equipment on any circuit related to the seatbelt pretensioner and SRS airbag systems. For required servicing of the seatbelt pretensioner, consult your nearest SUBARU dealer.

The front sub sensors are located

The front sub sensors are located on both the right and left sides at the front of the vehicle, and the SRS airbag control module including the impact sensors is located under the center console. If you need service or repair in those areas or near the front seatbelt retractors, have the work performed by your authorized SUBARU dealer.

NOTE
If 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.

Precautions against vehicle modification

Always consult your SUBARU dealer if you want to install any accessory parts to your vehicle.

Do not perform any of the following

Do not perform any of the following modifications. Such modifications can interfere with proper operation of the seatbelt pretensioners.

- Attachment of any equipment (bush bar, winches, snow plow, skid plate, etc.) other than genuine 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 individual vehicle models in this Owner’s Manual.

See also:


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