Subaru Baja (2006 year). Instruction — part 2

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags

To prevent the passenger from sliding under
the seatbelt in the event of a collision, always
put the seatback in the upright position while
the vehicle is in motion. Also, do not place ob-
jects such as cushions between the passenger
and the seatback. If you do so, the risk of slid-
ing 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.

„ Head restraint adjustment

To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower it, push
the head restraint down while pressing the release
button on the top of the seatback.
The head restraint should be adjusted so that the cen-
ter of the head restraint is closest to the top of the oc-
cupant’s ears.

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

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the vehicle is struck from the rear.

„ Lumbar support (if equipped)

Pull the lever forward or backward.
Pulling the lever forward will increase the amount of
support for your lower back.

Seat heater (if equipped)

1) Heating element

The seat heater operates when the ignition switch is
either in the “ACC” or “ON” position.

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1) Indicator light

To turn on the seat heater, push the “LO” or “HI” posi-
tion on the switch, as desired, depending on the tem-
perature. Selecting the “HI” position will make the seat
to heat up quickly.
LO: Normal heating
HI: Rapid heating
The indicator located on the switch comes on when
the seat heater is in operation. When the vehicle’s in-
terior is warmed enough or before you leave the vehi-
cle, be sure to turn the switch off.

y There is a possibility that people with delicate
skin may suffer slight burns even at low tem-
peratures if they use the seat heater for a long
period of time. When using the heater, always
be sure to warn the persons concerned.
y Do not put anything on the seat which insu-
lates against heat, such as a blanket, cushion,
or similar items. This may cause the seat heater
to overheat.

NOTE

Use of the seat heater for a long period of time
while the engine is not running can cause battery
discharge.

1

LO

HI

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Rear seats

y Seatbelts provide maximum restraint when
the occupant sits well back and upright in the
seat. Do not put cushions or any other materi-
als 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.
y To avoid the possibility of serious injury or
death, passengers must never be allowed to sit

on the rear center console while the vehicle is
in motion. The rear seat of this vehicle is de-
signed for no more than two passengers and is
equipped with only two seatbelts.
y Make sure that the rear seatback is securely
locked. When it is securely locked, the red
marking on the lock is no longer visible. If it is
not locked, the seatback may move forward
when the vehicle is operated.

„ Rear headrest

Rear headrest are not adjustable, nor removable.

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„ Folding down the rear seat

y After returning the rear seat to its original po-
sition, be certain to place all of the seatbelts
and the tab attached to the seat cushion above
the seat cushion. And make certain that the
shoulder belts are fully visible.
y Make sure that the rear seatback is securely
locked after returning the seatback to its origi-
nal position. When securely locked, the red
marking on the lock is no longer visible. If it is
not locked securely, the rear seatback may fold
down during driving.
y Never allow passengers to ride on the folded
rear seatback. Doing so may result in serious
injury or death.
y Secure skis and other lengthy items properly
to prevent them from being thrown around in-
side the vehicle and causing serious injury dur-
ing a sudden stop, a sudden steering maneuver
or a rapid acceleration.

Never stack luggage or other cargo higher than
the top of the front seatback because it could
tumble forward and injure passengers in the
event of a sudden stop or accident.

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T Folding down the seatback

Before folding down the seatback, check that
there is nothing in the seatback pocket. If there
is something in the pocket, it could be damaged
or cause damage to the seatback and rear cen-
ter console when the seatback is folded.

A) LOCK
B) UNLOCK
1) Red

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

1

A

B

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T Folding down the seat cushion and seatback

Before folding down the seatback, check that
there is nothing in the seatback pocket. If there
is something in the pocket, it could be damaged
or cause damage to the seatback and rear cen-
ter console when the seatback is folded.

1. Move the front seat forward.
2. Store the seatbelts in the seatbelt pockets to pre-
vent them from falling below the cushion.

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

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A) LOCK
B) UNLOCK
1) Red

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

Be careful not to pinch your hand or fingers
with the seat cushion or the seatback when per-
forming the fold down operation.

5. To return the rear seat to its original position, raise
the seatback and seat cushion until they lock into

1

A

B

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place and make sure that they are securely locked.
Make sure that the rear seatbelt buckles are not under
the seat cushion or seatback, when returning the seat
cushion and the seatback to their original position.

Confirm that the rear seatbelts are stored in the
seatbelt pocket prior to returning the seat cush-
ion to its original position.

Seatbelts

„ Seatbelt safety tips

y All persons in the vehicle should fasten their
seatbelts BEFORE the vehicle starts to move.
Otherwise, the possibility of serious injury be-
comes greater in the event of a sudden stop or
accident.
y All belts should fit snugly in order to provide
full restraint. Loose fitting belts are not as ef-
fective in preventing or reducing injury.
y 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.
y Replace all seatbelt assemblies including re-
tractors and attaching hardware worn by occu-
pants of a vehicle that has been in a serious ac-
cident. The entire assembly should be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
y 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, espe-

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cially if they are 12 years of age and under and
are not restrained or improperly restrained. Be-
cause children are lighter and weaker than
adults, their risk of being injured from deploy-
ment is greater. Consequently, we strongly rec-
ommend 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 (in-
cluding 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 seat-
ing positions than in the front seating posi-
tions. For instructions and precautions con-
cerning the child restraint system, see the
“Child restraint systems” section in this chap-
ter.

T Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your ve-
hicle. See information on “Child restraint systems”
section in this chapter.

T 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 po-
sitions 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, adjust the shoulder belt anchor height (window-
side seating positions only) and then if necessary
move the child closer to the belt buckle to help provide
a good shoulder belt fit. Care must be taken to secure-
ly 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.

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T Expectant mothers

Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts.
They should consult their doctor for specific recom-
mendations. 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 Re-
tractor (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 quick-
ly out of the retractor.

„ Automatic/Emergency Locking Retrac-

tor (A/ELR)

Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic/Emer-
gency 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 re-
straint system. When the seatbelt is once drawn out
completely and is then retracted even slightly, the re-
tractor locks the seatbelt in that position and the seat-
belt cannot be extended. As the belt is rewinding,
clicks will be heard which indicate the retractor func-
tions as ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, ALR
mode is released.

When securing a child restraint system on the passen-
gers’ 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 allowing the seat-
belt to retract fully.
For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the
ALR mode and restore it to the ELR mode, see the
“Child restraint systems” section in this chapter.

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„ Seatbelt warning light and chime

Your vehicle is equipped with a seatbelt warning de-
vice at the driver’s seat, as required by current safety
standards. There is a seatbelt warning light in the
combination meter.
This device causes the seatbelt warning light on the
instrument panel to light up for approximately six sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” po-
sition to remind the driver to wear the seatbelt. If the
driver’s seatbelt is not fastened, a warning chime
sounds at the same time.

„ Fastening the seatbelt

y Never use a belt that is twisted or reversed. In
an accident, this can increase the risk or sever-
ity of injury.
y 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.
y 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 seat-
backs 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 in-
ternal injury or death.
y 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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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.

Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very
hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sun-
ny weather; they could burn an occupant. Do
not touch such hot parts until they cool.

T Front seatbelts
1. Adjust the seat position:
Driver’s seat: Adjust the seatback to the upright posi-
tion. Move the seatback 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 possi-
ble.
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 reach-
ing 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.

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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.

V 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.
To lower the anchor height, push the release button
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.
Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder
belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without
touching the neck.

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When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the
shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass
over your neck. If it does, adjust the seatbelt an-
chor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder
belt over the neck may result in neck injury dur-
ing sudden braking or in a collision.

V Unfastening the 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.

T Rear seatbelts
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 reach-
ing 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.

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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.

V Unfastening the 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.

„ Seatbelt maintenance

y Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemi-
cals and particularly battery acid.
y Never attempt to make modifications or

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