Subaru 2005 Forester 2.5X - Manual (Page 64)

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Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags
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Front seatbelt pretensioners
The driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelts have a
seatbelt pretensioner. The seatbelt pretensioners are
designed to be activated in the event of an accident in-
volving a moderate to severe frontal collision.
Also, the seatbelt pretensioners are designed to be
activated in the event of an accident involving a mod-
erate to severe side impact collision.
The pretensioner sensor also serves as the frontal and
side SRS airbag sensors. If the sensors detect a cer-
tain predetermined amount of force during a frontal
collision or a side impact 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 operat-
ing 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
y Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to acti-
vate in minor frontal impacts, in minor side im-
pacts or in rear impacts or in roll-over accidents.
y
The driver’s seat and passenger’s seat preten-
sioners and frontal SRS airbag operate simulta-
neously.
y
The driver’s and passenger’s seatbelt preten-
sioners and the SRS side airbag operate simulta-
neously.
y
Pretensioners are designed to function on a
one-time-only basis. In the event that a preten-
sioner is activated, both the driver’s and front pas-
senger’s seatbelt retractor assemblies must be re-
HS1067BA