Subaru WRX & WRX STI Manuals 2016 WRX & WRX STI Owner’s Manual | Page 48

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags/Front seatbelt pretensioners

shoulder belt pretensioner is supplemented by a lap belt pretensioner, which is
located at the base of the center pillar.
Like the shoulder belt pretensioner, the lap
belt pretensioner instantaneously pulls in
the belt to eliminate slack if a certain level
of frontal or side collision force is detected.
As a result, the seatbelt restrains the front
seat occupant more effectively.
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 pretensioner remains locked. Consequently, the seatbelt
cannot be pulled out and retracted and
therefore must be replaced.

NOTE
. Seatbelt pretensioners are not designed to activate in minor impacts or
in rear impacts.
. In cases of frontal collisions, the
following components will operate simultaneously.
– Seatbelt pretensioner for driver
– Seatbelt pretensioners for front
passenger (shoulder belt preten-

sioner only)
– SRS frontal airbag for driver
– SRS frontal airbag for front passenger*
– SRS curtain airbags (both sides)
(if an offset frontal collision occurs)
*: This does not operate if the occupant
detection system deactivates airbag operation. For details, refer to “Front
passenger’s SRS frontal airbag” F1-40.

. In cases of side collisions, the
following components will operate simultaneously.
– SRS curtain airbag (impacted
side)
– SRS side airbag (impacted side)
(when both the satellite safing sensor and any of the center pillar
impact sensors/front door impact
sensors sense an impact force)
– Seatbelt pretensioner for driver
(when both the satellite safing sensor and the driver’s side front door
impact sensor sense an impact
force)
However, when a center pillar impact sensor detects a signal faster
than the front door impact sensor,
or both sensors detect signals
simultaneously, the seatbelt pretensioner does not activate.
– Seatbelt pretensioner for front

1-19

passenger (shoulder belt pretensioner only) (when both the satellite
safing sensor and the front passenger’s side front door impact sensor
sense an impact force)
However, when a center pillar impact sensor detects a signal faster
than the front door impact sensor,
or both sensors detect signals
simultaneously, the seatbelt pretensioner does not activate.
. 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 should
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
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