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Disposal of Pretensioner: Procedure

WARNING: Make sure to follow the instructions below. Otherwise, personal injuries may occur.
  • Before discarding a pretensioner, always perform an activation process to prevent any false activation.
  • Wear protective gloves, safety goggles and earplugs during this operation. Wash your hands afterwards.
  • Do not touch the pretensioner just after activation because it is very hot. Before handling it for disposal, wait for 40 minutes.
CAUTION:
  • Perform a pretensioner operation process in a safe, level place. Do not perform the process outdoors when there is a strong rain or wind.
  • Perform front seat belt operation process at each location one after another. Do not perform operation process simultaneously on front pretensioner, lap pretensioner and adaptive force limiter.
  • Do not drop or damage the pretensioner.
  • A large explosive noise will occur when the pretensioner is deployed. Warn persons in the area, and do not allow anyone to approach a radius of 5 m (16 ft) from the discard location.
  • After activating the pretensioner, smoke may arise. Therefore, always perform an operation process in a well-ventilated place without any smoke sensor.
  • Do not expose the activated pretensioner to water.
  • Wrap the activated pretensioner in a sealed vinyl bag when discarding.
  • If it is impossible to perform a pretensioner activation process due to some situational reasons, consult SUBARU dealership or one of the authorized workshops.
  1. Fold the backrest all the way forward, and move the front seat all the way forward.
  2. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
  3. Disconnect the ground terminal from the battery sensor, and wait for at least 60 seconds before starting work. Refer to REPAIR CONTENTS>NOTE>BATTERY .
  4. Disconnect connector of the pretensioner.
    • Front
      G13226359Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    • Rear
    • Sedan model
      G13622779Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    • OUTBACK model
      G13622780Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  5. Short the alligator clip and terminal of the airbag deployment tool together.
    CAUTION: Short the airbag deployment tool terminals until just before the pretensioner operation process.

    Preparation tool:  ST: AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT TOOL (98299PA030)

  6. Connect the airbag deployment tool (A) and test harness adapter D, test harness adapter F or test harness adapter AM (B) to the connector for the gas generator on which to perform operation process.

    Preparation tool: 

    ST: TEST HARNESS ADAPTER D (98299SA010) 

    Front pretensioner

    Adaptive force limiter

    ST: TEST HARNESS ADAPTER F (98299SA050) 

    Lap pretensioner

    ST: TEST HARNESS ADAPTER AM (98299FJ000) 

    Rear pretensioner

    G10270503Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  7. Connect the connector of test harness adapter D, test harness adapter F or test harness adapter AM to the pretensioner or adaptive force limiter.
  8. Make sure there is no one inside the vehicle.
  9. Extend the wiring of the airbag deployment tool to its limit, and completely close all the windows and sunroof.
    G10270499Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  10. Move the battery 5 m (16 ft) or more from the vehicle, and affix nearby.
  11. Connect the airbag deployment tool alligator clip to the battery negative (-) terminal.
  12. Connect the other cable of airbag deployment tool to the battery positive (+) terminal, and activate the pretensioner.
    CAUTION:
    • After activation, the pretensioner will be extremely hot. Let it cool down for at least 40 minutes in an area with no one around.
    • Do not expose the activated pretensioner to water.
    G10270500Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  13. Remove the seat belt outer.
  14. Cut the seat belt at a position as close as possible to the seat belt retractor.
    G11245914Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  15. Cut the seat belt at a position as close as possible to the lap seat belt pretensioner.
    G11245915Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  16. Place the activated pretensioner in a sealed vinyl bag, then discard.
    G11245916Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    G11245917Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.