Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
2018 Subaru WRX BaseFACTORY OEM SERVICE PROCEDURE
Seat Belt System: General Description: Caution
For details of the following precautions for seat belt pretensioner, refer to "AIRBAG SYSTEM" procedure. Ref. to AIRBAG SYSTEM>General Description>CAUTION
- Before performing vehicle maintenance, turn the ignition switch to OFF and wait for 60 seconds or more after disconnecting the negative terminal from battery. Ref. to NOTE>NOTE>BATTERY
- For model with battery sensor, disconnect the ground terminal from battery sensor.
- Do Not drop or apply any impact to the pretensioner.
- Do Not allow oil, grease or water to come in contact with the pretensioner.
- Do Not expose the pretensioner to high temperature or flame.
- Do Not allow current to flow through or voltage to reach the pretensioner. Do Not use a circuit tester to check resistance of the pretensioner.
- Do Not disassemble or attempt to repair the pretensioner. If it is dented, cracked or deformed, replace it with a new genuine part.
- Do Not use the airbag or pretensioner parts from other vehicles. Always replace parts with new genuine parts.
- When handling a seat belt with deployed pretensioner, wear gloves and goggles. Wash your hands afterwards.
- Do Not reuse a seat belt with deployed pretensioner.
- Before disposal, make sure to perform an operation process to the pretensioners. Ref. to SEAT BELT SYSTEM>Disposal of Pretensioner>PROCEDURE
- If material from the pretensioner enters the eyes or contacts skin during operation process, wash it away with clean water, and then consult a doctor.
Factory Service Tools
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.