2003 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 51

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags ! Seatbelt maintenance To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap and lukewarm water. Never bleach or dye the belts because this could seriously affect their strength. Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the webbing and all hardware periodically for cracks, cuts, gashes, tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas. Replace the seatbelts even if only minor damage is found. HS1066BA " Do not allow the retractor to roll up the seatbelt too quickly. Otherwise, the metal tongue plates may hit against the trim, resulting in damaged trim. " Have the seatbelt fully rolled up so that the tongue plates are neatly stored. A hanging tongue plate can swing and hit against the trim during driving, causing damage to the trim. " Keep the belts free of polishes, oils, chemicals and particularly battery acid. " Never attempt to make modifications or changes that will prevent the seatbelt from operating properly. 1-26