Page 92 of 290

Protecting Your Mrzdg
Before Driving
I Belore Getting In
. Be sure the windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights a.re clean.
. Inspect inllation pressures and
condition of tires-
. Look under the vebicle for any sign of
. If you plan to back up, make sure
nothing will be in your way.
I After Getting In
. Are all doors closed and locked?
. Are tbe inside and outside mirors
adj'rsGd?
. Is everyone seat belt faslened?
. Do all the lights work?
. Check all gauges.
. Check all waming lights when the
ignition switch is lumed 1() the ON
posirion.
. Release ihe parking brake and make
sure the brate waming lighlgoes off
Always be lhoroughly f:rmiliar with your
Mazda.
Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the firs! 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the peformance.
economy, and life of your Mazda.
. Don'trace the engine.
. Don't maintain one consiantspeed for
long.
. Donl drive constantly at full th.ottle
or high engine rpm for exlended
. Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
. Avoid full throule starts.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolanl,
brake/clutch fluid, washer fluid. and
other fluid levels shouldbe inspected
daily, weekly, or at refueling,
dependjng on the fluid. See
Maintenance, Section 8.
4-6
Page 94 of 290
![MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ 2001 Owners Manual (in English) Protecting Your Mazda
Awenvmc
Downshi[tine o Slipp4rLs]!4heell
Do*nshifting into lowet geor while
ddvins on slipper| swfaces is
dansercus.The sunnen .hanse in
tirc speed c/ruld couse the tirer to
ski. MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ 2001 Owners Manual (in English) Protecting Your Mazda
Awenvmc
Downshi[tine o Slipp4rLs]!4heell
Do*nshifting into lowet geor while
ddvins on slipper| swfaces is
dansercus.The sunnen .hanse in
tirc speed c/ruld couse the tirer to
ski.](/manual-img/28/15604/w960_15604-93.png)
Protecting Your Mazda
Awenvmc
Downshi[tine o Slipp4rLs]!4heell
Do*nshifting into lowet geor while
ddvins on slipper| swfaces is
dansercus.The sunnen .hanse in
tirc speed c/ruld couse the tirer to
ski.d. This co A kad to loss of
vehicle co nol and an accident. If il
is necessary to doenshi.ft on slippery
sudaces, be wry csrcfut.
Special Driving Conditions
I Hazardous Driving
When driving on ice or in water. snow.
mud, sand, or similar bazard:
. Be cautious and allow extra dislance
forbraking.
. Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
. Brake witlr the pedal by using a light
up-down motion. Don'thold the pedal
. Ifyou get stuck. sbif! to I or 2 and
accelerate slowly. Don'i spin the front
. For more traction in starting, use sand,
rock sali, chains, carpeting, or other
nonslip material under tbe front
I Rocking the Vehicle
Ifyou must rock the vehicle to free it
from snow, sand, ormud. depress the
accelerator slightly and...
(Automatic transa{e)
Slowly move the shift lever back and
fonh from D to R-
(Manual transaxle)
Slowly move the shift leverback and
forth from I 1() R.
4-8
Page 97 of 290

Protecting Your Mazda
AclurroN
Chains may scratch or chip
alurninum wheels. lnstall tire
chains.on steel wheels only.
Chains may affect handling.
Don t go faster than 50 knr,/h (30
mph) or tbe chain manufacturerk
recomm€nded limit. whichever is
Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes. and sharp tums.
Avoid locked wheel braking.
Don ! use chains on the temporary
tire; it may result in damage to fte
vehicle and 10 ihe tire.
Don ! use chains on roads tha! are
free ofsnow or ice. The tires and
chains could be darnaged-
I Drivi.s in Flooded A.easI Ttailer Towing
Never tow a trailer with your M.zda.
AclurroN
Make sure water does not enter the
vehicle interior or fte engine area,
The vebicle interior could become
wet or the engine could be damaged.
AWARNING
Dririnp with W.t Brakes:
Diving v'ith wet brukes is
dangerc s. I ncrcased stopping
dittunce or the vehicle pulling to one
side hen braki g could.esultin a
serious accident Light braking will
indicate vhether the brakes haw
been a|Jected Dry the brakes bt
driring rery slovtr ond applring the
brakes ligh r until brake
peiotnance fttu.ns to norn.l.
4-11
Page 101 of 290

Driving Your Mazda
Opetutine ra,r vehick requnes a good
understan lifts of the naty cofttrols !a, nusl
kfto\9 and use. Se.tioh 5 describes a thb in
step'byrt.p infomatian Iron "se af theisnition s||it.h ta ctuise .artol antl brdkjne.
Alsa highlishted ate th. Bearchil ahd shi.tin?nodes, porer steerin4, ihsrtutuents ann
Sauges, wamings ahtl indicatars. \|ih.lshield
vipets, and intenor ftaturcs. you' ll lhdcanplete details dbout the advan edardio
Ignidon SwilchPosirions 5- 2
StaninS the Engine 5 4
ManualTransaxte Operanon 5, 5
Aulonatic Transaxle 5- 6
Brake System 5-t I
Power Steering 5-14
Cruise Control 5 15
Insfument Cluster 5-20
cau8es 5-22
Dashboard Illuminanon 5 25
Waminglights/Beeps 5-26
Lighnng Control and Tum Signah 5-33Windshieid wipe6 and Washer 5 35
Rear Window Def.osre!
Lighter
Ashlray
Srorage Codpartmenrs
Cup Holdes
Sunvisos
Vaniry Miror
Clinrte Control Systen
Radio Reception
Safely Cenification
AN'/FM Radio
ANTFM Radio wirh CompactDisc Player
Antnna
5-38
5-38
5-39
5-40
5,.11
5,4t
5-A
552
554
5-56
5-57
586
5-1
Page 102 of 290
Driving Your Mazda
Ignition Switch Positions
I ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel unlocks and some
electrical accessories will operate.
I LOCK
The steering wheel locks to pro@ct
against theft. only in this posidon can the
ON
ACC
toN
This is lhe normal runningposition after
rhe engine is statted. The waming lights
(except brakes) should be inspected
before the engine is started (page 5-26).
I START
The engine is started in this position. It
wiil crank until you release the key; then
it retums 1() the ON position. The brake
warning light can be checked aft€r lhe
engine is started (page 5-26).
{.t
V Manual transaxle
Wlen tuming the ignilion switch to the
LOCK position. push the key in at the
ACC position.
Page 107 of 290

Driving Your Mazda
I Transexle Rang€s
The shifl lever mustbe in P or Nro
V P (Park)
P locks the aansaxie and prevenrs rhefiont wheels from roiaring.
V N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely evenon the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
V R (Reverse)
In posiiion R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You mustbe at a complere
stop before shifting from R, excepr asexplained under Rocking rhe Vehicle(page 4-8).
AcaurroN
shifting into P orR while ftevehicle is moving can damage your
Shifiing into a driving gear orreverse wh€n the engine is running
faster than idle can damage rhe
Awtnwwc
HoUing the Vehicle with P:
Setting the shift lewr to the Pposition without using the pa*ing
brake to hoA the vehicle is
dansenut. If P faik to how, the
whicle couA move and ca teanaccdent. To hou the vehick, set the
shift lever to P AND set the parkins
AWARNING
Shiftine.from N ot P:
It danselou' to shilt ton N ot Pinto a driring eear when the engine
is runni g faster than Ule. If this isdone, the vehi.le couu move
s dde l!, causing an accident or
seioLt inju.r. If the e gi eisrunning faster than ink, don't shilt
frcmN orP i toadriyitggear,
Page 111 of 290

Drivins Your Mazda
Brake System
I Foot Brake
Your Mazda has power-assisted brakes
thar adjust aulomalicalty through normal
Should power-assist fail, you can stop by
applying greater force than normal to the
brake pedal. But tbe distance rcquired io
stop will be greater than usual.
Awnnutxc
Riding the Brakes:
Divins'a,ith rourfoot continuoustr
on the brake pedalor steadilr
applyins the brakes for tons
distances is dtngercus.This causes
ot'e.heated brakes, resulting irl
longer stoppilg tlbtanees or even
total bruke failure. This couu ca6e
loss of vehicle contrcl and a seious
ac cide nt. Av oid contin uo us
appticanon of the bnkes. Shift to a
lo\'ers.ar when going down st ep
hills.
Awl.nume
Dritine flith Wet B kes:
Driving with wet brakes is
dangero us. I nc.e as e d stopping
distance ot the vehicle puling to o e
sine when brakins couu rcsult in a
seious accident. Lisht brakinc wilt
indicate whather the bnkes h0ve
been alfected. Dr! the brakes b!
driving very slowlt and applJing the
brakes lightlr untit brake
peiomance is nonut.Awl'nutue
Dnring with the Engine Off:
Continuing to d.ive when the engine
is stalled or turned oJf is drrngerout.
B.dking $'i rcquire more efoft, ann
the brake's pover-assist couu be
depleted if rou punp the brake. This
vi caure toneer stopping dkti ces
or eyen a accident. Don't coatinue
diving when the engine is stalled or
tuned off, frnd a safe pla& to rtop,
5-11
Page 113 of 290
Drivins Your Mazda
AclurroN
Driving wiih the pa*ing brake on
will cause excessive lvear of the brake
linings or pads.
(o)
BRAKE
^.-)^1,
\__/\,/\__/.
I Brake System Warning Light
If fte brake waming iighi sLays on after
the parking brake is fully released. $e
brake system has amalfunction. Refer to
w:ming LightYBeeps (page 5 26).
I Antilock Brake Syst€n (ABS)
The ABS control unil continuously
nonitors the speed of each wheel. If one
is about lo lock up, r}le ABS responds by
automatically releasing and reapplying
The driver will feel a slight vibraiion in
the brake pe&al and may bear a chattering
noise from ihe brake system. This is
normal when the ABS operates. Don't
pump fte brakes, continue to press down
on the brake pedal.
5-r3