2001 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ brakes

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

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.

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,

Driving Your Mazda
VD(D ve)
D is the nonnal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically
shift through a 4-gear sequence.
V 2 (Second)
The 2 position is helpful when driving in
heavy, slow'moving traiTic and climbing
hills, for engine braking assistwhen
going downhills, or for stariing on slick
surfaces and other situations where gende
acceleration may be necessary. Do not
exceed 100 knth (62 rnpb) in the 2
posrhon.
V I (Low)
Use the I position for maximum power in
hard-pulling siiuations. or for clirnbing
and descending very sleep grades. Do not
exceed:18 knr./h (30 mph) in the I
I Drivins Tips
V Passing
For extra power when passing anoiher
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the acceleraior fu]Iy. The transaxle will
shift 10 a lower gear, depending on
vehicle speed.
V Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift !o D or 1 depending on the load
weighl and grade steepness.
3. Release all brrles while gradually
V Descending steep grades
Wben descending a sleep grade, shif! to 2
or l, depending on load weight and grade
steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally lo prevent them
from overheating.
5-8

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

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

Driving Your Mazdr
Power Steering
Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or
if the power steering system is
inoperable. you can still sieet but it
requires more physical effort.
If ihe steering feels rigid during normal
driving, consuli an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
NOTI
w}len lhe engine is jump-started, an
unevenness of rpm occurs and the
ABS warning light comes on. This is
due to a lack of baltery capaciry and
doesn't indicaie a malfunction.
Have the battery recharged as soon as
possible.
NOTf,
If the ABS waming light stats on
wbile you're driving. the ABS
conlrol unithas detecled a system
malfunction. If ftis occurs, your
brakes will function normally as if
$e vehicle hadno ABS. Should
tbis happen, consull an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Braking distances may b€ longer
on loos€ surfaces (snow or gravel.
for example) which usually have a
haJd foundation. A vehicle with a
normal braking sysl,em may require
less dislance to stop under these
conditions because the tires will
build up a wedge of surface layer
when the wheels skid.
Awl^nNmc
4rg
The ABS canrct conpensate forunsafe and .eckless driving,
excessn e speed, .^itgati s (fottor)ins
a othe. whicle tooclosel!),a d
htdroplrnins (rcduced tire ftictionand rcad contact because of watet on
the rcad surface). You can sn have
a acdden . So don't relr o ABSas
a substitutefor safe dni g.AcaurroN
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than
five s€conds widr the engine runnine.
This could damage th€ power steeing
5.r4

Drit ing Your Mazda
Warning LightVBeeps
I Warning Lights Inspection
Inspect lhe waming lights by turning the
ignilion switch !o the ON position with
th€ engine offand the parking brake on.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
about any light thai doesn't come on.
If the brake system waming light is off
when dre ignition switch is in the START
position, have the system inspectedby an
Authorized Mazda Dealer
After starting the engine, make sure all
warning lights are off.Ifone stays on. it's
signaling for attenlion.
The brake syslem waming lighr sbould
go off when the parking brake is released.
I Brak€ System Wsming
Light
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that ihe pedal is harder to
push or tlat it may go closer to the floor.
Ineirher case, jt will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
l. With the engine stopped. check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8 23).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again.
Ifthe waming light remains on, or if
the brakes do not operate properly, do
not drive the vehicle. Have it towed to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even ifihe light goes off, have your
brake system inspected as soon as
possibte.
This waming lightcomes on when the
ignition switch is tumed to the ON
position. Wlen the parking brake is not
applied. itgoes out after about2 seconds.
This waming has the following functions:
V Parking brak€ warning
The light cones on when the parking
brake is applied with fte ignition switch
in the START orON position.Ilgoes off
when $e parking brake is fully released.
V Low brake fluid level
warning/Elect.onic b.ake force
distribution system warning
lf the light stays on after the parking
brake is fully released, you may have a
Drive to $e side of the road and park off
the right of way.
5-26