2001 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ check engine

Kno*ing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel
I Tilt Whe€l
To change the angle of tbe steering
wheel. stop the vehicle, pull the tili wheel
release lever under the steering column
down, adjus! lhe wheel. lhen push the
release lever up to lock the column.
Afler adjusting. pusb tbe whe€l up and
down to be certain it's locked before
driving.
AcaurroN
Alivays use only a designated Mazda
fuel cap or an approved equivaleni.
available a! Authorized Mazda
Dealers. The wrong cap can result in a
serious malfunction of the tuel and
emission control systems.It may also
cause the checkengine lighi in the
instrument cluster to illuminate.
Aw,qnvruc
Adjusting the Steefins Wheel:
Adjustinq the steeing wheel $,hile
the whitle is moving is dtngercus.
Mot'ing it can wrr easib cause the
diyer to abnptlr tur,t to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of untlot
or an accident. Newr adjust the
steenng *heel white the vehicle is
Ac.qurroN
Make sure the fuel-filler cap is
tightened securely. The check engine
light cones on when the cap isn't
tightened securely. If the light rernains
on (even after you have tightened the
cap securely, driven, and restarted the
engine several timet. it may indjcate
a different problem. Conlact an
Auftorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
3-20

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

Protecting Your Mtzda
V Snow tires
1.6 and 2.0-liter engines
Your vehicle is originally equipped witi
all season radials designed to be used all
year around.In some exfeme c]imates
you may find itnecessary to replace them
with snow ftes during the winier monlhs
to furlher improve tr3ction on snow and
I.8-liter engine
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
summer iires designed for optimurn
traclion on wet and dry roads. If your
vehicle is to be used on snow and ice
covered roads, you may find it necessa.'y
10 replace the original equipnenl lires
lith snow lires, during the winter monfts.
Use snow tircs on all four wh€€ls.
Don't go faster than 120 km/h (75 npl).
Inflate snow tires 28 kPa (0.3 kgflcmz, 4
psi) more tlran reconnended on the tire
4-10
pressure label (driver's doot, but never
nore than the rnaxinun cold-tire
pressure sbown on lhe tires-
NOTE
Check out local regulaiions befbre
using studded tires.
V Tire chains
Check tocal regulations befbre using tire
Install the chains on the front lires.
Don't use chains on the rear tires.
Use only sAE Class "S" chains, and
To install the chains:
1. Remove the wheel covers, or the chain
bands will scratch ihem.
2. Secure the chains on the front rires as
tightly as possible. Always tbllow the
chain manufacturer instructions.
3. Retighten the chains after driving
l/2-l km (1/4 l/2 mile).
Awlnlutle
MLri eTire Trtet:
Using tircs dwrent in size orDpe k
dangercus. Yow vehicle hatu ittg
coul.l be greatl! affected an.l resuh
in an accident. Use onlt the sane
size a d trpe nfts (snow, radial, or
no -rudiat) on a iour vheets.

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.

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

Driving Your Mazda
I Charging System warning
LigbtAc.turroN
Don't drive with a loose or broken
altemator belt. The engine could
overheat because thisbelt aiso drives
I Ensine Oil Pressure
Warning Light
This waming light indicates low
oil pressure.
t;]
ergineThis waming light indicates a
maifunction of the allemalor or of the
cnargrng sys€m.
Ifthe ligbt comes on while driving:
1 . Drive to the side of the road and park
off the right of way.
2. Tum off the engine. Inspect the
alternator drive belt for looseness and
3. Ifit's OK, the charging system has a
problem. Consull an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
If the lightcomes on while driving:
1 . Drive to the side of ihe road and park
off the right-of-way.
2. Tum off the engine and insp€ct the
engine oil level (page 8-16). If il's
low, add oil.
3. Check the lighr.
lf the light remains on even after you
add oil, have yourvebicle towed to lhe
nearest service station or to ar
Authoriz€d Mazda Dealer.
5-28

Driving Your Mazda
AclurroN
Don't run the engine if oil pressure is
low.I! could result in extensive
I Low Fuel Warning Lisht
This warning light in the fuel gauge
signals that the fuel tank will soon be
Celfuel as soon as possible.
I Check Engine Light*
Ifthis lightcomes on while driving. the
vehicle Inay have a problem. It is
imporiant to nole the driving conditions
when the light came on and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer
The checkengine light may come on in
the fbllowing cases:
. Tbe fuel tank level being very low or
approaching emply.
. The engine's electrical system has a
problem.
. The emission control systemhas a
. The firel filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
If the check engine light flashes
continuously, decrease you! speed and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
"su...oa"r,. 5-29

Driving Your Mazda
Climate Control System
I Op€rating Tips
V Operating the climate control
Op€rate the climate control system with
the engine tunning.
V Clearing the air inlet
Clear all obstructions like leaves, snow
and ice from dre bood and the air inl€t in
$e cowling grille to improve iie system
efficiency.
V Foggy windows
The windows may fog upeasily in hunid
weather, Use the climate control syslem
to defrost lhe windows,
To help defrost the windows. operate the
air conditioner ro dehumidify the air.
V Outside/Recirculated air position
Use the outsid€ air position in nornal
conditions. The recirculated air position
can be used temporarily when driving on
dusty roads or for quick cooljng of the
V Parking in dir€ct sunlight
Iflhe vebicie has been parked in direct
sunlight during hotweathe! open ihe
windows 10 let warm air escape. then nrn
the climate control system.
V Not using for a long period
Run the air conditioner at least once a
month to keep internal paJts lubricated.
V Check the rcfrigerant before
weather gets hot
Have the air coditioner checked before
the weather gets hot. Lack of refrigeranl
may make the air conditioner less
efficient. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for refrigerant inspectron.
The optional air conditioner is filled with
R I 3 4a, a refrigeranr that will not damage
If ihe air conditioner is low on refrigerant
or has a malfunction, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
5.42