Page 19 of 250
2-11
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Automatic Locking Mode
Always use the automatic locking mode to keep the child-restraint system from shifting to
an unsafe position in the event of an accident. To get the seat belt into the automatic
locking mode, pull it all the way out and connect it as instructed on the child-restraint
system. It will retract down to the child-restraint system and stay locked on it. See the
section on child restraint (page 2-18).
J94S.book Page 11 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 20 of 250

2-12
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Fastening the Seat Belts
1. Grasp the buckle and tongue.
2. Slowly pull out the lap/shoulder belt.
3. Insert the tongue into the buckle until
you hear a click. 4. Make sure the shoulder belt is snugly
fitted against your body.
3-Point Type Seat Belt
NOTE
When using the rear center seat belt,
refer to "Rear Center Position Seat
Belt" (page 2-14).
Belt
Tongue
Tongue
Buckle
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the Seat Belt:Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
An improperly positioned belt will
provide little or no protection in a
collision. Always make sure the
shoulder portion of the seat belt is
positioned across your shoulder and
near your neck, but never under your
arm, on your neck, or on your upper
arm.
Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat Belt:The lap portion of the seat belt worn
too high is dangerous. In a collision,
this would concentrate the impact
force directly on the abdominal area,
causing serious injury. Wear the lap
portion of the belt snugly and as low
as possible.
WARNING
Keep low on
hip bone Take up slack
Too high
WARNING
J94S.book Page 12 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 21 of 250
2-13
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Unfastening the Seat Belts
Depress the button on the buckle.
Shoulder Belt Adjuster
Adjust the height of the shoulder belt if
the seat belt touches your neck, or if it
crosses your arm instead of your shoulder.
Simply push the button, move it to the
desired position, and then release it. Make
sure the adjuster is locked.
NOTE
If a belt does not fully retract, inspect it
for kinks and twists.
Button
Shoulder belt
adjuster
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the Seat Belt:Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
An improperly positioned belt will
provide little or no protection in a
collision. Always make sure the
shoulder portion of the seat belt is
positioned across your shoulder and
near your neck, but never under your
arm, on your neck, or on your upper
arm.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 13 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 22 of 250

2-14
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Before using the rear-center lap/shoulder
belt make sure tongue (A) and anchor
buckle (B) are fastened.
Fastening the Seat Belt
1. Grasp the buckle (D) and tongue (C).
2. Slowly pull out the lap/shoulder belt.
3. Insert the tongue (C) into the buckle
(D) until you hear a click.
Rear Center Position Seat
Belt
(B)
(A)
(C)
(D) (A)
(B)
Fastening the Rear-Center Seat Belt with Only One Buckle:Fastening the rear-center seat belt
with only one buckle is dangerous. If
only one pair of seat belt tongue and
buckle, either tongue (A) and anchor
buckle (B) or tongue (C) and anchor
buckle (D), is fastened, the seat belt
cannot provide full protection. In a
sudden stop or collision, the user
could slide under the belt and suffer
serious injuries. Always make sure
that both pairs of seat belt tongues
and buckles are fastened properly.
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of
the Seat Belt:Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
An improperly positioned belt will
provide little or no protection in a
collision. Always make sure the
shoulder portion of the seat belt is
positioned across your shoulder and
near your neck, but never under your
arm, on your neck, or on your upper
arm.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 14 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 23 of 250

2-15
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
4. Make sure the shoulder belt is snugly fitted against your body.
Unfastening the Seat Belt
Depress the button on the buckle.
Unfastening the Lap Portion of
the Seat Belt
Insert a small object in the anchor buckle
(B) slot, such as a key.
Fastening the Lap Portion of the
Seat Belt
Grasp tongue (A) and insert it into the
anchor buckle (B) until you hear a click. It
is now secure for passenger use.
Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat Belt:The lap portion of the seat belt worn
too high is dangerous. In a collision,
this would concentrate the impact
force directly on the abdominal area,
causing serious injury. Wear the lap
portion of the belt snugly and as low
as possible.
WARNING
Always unfasten the lap portion of the
belt before folding the rear-left
seatback. Leaving the lap portion of
the belt fastened could cause damage
to the seat belt, buckle and seatback.
NOTE
After returning the rear-left seatback to
its upright position, fasten the lap
portion of the belt.
(B)
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 15 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 24 of 250

2-16
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order
one that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.
Seat Belt Extender
Unnecessary Use of an Extender:Using a seat belt extender when not
necessary is dangerous. The seat belt
will be too long and not fit properly.
In an accident, the seat belt will not
provide adequate protection and you
could be seriously injured. Only use
the extender when it is required to
fasten the seat belt properly.
Using an Improper Extender:
Using a seat belt extender that is for
another person or a different vehicle
or seat is dangerous. The seat belt will
not provide adequate protection and
the user could be seriously injured in
an accident. Only use the extender
provided for you and for the
particular vehicle and seat. NEVER
use the extender in a different vehicle
or seat.
Using an Extender That is Too Long:
Using an extender that is too long is
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit
properly. In an accident, the seat belt
will not provide adequate protection
and you could be seriously injured.
Don’t use the extender or choose one
shorter in length if the distance
between the extender ’s buckle and the
center of the user ’s body is less than
15cm (6 in).
WARNING
J94S.book Page 16 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 25 of 250
2-17
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, a beep will sound for about
6 seconds and the seat belt warning light
will remain on until the belt is fastened.
If the system does not operate correctly,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Seat Belt Warning Light/
Beep
J94S.book Page 17 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 26 of 250

2-18
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Child Restraint
Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use
them.
You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada.
Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety
of children riding in your vehicle.
Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appropriate one for the age
and size of the child, obey the law and follow the instructions that come with the individual
child-restraint system.
A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should sit in the rear and use seat belts,
both lap and shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer to
the center.
Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up to 12 years of age-
the more so with a supplemental restraint system (air bags).
A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER
be used in the front seat because it
would be too close to the air bag. The front passenger’s seat is also the least preferred seat
for other child-restraint systems.
Child Restraint Precautions
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