2-21
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front
passenger’s seat is clearly the worst
choice for any child under 12, and with
rear-facing child-restraint systems it is
clearly unsafe due to air bags.
Some child-restraint systems now come
with tethers and therefore must be
installed on the seats that take tethers to
be effective. In your Mazda, tethered
child-restraint systems can only be
accommodated in the three positions on
the rear seat.
Rear Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system.
1. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the instructions on the child-
restraint system for belt routing
instructions.
2. To get the retractor into the automatic locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems Work Only on Rear Seat:Installation of a tether equipped
child-restraint system in the front
passenger ’s seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury
if the child-restraint system goes
forward without benefit of being
tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
WARNING
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer ’s instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
3. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in the
automatic locking mode. If the belt
does not lock the seat down tight,
repeat this step. 4. If your child-restraint system requires
the use of a tether strap, hook and
tighten the tether strap by following the
manufacturer ’s instructions.
NOTE
Inspect this function before each use of
the child-restraint system. You should
not be able to pull the shoulder belt out
of the retractor while the system is in
the automatic locking mode. When
you remove the child-restraint system,
be sure the belt fully retracts to return
the system to emergency locking mode
before occupants use the seat belts.
Child-Restraint Tether Usage:Using the tether to secure anything
but a child-restraint system is
dangerous. This could weaken or
damage the tether or tether anchor
and result in injury. Use the tether
and tether anchor only for a child-
restraint system.
For rear
right seat For rear
center seat
Cover
Open
Tether
strap
Anchor
bracket
WARNING
J94S.book Page 22 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-23
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
If You Must Use the Front Seat
for Children
If you cannot put all children in the rear
seat, at least put the smallest in the rear
seat and be sure the largest child up front
uses the shoulder belt over the shoulder.
Do not put rear-facing child-restraint
systems on the front passenger ’s seat.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in one of
the three rear seat positions set up with
tether anchors.
Don ’t allow anyone to sleep against the
right front door if you have an optional
side air bag, it could cause serious injuries
to an out of position occupant. As
children more often sleep in cars, it is
better to put them in the rear seat. If
installing the child-restraint system on the
front seat is unavoidable, follow these
instructions when using a front-facing
child-restraint system in the front
passenger ’s seat.
NOTE
To check if your Mazda front seats
have side air bags:
Every Mazda side air bag will have a
"SRS-Air Bag" label on the outboard
shoulder of the front seats.
Front Passenger ’s Seat Position:As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so because your vehicle has
side air bags, a front-facing child-
restraint system should be put on the
front seat only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back as
possible, because the force of a
deploying air bag could cause serious
injury or death to the child.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems
on the front seat are particularly
dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit
by a deploying air bag and moved
violently backward resulting in
serious injury or death to the child.
NEVER use a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the front seat with
an air bag that could deploy.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 23 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-24
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Front Passenger ’s Seat Child-
Restraint System Installation
1. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the instructions on the child-
restraint system for belt routing
instructions. 3. To get the retractor into the automatic
locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
4. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in automatic
locking mode. If the belt does not lock
the seat down tight, repeat this step.
Children and Seating Position with Side Air Bag:Allowing anyone to lean over or
against the front door is dangerous. If
the vehicle is equipped with side air
bags, the impact of an inflating side
air bag could cause serious injury or
death to the person. Children are
more likely to sleep in the vehicle;
when they do, they are more at risk in
the front passenger ’s seat that has a
side air bag because they may slump
over into the path of the seatback-
mounted air bag. If a child can ’t be
seated in the rear, do not allow the
child to lean over or against the front
door, even if the child is seated in a
child-restraint system.
WARNING
NOTE
• Inspect this function before each
use of the child-restraint system.
You should not be able to pull the
shoulder belt out of the retractor
while the system is in the automatic
locking mode. When you remove
the child-restraint system, be sure
the belt fully retracts to return the
system to emergency locking mode
before occupants use the seat belts.
• Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer ’s instruction carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode.
J94S.book Page 24 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-25
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
SRS Air Bags
Read this owner’s manual carefully to verify what air bags (driver-side air bag, passenger-
side air bag, side air bags) are equipped in your vehicle.
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include 4 air bags.
They are located in:
• The steering wheel
• The passenger side dashboard
• The outboard sides of the front seatbacks
These systems operate independently depending on the type of accident encountered; both
side air bags are not likely to deploy in the same accident because a vehicle is not often hit
from both sides. The front and side air bag systems will not normally deploy during the
same type of accident unless a combination of frontal and side impacts occur.
In a front-end or side impact, the air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to
provide only supplemental protection for the driver and front seat passenger. Seat belts
must still be worn.
Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an
accident. Seat belt usage is necessary to:
• Keep the passenger away from an inflating air bag.
• Reduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
• Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal or side collisions that are not severe enough
to activate the air bags.
• Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.
• Reduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts.
• Hold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.
Small children, those under 18 kg (40 lb), should be protected by a child-restraint system
(page 2-18).
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
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2-26
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Air Bags without Seat Belts:Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous.
Alone, air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be
expected to inflate only during a frontal, side or near-frontal collision of at least
moderate force. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Child in the Front Seat:
Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be
hit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. A sleeping child is
more likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate, right-
side collision. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on the
rear seat with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child’s age and size.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. NEVER use a rear-facing
child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy.
Seating Position with Front Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag storage compartments or placing hands or feet on them
is extremely dangerous. Front Air bags inflate with great force and speed. Serious
injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto only
the rim of the steering wheel. The front seat passenger should keep both feet on the
floor. Front seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and
always sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
J94S.book Page 26 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
11-2
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Index
A
Accessory Socket ............................. 6-38
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories
...................................... 9-10
Air Bag Systems
.............................. 2-25
Air Filter
.......................................... 8-21
Antenna
............................................ 6-11
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
........ 5-6
Warning light
.............................. 5-7
Appearance Care
.............................. 8-40
Audio System
................................... 6-11
Audio set
................................... 6-19
Operating tips for
audio system
............................. 6-11
Safety certification
.................... 6-36
Automatic Transaxle Driving tips
............................... 5-12
Fluid
.......................................... 8-18
Overdrive
.................................. 5-11
Shift-lock system
...................... 5-10
Transaxle ranges
......................... 5-9
B
Battery Emergency starting
................... 7-12
Maintenance
............................. 8-24
Specifications
........................... 10-4
Beeps Ignition key reminder
............... 5-31
Lights-on reminder
................... 5-31
Before Starting the Engine
................. 4-6
After getting in
........................... 4-6
Before getting in
......................... 4-6
Body Lubrication
............................. 8-21
Brake/Clutch Fluid
.......................................... 8-15
B
BrakesAnti-lock brake system (ABS)
.... 5-6
Foot brake
................................... 5-4
Pad wear indicator
...................... 5-7
Parking brake
.............................. 5-5
Warning light
.............................. 5-5
Break-In Period
.................................. 4-7
Bulb Replacement
............................ 8-29
C
Capacities ......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide
.............................. 4-5
Catalytic Converter
............................ 4-4
Cell Phones
...................................... 9-11
Center Console
................................. 6-43
Center Pocket
................................... 6-42
Child Restraint Child restraint precautions
........ 2-18
Installing child-restraint
systems
...................................... 2-21
Child Safety Lock for Rear Door
....... 3-5
Climate Control System
..................... 6-2
Gas specifications
..................... 10-6
Courtesy Light
.................................. 6-38
Cruise Control
.................................. 5-13
Cup Holders
..................................... 6-40
Customer Assistance
.......................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-22
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-33
Defroster Rear window
............................. 5-35
Dimensions
....................................... 10-5
Door Locks
......................................... 3-3
Driving In Flooded Area
.................. 4-10
J94S.book Page 2 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
11-5
Index
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
R
Rear Door Child Safety Lock ............ 3-5
Rear Seat
............................................ 2-6
Rear Window Defroster
................... 5-35
Rear-Armrest Box
............................ 6-43
Rearview Mirror
............................... 3-22
Recreational Towing
........................ 7-16
Rocking the Vehicle
........................... 4-8
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................ 9-14
Seat Belt System 3-point type
............................... 2-12
Automatic locking
.................... 2-11
Emergency locking
................... 2-10
Extender
.................................... 2-16
Pregnant women
....................... 2-10
Rear-center lap/shoulder
........... 2-14
Seat belt precautions
................... 2-9
Warning light/beep
................... 2-17
Seats Front seat
.................................... 2-2
Rear seat
...................................... 2-6
Security System Immobilizer system
.................. 3-17
Theft-deterrent system
.............. 3-19
Service Publications
......................... 9-15
Spare Tire and Tool Storage
.............. 7-3
Specifications
................................... 10-4
Speedometer
..................................... 5-20
SRS Air Bags Air bag system description
....... 2-29
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions
................................ 2-25
Warning light
............................ 2-34
Starting the Engine
............................. 5-3
Steering Wheel
................................. 3-21
Horn
.......................................... 5-36
S
Storage Compartments .....................6-41
Storage Pocket
..................................6-42
Sunroof
.............................................3-15
Sunshade
...........................................3-16
Sunvisors
..........................................6-44
T
Tachometer .......................................5-21
Temporary Spare Tire
......................8-28
Theft-Deterrent System
....................3-19
Tiedown Hook
..........................................7-16
Tires Flat tire
........................................7-3
Inflation pressure
.......................8-26
Replacement
..............................8-27
Rotation
.....................................8-27
Snow tires
....................................4-9
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Specifications
............................10-6
Tire chains
.................................4-10
Uniform tire quality grading
system (UTQGS)
.......................9-12
Tool
....................................................7-3
Towing Description
................................7-15
Emergency towing
....................7-15
Recreational towing
..................7-16
Trailer towing
............................4-11
Traction Control System (TCS)
.......5-16
Indicator light
............................5-17
Switch
........................................5-17
Warning light
............................5-17
Trailer Towing
..................................4-11
Trip Meter
........................................5-20
Trunk Lid
..........................................3-10
Trunk Light
......................................3-11
J94S.book Page 5 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM