Page 17 of 244

2-9
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Emergency Locking Mode
If the belt has fully retracted, it will always be in the emergency locking mode until you
move it into automatic locking mode by pulling the belt all the way out to its full length. In
the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the
retractor will lock in position during a collision.
If the belt feels tight and hinders comfortable movement while the vehicle is stopped or in
motion, you may be in the automatic locking mode because you have pulled the belt too far
out. To return to the more comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until you can stop
the vehicle in a safe area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking
mode and then again extend it around you.
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 2-16).
J76Y.book Page 9 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 18 of 244

2-10
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
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
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 boneTake up slack
Too high
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 10 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 19 of 244
2-11
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
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
J76Y.book Page 11 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 20 of 244
2-12
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Fastening the Seat Belt
1. Pull the tongue to the desired length.
2. Insert it into the buckle until you hear a
click.
3. Adjust the belt length.
•To lengthen the belt, hold the tongue
at a right angle to the webbing and
pull.•To shorten, pull the loose end of the
webbing.
4. Make sure the lap belt is snugly fitted
against your body.
2-Point Type Seat Belt
Tongue
Buckle
Lengthen
Wearing the Lap Belt:
A lap 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 belt snugly and
as low as possible.
Shorten
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 12 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 21 of 244
2-13
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Unfastening the Seat Belts
Depress the button on the buckle.
To secure the passenger lap belt when not
in use, insert the buckle face up between
the seatback and seat bottom and make
sure the belt is not twisted.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
J76Y.book Page 13 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 22 of 244

2-14
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, 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.
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).
WARNINGSeat Belt Warning Light
J76Y.book Page 14 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 23 of 244
2-15
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
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.
Seat Belt Warning Beep
J76Y.book Page 15 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
Page 24 of 244

2-16
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
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
Proper Size of Child-Restraint System:
For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be
properly restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and
size. If not, the child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.
Follow the Manufacturer's Instructions and Always Keep the Child-Restraint System
Buckled Down:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure
the child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint
system manufacturer’s instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or
fasten it with a seat belt.
Holding a Child While the Vehicle is Moving:
Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No
matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden
stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other
occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces that
could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed into
the adult, injuring the adult. Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system.
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 16 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM