2002 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ Owners Manual (in English)

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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
To prevent damage to the side air bag wiring, don’t place luggage or other objects under
the front seats.
NOTE
•When an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be
released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may
cause light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.
•Should you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems
and that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner’s Manual, is
important.
CAUTION
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
•The air bag system with inflators and air bags.
•The electric system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations: the center of the steering wheel, the
passenger-side of the dashboard, and in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks. They are
out of sight until activated.

How the Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal or side impact of greater than moderate force,
an electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the air bags and after the inflation, the air bags quickly
deflate.
The air bags will function only once. After that, the air bags will not work again and
must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the systems.
Air Bag System Description
Inflators and air bags
Side crash sensor Inflator and air bag
Side crash sensor
Inflator and air bagCrash sensors and
diagnostic module
(SAS unit)
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F

Air Bag Activation/Deactivation
Front air bag activation
A greater than moderate impact will cause the front air bags to inflate in the following
cases:
Hitting a solid wall straight on at greater
than about 22 km/h (14 mph).Frontal impact within about a 30 degree
range from head-on to the vehicle.
Driving into a big hole or hitting the far
side of a hole. Hitting a curb, pavement edge or hard
object.
Landing hard or the vehicle falling.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Limitations to front air bag activation
Depending on the severity of impact, the front air bags may not inflate in the following
cases:
Non-activation of front air bags
Front air bags will not normally inflate in the following cases:
Impacts involving trees or poles cause severe
cosmetic damage but may not have enough
impact to activate the air bag.Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail
gate may not provide the stopping force
necessary for air bag deployment.
Frontal offset impact to the vehicle may not
provide the stopping force necessary for air
bag deployment.
Collision from the rear.
Impact to the side, but it may deploy a side
air bag.Vehicle roll-over, may deploy the side air
bag(s) but not the front air bags.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Side air-bag activation
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle (driver or passenger side areas)
will cause a side air bag to inflate, but it will not normally deploy the front air bags.
Limitations to side air bag activation
Depending on the severity of impact, a side air bag may not inflate in the following cases:
Side impacts involving trees or poles can
cause severe cosmetic damage but may not
have enough impact force to activate.Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles
may not provide enough force to deploy a
side air bag. Vehicle roll-over may not provide enough
side force to deploy the side air bags. Frontal offset impact may not provide
enough side impact to deploy a side air bag.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Non-activation of side air-bags
A side air bag will not normally inflate in the following cases:
Collision from the rear. Collision from the front, but it may deploy
the front air bags.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F

Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
•SAS unit
•Air bag modules
•Side air bag crash sensor
•Front seat belt pretensioners
•Related wiring
A diagnostic module continuously
monitors the systems’ readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.

Air Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner Systems Warning
Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is OK, the warning light comes on
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position or after the engine is
cranked. After about 6 seconds it goes
out.
A system malfunction is indicated when
the warning light constantly flashes, stays
on or doesn’t come on at all. If any of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident.

Maintenance
The air bag systems are maintenance-free.
But if any of the following occurs, take
your vehicle to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible:
•The air bag system warning light
flashes.
•The air bag system warning light stays
on.
•The air bag system warning light stays
off when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
•The air bags inflate.
Self-Servicing the Air Bag/
Pretensioner Systems:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled. This
could cause serious injuries. Never
tamper with the systems and always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Damaged Air Bag Sensors:
Driving with damaged air bag sensors
is dangerous. A collision, even one
not strong enough to inflate the air
bags, could damage the sensors. If
there was a subsequent collision, a
damaged sensor would not inflate the
air bags. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the air bag
systems after a collision.
Removing Interior Parts:
Removing any components such as
the front seat, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts containing air
bag sensors is dangerous. These parts
contain essential air bag parts. The
air bag could accidentally activate
and cause serious injuries. Always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
remove these parts.
Air Bag Disposal:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a
vehicle with live air bags in it can be
extremely dangerous. Unless all
safety procedures are followed, injury
can result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of an air
bag or how to scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.
WARNING
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