SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
Warning symbols in this guide
How can you reduce the risk of
personal injury and prevent possible
damage to others, your vehicle and
its equipment? In this guide,
answers to such questions are
contained in comments highlighted by a boldWARNINGstatement.
These comments should be read and observed.
Warning symbols on your vehicle
When you see this symbol, it is
imperative that you consult the
relevant section of this guide before
touching or attempting adjustment
of any kind.
Protecting the environment
We must all play our part in
protecting the environment. Correct
vehicle usage and the authorized
disposal of waste cleaning and
lubrication materials are significant
steps towards this aim. Information in this respect is highlighted in this
guide with the tree symbol.
Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a responsible manner. Follow
your community’s regulations and standards for recycling and disposing
of automotive fluids.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
There are no particular breaking-in rules for your vehicle. During the
first 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of driving, vary speeds frequently. This is
necessary to give the moving parts a chance to break in.
Introduction
5
WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause expensive repairs. A warning light may
illuminate when a problem exists with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Many lights will illuminate when you start your vehicle to make sure the
bulb works. If any light remains on after starting the vehicle, have the
respective system inspected immediately.
Check engine:Illuminates briefly
to ensure the system is functional. If
it comes on after the engine is
started, one of the engine’s emission
control systems may be
malfunctioning. The light may illuminate without a driveability concern
being noted and will not require towing.
Light turns on (without blinking):
Temporary malfunctions may cause your light to illuminate. Examples
are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel.
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel cap may not have been properly installed and securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with high quality fuel of the recommended octane and/or properly
installing and securely tightening the fuel cap. After three driving cycles
without these or any other temporary malfunctions present, the light
should turn off. (A driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup
followed by mixed city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is
required.
CHECK
ENGINE
Instrument Cluster
12
KEYS
The key operates all locks on your vehicle. In case of loss, replacement
keys are available from your dealer.
You should always carry a second key with you in a safe place in case
you require it in an emergency.
Refer toSecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System for more information.
POWER DOOR LOCKS (IF EQUIPPED)
Press the top of the control to
unlock all doors and the bottom to
lock all doors.
REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The remote entry system allows you to lock or unlock all vehicle doors
without a key.
The remote entry features only operate with the ignition in the LOCK
position.
If there is any potential remote keyless entry problem with your vehicle,
ensure ALL remote entry transmitters are brought to the dealership,
to aid in troubleshooting.
GENERAL INFORMATION: This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
rules and with RS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation. Changes or
modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules and with RS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device
must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
UNLOCK
LOCK
Locks and Security
59
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
Your vehicle is equipped with a remote entry system which allows you to:
•unlock the vehicle doors without
a key.
• lock all the vehicle doors without
a key.
• activate the personal alarm.
If there is any potential remote keyless entry problem with your vehicle,
ensure ALL remote entry transmitters are taken to the dealership, to
aid in troubleshooting.
Unlocking the doors
1. Pressand release to unlock the driver’s door. Note:The interior
lamps will illuminate.
2. Press
and release again within three seconds to unlock all the
doors.
Locking the doors
1. Pressand release to lock all the doors.
2. Press
and release again within three seconds to confirm that all
the doors are closed and locked. Note:the doors will lock again, the
horn will chirp once, and the lamps will flash.
If any of the doors are not properly closed the horn will make two quick
chirps and the lamps will not flash.
Locks and Security
60
2. To unfasten, push the releasebutton and remove the tongue
from the buckle.
The front outboard safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap
and shoulder belts. The front passenger outboard safety belt has two
types of locking modes described below:
Energy Management Feature
• This vehicle has a safety belt system with an energy management
feature at the front outboard seating positions to help further reduce
the risk of injury in the event of a head-on collision.
• This safety belt system has a retractor assembly that is designed to
pay out webbing in a controlled manner. This feature is designed to
help reduce the belt force acting on the occupant’s chest.
Vehicle sensitive mode
This is the normal retractor mode, which allows free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner
sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of approximately 8 km/h
(5 mph) or more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce
forward movement of the driver and passengers.
Automatic locking mode (outboard front passenger seating
position only) for use with child safety seats
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-locked. The belt will
still retract to remove any slack in the shoulder belt.
The automatic locking mode is not available on the driver safety belt.
When to use the automatic locking mode
• Any time a child safety seat is installed in a passenger front seat.
Refer to Safety Restraints for Children, Safety Seats for Children,
or Passenger air bag On/Off switch later in this chapter.
2003 Mazda B Series(mbs)
New Owners Guide own2002 (own2002)
USA English (fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
71
WARNING: If the light is illuminated when the passenger air
bag ON/OFF switch is in the ON position and the ignition switch
is ON, have the passenger air bag ON/OFF switch serviced at
your authorized Mazda dealership immediately.
The passenger side air bag should always be ON (the air bag OFF light
should notbe illuminated) except for certain vulnerable persons. See
guidance on following pages.
WARNING: The safety belts for the driver and right front
passenger seating positions have been specifically designed to
function together with the air bags in certain types of crashes.
When you turn OFF your air bag, you not only lose the
protection of the air bag, you also may reduce the effectiveness
of your safety belt system, which was designed to work with the
air bag. Most vehicles with full back seats do not have cut-off
switches, but NHTSA and Transport Canada will allow a cut-off
switch to be installed on request for a certain category of
persons who must ride up front and there is a concern about
riding there. Please see the guidance below.
WARNING: Always use safety belts and child restraints
properly. If a child in a rear facing infant seat must be
transported in front, the passenger air bag mustbe turned OFF.
This is because the back of the infant seat is too close to the
inflating air bag and the risk of a fatal injury to the infant when
the air bag inflates is substantial.
The vast majority of drivers and passengers over the age of 12 years are
much safer with an air bag than without. To do their job and reduce the
risk of life threatening injuries, air bags must open with great force, and
this force can pose a potentially deadly risk in some situations,
particularly when a front seat occupant is not properly buckled up. The
most effective way to reduce the risk of unnecessary air bag injuries
without reducing the overall safety of the vehicle is to make sure all
occupants are properly restrained in the vehicle, especially in the front
seat. This provides the protection of safety belts and permits the air bags
to provide the additional protection they were designed to provide. If
you choose to deactivate your air bag, you are losing the very significant
risk reducing benefits of the air bag and you are also reducing the
Seating and Safety Restraints
90
•steering wheel is turned when getting in or out of the vehicle
Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate or illuminate briefly. If a
light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle serviced.
• If the driver’s safety belt is fastened, the
light may not illuminate.
Refer to the Instrument Cluster chapter for more information.
Starting the engine
Note: Whenever you start your vehicle, release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
1. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without turning the key to 5 (START). If
there is difficulty in turning the
key, rotate the steering wheel
until the key turns freely. This
condition may occur when:
• the front wheels are turned
• a front wheel is against the curb
Turn the key to 5 (START), then
release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
Note: If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try,
turn the key to 3 (OFF), wait 10 seconds and try again.
Cold weather starting (flexible fuel vehicles only)
In cold weather, ethanol fuel distributors should supply winter grade
(E
d85) ethanol. If summer grade (Ed85) ethanol is used in cold weather,
you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle or hesitation
C
012
3
4
5
6
RPMx1000
ABS!
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
CHECK FUEL CAP
E FH
H
H
P
RN D 2 1THEFT
SPEED
CONT
4WD
HIGH 4WD
LOW
O/D
OFFL
L
10MPH
20 50
60
70
30 40
80
90
km/h
0 0 0
101
00
1
20
1
0 0 0 0 0 040 60
80
100
120
140
160180
20
DOOR
AJAR
CHECK
GAGE
3
2
1
5
4
Driving
113
•If shifting out of 4X4 LOW (4WD Low), wait for the LOW RANGE light
in the instrument cluster to turn offindicating the shift is complete.
Driving off-road with 4WD
Your vehicle is specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and has operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.
Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not
grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as
rocks and stumps.
You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before
driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. For more
information on driving off-road, read the “Four Wheeling” supplement in
your owner’s portfolio.
If your vehicle gets stuck
If the vehicle is stuck it may be rocked out by shifting from forward and
reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press lightly
on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
WARNING: Do not spin the wheels at over 56 km/h (35 mph).
The tires may fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail. Do not reduce the tire pressures but shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high water, drive slowly. Traction or brake
capability may be limited.
Driving
126