A Word to Mazda Owners
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Thank you for choosing a Mazda. We at Mazda design and build vehicles with complete
customer satisfaction in mind.
To help ensure enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your Mazda, read this manual
carefully and follow its recommendations.
An Authorized Mazda Dealer knows your vehicle best. So when maintenance or service is
necessary, that’s the place to go.
Our nationwide network of Mazda professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best
possible service.
We assure you that all of us at Mazda have an ongoing interest in your motoring pleasure
and in your full satisfaction with your Mazda product.
Mazda Motor Corporation
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
©2002 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed in Japan July 2002(Print1) Important Notes About This Manual
Keep this manual in the glove box as a handy reference for the safe and enjoyable use of
your Mazda. Should you resell the vehicle, leave this manual with it for the next owner.
All specifications and descriptions are accurate at the time of printing. Because
improvement is a constant goal at Mazda, we reserve the right to make changes in
specifications at any time without notice and without obligation.
Air Conditioning and the Environment
Your Mazda’s genuine air conditioner is filled with HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that
has been found not to damage the earth’s ozone layer. If the air conditioner does not
operate properly, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Please be aware that this manual applies to all models, equipment and options. As a
result, you may find some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Seat Belt Systems
Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and all passengers always wear seat belts.
All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way
when not in use.
The driver’s seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an
emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a
collision.
However, the front passenger’s seat and rear lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in two
modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode.
Seat Belt Precautions
Not Wearing Seat Belts:
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not
wearing seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown
out of the vehicle. They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same
collision, occupants wearing seat belts would be much safer. Always wear your seat
belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained.
Seat Belt Damaged During an Accident:
Using a damaged seat belt is dangerous. An accident could damage the belt webbing
of the seat belt in use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide adequate protection in a
collision. Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect all seat belt systems in use during
an accident before they are used again.
Twisted Seat Belts:
Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt isn’t
available to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt,
which could break them or cause other serious injury or death. Don’t wear twisted
seat belts.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
For optimum protection, the driver and
front passenger seat belts are equipped
with pretensioner and load limiting
systems.
In moderate or greater frontal or near-
frontal accidents, the front air bag and
pretensioner systems deploy
simultaneously. The pretensioners take up
slack in the front seat belts as the air bags
are expanding. The load limiting system
releases belt webbing in a controlled
manner to reduce belt force on the
occupant’s chest.
Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner and Load
Limiting Systems
Incorrect Positioning of the Driver
and Front Passenger Seat Belts:
Incorrect positioning of the driver
and passenger seat belts is dangerous.
Without proper positioning, the
pretensioner and load limiting
systems cannot provide adequate
protection in an accident and this
could result in serious injury. Wear
seat belts only as recommended in
this owner’s manual.
WARNING
Expended Seat Belt Pretensioners:
Use of front seat belts with the
pretensioner system expended is
dangerous.
The seat belt pretensioners will only
function once. After they are
expended, they will not work again
and must be replaced immediately,
even if there was no front seat
occupant seated at the time.
If the seat belt pretensioners are not
replaced, the risk of injury in a
collision will increase.
Always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer inspect and replace the seat
belt pretensioners after a collision.
Modification or Testing of the
Pretensioner System:
Modifying the components or wiring
of the pretensioner system, including
the use of electronic testing devices is
dangerous. You could accidentally
activate it or make it inoperable which
would prevent it from activating in an
accident. The occupants could be
seriously injured. Never modify the
components or wiring, or use
electronic testing devices on the
pretensioner system.
Pretensioner System Disposal:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is
dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of the
pretensioner system or how to scrap a
pretensioner-equipped vehicle.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
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.
NOTE
•The pretensioner system will only
activate in a moderate or greater
frontal or near-frontal collision. It
will not activate in side or rear
impacts.
•Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not
indicate a fire. This gas normally
has no effect on occupants,
however, those with sensitive skin
may experience light skin irritation.
If residue from the deployment of
the air bags or the front pretensioner
system gets on the skin or in the
eyes, wash it off as soon as possible.
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
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
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 (verify "SRS
AIR BAG" location indicator marks).
They are located in:
•The steering wheel hub
•The passenger side dashboard
•The outboard sides of the front seatbacks
These systems operate independently depending on the type of accident encountered; if
you have side air bags, the side air bags are not likely to deploy on both sides in the same
accident because a vehicle is not often hit from both sides. The side air bags work together
but they and the frontal air bag system will not normally deploy during the same type of
accident unless a combination of frontal and side impacts occur.
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide only supplemental
protection only in the front seats in a few modes, so seat belts become important in the
following ways:
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.
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Shifting
Shifting up
(M1
→M2
→M3
→M4)
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the shift
lever back ( ) once.Shifting down
(M4
→M3
→M2
→M1)
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the shift
lever forward ( ) once.
NOTE
•When driving slowly, the gears may
not shift up depending on vehicle
speed (page 5-17).
•In manual shift mode, gears do not
shift up automatically. Don’t run the
engine with the tachometer needle
in the RED ZONE. If the
tachometer needle enters the RED
ZONE, you may feel engine-
braking because the fuel delivery
will be stopped to protect the
engine. However, this does not
indicate an abnormality.
•Gears may not be shifted from M1
to M2 right after shifting the lever
from D to M. Wait a few seconds
and then shift up to M2.Sudden Engine-Braking:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or driving at
high speeds causes sudden engine
braking, which is dangerous. The
sudden change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid. This could lead
to loss of vehicle control and an
accident. Do not cause sudden engine
braking on slippery road surfaces or
at high speeds.
NOTE
•When driving at high speeds, the
gear may not shift down depending
on vehicle speed (page 5-17).
•During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending
on vehicle speed (page 5-17).
WARNING
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Shifting Recommendation
In manual shift mode, shift the gears
within the vehicle speed specified for each
gear.
Shifting up
If the vehicle speed is lower than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted up to a higher gear.
Shifting up to M2
You can shift up to M2 when the engine is
running, whether the vehicle is stopped or
moving.
Shifting up to M3
The vehicle speed must be higher than 20
km/h (12 mph) to shift up to M3.
Shifting up to M4
The vehicle speed must be higher than 38
km/h (24 mph) to shift up to M4.Shifting down
If the vehicle speed is higher than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted down to a lower gear.
In this situation, the shift position and
gear position indicators will flash twice to
signal that the gears cannot be shifted
down.
Shifting down to M3
The vehicle speed must be lower than 161
km/h (100 mph) to shift down to M3.
Shifting down to M2
The vehicle speed must be lower than 100
km/h (62 mph) to shift down to M2.
Shifting down to M1
The vehicle speed must be lower than 45
km/h (28 mph) to shift down to M1.
NOTE
•If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the
gear will shift to M1.
•If you tap the shift lever back when
the vehicle is stopped and the gear
is at M1, the gear will shift to M2.
M2 is helpful for starting on
slippery surfaces.
•Gears may not be shifted from M1
to M2 right after shifting the lever
from D to M. Wait a few seconds
and then shift up to M2.
NOTE
•At M4, the gears shift down to M3
automatically when the vehicle
speed slows to 36 km/h (22 mph) or
less.
•At M3 or M2, the gears shift down
to M1 automatically when the
vehicle speed slows to 9 km/h (6
mph) or less.
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5-24
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Speedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.
Odometer and Trip Meter
The display mode can be changed from
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter B
and then back to odometer by pressing the
selector while they are displayed. The
selected mode will be displayed.
Odometer
When this mode is selected, ODO will be
displayed.
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Tr i p m e t e r
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
trip meter A, and the other is recorded in
trip meter B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and trip
meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
Selector
Odometer
Trip meter A Press the selector
Press the selector
Press the selector Trip meter B
NOTE
The odometer and trip meter can be
displayed as follows even when the
ignition switch is in the ACC or LOCK
position:
•Displays for about 10 minutes after
the ignition switch is turned to the
ACC or LOCK position from the
ON position.
•Displays for about 10 minutes after
any door is opened.
(Sport AT model)
The headlight switch must be in the
or position to see the
odometer and trip meter display when
the ignition switch is in the LOCK
position.
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