2004 MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR ECO mode

A Word to Mazda Owners
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
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 CorporationHIROSHIMA, JAPAN
©2003 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed in Japan Mar. 2004(Print3)
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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2-9
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
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 lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in two modes:
emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode. While
we recommend you put all children in the rear seats, if you must use the front passenger
seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible and make sure the
child-restraint system is secured properly.
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. Whether a front seat was occupied or not, if the front air bags deployed the
seat belt pretensioners also deployed and both front seat belts must be replaced. 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 cause serious injury or death. Don ’t wear twisted seat belts.
WARNING
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2-14
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
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 seat belt pretensioner
system will not activate if the seat belt is
not fastened, only you can be sure it is
worn properly. 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.
If the seat belt pretensioners are not
replaced, the risk of injury in a
collision will increase.
Always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer inspect the seat belt
pretensioners and air bags after any
collision. The seat belt pretensioners
and air bags must be replaced after
any collision, which causes them to
deploy.
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 or repairers
could be seriously injured. Never
modify the components or wiring, or
use electronic testing devices on the
pretensioner system.
WARNING
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2-15
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Air Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning
Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is normal, the warning light
illuminates 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 illuminates or doesn
’t
illuminate at all when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position. If any of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident.
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.
NOTE
• The pretensioner system will only
activate in a moderate or greater
frontal or near-frontal collision. It
will not activate in most rollovers,
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.
WARNING
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
performs all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
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2-48
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Driver and front passenger buckle switches
The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the front seat belts are
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags on the front seats.

How the Side and Curtain Air Bags Work*
When air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the side and curtain air bags and after the inflation, the side
and curtain air bags quickly deflate.
The side and curtain air bags will function only once. After that, the side and curtain air
bags will not work again and must be replaced. Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can
replace the systems.
NOTE
• The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front
passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
• The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if
luggage or other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the
vehicle
’s interior changes suddenly.
• The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds
if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat changes.
•
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate after
installing a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, install the child-restraint
system on the rear seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
To prevent damage to the side and curtain air bag wiring, don ’t place luggage or other
objects under the front seats.
The side air bag will deploy only on the side
the vehicle receives the force of the impact. The curtain air bag will deploy only on the side
the vehicle receives the force of the impact.
CAUTION
*Some models.
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2-53
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
• SAS unit
• Front air bag sensor
• Air bag modules
• Side crash sensor
*
•Front seat belt pretensioners
• Related wiring
• Driver seat slide position sensor
• Front passenger seat weight sensors
• Driver and front passenger seat belt
buckle switches
The diagnostic module continuously
monitors the system’ s 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 System Warning
Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is normal, the warning light
illuminates 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 illuminates or doesn
’t
illuminate at all when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position. If any of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident.
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
performs all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
*Some models.
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3-3
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
This system locks and unlocks the doors
and the liftgate.
It can also help you signal for attention in
an emergency.
Press the button slowly and accurately.
Keyless Entry System*
To avoid damage to the transmitter, do
not:
•Drop it.
• Get it wet.
• Disassemble it.
• Expose it to heat or sunlight.
CAUTION
NOTE
•The keyless entry system is
designed to operate up to about 2.5
m (8 ft) from the center of the
vehicle, but this may vary because
of local conditions.
• The system doesn
’t operate when
the key is in the ignition switch.
• Doors cannot be locked by pressing
the LOCK button while any other
door is open. The hazard warning
lights will also not flash.
• If the transmitter does not operate
when pressing a button or the
operation range becomes too small,
the battery may be dead. To install a
new battery, refer to Maintenance
(page 3-5).
• Additional transmitters can be
obtained at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer. Up to 3 transmitters can be
used with the keyless entry system
per vehicle. Bring all transmitters to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer when
the electronic codes need to be
reset.
*Some models.
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3-7
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Locking, Unlocking with Key
The driver
’s door can be locked/unlocked
with the key.
Turn the key toward the front to unlock,
toward the back to lock.

Locking, Unlocking with
Transmitter*
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to keyless entry system
(page 3-3).
Door Locks
Unattended Children and Pets:
Leaving a child or an animal
unattended in a parked vehicle is
dangerous. In hot weather,
temperatures inside a vehicle can
become high enough to cause brain
damage or even death. Always take all
children and animals with you or
leave a responsible person with them.
Keys and Children:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the
key is dangerous. This could result in
someone being badly injured or even
killed. They could play with power
windows or other controls, or even
make the vehicle move. Don
’t leave
the keys in your vehicle with children
and keep them in a place where your
children will not find or play with
them.
Unlocked Doors:
Unlocked doors in a moving vehicle
are dangerous. Passengers can fall
out if a door is accidentally opened
and can more easily be thrown out in
an accident. So keep all doors locked
when driving.
NOTE
Always remove the key from the
ignition switch, close all windows, and
lock all doors and the trunk lid/liftgate
when leaving your vehicle unattended.
This discourages intruders and thieves.
WARNING
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with a front
passenger door key slot, the door can
be locked/unlocked with the key.
Unlock
Lock
*Some models.
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