2004 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK warning

2-17
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
4. Make sure the shoulder belt is snugly
fitted against your body.

Unfastening the Seat Belt
Depress the button on the buckle.

Unfastening the Lap Portion of
the Seat Belt
Insert a small object in the anchor buckle
(B) slot, such as a key.
Fastening the Rear-Center Seat Belt
with Only One Buckle:
Fastening the rear-center seat belt
with only one buckle is dangerous. If
only one pair of seat belt tongue and
buckle, either tongue (A) and anchor
buckle (B) or tongue (C) and anchor
buckle (D), is fastened, the seat belt
cannot provide full protection. In a
sudden stop or collision, the user
could slide under the belt and suffer
serious injuries. Always make sure
that both pairs of seat belt tongues
and buckles are fastened properly.
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of
the Seat Belt:
Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
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
WARNING
Always unfasten the lap portion of the
belt before folding the rear-left
seatback. Leaving the lap portion of
the belt fastened could cause damage
to the seat belt, buckle and seatback.
(A)
(B)
CAUTION
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2-18
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Fastening the Lap Portion of the
Seat Belt
Grasp tongue (A) and insert it into the
anchor buckle (B) until you hear a click. It
is now secure for passenger use.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.
NOTE
To encourage rear seat passengers to
wear their seat belts, we suggest
leaving the rear center lap position of
the belt fastened at all times except
when folding the rear seat forward.
NOTE
After returning the rear-left seatback to
its upright position, fasten the lap
portion of the belt.
Seat Belt Extender
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.
WARNING
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2-19
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
The seat belt warning light illuminates
and a beep sound will be heard if the
driver’s seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
Conditions of operation
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).
NOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt
extender and store it in the vehicle. If
the seat belt extender is left connected,
the seat belt warning light will not
illuminate and function properly.
WARNINGSeat Belt Warning Light/
Beep
Condition
Result

The driver’s seat belt is
not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.The warning light
illuminates for about
1 minute and a beep
sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds.
The driver’s seat belt is
fastened while the
warning light and the
beep are activated.The warning light
turns off and the
beep sound stops.
The driver’s seat belt is
fastened before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.The warning light
will not illuminate
and the beep sound
will not be heard.
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2-20
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Belt Minder
The belt minder is a supplemental
warning to the seat belt warning function.
This feature provides additional
reminders to the driver that the driver’s
seat belt is not fastened by intermittently
sounding a beep sound and flashing the
seat belt warning light in the instrument
cluster.
Condition
Result

The driver’s seat belt is
not fastened when the
vehicle speed reaches 8
km/h (5 mph) and about 1
minute has elapsed since
the ignition switch was
turned to the ON position.The warning light
flashes and the beep
sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds
every 30 seconds,
for a period of about
5 minutes.
The driver’s seat belt is
fastened while the
warning light and the
beep are activated.The warning light
turns off and the
beep sound stops.
The driver’s seat belt is
fastened before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.The warning light
will not illuminate
and the beep sound
will not be heard.
NOTE
The belt minder can be deactivated
temporarily using the following
methods:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON
position.
2. Fasten the driver’s seat belt for
about 2 seconds or longer, and then
unfasten it within 20 seconds.
The belt minder will be deactivated
until the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position again.
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2-22
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
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, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH
child-restraint systems.
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.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. Even though you may feel
assured that the front passenger air bag will not deploy based on the fact that the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, NEVER use a rear-facing
child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy even in a
moderate collision.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
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2-23
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Seating Children in a Child-Restraint System on the Front Passenger Seat:
If your vehicle is equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors, a front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light is also equipped (page 2-29). Even with the front
passenger seat weight sensors, if you must use the front passenger seat for children,
seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat under the
following conditions increases the danger of the front passenger air bag deploying
and could result in serious injury or death to the child.
•The total seated weight of the child with the child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat is approximately 30 kg (66 lb) or more.
•Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
•A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.
•A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with the feet.
•Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.
•The seat is washed.
•Liquids are spilled on the seat.
•The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
•The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.
•Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat.
•Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
The designated positions with seat belts on the rear seats are the safest places for
children. Always use seat belts and child restraints.
Children and Seating Position with Side and Curtain Air Bags:
Allowing anyone to lean over or against the front door, the area of front seat, front
and rear window pillars and the roof edge along both sides which the side and curtain
air bags deploy even though using a child-restraint system is dangerous. If the vehicle
is equipped with side and curtain air bags, the impact of inflation could cause serious
injury or death to the child. Furthermore, leaning over or against the front door could
block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of supplemental
protection. With the front air bag and the additional side air bag that comes out of the
front seat, the rear seat is always a better location for children. Do not allow a child to
lean over or against the doors, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.
WARNING
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2-24
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
One Belt, One Passenger:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way can’t spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could be
crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more
than one person at a time.
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during
warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child
touches them.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially
designed LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seat. When using these anchors to
secure a child-restraint system, refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint Systems" (page 2-32).
WARNING
CAUTION
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2-25
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front
passenger’s seat is clearly the worst
choice for any child under 12, and with
rear-facing child-restraint systems it is
clearly unsafe due to air bags.
Some child-restraint systems now come
with tethers and therefore must be
installed on the seats that take tethers to
be effective. In your Mazda, tethered
child-restraint systems can only be
accommodated in the three positions on
the rear seat.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems" (page 2-32).

Rear Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the rear LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to "LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems" (page 2-32).
1. Make sure the seatback is securely
latched by rocking the seatback.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the manufacturer’s instructions on
the child-restraint system for belt
routing instructions.
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems
Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear
Seats:
Installation of a tether equipped
child-restraint system in the front
passenger’s seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury
if the child-restraint system goes
forward without benefit of being
tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
WARNING
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
If you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system or tether, check in the
child-restraint system manufacturer’s
instructions and follow them
accordingly. Depending on the type of
child-restraint system, it may not
employ seat belts which are in
automatic locking mode.
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