2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 steering wheel

2-27
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
SRS Air Bags
Read this owner’s manual carefully to verify what air bags (driver-side air bag, passenger-
side air bag, side and curtain air bags) are equipped in your vehicle.
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 6 air bags (verify
"SRS AIRBAG" location indicator marks).
They are located in:
•The steering wheel hub
•The passenger side dashboard
•The outboard sides of the front seatbacks
•The front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides
These systems operate independently depending on the type of accident encountered; if
you have side and curtain air bags, the side and curtain 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
and curtain 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 supplemental protection
only in the front seats in certain situations and the rear outside passenger positions only in
same-side collisions, 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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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Children should be protected by a child-restraint system. Laws vary on the size a child
must be to use a child-restraint system (page 2-17).
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow the
installation directions in this Owner’s Manual as well as the child-restraint system
manufacturer’s instructions.
Air Bags without Seat Belts:
Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous.
Alone, air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be
expected to inflate only in collisions with frontal, near frontal or side forces that are at
least moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Child in the Front Seat:
Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be
hit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. A sleeping child is
more likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate, right-
side collision. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on the
rear seat with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child’s age and size.
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. NEVER use a rear-facing
child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy.
Seating Position with Front Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag storage compartments or placing hands or feet on them
is extremely dangerous. Front Air bags inflate with great force and speed. Serious
injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto only
the rim of the steering wheel. The front seat passenger should keep both feet on the
floor. Front seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and
always sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
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2-30
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Hot Air Bag Inflators:
Hot air bag inflators are dangerous. Immediately after inflation, the inflators in the
steering wheel, dashboard, seatbacks, or the front and rear window pillars and along
the roof edge are very hot. You could get burned. Don’t touch the internal components
of the air bag storage areas after the bags have inflated.
Installation of Front-End Equipment:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar,
bull bar, push bar, etc.), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air bag crash sensor
system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate unexpectedly, or it could
prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident. Front occupants could be
seriously injured. Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle.
Suspension Adjustment:
Adjusting the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle’s height or the
suspension is changed, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Modification of the Supplemental Restraint System:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is
dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Don’t make any
modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,
badges, or anything else over the air bag storage areas. It also includes installing
extra electric equipment on or near system components or wiring. An Authorized
Mazda Dealer can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of
front seats. It is important to protect the side and curtain air bag wiring and
connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy and that the seats retain
an undamaged air bag connection.
To prevent damage to the side and curtain air bag wiring, don’t place luggage or other
objects under the front seats.
WARNING
CAUTION
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2-32
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
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, in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks and the front
and rear window pillars, along the roof edge. They are out of sight until activated.
*1The driver’s seat slide position sensor determines whether the driver’s seat is fore or aft
of a reference position. The sensor is designed to control the deployment of the driver’s
air bag depending on how close the driver’s seat is to the steering wheel.
*2The buckle switches on the front seat belts determine whether or not the front seat belts
are securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags on the front
seats.
*3The front, dual stage air bags control air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity the front air bags deploy with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, they deploy with more energy.
Deployment of the front air bags may differ between the driver and the front passenger
depending on the driver’s seat position and front seat belt usage, which allow for further
controlling of the system.
Air Bag System Description
Dual stage inflators and air bags*3
Inflators and air bags Seat belt buckle switches*2
Front air bag sensor
Side and curtain air bag
crash sensor
Seat slide position sensor
(only for driver's seat)*1
Inflators and air bags Side and curtain air bag crash sensor Crash sensors and
diagnostic module
(SAS unit)
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2-39
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
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 on the front
and rear window pillars and along the
roof edge, containing air bag parts or
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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3-1
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3Knowing Your Mazda
Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and adjustment
of various parts.
Doors and Locks
............................................................................ 3-2
Keys ........................................................................................... 3-2
Keyless Entry System ................................................................ 3-3
Door Locks ................................................................................ 3-7
Trunk Lid ................................................................................. 3-11
Trunk Release Slide Lever ....................................................... 3-13
Power Windows ....................................................................... 3-14
Rear Quarter Windows ............................................................ 3-16
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap ........................................................... 3-16
Hood ........................................................................................ 3-18
Sunroof* .................................................................................. 3-19
Security System
........................................................................... 3-21
Immobilizer System ................................................................ 3-21
Theft-Deterrent System* ......................................................... 3-23
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
...................................................... 3-25
Steering Wheel ........................................................................ 3-25
Mirrors ..................................................................................... 3-25
*Some models.
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3-25
Knowing Your Mazda
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Steering Wheel and Mirrors

Tilt Steering Wheel
To change the angle of the steering wheel,
stop the vehicle, pull the tilt wheel release
lever under the steering column down,
adjust the wheel, then push the release
lever up to lock the column.
After adjusting, push the wheel up and
down to be certain it’s locked before
driving.

Outside Mirrors
Check the mirrors’ angles before driving.
Power control mirror
The ignition switch must be in the ACC or
ON position.
To a d j u s t :
1. Press the left or right side of the
selector switch to choose the mirror.
2. Depress the mirror switch in the
appropriate direction.
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control
or an accident. Never adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is
moving.
WARNING
Tilt wheel release
lever
Mirrors
Convex Mirror (Passenger Side):
Changing lanes without taking into
account the actual distance of the
vehicle in the convex mirror is
dangerous. You could have a serious
accident. What you see in the convex
mirror is closer than it appears. Be
sure to look over your shoulder or to
check your inside mirror before
changing lanes.
WARNING
Selector switch
Mirror switchOutside mirror
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3-26
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
After adjusting the mirror, lock the
control by placing the selector switch in
the middle position.
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
locked.
Mirror defroster*
If your vehicle has mirror defrosters, turn
them on by turning the ignition switch to
the ON position and pushing the rear
window defroster switch (page 5-53).

Rearview Mirror
Rearview mirror adjustment
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window.
Reducing glare from headlights
Manual day/night mirror*
Push the day/night lever forward for day
driving. Pull it back to reduce glare of
headlights from cars at the rear.
Driving with Mirrors Folded In:
Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident. Always return the
outside mirrors to the driving position
before you start driving.
WARNING
Blocked View:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes. Don’t stack
things higher than the seatbacks.
NOTE
For the manual day/night mirror,
perform the adjustment with the day/
night lever in the day position.
WARNING
Day/Night lever
Day
Night
*Some models.
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