2005 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 air bags

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WARNING
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 modules 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 modules. It also includes installing extra
electrical 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.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the side and curtain air bag wiring, don't place luggage or other
objects under the front seats.
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NOTE
lWhen an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be
released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may
cause light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.
lShould you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems
and that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is
important.
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Air Bag System Description
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
lThe air bag system with inflators and air bags.
lThe electrical 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.
Dual stage inflators and air bags*3
Seat belt buckle switches*2
Inflators and air bags
Side and curtain air bag
crash sensor
Inflators and air bags Side and curtain air bag crash sensorSeat slide position sensor
(only for driver's seat)*1 Crash sensors and
diagnostic module
(SAS unit) Front air bag sensor
*1 The 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.
*2 The 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.
*3 The 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.
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qHow the Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal or side impact of greater than moderate force,
an electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the air bags and after the inflation, the air bags quickly
deflate.
The air bags will function only once. After that,the air bags will not work again and
must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the systems.
The front air bags will deploy
only on the frontal impact.
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.
The side and curtain air bags will deploy
together on the same side.
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SRS Air Bags
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qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation
Front air bag activation
A greater than moderate impact will cause
the front air bags to inflate in the
following cases:
lHitting a solid wall straight on at
greater than about 22 km/h (14 mph).
lHitting a curb, pavement edge or hard
object.
lLanding hard or the vehicle falling.
lFrontal impact within about a 30
degree range from head-on to the
vehicle.
lDriving into a big hole or hitting the far
side of a hole.
Limitations to front air bag activation
Depending on the severity of impact, the
front air bags may not inflate in the
following cases:
lImpacts involving trees or poles cause
severe cosmetic damage but may not
have enough impact to activate the air
bag.
lFrontal offset impact to the vehicle
may not provide the stopping force
necessary for air bag deployment.
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lRear-ending or running under a truck's
tail gate may not provide the stopping
force necessary for air bag deployment.
Non-activation of front air bags
Front air bags will not normally inflate in
the following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lImpact to the side, but it may deploy
the side and curtain air bags.
lVehicle roll-over, may deploy the side
and curtain air bags but not the front air
bags.
Side and curtain air bag activation
Greater than moderate impact to one side
of the vehicle (driver or passenger side
areas) will cause the side and curtain air
bags to inflate, but it will not normally
deploy the front air bags.
Limitations to side and curtain air bag
activation
Depending on the severity of impact, the
side and curtain air bags may not inflate in
the following cases:
lFrontal offset impact may not provide
enough side impact to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.
lSide impacts involving trees or poles
can cause severe cosmetic damage but
may not have enough impact force to
activate the side and curtain air bags.
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lVehicle roll-over may not provide
enough side force to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.
lSide impacts with two-wheeled
vehicles may not provide enough force
to deploy the side and curtain air bags.
Non-activation of side and curtain air
bags
The side and curtain air bags will not
normally inflate in the following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lCollision from the front, but it may
deploy the front air bags.
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
lSAS unit
lFront air bag sensor
lAir bag modules
lSide and curtain air bag crash sensor
lFront seat belt pretensioners
lRelated wiring
lDriver's seat slide position sensor
lFront seat belt buckle switches
A diagnostic module continuously
monitors the systems' readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.
qAir 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.
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A system malfunction is indicated when
the warning light constantly flashes,
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.
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.
qMaintenance
The air bag systems do not require regular
maintenance. But if any of the following
occurs, take your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:
lThe air bag system warning light
flashes.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains illuminated.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains off when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
lThe air bags inflate.
WARNING
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.
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SRS Air Bags
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