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Installing a Child-
Restraint System
The passenger lap/shoulder belt can easily
be converted into the automatic locking
mode, which must be done to hold the
child-restraint system.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems ”(page 2-18).
Follow these manufacturer's instructions
when installing a child-restraint system on
the passenger's seat, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to “LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems ”(page 2-18).
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully. If
you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system, 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, however if it
uses an upper tether, it cannot be
mounted properly in this vehicle as
there is no safe way to anchor the tether.
Before installing a rear-facing child-
restraint system, the passenger air bag
must be deactivated (page 2-23).
NOTE
Before installing a child-restraint
system, refer to “Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch ”(page 2-23).
1. Make sure to remove articles from behind the passenger seat that would
prevent the seat from sliding back fully,
and then slide the seat as far back as
possible.
2. Secure the child-restraint system withthe lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the instructions on the child-
restraint system for belt routing
instructions.
3. To get the retractor into the automatic locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
4. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in automatic
locking mode. If the belt does not lock
the seat down tight, repeat this step.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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NOTE
lInspect this function before each use
of the child-restraint system. You
should not be able to pull the
shoulder belt out of the retractor
while the system is in the automatic
locking mode. When you remove the
child-restraint system, be sure the
belt fully retracts to return the system
to emergency locking mode before
occupants use the seat belts.
lFollow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode, however if it uses an
upper tether, it cannot be mounted
properly in this vehicle as there is no
safe way to anchor the tether.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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LATCH Child-Restraint Systems
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems behind the passenger seat. Only LATCH booster seats and
infant carriers without upper tethers can be used in this position, as there is no good place
to anchor the tether due to this vehicle's design. Both anchors must be used when installing
these lower anchor only child-restraint systems, otherwise the seat will bounce around and
put the child in danger.
WARNING
Manufacturer's Instructions for Child-Restraint System:
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 does not rely on an upper tether and then properly secure
those non-tethered seats according to the child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions.
Unsecured Child-Restraint System:
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. Follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions on belt routing to secure the seat
just as you would with a child in it so that nobody is tempted to put a child in an
improperly secured seat later on. 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.
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems:
Not following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing
the child-restraint system is dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object prevent the
child-restraint system from being securely attached to the LATCH lower anchors and
the child-restraint system is installed improperly, the child-restraint system could move
in a sudden stop or collision causing serious injury or death to the child or other
occupants. When installing the child-restraint system, make sure there are no seat
belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH lower anchors. Always follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.
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Child Restraint
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Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 2 air bags (verify“SRS AIRBAG ”
location indicator marks).
They are located in:
lThe steering wheel hub (driver air bag)
lThe passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
only in the front seats in certain situations, so seat belts are always 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:
lKeep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag.
lReduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
lReduce the possibility of injuries in frontal collisions that are not severe enough to
activate the air bags.
lReduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.
lReduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body.
lHold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.
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 2-13).
We have provided a deactivation switch that will disable passenger air bag inflation. Do not
switch off the passenger air bag without reading the “Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
Switch ”(page 2-23).
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.
Please be aware that there is no good way to anchor an upper tether, so do not pick a child
restraint system that uses upper tethers at all.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
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 or near frontal forces that are at least moderate.
Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
When a rear-facing child-restraint system is installed on the passenger's seat and the
passenger air bag deactivation switch is not in the OFF position, it is extremely
dangerous. In an accident, the air bag could inflate and cause serious injuries or even
death to the child in the rear-facing child-restraint system. When using a rear-facing
child-restraint system, always set the passenger air bag deactivation switch to OFF
position.
Seating Position with Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag modules or placing hands or feet on them is extremely
dangerous. 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 passenger should keep both feet on the floor. Seat occupants should adjust
their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the seatbacks with
seat belts worn properly.
Air Bag Modules located in the steering wheel hub and the dashboard:
Attaching an object to the air bag modules or placing something in front of them is
dangerous. In an accident, the object could interfere with air bag inflation and injure
the occupants.
Always keep the air bag modules free of objects.
Hot Air Bag Inflators:
Hot air bag inflators are dangerous. Immediately after inflation, the inflators in the
steering wheel or the dashboard are very hot. You could get burned. Don't touch the
internal components of the air bag modules after the bags have inflated.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch
WARNING
Unnecessary Deactivation of
Passenger Air Bag:
Unnecessary deactivation of the
passenger air bag is dangerous. If
turned off unnecessarily, the
passenger will not receive the added
protection of the air bag. Serious
injuries or even death could occur.
With the exception of passengers
fitting the categories described below,
do not turn the air bag deactivation
switch to the OFF position.
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger
air bag deactivation switch. The switch is
located in the center console. The switch
must be used to deactivate the passenger
air bag and the passenger seat belt
pretensioner system when the occupant of
the passenger seat fits into one of the
following categories (as described in the
request form for the air bag on-off switch,
the appendix B to part 595 of National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[NHTSA]):
lInfants (less than one year old; for all
types of restraint, but particularly the
rear-facing child restraint.)
lChildren aged 1 to 12
lPeople with certain medical conditions
which, according to his/her physician,
could be adversely affected by air-bag
activation For more government release information
on air bag deactivation, contact your
Authorized Mazda Dealer for the
occupant categories as described in the
request form for the air bag deactivation
switch in the NHTSA rules.
The air bag deactivation switch turns off
the passenger air bag. Make sure the
passenger air bag deactivation switch is in
the ON position except when a passenger
fitting the previous categories occupies
the front passenger seat.
Air bag deactivation switch
Deactivation indicatoir
Passenger
Air Bag
Deactivation Switch Passenger
Air Bag
Operation Air Bag
Deactivation
Indicator Light
OFF position
Deactivate ON
ON position
Ready OFF
When the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light comes on for
about 6 seconds.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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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 air bags
Air bags will not normally inflate in the
following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lImpact to the side.
lVehicle roll-over.
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
lSAS unit
lCrash sensor
lAir bag modules
lSeat belt pretensioners
lRelated wiring
lPassenger air bag deactivation switch
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.
q Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Light
If the air bag/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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SRS Air Bags
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Convertible Top
Windshield headerTop storage area
Top latch assembley
Top coveringTop latch assembly
detail
Top frame
Top latch
Unlock button
q
Convertible Top Precautions
WARNING
Standing in a Moving Vehicle:
Standing in the vehicle, or sitting on
the convertible top storage area or
center console when it's moving is a
dangerous way to ride. During a
sudden maneuver or collision you
could be seriously injured or even
killed.
Sit in the seat with the seat belt on
when the vehicle is moving.
WARNING
Fastening Mechanisms:
It is dangerous to place your hands or
fingers near the fastening
mechanisms. Your hands or fingers
could be caught and injured by the
mechanism. Always keep your hands
and fingers away from the fastening
mechanisms when moving the top.
CAUTION
Remove leaves that accumulate on and
around the convertible top. If the leaves
are not removed, they may block the
water drainage outlets.
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Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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