2005 MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE airbag

child in the front seat against all advice, then turn the vehicle off,
remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the restraint
following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions.
The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate)
the right front passenger’s frontal air bag anytime the system senses that
a person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed the air bag to be
enabled, the indicator will be unlit and stay unlit to remind you that the
air bag is enabled (may inflate).
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, but the
passenger air bag offorpass air bag offindicator is lit, it could be
that the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the
vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the full upright
position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with
the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the
person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the
system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s air bag. If
the indicator lamp remains lit even after this, then the occupant should
be advised to ride in the back seat.
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seatbelts, it’s
very important that they continue to sit upright, with their back against
the seatback, with their feet comfortably extended on the floor while the
vehicle is still in motion. Sitting improperly can increase the chance of
injury in a crash event. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down,
turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or
both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.
WARNING: Sitting improperly out of position or with the seat
back reclined too far can take off weight from the seat cushion
and affect the decision of the passenger sensing system,
resulting in serious injury or death in a crash. Always sit
upright against your seatback, with your feet on the floor.
The front passenger sensing system may detect small or medium objects
placed on the seat cushion. For most objects that are in the front
passenger seat, the passenger airbag will be disabled. Even though the
passenger airbag is disabled, thepass airbag offlight may or may not
be illuminated according to the table below.
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ObjectsPass Airbag Off
Indicator LightPassenger Airbag
Empty seat Unlit Disabled
Small (i.e. 3 ring
binder, small purse,
bottled water)Unlit Disabled
Medium (i.e. heavy
briefcase, fully packed
luggage)Lit Disabled
Empty seat, Small or
medium object with
safety belt buckledLit Disabled
In case there is a problem with the passenger sensing system, the airbag
readiness light in the instrument cluster will stay lit. Do NOT attempt to
repair or service the system; take your vehicle immediately to the
authorized Mazda dealer.
If it is necessary to modify an advanced front air bag system to
accommodate a person with disabilities, contact the Mazda Customer
Relationship Center at the phone number shown in the Customer
Assistance section of this Owner’s Guide.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A malfunction with the system is indicated by one or more of the
following:
•The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
•A series of five beep sounds will be heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your authorized Mazda dealership immediately.
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How does the side air bag system work?
The design and development of the
side air bag system included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Air Bag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of
side air bags.
The side air bag system consists of
the following:
•An inflatable nylon bag (air bag)
with a gas generator concealed
behind the outboard bolster of
the driver and front passenger
seatbacks.
•A special seat cover designed to allow airbag deployment.
•The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front air bags.
•Two crash sensors located on the lower portion of the b-pillar (one on
each side of the vehicle).
Side air bags, in combination with seat belts, can help reduce the risk of
severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact collision.
The side air bags are fitted on the outboard side of the seatbacks of the
front seats. In certain lateral collisions, the air bag on the side affected
by the collision will be inflated. If the front passenger sensing system
detects an empty seat, the front passenger seat-mounted side air bag will
be deactivated. The air bag was designed to inflate between the door
panel and occupant to further enhance the protection provided
occupants in side impact collisions.
The air bag SRS is designed to activate when the vehicle sustains lateral
deceleration sufficient to cause the sensors to close an electrical circuit
that initiates air bag inflation.
The fact that the air bags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that
something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces were
not of the type sufficient to cause activation. Side air bags are designed
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to inflate in side-impact collisions, not roll-over, rear-impact, frontal or
near-frontal collisions, unless the collision causes sufficient lateral
deceleration.
WARNING: Several air bag system components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after inflation.
WARNING: If the side air bag
has deployed, the air bag will
not function again. The side
air bag system (including the
seat) must be inspected and
serviced by a qualified
technician in accordance with
the vehicle service manual. If
the air bag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase
the risk of injury in a collision.
Determining if the side airbags are operational
First determine you have the optional side air bags - locate the
“AIRBAGlabels on the outboard sides of the front seats.
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrument clusterchapter. Routine maintenance of the
side air bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light (same light as for front air bag system) will either
flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
by your authorized Mazda dealership immediately. Unless serviced, the
system may not function properly in the event of a collision.
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Side-curtain air bag system (if equipped)
You can easily confirm if your vehicle has side-curtain air bags by looking
inside the vehicle up at the upperBpillar where you will see an
embossedAIRBAGlabel.
WARNING: Do not place
objects or mount equipment on
or near the headliner at the
siderail that may come into
contact with a deploying
side-curtain air bags (if
equipped). Failure to follow
these instructions may
increase the risk of personal
injury in the event of a
collision.
WARNING: Do not lean your head on the door or window glass.
The side-curtain air bags (if equipped) could injure you as it
deploys from the headliner.
WARNING: Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
side-curtain air bags (if equipped), fuses, the A, B, or C pillar
trim, or the headliner on a vehicle containing side-curtain air
bags. See your Mazda dealer.
WARNING: All occupants of the vehicle including the driver
should always wear their safety belts even when an air bag SRS
and side-curtain air bags (if equipped) are provided.
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WARNING: To reduce risk of injury, do not obstruct or place
objects in the deployment path of the inflatable side-curtain air
bags (if equipped).
How do the side-curtain air bags (if equipped) work?
The side-curtain air bags (if
equipped) consists of the following:
•An inflatable nylon curtain with a
gas generator concealed behind
the headliner and above the doors
(one on each side of vehicle).
•A headliner designed to flex open
above the side doors to allow
side-curtain air bag deployment.
•The same warning light,
electronic control and diagnostic
unit as used for the front airbags.
•Two crash sensors mounted at
lower B-Pillar (one on each side).
•Two crash sensors located at the
c-pillar behind the rear doors
(one on each side).
•Rollover sensor in the restraints control module (RCM).
The side-curtain air bags (if equipped), in combination with seat belts,
can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant
side impact collision or rollover event.
Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the rear seats. The side-curtain air bags (if equipped) will not interfere
with children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat
because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the
doors along the side window opening.
The side-curtain air bags (if equipped) are designed to active when the
vehicle sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the RCM to
initiate side-curtain air bag (if equipped) inflation or when a certain
likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
The side-curtain air bags are mounted to roof side-rail sheet metal,
behind the headliner, above the first and second row seats. In certain
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Determining if the side-curtain airbags are operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light (same light as for front air bag system) will either
flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
•A series of five beep sounds will be heard. The tone pattern will
repeat periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your authorized Mazda dealership immediately. Unless serviced, the
system may not function properly in the event of a collision.
Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped vehicles
For disposal of safety belt pretensioners, air bags, or air bag equipped
vehicles, see your authorized Mazda dealership. Air bags MUST BE
disposed of by qualified personnel.
WARNING: Disposing of an air bag can be 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.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to properly use safety
restraints for children. Also seeAir bag supplemental restraint system
(SRS)in this chapter for special instructions about using air bags.
Important child restraint precautions
NOTE:You are required to use safety restraints for children in the U.S.
and Canada. Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific
requirements regarding the safety of children in your vehicle.
WARNING: Never let a passenger hold a child on his or her lap
while the vehicle is moving. The passenger cannot protect the
child from injury in a collision.
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