2006 MAZDA MODEL 5 seats

Black plate (52,1)
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 6 air bags (verify
“SRS AIRBAG ”location indicator marks).
They are located in:
lThe steering wheel hub (driver air bag)
lThe front passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)
lThe outboard sides of the front seatbacks (side air bags)í
lThe front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides (curtain air bags)í
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 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 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 or side 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.
Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-21).
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.
2-38
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
SRS Air Bags
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page52
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (53,1)
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 the first collision 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. Even if the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as possible. 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. Even though you may feel
assured that a 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.
Seating Position with Front Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag modules 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-39
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page53
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (54,1)
WARNING
Seating Position with Side and Curtain Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. The side air bags inflate with great force and speed directly out of the
outboard side of the front seat and expand along the front door on the side the car is
hit. Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning
against a window, or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the front seatbacks.
Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the windows in the vehicle
could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. Give the side and curtain air bags room to work by sitting in
the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
Front Air Bag Modules Located in the Steering Wheel Hub and the Dashboard:
Attaching an object to the front air bag modules or placing something in front of them
is dangerous. In an accident, the object could interfere with front air bag inflation and
injure the occupants.
Always keep the front air bag modules free of objects.
Side Air Bag Modules:
Attaching things to the front seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the
seat in any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air
bag, which inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added
protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is
dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open spewing exhaust.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front seats.
Never use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your
front seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.
Curtain Air Bag Modules:
Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the
windshield glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof
edge and assist grips is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the
curtain air bag, which inflates from the front and rear window pillars and along the
roof edge, impeding the added protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting
the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open
spewing exhaust.
Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes,
hang them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free to
deploy in the event of a side collision.
2-40
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page54
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (55,1)
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 air bag wiring and connections to assure that the
bags do not accidentally deploy, the driver seat slide position sensor and front
passenger seat weight sensors are not damaged and that the seats retain an
undamaged air bag connection.
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page55
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (57,1)
qFront Air Bag System Components
(1)
(6) (10) (7)(6)
(9)
(5)(4)
(3)
(2)
(8)
(1) Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-45)
(2) Front seats
(3) Front dual stage inflators and air bags
(4) Front air bag sensor
(5) Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-45)
(6) Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-14)
(7) Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-45)
(8) Front passenger seat weight sensor control module
(9) Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(10) Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-45)
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-43
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page57
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (58,1)
qSide and Curtain Air Bag System Componentsí
4 Door
5 Door (4)
(1)
(1)
(3) (2)
(3)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(1) Side and curtain inflators and air bags
(2) Front seats
(3) Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(4) Side crash sensor
2-44
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
SRS Air Bags
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page58
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (62,1)
WARNING
Increasing the Total Seated Weight on the Front Passenger Seat:
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 30 kg (66 lb) is dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors will
detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the unexpected
deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system in an accident and serious injury. Increasing the total seated weight on the
front passenger seat beyond the total seated weight of approximately 30 kg (66 lb)
could result in the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system deployment in an accident under the following conditions, for example:
lLuggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
lA rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.lA rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with the feet.lLuggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.lThe seat is washed.lLiquids are spilled on the seat.lThe front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
lThe front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.lLuggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat.lAny accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front passenger
seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66 lb)
and they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lb).
CAUTION
lTo assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the sensors
in the front seat bottoms:
lDo not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on
them.
lDo not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
lTo allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
lAdjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
lIf you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page 2-30).
2-48
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page62
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G

Black plate (64,1)
WARNING
Damaged Side and Curtain Air Bag Wiring under the Front Seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The side and
curtain air bag wiring could be damaged, and in the event of a side collision, the side
and curtain air bags may not deploy, which could result in death or serious injury. To
prevent damage to the side and curtain air bag wiring, do not place luggage or other
objects under the front seats.
qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation
NOTE
If the front passenger seat weight sensors detect a total seated weight on the front
passenger seat is less than approximately 42 kg (93 lb), the front passenger front and side
air bags and seat belt pretensioner may not inflate (page 2-45).
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.
2-50
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition3 Page64
Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:40 AM
Form No.8U55-EA-05G