2006 MAZDA MODEL B-SERIES service

WARNING: Never place a rear facing infant seat in the front
seat unless the passenger air bag is turned off.
Steps you can take to properly position yourself away from the airbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly (one or two degrees) from the upright
position.
WARNING: Do not put anything on or over the airbag module
including hands or feet. Placing objects on or over the airbag
inflation area may cause those objects to be propelled by the
airbag into your face and torso causing serious injury.
WARNING: Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the
Airbag Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your
authorized Mazda dealership.
WARNING: Modifications to the front end of the vehicle,
including frame, bumper, front end body structure, tow hooks
and snow plows may effect the performance of the airbag
sensors increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front
end of the vehicle.
WARNING: Additional equipment may effect the performance
of the airbag sensors increasing the risk of injury. Consult your
authorized Mazda dealership before installation of additional
equipment.
WARNING: The front passenger airbag is not designed to offer
protection to an occupant in the center front seating position.
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Seating and Safety Restraints
79

A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness lights will either
flash or stay lit.
•The readiness lights 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
at your authorized Mazda dealership immediately.
WARNING: Unless serviced, the system may not function
properly in the event of a collision.
Disposal of airbags and airbag equipped vehicles (including safety
belt pretensioners)
For disposal of safety belt pretensioners, airbags, or airbag equipped
vehicles, see your authorized Mazda dealership or qualified technician.
Airbags MUST BE disposed of by qualified personnel.
Passenger airbag ON/OFF switch
WARNING: An airbag ON/OFF
switch has been installed in
this vehicle. Before driving,
alwayslook at the face of the
switch to be sure the switch is
in the proper position in
accordance with these
instructions and warnings.
Failure to put the switch in a
proper position can increase
the risk of serious injury or
death in a collision.
ON
OFF
OFF
PASSENGER AIRBAG
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Seating and Safety Restraints
83

Turning the passenger airbag off
1. Ignition OFF.
2. Insert the ignition key, turn the
switch to OFF position and hold
in OFF position while removing
the key.
3. When the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position the
OFF light illuminates briefly,
momentarily shuts off and then
turns back on. This indicates that the passenger airbag is
deactivated. Do not use a second key to turn off the passenger
airbag, as the lock position might be changed without your knowing.
WARNING: You must turn the passenger airbag Off if you have
a rear facing child seat in the front seat of the pickup (the
center lapbelt on front split seats or the center facing rear
seats do not accommodate child seats). Statistics show that
children under 12 are more likely to suffer minor injuries in the
front passenger seats than adults. If you must have a child in
the front passenger seat, place the largest child in the front
seat, make sure that the child is belted, the vehicle seat is all
the way back, and the passenger airbag is turned OFF. The front
seat center lap belt and the center facing rear seats do not
accommodate child seats; therefore, you may not be able to put
a larger child in the front passenger seat if a child seat is
involved.
WARNING: If the OFF light fails to illuminate when the
passenger airbag switch is in the OFF position and the ignition
switch is in the ON position, have the passenger airbag switch
serviced at your authorized Mazda dealership.
WARNING: In order to avoid inadvertent activation of the
switch, always remove the ignition key from the passenger air
bag ON/OFF switch.
ON
OFF
OFF
PASSENGER AIRBAG
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Seating and Safety Restraints
84

Turning the passenger airbag back on
The passenger airbag remains OFF until you turn it back ON.
1. Insert the ignition key and turn
the switch to ON.
2. The OFF light will briefly
illuminate when the ignition is
turned to ON. This indicates
that the passenger airbag is
operational.
WARNING: If the light is illuminated when the passenger
airbag ON/OFF switch is in the ON position and the ignition
switch is ON, have the passenger airbag ON/OFF switch serviced
at your authorized Mazda dealership immediately.
The passenger side airbag should always be ON (the airbag OFF light
shouldnotbe illuminated) except for certain vulnerable persons. See
guidance on following pages.
WARNING: The safety belts for the driver and right front
passenger seating positions have been specifically designed to
function together with the airbags in certain types of crashes.
When you turn OFF your airbag, you not only lose the
protection of the airbag, you also may reduce the effectiveness
of your safety belt system, which was designed to work with the
airbag. Most vehicles with full back seats do not have cut-off
switches, but NHTSA and Transport Canada will allow a cut-off
switch to be installed on request for a certain category of
persons who must ride up front and there is a concern about
riding there. Please see the guidance below.
WARNING: Always use safety belts and child restraints
properly. If a child in a rear facing infant seat must be
transported in front, the passenger airbagmustbe turned OFF.
This is because the back of the infant seat is too close to the
inflating airbag and the risk of a fatal injury to the infant when
the airbag inflates is substantial.
ON
OFF
OFF
PASSENGER AIRBAG
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Seating and Safety Restraints
85

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
NOTE:The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
WARNING: The temperature grade for this tire is established
for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
107

TIRES
Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles of service, but they
must be maintained in order to get the maximum benefit from them.
Glossary of tire terminology
•Tire label:A label showing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure and the maximum weight the vehicle
can carry.
•Tire Identification Number (TIN):A number on the sidewall of
each tire providing information about the tire brand and
manufacturing plant, tire size and date of manufacture.
•Inflation pressure:A measure of the amount of air in a tire.
•Standard load:A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a
maximum load at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing
the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase the tire’s
load carrying capability.
•Extra load:A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires].
Increasing the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase
the tire’s load carrying capability.
•kPa:Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
•PSI:Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of air pressure.
•Cold inflation pressure:The tire pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for 1 mile (1.6 km).
•Recommended inflation pressure:The cold inflation pressure found
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label or Tire Label located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door.
•B-pillar:The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the
front door.
•Bead area of the tire:Area of the tire next to the rim.
•Sidewall of the tire:Area between the bead area and the tread.
•Tread area of the tire:Area of the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted on the vehicle.
•Rim:The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
108

INSPECTING AND INFLATING YOUR TIRES
Safe operation of your vehicle requires that your tires are properly
inflated. Remember that a tire can lose up to half of its air pressure
without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check
your tires. If one looks lower than
the others, use a tire gauge to check
pressure of all tires and adjust if
required.
At least once a month and before
long trips, inspect each tire and
check the tire pressure with a tire
gauge (including spare, if equipped).
Inflate all tires to the inflation
pressure recommended by Mazda.
Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare
(if equipped), at least monthly and before long trips. You are strongly
urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station
gauges may be inaccurate. Mazda recommends the use of a digital or dial
type tire pressure gauge rather than a stick type tire pressure gauge.
Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire
performance and wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause
uneven treadwear patterns.
NOTE:If you are driving the vehicle at its maximum weight load, make
sure the tire inflation pressure is correct for the weight load on the tires.
WARNING: Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire
failures and may result in severe tire cracking, tread separation
orblowout, with unexpected loss of vehicle control and
increased risk of injury. Under-inflation increases sidewall
flexing and rolling resistance, resulting in heat buildup and
internal damage to the tire. It also may result in unnecessary
tire stress, irregular wear, loss of vehicle control and accidents.
A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to
be flat!
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
109

Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear
abnormally. Inspect all your tires, including the spare, frequently, and
replace them if one or more of the following conditions exist:
Tire wear
When the tread is worn down to
1/16th of an inch (2 mm), tires must
be replaced to help prevent your
vehicle from skidding and
hydroplaning. Built-in treadwear
indicators, or “wear bars”, which
look like narrow strips of smooth
rubber across the tread will appear
on the tire when the tread is worn
down to 1/16th of an inch (2 mm).
When the tire tread wears down to
the same height as these “wear bars”, the tire is worn out and must be
replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads and sidewalls for damage (such as
bulges in the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the tread groove and
separation in the tread or sidewall). If damage is observed or suspected
have the tire inspected by a tire professional. Tires can be damaged
during off-road use, so inspection after off-road use is also
recommended.
WARNING: Age
Tires degrade over time, even when they are not being used. It
is recommended that tires generally be replaced after 6 years of
normal service. Heat caused by hot climates or frequent high
loading conditions can accelerate the aging process.
You should replace the spare tire when you replace the other
road tires due to the aging of the spare tire.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations require tire manufacturers to
place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of
the tire and also provides a U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number for
safety standard certification and in case of a recall.
2006 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian_French(fr_can)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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