2006 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA Owners Manual

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How the Air Bags Work
qHow the Front Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the front air bags and after the inflation, the front air bags
quickly deflate.
The front air bags will function only once. After that, the front air bags will not work
again and must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the system components.
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 seat position,
front passenger weight and front seat belt usage, which allow for further controlling of the
system.
The front air bags will deploy only
in a frontal or frontal offset impact.
Driver seat slide position sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver seat slide position sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. The sensor is located under the driver seat. The sensor
determines whether the driver seat is fore or aft of a reference position and sends the seat
position to the crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit). The sensor is also designed
to control the deployment of the driver air bag depending on how close the driver seat is to
the steering wheel.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a possible
malfunction (page 2-45).
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SRS Air Bags
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Passenger seat weight sensors
Your vehicle is also equipped with the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light. The
deactivation indicator light illuminates when the key is used to turn the passenger air bag
off or the automatic function operates based on the passenger seat weight sensors. These
sensors are located under both of the passenger seat rails. These sensors determine the total
seated weight on the passenger seat. The sensors are also designed to prevent the passenger
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from inflating if the total seated
weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the system
deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system
when:
lThere is no passenger in the passenger seat. (The passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate.)
lThe total seated weight on the passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
(The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)
This system shuts off the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this
happens, the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not
deploy.
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and
seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
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If the passenger weight sensors are normal, the indicator light illuminates when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position. After about 6 seconds it goes out.
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:Total seated weight on the passenger seat Passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light Passenger front and side
air bags Passenger seat belt
pretensioner system
Empty (Not occupied)
*OFF OFFOFF
Less than approx. 30 kg
(66 lb) ON
OFFOFF
Approx. 42 kg (93 lb) or
more OFF
ONON
If the passenger air bag has been deactivated using the key, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light will
remain illuminated as long you leave the passenger air bag turned off, and the chart above no longer applies.
Refer to Passenger air bag deactivation switch on page 2-30.
* If the passenger seat belt is buckled, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, however this does not indicate a malfunction.
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position and does not illuminate as indicated in the above chart,
do not allow a child to sit in the passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident. You must deactivate
the passenger air bag using the key (page 2-30) and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
Decreasing the Total Seated Weight on the Passenger Seat:
When an adult or large child sits on the passenger seat, decreasing the total seated
weight on the passenger seat from the total seated weight of approximately 42 kg (93
lb) required for air bag deployment is dangerous. The passenger seat weight sensors
will detect the reduced total seated weight condition and the passenger front and side
air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not deploy during an accident. The
passenger will not have the supplementary protection of the air bag, which could
result in serious injury. Decreasing the total seated weight on the passenger seat from
the total seated weight of approximately 42 kg (93 lb) could result in an air bag not
deploying under the following conditions, for example:
lLuggage or other items placed under the passenger seat or between the passenger
seat and center console that push up the passenger seat bottom.
lThe passenger seat occupant sits in a manner such that the occupant's entire
weight is not placed on the seat sitting too close to the door.
lAny accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the passenger seat
are attached to the passenger seat.
The passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66 lb) and
they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lb).
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SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
Increasing the Total Seated Weight on the Passenger Seat:
When an infant or small child sits on the passenger seat, increasing the total seated
weight on the passenger seat from the total seated weight of approximately 30 kg (66
lb) is dangerous. The passenger seat weight sensors will detect the increased total
seated weight, which could result in the unexpected deployment of the passenger front
and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system in an accident and serious injury.
Increasing the total seated weight on the passenger seat beyond the total seated weight
of approximately 30 kg (66 lb) could result in the passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner system deployment in an accident under the following
conditions, for example:
lThe total seated weight of the child with the child-restraint system on the passenger
seat is approximately 30 kg (66 lb) or more.
lLuggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
lThe seat is washed.lLiquids are spilled on the seat.lThe passenger seat is moved backward, and it is pushed into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
lLuggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and center console.lAny accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the passenger seat
are attached to the passenger seat.
The passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the 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 seat bottoms:
lDo not place sharp objects on the seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on them.lDo not spill any liquids on the seats or under the seats.
lTo allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
lAdjust the 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 passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the passenger seat as far back as possible.
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NOTE
lThe system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the passenger front
and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if
luggage or other items are put on the passenger seat, or if the temperature of the
vehicle's interior changes suddenly.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the
total seated weight on the passenger seat changes.
lYou must deactivate the passenger air bag using the key (page 2-30) and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Driver and passenger buckle switches
The buckle switches on the seat belts detect whether or not the seat belts are securely
fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.
qHow the Side Air Bags Workí
When air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the side air bags and after the inflation, the side air bags
quickly deflate.
The side air bags will function only once. After that, the side air bags will not work again
and must be replaced. Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the systems.
The side air bag will deploy only on the
side the vehicle receives the force of the
impact.
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SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
Damaged Side Air Bag Wiring under the Seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the seats is dangerous. The side air bag wiring
could be damaged, and in the event of a side collision, the side air bags may not
deploy, which could result in death or serious injury. To prevent damage to the side air
bag wiring, do not place luggage or other objects under the seats.
qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation
NOTE
If the passenger seat weight sensors detect a total seated weight on the passenger seat is
less than approximately 42 kg (93 lb), the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner may not inflate (page 2-37).
Front air bag activation
The front air bags will inflate if the
severity of impact is above the designed
threshold level.
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.
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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 stopping force to activate
the air bag.
lFrontal offset impact to the vehicle
may not provide the stopping force
necessary for air bag deployment.
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 air bags.
lVehicle roll-over, may deploy the side
air bags but not the front air bags.
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Side air bag activationí
The severity of impact above the designed
threshold level to one side of the vehicle
(driver or passenger side areas) will cause
a side air bag on that side to inflate, but it
will not normally deploy the front air
bags.
Limitations to side air bag activationí
Depending on the severity of impact, a
side air bag may not inflate in the
following cases:
lFrontal offset impact may not provide
enough side impact to deploy the side
air bags.
lSide impacts involving trees or poles
can cause severe cosmetic damage but
may not have enough impact force to
activate the side air bags.
lVehicle roll-over may not provide
enough side force to deploy the side air
bags.
lSide impacts with two-wheeled
vehicles may not provide enough force
to deploy the side air bags.
Non-activation of side air bagí
A side air bag will not normally inflate in
the following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lCollision from the front, but it may
deploy the front air bags.
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