2007 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (48,1)
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.
2-36
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page48
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (49,1)
Supplemental Restraint System Components
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
lThe air bag system with inflators and air bags.
lThe electrical system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations:
lThe steering wheel hub
lThe front passenger dashboard
lThe outboard sides of the front seatbacks
lThe front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides
The air bags are out of sight until activated.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-37
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page49
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (50,1)
qFront Air Bag System Components
(1)
(6)
(10)
(7)(6) (9)(5) (4) (3) (2)
(8)
(1) Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-40)
(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 2-40)
(6) Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-14)
(7) Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-40)
(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 2-40)
2-38
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page50
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (51,1)
qSide and Curtain Air Bag System Components
(1)
(2)
(3) (1)
(4)
(1) Side and curtain inflators and air bags
(2) Front seats
(3) Side crash sensor
(4) Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-39
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page51
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (52,1)
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, all of which provide data from each sensor
to the air bag 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 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/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a
possible malfunction (page 2-49).
2-40
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page52
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (53,1)
Front passenger seat weight sensors
Your vehicle is also equipped with the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
(page 2-27). These sensors are located under both of the front passenger seat rails. These
sensors determine the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. The sensors are also
designed to prevent the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system from deploying if the total seated weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when:
lThere is no passenger in the front passenger seat. (The front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not illuminate.)
lThe total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66
lb). (The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)
This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible
malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air
bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. After about 6 seconds it goes out.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page53
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (54,1)
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:
Total seated weight on the
front passenger seatFront passenger air bag
deactivation indicator lightFront passenger front and
side air bagsFront passenger seat
belt pretensioner
system
Empty (Not occupied)
*OFF OFF OFF
Less than approx. 30 kg
(66 lb)ON OFF OFF
Approx. 42 kg (93 lb) or
moreOFF ON ON
* If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates,
however this does not indicate a malfunction.
If the front 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 front passenger seat and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an
accident.
2-42
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page54
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (55,1)
WARNING
Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:
When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 42 kg (93 lb) required for air bag deployment is dangerous. The front
passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total seated weight condition and
the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not
deploy during an accident. The front passenger will not have the supplementary
protection of the air bag, which could result in serious injury. Decreasing the total
seated weight on the front 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:
lA rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with the feet.lLuggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the front
passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat bottom.
lThe front passenger seat occupant sits in a manner that does not place the entire
weight of the occupant on the seat such as by sitting too close to the door, grasping
the assist grip or the rim of the moonroof and sitting with the seatback reclined too
far.
lAny accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
lTension in the upward direction is placed on the seat belt slide bar such as by
pulling up on the seat belt.
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).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-43
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page55
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F