2008 MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR warning

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We want to help you get the most driving
pleasure from your vehicle. Your owner's
manual, when read from cover to cover,
can do that in many ways.
Illustrations complement the words of the
manual to best explain how to enjoy your
Mazda. By reading your manual, you can
find out about the features, important
safety information, and driving under
various road conditions.
The symbol below in this manual means
“Do not do this ”or “Do not let this
happen ”.
Index: A good place to start is the Index,
an alphabetical listing of all information
in your manual.
You'll find several WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs, and NOTEs in the manual.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a situation in
which serious injury or death could
result if the warning is ignored.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which bodily injury or damage to
your vehicle, or both, could result if
the caution is ignored. NOTE
A NOTE provides information and sometimes
suggests how to make better use of your
vehicle.
The symbol below, located on some parts
of the vehicle, indicates that this manual
contains information related to the part.
Please refer to the manual for a detailed
explanation.
How to Use This Manual
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Form No.8Y64-EA-08A

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Headlight leveling switch .................................................................................. page 5-52
Dashboard illumination knob ............................................................................ page 5-35
Lighting control/Turn signal .............................................................................. page 5-50
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-32
SRS air bags ...................................................................................................... page 2-44
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-19
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-54
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-60
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-67
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-16
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-74
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-75
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-6
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-73
MT shift lever ...................................................................................................... page 5-9
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-12
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-72
Rear window defroster switch ........................................................................... page 5-58
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-72
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Steering column release lever ............................................................................ page 3-29
Audio control switches ...................................................................................... page 6-58
Remote fuel-filler lid release ............................................................................. page 3-20
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-21
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-29
Interior lights ..................................................................................................... page 6-64
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-64
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-30
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-64
Front seat ............................................................................................................. page 2-2
Seat belt ............................................................................................................. page 2-14
Rear seat ............................................................................................................ page 2-10
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
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2Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint
systems and SRS air bags.
Seats ............................................................................................... 2-2Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats) ..................................... 2-2
Front Seats (Electrically Operated Seats) .................................. 2-6
Rear Seat ................................................................................. 2-10
Head Restraints ....................................................................... 2-13
Seat Belt Systems ........................................................................ 2-14 Seat Belt Precautions .............................................................. 2-14
Seat Belt (Except Center-Rear Position) ................................. 2-18
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ....... 2-20
Center-Rear Position Seat Belt (3-Point Type) ....................... 2-23
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-25
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-27
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-29 Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-29
Installing Child-Restraint Systems .......................................... 2-33
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ............................................ 2-39
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-44 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-44
Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-48
How the Air Bags Work .......................................................... 2-50
2-1
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Front Seats (Manually
Operated Seats)
WARNING
Do not modify or replace the front
seats:Modifying or replacing the front seats
such as replacing the upholstery or
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The
front seats contain air bag
components essential to the
supplemental restraint system. Such
modifications could damage the
supplemental restraint system and
result in serious injury. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is
any need to remove or reinstall the
front seats.
Do not drive with damaged front seats: Driving with damaged front seats is
dangerous. A collision, even one not
strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the front seats which
contain essential air bag
components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may
not deploy which could lead to
injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,
front seat belt pretensioners and air
bags after a collision. Make sure the adjustable components
of a seat are locked in place:
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that
are not securely locked are
dangerous. In a sudden stop or
collision, the seat or seatback could
move, causing injury. Make sure the
adjustable components of the seat
are locked in place by attempting to
slide the seat forward and backward
and rocking the seatback.
qSeat Slide
WARNING
Adjust the driver seat only when the
vehicle is stopped:
Adjusting the driver's seat while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. The
driver could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident.
To move a seat forward or backward, raise
the lever and slide the seat to the desired
position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and
backward.
2-2
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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qSeat Recline
WARNING
Do not drive with the seats reclined:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don't get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you
can slide under the lap belt and
suffer serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back
and upright.
Always sit in a passenger seat properly
with the seatback upright and feet on
the floor: If your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors,
sitting in the front passenger seat
improperly out of position or with the
seatback reclined too far while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous as it
can take off weight from the seat
bottom and affect the weight
determination of the front passenger
sensing system. As a result the front
passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air
bag and seat belt pretensioner, which
could cause result in serious injury.
Always sit upright against your
seatback, with your feet on the floor. Do not drive with the seatback
unlocked:
The seatback plays an important role
in your protection in a vehicle.
Leaving the seatback unlocked is
dangerous as it can allow passengers
to be ejected or thrown around and
baggage to strike occupants in a
sudden stop or collision, resulting in
severe injury. After adjusting the
seatback at any time, even when
there are no other passengers, rock
the seatback to make sure it is locked
in place.
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while raising the lever.
Then lean back to the desired position and
release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seatback is locked in
place by attempting to push it forward and
backward.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-3
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WARNING
ØBe careful when using the seat
warmer. The heat from the seat
warmer may be too hot for some
people, as indicated below, and
could cause a low-temperature
burn.
ØInfants, small babies, elderly
people, and physically
challenged people
ØPeople with delicate skin
ØPeople who are excessively
fatigued
ØPeople who have taken sleep-
inducing medicine such as
sleeping pills or cold medicine
Ø Do not use the seat warmer with
anything having high moisture-
retention ability such as a blanket
or cushion on the seat. The seat
may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.
Ø Do not use the seat warmer even
when taking a short nap in the
vehicle. The seat may be heated
excessively and cause a low-
temperature burn.
Ø Do not place heavy objects with
sharp projections on the seat, or
insert needles or pins into it. This
could cause the seat to become
excessively heated and result in
injury from a minor burn.
CAUTION
Do not use organic solvents such as
benzene or gasoline to clean the seat.
It may damage the seat surface and
the heater. NOTE
Use the seat warmer when the engine is
running, and do not continue to use it for a
long period.
The temperature of the seat warmer cannot be
adjusted because the temperature of the seat is
controlled by the thermostat.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-5
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Front Seats (Electrically
Operated Seats)
WARNING
Do not modify or replace the front
seats:Modifying or replacing the front seats
such as replacing the upholstery or
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The
front seats contain air bag
components essential to the
supplemental restraint system. Such
modifications could damage the
supplemental restraint system and
result in serious injury. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is
any need to remove or reinstall the
front seats.
Do not drive with damaged front seats: Driving with damaged front seats is
dangerous. A collision, even one not
strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the front seats which
contain essential air bag
components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may
not deploy which could lead to
injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,
front seat belt pretensioners and air
bags after a collision.
CAUTION
ØThe seat-bottom power
adjustment is operated by motors.
Avoid extended operation because
excessive use can damage the
motors.
Ø To prevent the battery from
running down, avoid using the
power adjustment when the
engine is stopped. The adjuster
uses a large amount of electrical
power.
Ø Don't use the switch to make more
than one adjustment at a time.
qSeat Slide (Driver's Seat)
To slide the seat, move the slide lifter
switch on the outside of the seat to the
front or back and hold it. Release the
switch at the desired position.
2-6
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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qSeat Recline (Driver's Seat)
WARNING
Do not drive with the seats reclined:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don't get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you
can slide under the lap belt and
suffer serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back
and upright.
Always sit in a front passenger seat
properly with the seatback upright and
feet on the floor: If your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors,
sitting in the front passenger seat
improperly out of position or with the
seatback reclined too far while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous as it
can take off weight from the seat
bottom and affect the weight
determination of the front passenger
sensing system. As a result the front
passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air
bag and seat belt pretensioner, which
could cause result in serious injury.
Always sit upright against your
seatback, with your feet on the floor. Change the seatback angle by pressing the
front or rear side of the reclining switch.
Release the switch at the desired position.
qHeight Adjustment (Driver's Seat)
The seat height can be adjusted by
moving the switch up or down.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-7
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