2008 MAZDA MODEL B-SERIES Owners Manual (in English)

make sure there are no nicks, tears or cuts, replacing if necessary. Check
the automatic locking retractor on the passenger outboard seating
position. All seat belt assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat
belt buckle assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped),
shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on
seatback (if equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if
equipped), and attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision.
Mazda recommends that all seat belt assemblies used in vehicles involved
in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an
authorized Mazda technician finds that the belts do not show damage
and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Seat
belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
The energy absorbing functions may have been activated in a collision so
the restraints should be examined; if the front airbags have deployed, the
pretensioners have also deployed and must be replaced — regardless of
whether there was an occupant in the passenger seat or not.
WARNING: Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the seat
belt assembly under the above conditions could result in severe
personal injuries in the event of a collision.
Refer toInteriorin theCleaningchapter.
Seat belt warning light and indicator chime
The seat belt warning light illuminates in the instrument cluster and a
chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their seat belts.
Conditions of operation
If... Then...
The driver’s seat belt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position...The seat belt warning light
illuminates 1-2 minutes and the
warning chime sounds 4-8
seconds.
The driver’s seat belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding...The seat belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
81

If... Then...
The driver’s seat belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The seat belt warning light and
indicator chime remain off.
Belt-Minder
The Belt-Minderfeature is a supplemental warning to the seat belt
warning function. This feature provides additional reminders by
intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the seat belt warning
light in the instrument cluster when the driver’s and front passenger’s
seat belt is unbuckled.
The Belt-Minderfeature uses information from the front passenger
sensing system to determine if a front seat passenger is present and
therefore potentially in need of a warning. To avoid activating the
Belt-Minderfeature for objects placed in the front passenger seat,
warnings will only be given to large front seat occupants as determined
by the front passenger sensing system.
Both the driver’s and passenger’s seat belt usages are monitored and
either may activate the Belt-Minderfeature. The warnings are the same
for the driver and the front passenger. If the Belt-Minderwarnings have
expired (warnings for approximately 5 minutes) for one occupant (driver
or front passenger), the other occupant can still activate the
Belt-Minderfeature.
If... Then...
The driver’s and front passenger’s
seat belts are buckled before the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position or less than 1-2 minutes
have elapsed since the ignition
switch has been turned ON...The Belt-Minderfeature will not
activate.
The driver’s or front passenger’s
seat belt is not buckled when the
vehicle has reached at least 3 mph
(5 km/h) and 1-2 minutes have
elapsed since the ignition switch
has been turned to ON...The Belt-Minderfeature is
activated - the seat belt warning
light illuminates and the warning
chime sounds for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
the seat belts are buckled.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
82

If... Then...
The driver’s or front passenger’s
seat belt becomes unbuckled for
approximately 1 minute while the
vehicle is traveling at least 3 mph
(5 km/h) and more than 1-2
minutes have elapsed since the
ignition switch has been turned to
ON...The Belt-Minderfeature is
activated - the seat belt warning
light illuminates and the warning
chime sounds for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
the seat belts are buckled.
The following are reasons most often given for not wearing seat belts
(All statistics based on U.S. data):
Reasons given... Consider...

Crashes are rare
events
36,700 crashes occur every day.The more we
drive, the more we are exposed to
rare
events,
even for good drivers.1 in 4 of us will be
seriously injured in a crash during our
lifetime.

I’m not going far
3of4fatal crashes occur within25miles of home.

Belts are
uncomfortable
Seat belts are designed to enhance comfort. If you
are uncomfortable - try different positions for the
seat belt upper anchorage and seatback which
should be as upright as possible; this can improve
comfort.

I was in a hurry
Prime time for an accident.Seat Belt Warning
Chime reminds us to take a few seconds to buckle
up.

Seat belts don’t
work
Seat belts,when used properly,reduce risk of
deathto front seat occupants by45% in cars,
and by60% in light trucks.

Traffic is light
Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in single-vehicle
crashes,many when no other vehicles are around.

Belts wrinkle my
clothes
Possibly, but a serious crash can do much more
than wrinkle your clothes, particularly if you are
unbelted.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
83

Reasons given... Consider...

The people I’m
with don’t wear
belts
Set the example, teen deaths occur 4 times more
often in vehicles with TWO or MORE people.
Children and younger brothers/sisters imitate
behavior they see.

I have an airbag
Airbags offer greater protection when used with
seat belts. Frontal airbags are not designed to
inflate in rear and side crashes or rollovers.

I’d rather be
thrown clear
Not a good idea.Peoplewho areejected are 40
times more likely to DIE.Seat belts help
prevent ejection, WE CAN’T
PICK OUR CRASH
.
WARNING: Always wear the seat belt. Do not be tempted to sit
on top of the belt to fool police or to defeat the warning
system. The seat belt and seat belt warning system are there to
protect your life.
One time disable
If at any time the driver/front passenger quickly buckles then unbuckles
the seat belt for that seating position, the Belt-Minderis disabled for
the current ignition cycle. The Belt-Minderfeature will enable during
the same ignition cycle if the occupant buckles and remains buckled for
approximately 30 seconds. Confirmation is not given for the one time
disable.
Deactivating/activating the Belt-Minderfeature
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderare
deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating
one seating position, do not buckle the other position as this will
terminate the process.
Read Steps1-4thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
Note: The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderfeatures must be
disabled/enabled separately. Both cannot be disable/enabled during the
same key cycle.
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderfeatures can be
deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
84

•The parking brake is set
•The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission)
•The ignition switch is in the OFF position
•The driver and front passenger seat belts are unbuckled
WARNING: While the design allows you to deactivate your
Belt-Minder, this system is designed to improve your chances
of being safely belted and surviving an accident. We recommend
you leave the Belt-Mindersystem activated for yourself and
others who may use the vehicle. To reduce the risk of injury, do
not deactivate/activate the Belt-Minderfeature while driving
the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE)
2. Wait until the seat belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1
minute)
•Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the seat belt
warning light turns off.
3. For the seating position being disabled, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the seat belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state.
(Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the seat belt
warning light turns off.)
•After Step 3, the seat belt warning light will be turned on for three
seconds.
4. Within approximately 7 seconds of the light turning off, buckle then
unbuckle the seat belt.
•This will disable the Belt-Minderfeature for that seating position if it
is currently enabled. As confirmation, the seat belt warning light will
flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds.
•This will enable the Belt-Minderfeature for that seating position if it
is currently disabled. As confirmation, the seat belt warning light will
flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3 seconds with the
light off, then followed by the seat belt warning light flashing 4 times
per second for 3 seconds again.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
85

AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
The airbag supplemental restraint system is designed to work in
conjunction with the seat belts to help protect the driver and front
outboard passenger from certain upper body injuries. The term
“supplemental restraint” means the airbags are intended as a supplement
to the seat belts. Airbags alone cannot protect as well as airbags plus
seat belts in impacts for which the airbags are designed to deploy, and
airbags do not offer any protection in crashes for which they do not
deploy.
The airbag supplemental restraint system consists of:
•driver and passenger dual stage airbag modules (which include the
inflators and airbags).
•one or more impact and safing sensors.
•the same indicator light, RCM (restraints control module) and
diagnostic unit used for the Personal safety system.
•Front passenger sensing system
•Passenger airbag off indicator light.
The airbag supplemental restraints are an integral part of the Personal
Safety System. They are designed to be deployed in cases where the
Personal Safety System has determined the occupant conditions and
crash severity are appropriate to activate these devices. Refer to the
Personal Safety Systemsection in this chapter.
Important supplemental restraint system (SRS) precautions
The supplemental restraint system is designed to work with the seat belt
to help protect the driver and right front passenger from certain upper
body injuries.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
86

WARNING: Airbags DO NOT
inflate slowly or gently and the
risk of injury from a deploying
airbag is greatest close to the
trim covering the airbag
module. Always wear your seat
belt.
WARNING: Airbags have been known to kill or injure a child in
front facing child restraints. When placing a child safety seat in
a front seating position including the center (if equipped), you
should make sure that the passenger airbag is off. If the child
safety seat is in the outboard seating position, slide the seat all
the way back.
WARNING: Do not install a
child seat in a center facing
jump seat.
WARNING: Rear facing child
seats should NEVER be placed
in front of an active airbag.
WARNING: All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver,
should always properly wear their seat belts, even when an air
bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
87

WARNING: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm
(10 inches) between an occupant’s chest and the driver air bag
module.
WARNING: Never place your arm or feet over the airbag
module as a deploying airbag can result in serious arm fractures
or other injuries.
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.
2008 B-Series(mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
88