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Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is
dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make
any modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,
badges, or anything else over the air bag modules. It also includes installing extra
electrical equipment on or near system components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda
Dealer can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of front
seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the
bags do not accidentally deploy, the driver seat slide position sensor and front
passenger seat weight sensors are not damaged and that the seats retain an
undamaged air bag connection.
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.
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Supplemental Restraint System Components
(1)
(11)
(12)(7) (6)
(9)
(9) (5) (4) (3)
(2)
(3)
(10)
(8) (8)
(8)
(1) Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-62)
(2) Side and curtain inflators and air bags
(3) Driver/Front passenger dual stage inflators and air bags
(4) Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-58)
(5) Crash and roll-over sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(6) Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-62)
(7) Front air bag sensor
(8) Side crash sensor
(9) Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-23)
(10) Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-62)
(11) Front passenger seat weight sensor control module
(12) Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-66)
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How the SRS Air Bags Work
Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries during an accident.
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to
the seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.
qFront Seat Belt Pretensioners
The front seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near
frontal collisions or roll-over accidents.
qDriver Air Bag
The driver air bag is mounted in the steering wheels.
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, the
driver's air bag inflates quickly helping to reduce injury mainly to the driver's head or chest
caused by directly hitting the steering wheel.
The driver, dual stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity the driver air bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it deploys with more energy.
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SRS Air Bags
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qFront Passenger Air Bag
The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard.
The inflation mechanism for the front passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag,
as mentioned above. In addition, the front passenger air bag is designed to only deploy in
accordance with the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer to the
driver and front passenger occupant classification system (page 2-62).
qSide Air Bags
The side bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side air
bag inflates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or front passenger's chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window. In addition, the front passenger side
air bag is designed to only deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat. For details, refer to the driver and front passenger occupant classification
system (page 2-62).
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qCurtain Air Bags
The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge
along both sides.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to reduce injury mainly to the rear outboard
passenger's head caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
In a side impact:
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on
that side only to inflate.
The only one side of curtain air bag will deploy
only on the side the vehicle receives the force of
the impact.
In a roll-over:
In response to a vehicle roll-over, both the curtain air bags inflate.
Both curtain air bags will deploy after
the roll-over accident is detected.
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qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system is working properly, the warning light
illuminates when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or after the engine is
cranked. The warning light turns off after a specified period of time.
A system malfunction is indicated if the warning light constantly flashes, constantly
illuminates or does not illuminate at all when the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. If any of these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
The system may not work in an accident.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/pretensioner systems and always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer perform all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the systems is dangerous. An air bag/pretensioner
could accidentally activate or become disabled causing serious injury or death.
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Beep
If a malfunction is detected in both the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system and the
warning light, a warning beep sound will be heard for about 1 minute. After that, the one-
minute beep will be repeated every 30 minutes.
Have your vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning
beep sounding:
Driving the vehicle with the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning beep
sounding is dangerous. In a collision, the air bags and the front seat belt
pretensioner system will not deploy and this could result in death or serious injury.
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the vehicle inspected as soon as
possible.
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SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria
This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type of collision.
(The illustrations are the representative case of collisions.)
SRS
equipmentTypes of collision
A severe frontal/near frontal
collisionA severe side
collisionA roll-over/near
roll-overA rear collision
Front seat
belt
pretensionerX*(both sides) X*(both sides)
No air bag and front
seat belt
pretensioner will be
activated in a rear
collision. Driver air
bagX
Front
passenger air
bagX
*
Side air bagX*(impact side only)
Curtain air
bagX (impact side only) X (both sides)
X: The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.
*: The front passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretensioner are designed to deploy depending on
the condition of the total seated weight on the front passenger seat.
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Limitations to SRS Air Bag
In severe collisions or roll-overs such as those described previously in“SRS Air Bag
Deployment Criteria”, the applicable SRS air bag equipment will deploy. However, in
some accidents, the equipment may not deploy depending on the type of collision and its
severity.
Limitations to front/near front collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of front/near front collisions that may not be
detected as severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.
Impacts involving trees or polesFrontal offset impact to the vehicle
Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail gate
Limitations to side collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of side collisions that may not be detected as
severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.
Side impacts involving trees or polesSide impacts with two-wheeled vehicles
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