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Do not increase the total seated weight on the passenger seat:
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 30 kg (66 lb) is dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors
will detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the unexpected
deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system in an accident and may cause serious injury. Increasing the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat beyond the total seated weight of approximately
30 kg (66 lb) could result in the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system deployment in an accident under the following conditions, for
example:
ØLuggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
ØA rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.
ØA rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with the feet.
ØLuggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.
ØThe seat is washed.
ØLiquids are spilled on the seat.
ØThe front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
ØThe front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.
ØLuggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver
seat.
ØAny accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
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 less than
approximately 30 kg (66 lb) and they will reactivate when the weight exceeds
approximately 42 kg (93 lb).
CAUTION
ØTo assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the
sensors in the front seat bottoms:
ØDo not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on
them.
ØDo not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
ØTo allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
ØAdjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
ØIf you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint
system properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page
2-33).
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SRS Air Bags
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NOTElThe system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front passenger front and
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
lThe front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or
other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior
changes suddenly.
lThe front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat changes.
lIf the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, install the child-restraint system on the rear
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Driver and front passenger buckle switches
The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the front seat belts are
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.
qHow the Side and Curtain 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 and curtain air bags and after the inflation, the side
and curtain air bags quickly deflate. However, the side air bag system for the front
passenger is designed to only deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat.
The side and curtain air bags will function only once. After that,the side and curtain air
bags will not work again and must be replaced.Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can
replace the systems.
The side and curtain air bags will deploy only on the
side the vehicle receives the force of the impact.
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qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation
NOTE
If the front passenger seat weight sensors detect a total seated weight on the front passenger seat is
less than approximately 42 kg (93 lb), the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner may not deploy (page 2-47), but the curtain air bags may deploy.
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.
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.
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SRS Air Bags
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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 and curtain air bags.
lVehicle roll-over, may deploy the side
and curtain air bags but not the front air
bags.
Side and curtain 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
the side and curtain air bags on that side
to inflate, but it will not normally deploy
the front air bags.
Limitations to side and curtain air bag
activationí
Depending on the severity of impact, the
side and curtain air bags may not inflate in
the following cases:
lFrontal offset impact may not provide
enough side impact to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.
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lSide impacts involving trees or poles
can cause severe cosmetic damage but
may not have enough impact force to
activate the side and curtain air bags.
lVehicle roll-over may not provide
enough side force to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.
lSide impacts with two-wheeled
vehicles may not provide enough force
to deploy the side and curtain air bags.
Non-activation of side and curtain air
bagí
The side and curtain air bags will not
normally inflate in the following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lCollision from the front, but it may
deploy the front air bags.
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
lSAS unitlFront air bag sensorlAir bag moduleslSide crash sensorsí
lAir bag/Front seat belt pretensioner
system warning light
lFront seat belt pretensionerslRelated wiringlDriver seat slide position sensorlFront passenger seat weight sensorslDriver and front passenger seat belt
buckle switches
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SRS Air Bags
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The diagnostic module continuously
monitors the system's readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.
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 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 the air bag/
front seat belt pretensioner systems and
the warning light, a warning beep sound
will be heard for about 5 seconds every
minute.
The air bag and seat belt pretensioner
system warning beep sound will continue
to be heard for approximately 35 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.
qMaintenance
The air bag systems do not require regular
maintenance. But if any of the following
occurs, take your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:
lThe air bag system warning light
flashes.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains illuminated.
lThe air bag system warning light does
not illuminate when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position.
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lThe air bag system warning beep
sound will be heard.
lThe air bags have deployed.lFront passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position or does not illuminate
as indicated in the chart. For more
details about this indicator light and
this chart, refer to“Front passenger
seat weight sensors”(page 2-47).
WARNING
Do not operate a vehicle with damaged
air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
components:
Expended or damaged air bag/seat
belt pretensioner system components
must be replaced after any collision
which caused them to deploy or
damage them. Only a trained
Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully
evaluate these systems to see that
they will work in any subsequent
accident. Driving with an expended
or damaged air bag or pretensioner
unit will not afford you the necessary
protection in the event of any
subsequent accident which could
result in serious injury or death.
Do not remove interior air bag parts:
Removing any components such as
the front seats, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts on the front
and rear window pillars and along
the roof edge, containing air bag
parts or sensors is dangerous. These
parts contain essential air bag
components. The air bag could
accidentally activate and cause
serious injuries. Always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer remove
these parts.
Dispose of the air bag properly:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a
vehicle with live air bags in it can be
extremely dangerous. Unless all
safety procedures are followed, injury
can result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of an air
bag or how to scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.
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NOTE
If it becomes necessary to have the components
or wiring system for the supplementary
restraint system modified to accommodate a
person with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certified physician, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to
“Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)”(page 9-2).
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