2009 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA seats

Black plate (30,1)
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by the deployment of the passenger air bag, there
are two methods to deactivate the passenger air bag for a child's safety as follows―
however the surest way to avoid the passenger air bag not deploying is to use the key and
turn off the passenger air bag and not rely on the passenger seat weight sensors, which will
also detect other loads or objects on and around the passenger seat;
Passenger air bag deactivation switch
This switch should be used to deactivate the passenger front and side air bags and also the
passenger seat belt pretensioner system if installing a child-restraint system is installed on
the passenger seat.
Make sure the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the ON position except when a
child-restraint system is installed on the passenger seat.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch on page 2-39.
Passenger seat weight sensors
These sensors deactivate the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat
belt pretensioner system when the total seated weight on the passenger seat is less than
approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
When an infant or small child is seated on the passenger seat, the system shuts off the
passenger air bag, so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illuminates.
Refer to Passenger seat weight sensors on page 2-43.
LATCH Child-Restraint System
We have installed lower LATCH anchor points for LATCH style junior seats and infant
carriers that work without tethers only. Any other child-restraint system that has an upper
tether cannot be used in this vehicle because there is no tether anchor. A child-restraint
system with a tether cannot be properly mounted in this vehicle unless the child restraint
manufacturer provides instructions on mounting the child-restraint system with only seat
belts in automatic locking mode. Even then, without a tether, the child-restraint system may
move forward more easily in seat belts, further degrading the safety provided if you were to
put the child restraint in a tether anchor equipped rear seat of another vehicle. The seat and
head restraint is designed for maximum adult space utilization in this vehicle. Do not try to
secure the tether to something else in the vehicle, as too much slack will result and the
serious risk of injury or death to the child. Use the seat belts to properly secure the non-
tethered child-restraint systems other than the LATCH junior seats and non-tethered infant
carriers. Turn off the passenger air bag deactivation switch. To expose and use the lower
LATCH anchor points, which are affixed to the body and not the seat, slide the seat all the
way rearward which is the optimal vehicle seat position for all children in this two seat car.
WARNING
Use the correct size child-restraint system: For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be
properly restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and
size. If not, the child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.
2-18
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page30
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (37,1)
LATCH Child-Restraint System
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems behind the passenger seat that slide through the passenger
seat when it is in the fully rearward position. Only LATCH junior seats and infant carriers
without upper tethers can be used in this position, as there is no good place to anchor the
tether due to this vehicle's design. Both anchors must be used when installing these lower
anchor only child-restraint systems, otherwise the seat will bounce around and put the child
in danger.
WARNING
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use of the child-restraint system:An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make
sure any child-restraint system does not rely on an upper tether and then properly
secure those non-tethered seats according to the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure the child-restraint system is properly secured: An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Follow
the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions on belt routing to secure the
seat just as you would with a child in it so that nobody is tempted to put a child in
an improperly secured seat later on. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or
fasten it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH
child-restraint systems.
Make sure there are no seat belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH child-
restraint system: Not following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing
the child-restraint system is dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object prevent the
child-restraint system from being securely attached to the LATCH lower anchors and
the child-restraint system is installed improperly, the child-restraint system could
move in a sudden stop or collision causing serious injury or death to the child or
other occupants. When installing the child-restraint system, make sure there are no
seat belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH lower anchors. Always follow
the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-25
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page37
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (41,1)
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow the
installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper tether because there is no
appropriate means to anchor the tether.
WARNING
Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous.
Alone, air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be
expected to inflate only in the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal, side
collisions that are at least moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat
belts.
Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated
when using a rear-facing child-restraint system: Seating a child in a rear-facing child-restraint system that is installed on the
passenger seat with the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not
illuminated is extremely dangerous. In an accident, a air bag could inflate and cause
serious injuries or even death to the child seated in the rear-facing child-restraint
system. Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is
illuminated using the key to turn the passenger air bag off.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch on page 2-39.
Refer to Passenger seat weight sensors on page 2-43.
Do not sit too close to the driver and passenger air bags:
Sitting too close to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing hands or
feet on them is extremely dangerous. The driver and passenger air bags inflate with
great force and speed. Serious injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver
should always hold onto only the rim of the steering wheel. The seat passenger
should keep both feet on the floor. Seat occupants should adjust their seats as far
back as possible and always sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn
properly.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-29
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page41
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (42,1)
Do not sit too close to a door or lean against doors in vehicles with side air bags:Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of the
outboard shoulder of the seat and expands along the door on the side the car is hit.
Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning
against a window in the seats. Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging
out the driver-side window while driving could block the side air bag and eliminate
the advantages of supplemental protection. Give the side air bags room to work by
sitting in the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn
properly.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and passenger air bags
deploy: Attaching an object to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing
something in front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere
with air bag inflation and injure the occupants.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys: Attaching things to the seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the seat
in any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air
bag, which inflates from the outboard side of the seats, impeding the added
protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is
dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.
Never use seat covers on the seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your
seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.
Do not place luggage or other objects under the seats: Placing luggage or other objects under the seats is dangerous. The components
essential to the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of
a side collision, the appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death
or serious injury. To prevent damage to the components essential to the
supplemental restraint system, do not place luggage or other objects under the
seats.
Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags
have inflated: Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags
have inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation, they are very hot. You could
get burned.
Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle: Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar,
bull bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The
air bag crash sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate
unexpectedly, or it could prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident.
Occupants could be seriously injured.
2-30
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page42
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (43,1)
Do not modify the suspension:Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the
suspension is modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
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 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 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-31
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page43
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (58,1)
Do not increase the total seated weight on the passenger seat:When an infant or small child sits on the passenger seat, increasing the total seated
weight on the passenger seat from the total seated weight of approximately 30 kg
(66 lbs) is dangerous. The passenger seat weight sensors will detect the increased
total seated weight, which could result in the unexpected deployment of the
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 passenger
seat beyond the total seated weight of approximately 30 kg (66 lbs) could result in
the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system deployment
in an accident under the following conditions, for example:
ØThe total seated weight of the child with the child-restraint system on the
passenger seat is approximately 30 kg (66 lbs) or more.
Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
Ø The seat is washed.
Ø Liquids are spilled on the seat.
Ø The passenger seat is moved backward, and it is pushed into luggage or other
items placed behind it.
Ø Luggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and center
console.
Ø Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the passenger
seat are attached to the passenger seat.
The passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66 lbs)
and they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lbs).
CAUTION
Ø To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the
sensors in the seat bottoms:
ØDo not place sharp objects on the seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on
them.
ØDo not spill any liquids on the seats or under the seats.
Ø To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
ØAdjust the 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 passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the passenger seat as far back as possible.
2-46
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page58
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (61,1)
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 seats, 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.
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).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-49
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page61
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (382,1)
CAUTION
ØDon't use an automatic car wash.
Ø Don't use strong soap, chemical
detergents, or hot water, and don't
wash the hardtop in direct
sunlight or when the surface is
warm.
Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm or cold
water. Don't allow soap to dry on the
finish.
Waxing
Wax the hardtop when water no longer
beads on the paint. Always wash and dry
it before waxing.
CAUTION
Ø Wiping off dust or dirt with a dry
cloth will scratch the finish.
Ø Don't use abrasive wax. This may
damage the protective coating and
discolor or deteriorate the paint.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar
materials will usually also take off the wax.
Rewax these areas.
Interior Care
q Dashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They'll damage and discolor it.
If these solutions get on the dashboard,
wipe them off immediately.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
qCleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl with a leather-and-vinyl
cleaner.
Leatherí
Real leather is not uniform and may have
scars, scratches, and wrinkles. Clean it
with a leather cleaner or mild soap.
If the leather gets wet from rain, remove
the moisture as soon as possible and dry
in a shaded area.
If the seats get wet, promptly remove
moisture with a dry cloth and allow it to
further dry in a shaded area.
If moisture is not removed, it will cause
hardening and shrinkage of the leather.
Do not leave vinyl products on the seats
for long periods as they may affect the
leather quality and coloring.
8-54
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page382
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:54 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K