2009 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA Owners Manual

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Limitations to SRS Air Bag
In severe collisions 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 poles Frontal 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
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Roll-over
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Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch
WARNING
Do not deactivate the passenger air bag unnecessarily:Unnecessary deactivation of the passenger air bag is dangerous. If turned off
unnecessarily, the passenger will not receive the added protection of the air bag.
Serious injuries or even death could occur. With the exception of passengers fitting
the categories described below, do not turn the air bag deactivation switch to the
OFF position.
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger air bag deactivation switch. The switch is
located in the position shown in the figure below. The switch must be used to deactivate
the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt pretensioner system
when the occupant of the passenger seat fits into one of the following categories (as
described in the request form for the passenger air bag deactivation switch, the appendix B
to part 595 of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA]):
lInfants (less than one year old; for all types of restraint, but particularly the rear-facing
child restraint.)
lChildren aged 1 to 12lPeople with certain medical conditions which, according to his/her physician, could be
adversely affected by air-bag activation
For more government release information on air bag deactivation, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer for the occupant categories as described in the request form for the air bag
deactivation switch in the NHTSA rules.
The air bag deactivation switch turns off the passenger front and side air bags and the also
seat belt pretensioner system. Make sure the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the
ON position except when a passenger fitting the previous categories occupies the front
passenger seat.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Indicator Light Passenger Front and Side
Air Bag Operation Passenger Seat Belt
Pretensioner System
OFF position
ON Deactivate Deactivate
ON position
OFF ReadyReady
When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position the passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light comes on for a specified period of time.
If the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the OFF position, the indicator light
remains on to warn that the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system have been deactivated.
In addition to using the key to deactivate the passenger front and side air bags and the also
seat belt pretensioner system, the passenger front and side air bags and the also seat belt
pretensioner system is also deactivated and the passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light is illuminated automatically when the total seated weight on the passenger seat is less
than 30 kg (66 lb).
NOTE
Have the passenger air bag deactivation switch inspected by an Authorized Mazda Dealer if any of
these conditions occur:
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate for a specified period of
time when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not remain on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position and the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the OFF position.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator remains on when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position and the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the ON position.
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qTo Deactivate the Passenger Air Bag
Before driving, always confirm that the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the
appropriate position according to your requirements.
WARNING
Do not leave the key in the front passenger air bag deactivation switch:
(With advanced key)
Unintentional deactivation of the passenger air bag is dangerous. In an accident, the
passenger will not be properly protected. Serious injuries or even death could occur.
To avoid unintentional deactivation, always use the auxiliary key stored in the
advanced key currently being used to operate the passenger air bag deactivation
switch. After deactivating the air bag, put the auxiliary key back into the advanced
key. That way you will not leave the key in the passenger air bag deactivation
switch.
(Without advanced key)
Unintentional deactivation of the passenger air bag is dangerous. In an accident, the
passenger will not be properly protected. Serious injuries or even death could occur.
To avoid unintentional deactivation, always use the same key to operate the
passenger air bag deactivation switch and the ignition switch, that way you will not
leave the key in the passenger air bag deactivation switch.
1. Insert the key into the passenger air bag deactivation switch and turn the key clockwise until the key points to OFF.
2. Remove the key.
3. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light remains illuminated when the ignitionis in the ON position.
NOTE
(With advanced key)
After operating the passenger air bag deactivation switch, put the auxiliary key back into the
advanced key.
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SRS Air Bags
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The passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system will remain
deactivated until the passenger air bag deactivation switch is turned to the ON position.
qTo Ready the Passenger Air Bag
Before driving, always confirm that the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the
appropriate position according to your requirements.
1. Insert the key into the passenger air bag deactivation switch and turn the key
counterclockwise until the key points to ON.
2. Remove the key.
3. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light turns off after the ignition switch isturned to the ON position.
NOTE
(With advanced key)
After operating the passenger air bag deactivation switch, put the auxiliary key back into the
advanced key.
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Driver and Passenger Occupant Classification System
First, please read“Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions ”(page 2-28)
carefully.
q Driver Seat Slide Position Sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver seat slide position sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. The sensor is located under the driver seat. The sensor
determines whether the driver seat is fore or aft of a reference position and sends the seat
position to the diagnostic module (SAS unit). The SAS unit is designed to control the
deployment of the driver air bag depending on how close the driver seat is to the steering
wheel.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a possible
malfunction (page 2-35).
qPassenger Seat Weight Sensors
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger seat weight sensors as a part of the supplemental
restraint system. These sensors are located under both of the passenger seat rails. These
sensors determine the total seated weight on the passenger seat. The SAS unit is designed
to prevent the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from
deploying if the total seated weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lbs).
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the system
deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system
when:
lThere is no passenger in the passenger seat. (The passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate.)
lThe total seated weight on the passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lbs).
(The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)
This system shuts off the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this
happens, the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not
deploy.
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Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and
seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the passenger weight sensors are normal, the indicator light illuminates when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position. For a specified of time it goes out.
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:Total seated weight on the passenger seat Passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light Passenger front and side
air bags Passenger seat belt
pretensioner system
Empty (Not occupied)
*OFF Deactivated Deactivated
Less than approx. 30 kg
(66 lbs) ON
Deactivated Deactivated
Approx. 42 kg (93 lbs) or
more OFF
ReadyReady
If the passenger air bag has been deactivated using the key, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light will
remain illuminated as long you leave the passenger air bag turned off, and the chart above no longer applies.
Refer to Passenger air bag deactivation switch on page 2-39.
* If the passenger seat belt is buckled, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, however this does not indicate a malfunction.
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position and does not illuminate as indicated in the above chart,
do not allow a child to sit in the passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident. You must deactivate
the passenger air bag using the key (page 2-39) and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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