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 (39,1)
WARNING
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 seat weight
sensors on page 2-43.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch on page 2-39.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-27
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page39
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 (44,1)
Supplemental Restraint System Components
Driver/Passenger dual stage inflators and air bags
Crash sensor, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-12)
Front air bag sensor
Side crash sensors
Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-35)
Side inflators and air bags
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-43)
Passenger air bag deactivation switch (page 2-39)
Passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-43)
Passenger seat weight sensor control module
Driver and passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-47)
Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-43)
2-32
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page44
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K
Black plate (47,1)
qAir Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-35
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page47
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K
Black plate (51,1)
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
2-39
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page51
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K
Black plate (53,1)
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page53
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K
Black plate (55,1)
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-43
MX-5_8Z78-EA-08K_Edition1 Page55
Thursday, October 23 2008 1:52 PM
Form No.8Z78-EA-08K