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Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 4 air bags.Please
verify the air bags equipped on your vehicle by locating the “SRS AIRBAG ”location
indicators. These indicators are visible in the area where the air bags are installed.
The air bags are installed in the following locations:
lThe steering wheel hub (driver air bag)lThe passenger dashboard (passenger air bag)lThe outboard sides of the seatbacks (side air bags)í
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
in certain situations, so seat belts are always important in the following ways:
Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an accident.
Seat belt usage is necessary to:
lKeep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag.lReduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
lReduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal, side collisions that are not
severe enough to activate the air bags.
lReduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.lReduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body.
lHold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.
For some models, a passenger air bag deactivation switch is provided. This switch should
be used to deactivate the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt
pretensioner system if 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 2-40.
If your vehicle is also equipped with a driver and passenger occupant classification
system, refer to the Driver and Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2-44)
for details.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by the deployment of the passenger air bag in the
unlikely event of an accident, there are two methods to deactivate the passenger air bag as
follows, however, the surest way to prevent the passenger air bag from deploying is to use
the ignition key to turn it off rather than rely on the passenger seat weight sensors, which
will also detect other loads or objects on and around the passenger seat.
Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-18).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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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 2-40.
Refer to Passenger seat weight sensors on page 2-44.
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.
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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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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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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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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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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 2-40.
* 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 2-40) and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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NOTElThe system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the passenger front and side
air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or other
items are put on the passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior changes
suddenly.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the passenger seat changes.
lYou must deactivate the passenger air bag using the key (page 2-40) and consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
qDriver and 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.
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Monitoring and Maintenance
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system:
lCrash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)lFront air bag sensorlAir bag moduleslSide crash sensorsí
lAir bag/Seat belt pretensioner system warning lightlSeat belt pretensionerslRelated wiringlFront passenger air bag deactivation indicator lightlFront passenger air bag deactivation switchlDriver seat slide position sensorlFront passenger seat weight sensorslFront passenger seat weight sensor control module
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.
q Maintenance
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.
lThe air bags have deployed.lPassenger 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 or
when you manually deactivate the passenger air bag with the key.
For more details about passenger air bag deactivation, refer to:
lPassenger seat weight sensors (page 2-44)lPassenger air bag deactivation switch (page 2-40)
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-49íSome models.
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