2012 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA PRHT light

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Seat Belt Reminder
NOTE
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
deactivate or restore the belt reminder. Though
the belt reminder can be deactivated, doing so
will defeat the purpose of the system to warn
the driver and the front passenger in the event
that their seat belts are not fastened. For the
safety of the driver and front passenger, Mazda
recommends not deactivating the belt
reminder.
If the vehicle is driven with the driver or
front passenger's seat belt unfastened, the
seat belt warning light illuminates and a
warning chime sounds.
If the driver or front passenger's seat belt
is unfastened (only when the front
passenger seat is occupied) and the
vehicle is driven at a speed faster than
about 20 km/h (12 mph), the warning
light will flash and a beep sound will be
heard. After a short time, the warning
light stops flashing, but remains
illuminated, and the beep sound stops.
Until a seat belt is fastened or a given
period of time has elapsed, the beep sound
will not stop even if the vehicle speed
falls below 20 km/h (12 mph).NOTE
lThe warning light flashes and a beep sound
will be heard for about 6 seconds if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition is switched ON.
lIf a driver or front passenger's seat belt is
not fastened after the beep sound turns off
(warning light remains illuminated), and
the vehicle speed exceeds 20 km/h (12
mph), the warning light flashes and beep
sound activates again.
lPlacing heavy items on the front passenger
seat may cause the front passenger seat belt
warning function to operate depending on
the weight of the item.
lTo allow the front passenger seat weight
sensor to function properly, do not place
and sit on an additional seat cushion on the
front passenger seat. The sensor may not
function properly because the additional
seat cushion could cause sensor
interference.
lWhen a small child sits on the front
passenger seat, it is possible that the
warning light will not operate.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Child Restraint Precautions
Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use
them.
You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada.
Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety
of children riding in your vehicle.
Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appropriate one for the age
and size of the child, obey the law and follow the instructions that come with the individual
child-restraint system.
A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should use seat belts, both lap and
shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer to the center of
the vehicle.
A rear-facing child-restraint system shouldNEVERbe used on the passenger seat with the
air bag system activated.
If a small child or infant in the passenger seat ―particularly a child secured in a rear-
facing child-restraint system ―it is critically important that you consciously deactivate the
passenger air bag and not simply rely on the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
being turned on at all times. In a collision, the force of an air bag slamming the child-
restraint system rearwards could result in death to the child even if the child is properly
belted. Be alert to the operation of the indicator light and BE SURE THE PASSENGER
AIR BAG IS ALWAYS DEACTIVATED AS INDICATED BY PASSENGER AIR BAG
DEACTIVATION INDICATOR LIGHT.
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
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Child Restraint
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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 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 2-43.
Passenger seat weight sensors
These sensors deactivate the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat
belt pretensioner system when the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illuminates.
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 2-47.
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Follow the manufacturer's instructions and always keep the child-restraint system
buckled down: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 is properly secured in place according to the child-
restraint system manufacturer's instructions. 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.
Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system: Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No
matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a
sudden stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or
other occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag
forces that could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be
slammed into an adult, causing injury to both child and adult.
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, an 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 2-43.
Refer to Passenger Seat Weight Sensors on page 2-47.
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Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the passenger seat is dangerous under
certain conditions:This vehicle is equipped with both a passenger seat weight sensor and a passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-47). Even with the passenger seat weight
sensors, seating a child in a child-restraint system on the passenger seat under the
following conditions increases the danger of the passenger air bag deploying and
could result in serious injury or death to the child. These are among the reasons why
the passenger air bag should be turned off using the key.
ØThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when
seating a child in the child-restraint system.
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.
Before installing child-restraint system on the passenger seat, move the passenger
seat as far back as possible: In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to
the child. Make sure that the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the OFF
position. Refer to Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch (page 2-43).
Do not allow a child to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle with side air
bags:Allowing anyone to lean over or against the door is dangerous. If the vehicle is
equipped with side air bags, the impact of an inflating side air bag could cause
serious injury or death to the person. Children are more likely to sleep in the vehicle;
when they do, they are more at risk in the passenger's seat that has a side air bag
because they may slump over into the path of the seatback-mounted air bag.
Furthermore, leaning over or against the doors could block the side air bag and
eliminate the advantages of supplemental protection. Because the side air bag
deploys from the outboard shoulder of the seat, do not allow the child to lean over or
against the side window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt
used in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers
could be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for
more than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant
properly restrained.
Always use a child-restraint system designed for use without a tether: Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether is dangerous. Your Mazda does
not have a child-restraint tether. The child-restraint system cannot be properly
secured. In a collision, it could move and injure other occupants as well as result in
serious injuries or death to the child.
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot when exposed to direct
sunlight during warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them
before you or your child touches them.
NOTE
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. When using these anchors to secure a child-restraint system, refer to
“ LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ”(page 2-27).
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Installing a Child-
Restraint System
The passenger lap/shoulder belt can easily
be converted into the automatic locking
mode, which must be done to hold the
child-restraint system.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems ”(page 2-27).
Follow these manufacturer's instructions
when installing a child-restraint system on
the passenger's seat, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to “LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems ”(page 2-27).
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully. If you
are not sure whether you have a LATCH
system, check in the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions and follow them
accordingly. Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ seat belts
which are in automatic locking mode, however
if it uses an upper tether, it may not be
mounted properly in this vehicle as there is no
safe way to anchor the tether. Confirm whether
the child-restraint system can be used with seat
belts by reading the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Before installing a child-restraint system,
make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminated by
using the key to turn the passenger air bag
off.
Refer to Passenger Seat Weight Sensors
on page 2-47.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
Switch on page 2-43.
1. Make sure to remove articles from behind the passenger seat that would
prevent the seat from sliding back fully,
and then slide the seat as far back as
possible.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the instructions on the child-
restraint system for belt routing
instructions.
3. To get the retractor into the automatic locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
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4. Push the child-restraint system firmlyinto the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in automatic
locking mode. If the belt does not lock
the seat down tight, repeat this step.
5. Make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
by using the key to turn the passenger
air bag off after installing a child-
restraint system on the passenger seat.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,
an 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 2-47.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch on page 2-43.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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