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CAUTION
ØTo 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.
NOTE
lThe 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.
lThe air bag seat belt pretensioner system warning light might illuminate if the passenger seat
receives a severe impact.
lIf the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates when an adult is seated in the
passenger seat, have the passenger re-adjust their posture by sitting with their feet on the floor,
and then re-fastening the seat belt. If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light still
illuminates, slide the passenger seat as far back as possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible.
q Driver 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.
2-40
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS 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 lightlDriver 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 is switched ON 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 is switched ON.lThe air bags have deployed.lPassenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the ignition is
switched ON or does not illuminate as indicated in the chart. For more details about this
indicator light and this chart, refer to “Passenger seat weight sensors ”(page 2-37).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41íSome models.
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3. Grasp the support rod in the paddedarea and secure it in the support rod
hole indicated by the arrow to hold the
hood open.
Clip
Support rod
q Closing the Hood
1. Check under the hood area to make
certain all filler caps are in place and
all loose items (e.g. tools, oil
containers, etc.) have been removed.
2. Lift the hood, grasp the padded area on the support rod, and secure the support
rod in the clip. Verify that the support
rod is secured in the clip before closing
the hood.
Pad
Clip
3. Lower the hood slowly to a height ofabout 20 cm (7.9 in) above its closed
position and then let it drop.
CAUTION
When closing the hood, do not push
it excessively such as by applying
your weight. Otherwise, the hood
could be deformed.
3-42
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
lDo not race the engine.lDo not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
lDo not drive constantly at full-throttle
or high engine rpm for extended
periods of time.
lAvoid unnecessary hard stops.lAvoid full-throttle starts.
Money-Saving Suggestions
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
lAvoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
lAvoid fast starts.lKeep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-4) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
lUse the air conditioner only when
necessary.
lSlow down on rough roads.lKeep the tires properly inflated.lDo not carry unnecessary weight.lDo not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
lKeep the wheels in correct alignment.lKeep windows closed at high speeds.lSlow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause
damage to the drivetrain. Any loss of
steering or braking control could
cause an accident.
4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Overloading
WARNING
Be careful not to overload your vehicle:The gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
and the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of your vehicle are on the
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label
on the driver's door frame. Exceeding
these ratings can cause an accident
or vehicle damage. You can estimate
the weight of your load by weighing
the items (or people) before putting
them in the vehicle.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
4-11
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NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct mode may
not be possible depending on the vehicle
speed. In addition, because direct mode is
canceled (released) depending on the rate of
acceleration or if the accelerator is fully
depressed, use of the manual shift mode is
recommended if you need to drive the vehicle
in a particular gear for long periods.
qDriving Tips
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position.
Otherwise, the engine will stop,
causing the loss of the power brake
and power steering functions, and
make it difficult to control the vehicle
which could result in an accident.
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on theload weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-21
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qBack Trim Storage Boxí
Small items can be stored in the back trim
storage box.
To use the back trim storage box
1. To use the desired storage box, slide
the seat in front of it all the way
forward.
Refer to Seat Slide on page 2-2.
2. Fold the seatback forward all the way down.
Refer to Seat Recline on page 2-3.
3. If your vehicle has a lid, pull the latch to open.
When finished, return the seat to its
original position and secure it. After
returning the seat to its original position,
make sure the seat is secured by
attempting to lightly move it forward and
backward.
CAUTION
Do not store excessive weight in the
back trim storage box as it could be
damaged.
q Mesh Pocket
Maps or pamphlets can be placed in the
mesh pocket.
Mesh pocket
CAUTION
Do not place thick objects in the
mesh pocket as they could damage
the pocket.
6-84
Interior Comfort
íSome models.
Interior Equipment
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Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WARNING
Using Different Tire Types:Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires: Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-7)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
qTire Inflation Pressure
WARNING
Always inflate the tires to the correct
pressure:
Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling
or unexpected tire failure could result
in a serious accident.
Refer to Tires on page 10-7.
Use only a Mazda-genuine tire valve
cap: Use of a non-genuine part is
dangerous as the correct tire air
pressure cannot be maintained if the
tire valve becomes damaged. If the
vehicle is driven under this condition,
the tire air pressure will decrease
which could result in a serious
accident. Do not use any part for the
tire valve cap that is not a Mazda-
genuine part.
8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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