2–50
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
Front Passenger Air Bag
The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard.\
The inflation mechanism for the front passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag, as
mentioned above.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger air bag is designed to only deploy in a\
ccordance with the
total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer to t\
he front passenger
occupant classification system (page 2-56).
Side Air Bags*
The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front seatbac\
ks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than mode\
rate force, the
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side
air bag inflates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or front passenger's chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53).
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 502015/05/11 14:00:13
2–51
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy\
in accordance with
the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer \
to the front passenger
occupant classification system (page 2-56).
Curtain Air Bags*
The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, a\
nd the roof edge
along both sides.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than mode\
rate force, the
curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to reduce injury mainly to the rear outboard
passenger's head caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a doo\
r or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53).
In a side impact:
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on that
side only to inflate.
Only one side curtain air bag will deploy on the
side of the vehicle that receives the force of an
impact.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 512015/05/11 14:00:13
2–53
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria
This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type of
collision.
(The illustrations are the representative cases of collisions.)
SRS
equipment Types of collision
A severe frontal/near frontal collision A severe side
collision
*4A roll-over/near roll-over*3A rear collision
Front seat belt
pretensioner X*1 (both sides)
X*1 (impact side
only) X*1 (both sides)
No air bag and
front seat belt
pretensioner will be
activated in a rear
collision.
Driver air
bag X
Front
passenger air bag X
*1
Side air bag*X*2X*1 (impact side
only)
Curtain air bag
*X*2X (impact side only) X (both sides)
X: The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.
*1 (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System) The front passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretension\
er are designed to deploy depending on the condition of the total seated weight on the front passenger seat.*2 (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System) In an angled collision, the side air bag and curtain air bag may deploy .*3 (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System) In a roll-over accident, the seat belt pretensioners and the curtain air\
bags deploy .*4 (With Side/Curtain Air Bags) In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side/curtain ai\
r bags deploy (only on the side in which the collision occurs).
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 532015/05/11 14:00:15
2–56
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
Front Passenger Occupant Classification System*
First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-40)
carefully.
Front Passenger Seat Weight Sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger seat weight sensors as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. These sensors are located under both of the front passenger
seat rails. These sensors determine the total seated weight on the front passenger s\
eat and
monitor the seat belt buckle for the front passenger seat. The SAS unit is designed to prevent
the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner s\
ystem from deploying
if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.\
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passen\
ger air bag,
the system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and a\
lso the seat
belt pretensioner system when the front passenger air bag deactivation i\
ndicator light
illuminates. Refer to the following table for the front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illumination conditions.
This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner\
system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator \
light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a p\
ossible malfunction.
If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat be\
lt pretensioner system
will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger \
front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger weight sensors are normal, the indicator light il\
luminates when the
ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds. Then, the indicator light
illuminates or is off under the following conditions:
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 562015/05/11 14:00:16
2–58
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
WARNING
Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:
When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat required for air bag deployment is dangerous. The
front passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total seated weight condition
and the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will
not deploy during an accident. The front passenger will not have the supplementary
protection of the air bag, which could result in serious injury. Decreasing the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat could result in an air bag not deploying under the
following conditions, for example:
A front passenger is seated as shown in the following figure:
A rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with their feet. Luggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the front
passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat bottom. Any accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger
seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 582015/05/11 14:00:16
2–59
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Do not increase the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat is dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors
will detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the unexpected
deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system in an accident and may cause serious injury. Increasing the total seated weight on
the front passenger seat could result in the front passenger front and side air bags and
seat belt pretensioner system deployment in an accident under the following conditions,
for example:
Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system. A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback. A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with their feet. Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint. Heavy items are placed in the seatback map pocket. The seat is washed. Liquids are spilled on the seat. The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it. The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat. Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat. Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front passenger
seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
CAUTION
To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the sensors in
the front seat bottoms:
Do not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on them. Do not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
Adjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly. If you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page 2-30).
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 592015/05/11 14:00:16
2–60
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
NOTE
The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front passenger
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off. The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if
luggage or other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the
vehicle's interior changes suddenly.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10\
seconds if
the total seated weight on the front passenger seat changes. The air bag/fr ont seat belt pretensioner system warning light might illuminate if the front
passenger seat receives a severe impact. If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate a\
fter
installing a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, first, re-install your child-
restraint system according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light still does not illuminate\
, install the child-
restraint system on the rear seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates when an a\
dult is
seated in the front 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 front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light still illuminates, move the passenger t\
o the rear seat.
If sitting in the rear seat is not possible, slide the front passenger seat as far back as
possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Driver and Front Passenger Buckle Switches
The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the fr\
ont seat belts are
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 602015/05/11 14:00:16
2–61
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagn\
ostic system:
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit) Front air bag sensors Air bag modules Side crash sensors Air bag/Front seat belt pretensioner system warning light Front seat belt pretensioners Related wiring
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light Front passenger seat weight sensors Front passenger seat weight sensor control module Front passenger seat belt buckle switches
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.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 612015/05/11 14:00:16