2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA Owners Manual

2 –35 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Limitations to SRS Air BagIn severe collisions such as those described previously in "SRS Air Bag Deployment
Criteria", the applicable SRS air bag equipment will deploy. However, in some accidents,
the equipment may not deploy depending on the type of collision and its severity.
Limitations to front/near front collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of front/near front collisions that may not be
detected as severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment. Impacts in volving trees or poles Frontal offset impact to the vehicle
Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail gate
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2 –36 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags Limitations to side collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of side collisions that may not be detected as severe
enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment. Side impacts in volving trees or poles Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles
Roll- ove r
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2 –37 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
* Some models.Passenger Occupant Classification System *
First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precaut ions" (page 2-24 )
carefully.
Passenger Occupant Classification SensorYour vehicle is equipped with a passenger occupant classification sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the passenger's seat cushion. This
sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the passenger's seat. The SAS unit is designed
to prevent the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from
deploying if the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.
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 the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns o n. Refer to the following table
for the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illumination conditions.
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 turns on 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.
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light turns on to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and seat
belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
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2 –38 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags If the passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the i ndicator light turns on when
the ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds. Then, the indicator light
turns on or is off under the following conditions: Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart
Condition detected by
the passenger occupant
classification system Passenger air bag
deactivation indicator
light Passenger front and
side air bags Passenger seat belt
pretensioner system
Empty (Not occupied) On Deactivated Deactivated
A child is seated in a child-
restraint system *1
On Deactivated Deactivated
Adult *2
Off Ready Ready
*1 The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a
junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.
*2 If a smaller adult sits on the passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on
the person's physique.
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on when the ignition
is switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the passeng er air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant 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.
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2 –39 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
WARNING Do not allow an occupant in the passenger's seat to sit with a posture which makes
it difficult for the passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant
correctly:
Sitting in the passenger's seat with a posture which makes it difficult for the passenger
occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant correctly is dangerous. If the
passenger occupant classification sensor cannot detect the occupant sitting on the
passenger's seat correctly, the passenger front and side air bags and pretensioner system
may not operate (non-deploy) or they may operate (deploy) accidentally. The passenger
will not have the supplementary protection of the air bags or the accidental operation
(deployment) of the air bags could result in serious injury or death.
Under the following conditions, the passenger occupant classification sensor cannot
detect a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat correctly and the deployment/non-
deployment of the air bags cannot be controlled as indicated in the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart. For example: 
A passenger is seated as shown in the following figure:
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2 –40 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags 
Luggage or other items placed under the passenger seat or between the passenger
seat and driver seat that push up the passenger seat bottom. 
An object, such as a seat cushion, is put on the passenger's seat or between the
passenger's back and the seatback. 
A seat cover is put on the passenger's seat. 
Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system. 
The seat is washed. 
Liquids are spilled on the seat. 
The passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items placed
behind it. 
Luggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and driver seat. 
An electric device is put on the passenger's seat. 
An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the
passenger seat.
The passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will deactivate if
the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.
CAUTION 
To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the sensor in
the seat cushion: 
Do not place sharp objects on the seat cushion or leave heavy luggage on them. 
Do not spill any liquids on the seats or under the seats. 
To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following: 
Adjust the 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 passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system properly
and slide the passenger seat as far back as possible.
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2 –41 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air BagsNOTE 
The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the passenger front
and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off. 
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on repeatedly if luggage or
other items are put on the passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior
changes suddenly. 
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on for 10 seconds if the
electrostatic capacity on the passenger seat changes. 
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light might turn on if the passenger
seat receives a severe impact. 
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on after installing a
child-restraint system on the passenger seat, first, re-install your child-restraint system
according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light still does not turn on, and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. 
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on when an occupant is seated
directly 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 remains turned on, slide the passenger seat as far back as
possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
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2 –42 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Constant MonitoringThe following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system: 
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit) 
Front air bag sensors 
Air bag modules 
Side crash sensors 
Air bag/Seat belt pretensioner system warning light 
Seat belt pretensioners 
Related wiring
(With Passenger Occupant Classification System) 
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light 
Passenger occupant classification sensor 
Passenger occupant classification module
The diagnostic module continuously monitors the system's readiness. This begins when the
ignition is switched ON and continues while the vehicle is bein g driven.
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