How the SRS Air Bags Work
Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries during an accident.
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to the
seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.
▼ Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
The front seat belt pretensioner
s are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near
frontal collisions.
In addition, the pretensioners operate when a si de collision (only on the side in which the
collision occurs) or a roll-over accident is de tected. The pretensioners operate differently
depending on what types of air bags are equipped. For more details about seat belt
pretensioner operation, refer to the SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-63).
▼Driver Air Bag
The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheel.
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, the
driver's air bag inflates quickly
helping to reduce injury mainly to the driver's head or chest
caused by directly hitting the steering wheel.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-63).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity, the driver's ai r bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it de ploys with more energy.
▼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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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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 equip‐
ment Types of collision
A severe frontal/n ear frontal colli‐
sion A severe side colli
‐
sion
*2A roll-over/near roll-over*3A rear collision
Front seat
belt preten ‐
sioner X*1X*1X*1
No air bag and
front seat belt pre‐
tensioner will be
activated in a rear
collision.
Driver air
bag X
Front pas ‐
senger air bag X
*1
Side air bag
X*1 (impact side
only)
Curtain air bag X (impact side on
‐
ly) 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 pretensioner are designed to deploy when the front
passenger occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat.
*2 In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side/curtain air bags deploy.*3(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In a roll-over accident, the seat belt pretensioners and the curtain air bags deploy.
NOTE
In a frontal offset collision, the equipped air bags and pretensioners may all deploy
depending on the direction, angle, and rate of impact.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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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 involving trees or poles Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles
Roll-over (Without Front P
assenger Occupant Classification System)
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
Limitations to roll-over detection:
The following illustration is an example of an accident that may not be detected as a
roll-over accident. Therefore, the front seat belt pretensioners and curtain air bags may not
deploy.
Pitch end over end
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SRS Air Bags
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Front Passenger Occupant Classification System*
First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-51) carefully.
▼Front Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification sensor as a part of
the supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the front passenger's seat
cushion. This sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the front passenger's seat. The
SAS unit is designed to prevent the front pass enger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system from deploying if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light turns on.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by de ployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.
Refer to the following table for the front pa ssenger 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 turns on
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 possible malfunction. If
this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system
will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag de activation indicator light
This indicator light turns on to remind you that the front passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner wi ll not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the indicator light turns on
when the ignition is switch ed ON. The light turns off af ter a few seconds. Then, the
indicator light turns on or is off under the following conditions:
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart
Condition detected by the front
passenger occupant classifica ‐
tion system Front passenger air
bag deactivation indi ‐
cator light Front passenger front
and side air bags Front passenger seat
belt pretensioner sys ‐
tem
Empty (Not occupied) On Deactivated Deactivated
A child less than 1 year old is
seated in a child-restraint system On Deactivated Deactivated
Child
*1On or off Deactivated or ready Deactivated or ready
Adult
*2Off 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 front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child
depending on the person's physique.
The curtain air bag is ready for inflating rega rdless of what the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light on/ off condition chart indicates.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indi cator light does not turn on when the ignition
is switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant to sit in the front passenger
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work
properly in an accident.
WARNING
Do not allow an occupant in the front passenger's seat to sit with a posture which makes it
difficult for the front passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant
correctly:
Sitting in the front passenger's seat with a posture which makes it difficult for the front
passenger occupant classification sensor to dete ct the occupant correctly is dangerous. If the
front passenger occupant classification sensor cannot detect the occupant sitting on the front
passenger's seat correctly, the front passeng er front and side air bags and pretensioner
system may not operate (non-deploy) or they may operate (deploy) accidentally. The front
passenger will not have the supplementary prot ection 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 front passenger occupant classification sensor cannot
detect a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat correctly and the deployment/
non-deployment of the air bags cannot be controlled as indicated in the front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart. For example:
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SRS Air Bags
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The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will deactivate
if the front 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 front seat cushion:
Do not place sharp objects on the front seat cushion or leave heavy luggage on them.
Do not spill any liquids on the fr ont seats or under the front seats.
To allow the sensors to function pr operly, always perform the following:
Adjust the front seats as far back as possibl e and always sit upright against the seatbacks
with seat belts worn properly.
If you place your child on the front passe nger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page 2-43).
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 turn on repeatedly if luggage
or other items are put on the front passenger se at, or if the temperature of the vehicle's
interior changes suddenly.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on for 10 seconds if the
electrostatic capacity on the front passenger seat changes.
The air bag/front seat belt pr etensioner system warning light might turn on if the front
passenger seat receives a severe impact.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on after 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 turn on, 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 turns on when an occupant is
seated directly 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 remains turned on, move the passenger to
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.
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SRS Air Bags
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Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system:
Front air bag sensors
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Side crash sensors
Air bag modules
Front seat belt pretensioners
Air bag/Front seat belt pretensioner system warning light
Related wiring
(With Front Passenger Occupa nt Classification System)
Front passenger occupant classification sensor
Front passenger occupant classification module
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
The diagnostic module continuously monitors the system's readiness. This begins when the
ignition is switched ON and continue s while the vehicle is being driven.
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SRS Air Bags
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This is for improved exhaust gas
purification and does not indicate any
parts defect.
Engine-starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
1. Make sure you are carrying the key.
2. Occupants should fasten their seat belts.
3. Make sure the parking brake is on.
4. Continue to press the brake pedal firmly until the engine has completely
started.
5. (Manual transaxle)
Continue to press the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
(Automatic transaxle)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the
clutch pedal is not depressed
sufficiently.
(Automatic transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the
selector lever is not in P or N and the
brake pedal is not depressed
sufficiently.
6. Verify that the KEY indicator light (green) in the inst rument cluster and
the push button start indicator light
(green) illuminate.
Indicator light
Push button start
NOTE
If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes, make sure that
the key is being carried.
If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes with the key
being carried, touch the key to the
push button start and start the
engine. Refer to Engine Start
Function When Key Battery is Dead
on page 4-8.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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