
▼Pregnant Women and Persons wi
th Serious Medical Conditions
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific
recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the
stomach area.
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your doctor
for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.
▼Emergency Locking Mode
When the seat belt is fastened, it will
always be in the emergency locking mode.
In the emergency locking mode , the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the
retractor will lock in position during a collision.
If the belt is locked and cannot be pulled out, retract the belt once, and then try pulling it out
slowly. If this fails, pull the belt strongly 1 time and loosen, then pull it out again slowly.
(Seat Belt with Auto matic Locking Mode)
When the seat belt is fastened, it will always be in the emergency locking mode until it is
switched to automatic locking mode by pulling it all the way out to its full length. If the belt
feels tight and hinders comfortable movement while the vehicle is stopped or in motion, it
may be in the automatic locking mode because the belt has been pulled too far out. To return
the belt to the more comfortable emergency lo cking mode, wait until the vehicle has stopped
in a safe, level area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking mode and
then extend it around you again.
▼ Automatic Locking Mode*
Always use the automatic locking mode to keep
the child-restraint system from shifting to
an unsafe position in the event of an accident. To enable seat belt automatic locking mode,
pull it all the way out and connect it as instructed on the child-restraint system. It will retract
down to the child-restra int system and stay locked on it. See the section on child restraint
(page 2-21).
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
*Some models.2-15
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▼Unfastening the Seat Belt
Depress the button on the seat belt buckle.
If the belt does not fully retract, pull it out
and check for kinks or twists. Then make
sure it remains untwisted as it retracts.
Button
NOTE
If a belt does not fully retract, inspect it
for kinks and twists. If it is still not
retracting properly, have it inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Seat Belt Warning Systems
If it detects that the occupant seat belt is
unfastened, the warning light or beep
alerts the occupant.
Refer to Taking Action on page 7-40.
Refer to Seat Belt Warning Beep on page
7-48.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Seat Belt Pretensioner andLoad Limiting Systems
For optimum protection, the driver and
front passenger seat belts are equipped
with pretensioner and load limiting
systems. For both these systems to work
properly you must wear the seat belt
properly.
Pretensioners:
When a collision is detected, the
pretensioners deploy simultaneously with
the air bags.
For deployment details, refer to the SRS
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page
2-46).
The seat belt retractors remove slack
quickly as the air bags are expanding. Any
time the air bags and seat belt
pretensioners have fired they must be
replaced.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Taking Action on page 7-40.
Refer to Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Beep on page 7-48.
In addition, the preten sioner system for the
passenger, like the front and side
passenger air bag, is designed to only
deploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a passenger
sitting on the passenger's seat.
For details, refer to the passenger occupant
classification sensor (page 2-49).
Load limiter:
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce
belt force on the occupant's chest. While
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs
in frontal collisions, the load limiter has an
automatic mechanical function and can
activate in any accident mode with
sufficient occupant movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting function must be checked
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WA R N I N G
Wear seat belts only as recommended in
this owner's manual:
Incorrect positioning of the driver and
passenger seat belts is dangerous. Without
proper positioning, the pretensioner and
load limiting systems cannot provide
adequate protection in an accident and
this could result in serious injury. For more
details about wearing seat belts, refer to
"Fastening the seat belts" (page 2-16).
Have your seat belts changed immediately
if the pretensioner or load limiter has been
expended:
Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
immediately inspect the seat belt
pretensioners and air ba gs after any collision.
Like the air bags, the seat belt pretensioners
and load limiters will only function once and
must be replaced after any collision that
caused them to deploy. A seat belt with an
expended pretensioner or load limiter is still
better than wearing no seat belt at all;
however, if the seat belt pretensioners and
load limiters are not replaced, the risk of
injury in a collision will increase.
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 syst ems 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-res traint system should NEVER be used on the passenger seat with the
air bag system activated.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the
passenger occupant classification sensor work as a part of the supplemental restraint system.
This system deactivates 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 sits on the passenger seat, the 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 illuminates.
For more details, refer to "Passenger oc cupant classification sensor" (page 2-49).
WA R N I N G
Use the correct size child-restraint system:
For effective protection in ve hicle accidents and sudden stop s, 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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Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over to or against the side window of a vehicle with
side air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over to or against the side window, the area of the
front passenger seat, the front window pillars an d the roof edge along both sides from which
the side air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint system is used. The impact of inflation from a
side air bag could cause serious injury or deat h to an out of position child. Furthermore,
leaning over to or against the door could block the side air bags and eliminate the
advantages of supplemental pr otection. Because the front seats are equipped with front air
bags, the rear seat is always a better location for children. Take special care not to allow a
child to lean over to or against the side window , even if the child is seated in a child-restraint
system.
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 or the ISOFIX/LATCH
*1
lower anchor:
Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether or the ISOFIX/LATCH
*1 lower anchor is
dangerous. Your Mazda does not have a ch ild-restraint tether or the ISOFIX/LATCH
*1 lower
anchor. The child-restraint system cannot be pr operly secured. In a collision, it could move
and injure other occupants as well as result in serious injuries or death to the child.
*1 ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can beco me very hot in a closed vehicle during warm
weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child touches
them.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Installing Child-RestraintSystems
The passenger lap/shoulder belt can easily
be converted into th e automatic locking
mode, which must be done to hold the
child-restraint system.
NOTE
To check if your seats have side air
bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with side air
bag will have an embossed "SRS
AIRBAG" marking on the outboard
shoulder of the seats.
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully.
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.
WA R N I N G
Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over
to or against the side window of a vehicle
with side air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean
over to or against the side window, the
area of the front passenger seat, the front
window pillars and the roof edge along
both sides from which the side air bags
deploy, even if a child-restraint system is
used. The impact of inflation from a side air
bag could cause serious injury or death to
an out of position child. Furthermore,
leaning over to or against the door could
block the side air bags and eliminate the
advantages of supplemental protection.
Because the front seats are equipped with
front air bags, the rear seat is always a
better location for children. Take special
care not to allow a child to lean over to or
against the side window, even if the child is
seated in a child-restraint system.
CAUTION
When moving the seats forward and
rearward, make sure you hold onto the
seatback with your hand while operating. If
the seatback is not he ld, the seat will move
suddenly and could cause injury.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Keyless Entry System
This system uses the key buttons to
remotely lock and unlock the doors and
the fuel-filler lid, and opens the trunk lid.
The system can start the engine without
having to take the key out of your purse or
pocket.
It can also help you signal for attention or
help.
Operating the theft-deterrent system is
also possible on theft-deterrent
system-equipped vehicles.
System malfunctions or warnings are
indicated by the following warning lights
or beeps.
For vehicles with the type A instrument
cluster, check the displayed message for
more information and, if necessary, have
the vehicle inspected at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer, according to the indication.
KEY Warning Light (Red)
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-27.
Ignition Not Switched Off (STOP)
Warning Beep
Refer to Ignition Not Switched Off
(STOP) Warning Beep on page 7-49.
Key Removed from Vehicle Warning
Beep
Refer to Key Removed from Vehicle
Warning Beep on page 7-49.
If you have a problem with the key,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If your key is lost or stolen, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible for a replacement and to make the
lost or stolen key inoperative.
CAUTION
Radio equipment like this is governed by
laws in the United States.
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority
to operate the equipment.
NOTE
The keyless entry system operation may
vary due to local conditions.
The keyless entry system is fully
operational (door/fuel-filler lid lock/
unlock) when the ignition is switched
off. The system does not operate if the
ignition is switched to any position other
than off.
If the key does not operate when
pressing a button or the operational
range becomes too small, the battery
may be weak. To install a new battery,
refer to Key Battery Replacement (page
6-31).
Before Driving
Keys
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▼Emission Control System
This vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is part of
this system) that enables the vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions
requirements.
WA R N I N G
Never park over or near anything flammable:
Parking over or near anything flammable, such
as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with the
engine turned off, the exhaust system remains very hot after normal use and could ignite
anything flammable. A resulting fire could cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside the
converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the converter
and cause poor performance.
USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Do not drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
Do not coast with the ignition switched
off.
Do not descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switched off.
Do not operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes.
Do not tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must be
made by a qualified technician.
Do not push-start or tow-start this vehicle.
NOTE
Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control
system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some
states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
While the engine is off, the sound of a valve opening and closing can be heard at the rear
of the vehicle, however this does not indicate an abnormality. The vehicle has a
self-checking device and it operates while the engine is off.
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
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