MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR 2004 Repair Manual
Page 61 of 372
2-49
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Air Bag Activation/Deactivation
Front air bag activation
A greater than moderate impact will cause the front air bags to inflate in the following cases:
If the front passenger seat weight sensors detect a total seated weight on the front 
passenger seat of less than approximately 42 kg (93 lb), the front passenger front and 
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner may not inflate (page 2-44).
CAUTION
Hitting a solid wall straight on at greater 
than about 22 km/h (14 mph). Frontal impact within about a 30 degree 
range from head-on to the vehicle.
Driving into a big hole or hitting the far 
side of a hole.
Hitting a curb, pavement edge or hard 
object.
Landing hard or the vehicle falling.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Limitations to front air bag activation
Depending on the severity of impact, the front air bags may not inflate in the following 
cases:
Non-activation of front air bags
Front air bags will not normally inflate in the following cases:
Impacts involving trees or poles cause severe 
cosmetic damage but may not have enough 
impact to activate the air bag.Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail 
gate may not provide the stopping force 
necessary for air bag deployment.
Frontal offset impact to the vehicle may not 
provide the stopping force necessary for air 
bag deployment.
Collision from the rear.
Impact to the side, but it may deploy the 
side *
 and curtain *
 air bags. Vehicle roll-over, may deploy the side
*
 and 
curtain *
 air bags but not the front air bags.
*Some models.
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2-51
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Side and curtain air bag activation*
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle (driver or passenger side areas) will 
cause the side and curtain air bags to inflate, but it will not normally deploy the front air 
bags.
Limitations to side and curtain air bag activation*
Depending on the severity of impact, the side and curtain air bags may not inflate in the 
following cases:
Side impacts involving trees or poles can 
cause severe cosmetic damage but may not 
have enough impact force to activate the 
side*
 and curtain *
 air bags. Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles 
may not provide enough force to deploy the 
side
*
 and curtain *
 air bags.
Vehicle roll-over may not provide enough 
side force to deploy the side
*
 and curtain *
 
air bags.
Frontal offset impact may not provide 
enough side impact to deploy the side
*
 and 
curtain *
 air bags.
*Some models.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Non-activation of side and curtain air bag*
The side and curtain air bags will not normally inflate in the following cases:
Collision from the rear.Collision from the front, but it may deploy
the front air bags.
*Some models.
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2-53
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag 
systems are monitored by a diagnostic 
system:
• SAS unit
• Front air bag sensor
• Air bag modules
• Side crash sensor
*
•Front seat belt pretensioners
• Related wiring
• Driver seat slide position sensor
• Front passenger seat weight sensors
• Driver and front passenger seat belt 
buckle switches
The diagnostic module continuously 
monitors the system’ s readiness. This 
begins when the ignition switch is turned 
to the ON position and continues while 
the vehicle is being driven.
 Air Bag/Front Seat Belt 
Pretensioner System Warning 
Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner 
system is normal, the warning light 
illuminates when the ignition switch is 
turned to the ON position or after the 
engine is cranked. After about 6 seconds it 
goes out.
A system malfunction is indicated when 
the warning light illuminates or doesn
’t 
illuminate at all when the ignition switch 
is turned to the ON position. If any of 
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda 
Dealer as soon as possible. The system 
may not work in an accident.
Self-Servicing the Air Bag/
Pretensioner Systems:
Self-servicing or tampering with the 
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally 
activate or become disabled. This 
could cause serious injuries. Never 
tamper with the systems and always 
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer 
performs all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
*Some models.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt 
Pretensioner System Warning 
Beep
If a malfunction is detected in the air bag/
front seat belt pretensioner systems and 
the warning light, a warning beep sound 
will be heard for about 5 seconds every 
minute.
The air bag and seat belt pretensioner 
system warning beep sound will continue 
to be heard for approximately 35 minutes.
Have your vehicle inspected at an Mazda 
Dealer as soon as possible.
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:
• The air bag system warning light 
flashes.
• The air bag system warning light 
illuminates.
• The air bag system warning light does 
not illuminate when the ignition switch 
is turned to the ON position.
• The air bags inflate.
• Front passenger air bag deactivation 
indicator light does not illuminate 
when the ignition switch is turned to 
the ON position or does not illuminate 
as indicated in the chart. For more 
details about this indicator light and 
this chart, refer to "Front passenger 
seat weight sensors (page 2-44)".
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner 
System Warning Beep:
Driving the vehicle with the air bag/
front seat belt pretensioner system 
warning beep sounding is dangerous. 
In a collision, the air bags and the 
front seat belt pretensioner system 
will not deploy and this could result in 
death or serious injury.
Do not drive the vehicle with the air 
bag/front seat belt pretensioner 
system warning beep sounding. 
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer 
to have the vehicle inspected as soon 
as possible.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Damaged Air Bag System 
Components:
Driving with damaged air bag system 
components is dangerous. A collision, 
even one not strong enough to inflate 
the air bags, could damage the system 
components. If there was a 
subsequent collision, a damaged 
component would not inflate the air 
bags. Always have an Authorized 
Mazda Dealer inspect the air bag 
systems after a collision.
Removing Interior Parts:
Removing any components such as 
the front seats (if side air bags are 
equipped), front dashboard, the 
steering wheel or parts on the front 
and rear window pillars and along the 
roof edge, containing air bag parts or 
sensors is dangerous. These parts 
contain essential air bag components. 
The air bag could accidentally 
activate and cause serious injuries. 
Always have an Authorized Mazda 
Dealer remove these parts.
Air Bag Disposal:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a 
vehicle with live air bags in it can be 
extremely dangerous. Unless all 
safety procedures are followed, injury 
can result. Ask an Authorized Mazda 
Dealer how to safely dispose of an air 
bag or how to scrap an air bag 
equipped vehicle.
WARNINGNOTE
If it becomes necessary to have the 
components or wiring system for the 
supplementary restraint system 
modified to accommodate a person 
with certain medical conditions in 
accordance with a certified physician, 
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer, 
refer to "Customer Assistance 
(U.S.A.)" (page 9-2).
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Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
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3-1
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
3Knowing Your Mazda
Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and 
adjustment of various parts.
Doors and Locks ............................................................................ 3-2
Keys ........................................................................................... 3-2
Keyless Entry System*  .............................................................. 3-3
Door Locks  ................................................................................ 3-7
Liftgate (5 Door)  ..................................................................... 3-10
Trunk Lid (4 Door)  .................................................................. 3-13
Inside Trunk Release Slide Lever (4 Door)  ............................. 3-15
Power Windows*  ..................................................................... 3-16
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap  ........................................................... 3-18
Hood ........................................................................................ 3-20
Moonroof* ............................................................................... 3-21
Security System  ........................................................................... 3-24
Immobilizer System  ................................................................ 3-24
Theft-Deterrent System*  ......................................................... 3-27
Steering Wheel and Mirrors  ...................................................... 3-29
Steering Wheel  ........................................................................ 3-29
Mirrors ..................................................................................... 3-29
*Some models.
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3-2
Knowing Your Mazda
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Doors and Locks
The keys operate all locks.
A code number is stamped on the plate 
attached to the key set; detach this plate 
and store it in a safe place (not in the 
vehicle) for use if you need to make a 
replacement key.
Also write down the code number and 
keep it in another safe and handy place, 
but not in the vehicle.
If your key is lost, consult your 
Authorized Mazda Dealer with the code 
number ready.Keys
Keys and Children:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the 
key is dangerous. This could result in 
someone being badly injured or even 
killed. They could play with power 
windows or other controls, or even 
make the vehicle move. Don’t leave 
the keys in your vehicle with children 
and keep them in a place where your 
children will not find or play with 
them.
NOTE
(With immobilizer system) 
Refer to Immobilizer System (page 3-24) 
for information regarding keys and 
engine starting on vehicles equipped 
with the immobilizer system.
WARNING
Key code number plate
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