MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2005 Owner's Guide

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qLATCH Child-Restraint System
Installation Procedure
Before installing a rear-facing child-
restraint system, the passenger air bag
must be deactivated (page 2-23).
NOTE
Before installing a child-restraint
system, refer to “Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch ”(page 2-23).
1. Make sure to remove articles from behind the passenger seat that would
prevent the seat from sliding back fully,
and then slide the seat as far back as
possible to insert the LATCH lower
anchors between the seat bottom and
the seatback.
2. Expand the area between the seat bottom and the seatback slightly to
verify the locations of the LATCH
lower anchors.
NOTE
The markings above the LATCH lower
anchors indicate the locations of the
LATCH lower anchors for the
attachment of a child-restraint system. 3. Secure the child-restraint system using
BOTH LATCH lower anchors,
following the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instruction, however if
it uses an upper tether, it cannot be
mounted properly in this vehicle as
there is no safe way to anchor the
tether.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 2 air bags (verify“SRS AIRBAG ”
location indicator marks).
They are located in:
lThe steering wheel hub (driver air bag)
lThe passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
only in the front seats in certain situations, so seat belts are always important in the
following ways:
Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an accident.
Seat belt usage is necessary to:
lKeep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag.
lReduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
lReduce the possibility of injuries in frontal collisions that are not severe enough to
activate the air bags.
lReduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.
lReduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body.
lHold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.
Children should be protected by a child-restraint system. Laws vary on the size a child
must be to use a child-restraint system (page 2-13).
We have provided a deactivation switch that will disable passenger air bag inflation. Do not
switch off the passenger air bag without reading the “Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
Switch ”(page 2-23).
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow the
installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Please be aware that there is no good way to anchor an upper tether, so do not pick a child
restraint system that uses upper tethers at all.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
Air Bags without Seat Belts:
Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous. Alone,
air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be expected to
inflate only in collisions with frontal or near frontal forces that are at least moderate.
Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
When a rear-facing child-restraint system is installed on the passenger's seat and the
passenger air bag deactivation switch is not in the OFF position, it is extremely
dangerous. In an accident, the air bag could inflate and cause serious injuries or even
death to the child in the rear-facing child-restraint system. When using a rear-facing
child-restraint system, always set the passenger air bag deactivation switch to OFF
position.
Seating Position with Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag modules or placing hands or feet on them is extremely
dangerous. Air bags inflate with great force and speed. Serious injuries could occur if
someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto only the rim of the steering
wheel. The passenger should keep both feet on the floor. Seat occupants should adjust
their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the seatbacks with
seat belts worn properly.
Air Bag Modules located in the steering wheel hub and the dashboard:
Attaching an object to the air bag modules or placing something in front of them is
dangerous. In an accident, the object could interfere with air bag inflation and injure
the occupants.
Always keep the air bag modules free of objects.
Hot Air Bag Inflators:
Hot air bag inflators are dangerous. Immediately after inflation, the inflators in the
steering wheel or the dashboard are very hot. You could get burned. Don't touch the
internal components of the air bag modules after the bags have inflated.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
Installation of Front-End Equipment:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull
bar, push bar, etc.), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air bag crash sensor
system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate unexpectedly, or it could
prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident. Occupants could be seriously
injured. Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle.
Suspension Adjustment:
Adjusting the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the
suspension is changed, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Modification of the Supplemental Restraint System:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is
dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Don't make any
modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,
badges, or anything else over the air bag modules. It also includes installing extra
electrical equipment on or near system components or wiring.
NOTE
lWhen an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be
released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may
cause light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.
lShould you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems
and that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is
important.
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Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch
WARNING
Unnecessary Deactivation of
Passenger Air Bag:
Unnecessary deactivation of the
passenger air bag is dangerous. If
turned off unnecessarily, the
passenger will not receive the added
protection of the air bag. Serious
injuries or even death could occur.
With the exception of passengers
fitting the categories described below,
do not turn the air bag deactivation
switch to the OFF position.
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger
air bag deactivation switch. The switch is
located in the center console. The switch
must be used to deactivate the passenger
air bag and the passenger seat belt
pretensioner system when the occupant of
the passenger seat fits into one of the
following categories (as described in the
request form for the air bag on-off switch,
the appendix B to part 595 of National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[NHTSA]):
lInfants (less than one year old; for all
types of restraint, but particularly the
rear-facing child restraint.)
lChildren aged 1 to 12
lPeople with certain medical conditions
which, according to his/her physician,
could be adversely affected by air-bag
activation For more government release information
on air bag deactivation, contact your
Authorized Mazda Dealer for the
occupant categories as described in the
request form for the air bag deactivation
switch in the NHTSA rules.
The air bag deactivation switch turns off
the passenger air bag. Make sure the
passenger air bag deactivation switch is in
the ON position except when a passenger
fitting the previous categories occupies
the front passenger seat.
Air bag deactivation switch
Deactivation indicatoir
Passenger
Air Bag
Deactivation Switch Passenger
Air Bag
Operation Air Bag
Deactivation
Indicator Light
OFF position
Deactivate ON
ON position
Ready OFF
When the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light comes on for
about 6 seconds.
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SRS Air Bags
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If the passenger air bag deactivation
switch is in the OFF position, the
indicator light remains on to warn that the
passenger air bag has been deactivated.
NOTE
Have the passenger air bag deactivation
switch inspected by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer if any of these conditions
occur:
lThe indicator doesn't come on when
the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position.
lThe indicator doesn't remain on
when the ignition switch is in the ON
position and the passenger air bag
deactivation switch is in the OFF
position.
lThe indicator remains on when the
ignition switch is in the ON position
and the passenger air bag
deactivation switch is in the ON
position.
qTo Deactivate The Passenger Air
Bag
WARNING
Leaving the Key in the Passenger Air
Bag Deactivation Switch:
Unintentional deactivation of the
passenger air bag is dangerous. In an
accident, the passenger will not be
properly protected. Serious injuries or
even death could occur. To avoid
unintentional deactivation, always use
the same key to operate the passenger
air bag deactivation switch and the
ignition switch, that way you won't
leave the key in the passenger air bag
deactivation switch.
1. Insert the key into the switch.
2. Turn the key clockwise until the key points to OFF.
3. Remove the key.
4. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light remains on when the
ignition is in the ON position.
The passenger air bag will remain
deactivated until the passenger air bag
deactivation switch is turned to the ON
position.
q To Ready The Passenger Air Bag
1. Insert the key into the switch.
2. Turn the key counterclockwise until the
key points to ON.
3. Remove the key.
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4. Make sure the air bag deactivationindicator light goes off after 6 seconds
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position.
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SRS Air Bags
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Air Bag System Description
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
lThe air bag system with inflators and air bags.
lThe electrical system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations: the center of the steering wheel, the
passenger-side of the dashboard. They are out of sight until activated.
The passenger air bag has a deactivation switch located on the center console (page 2-23).
Crash sensors and diagnostic
module (SAS unit)
Inflators and air bags Crash sensor
q
How the Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the air bags and after the inflation, the air bags quickly
deflate.
The air bags will function only once. After that, the air bags will not work again and
must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the system components.
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qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation
Air bag activation
A greater than moderate impact will cause
the air bags to inflate in the following
cases:
lHitting a solid wall straight on at
greater than about 22 km/h (14 mph).
lHitting a curb, pavement edge or hard
object.
lLanding hard or the vehicle falling.
lFrontal impact within about a 30
degree range from head-on to the
vehicle.
lDriving into a big hole or hitting the far
side of a hole.
Limitations to air bag activation
Depending on the severity of impact, the
air bags may not inflate in the following
cases:
lImpacts involving trees or poles cause
severe cosmetic damage but may not
have enough impact to activate the air
bag.
lFrontal offset impact to the vehicle
may not provide the stopping force
necessary for air bag deployment.
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SRS Air Bags
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lRear-ending or running under a truck's
tail gate may not provide the stopping
force necessary for air bag deployment.
Non-activation of air bags
Air bags will not normally inflate in the
following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lImpact to the side.
lVehicle roll-over.
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
lSAS unit
lCrash sensor
lAir bag modules
lSeat belt pretensioners
lRelated wiring
lPassenger air bag deactivation switch
A diagnostic module continuously
monitors the systems' readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.
q Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Light
If the air bag/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.
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