MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR 2004 Owner's Guide

2-19
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
The seat belt warning light illuminates
and a beep sound will be heard if the
driver’s seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
Conditions of operation
Using an Extender That is Too Long:
Using an extender that is too long is
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit
properly. In an accident, the seat belt
will not provide adequate protection
and you could be seriously injured.
Don ’t use the extender or choose one
shorter in length if the distance
between the extender ’s buckle and the
center of the user ’s body is less than
15cm (6 in).
NOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt
extender and store it in the vehicle. If
the seat belt extender is left connected,
the seat belt warning light will not
illuminate and function properly.
WARNINGSeat Belt Warning Light/
Beep
Condition Result

The driver ’s seat belt is
not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. The warning light
illuminates for about
1 minute and a beep
sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds.
The driver ’s seat belt is
fastened while the
warning light and the
beep are activated. The warning light
turns off and the
beep sound stops.
The driver ’s seat belt is
fastened before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. The warning light
will not illuminate
and the beep sound
will not be heard.
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2-20
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Belt Minder
The belt minder is a supplemental
warning to the seat belt warning function.
This feature provides additional
reminders to the driver that the driver
’s
seat belt is not fastened by intermittently
sounding a beep sound and flashing the
seat belt warning light in the instrument
cluster.
Condition Result

The driver ’s seat belt is
not fastened when the
vehicle speed reaches 8
km/h (5 mph) and about 1
minute has elapsed since
the ignition switch was
turned to the ON position. The warning light
flashes and the beep
sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds
every 30 seconds,
for a period of about
5 minutes.
The driver ’s seat belt is
fastened while the
warning light and the
beep are activated. The warning light
turns off and the
beep sound stops.
The driver ’s seat belt is
fastened before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. The warning light
will not illuminate
and the beep sound
will not be heard.
NOTE
The belt minder can be deactivated by
the following methods.
•
(Temporary deactivation)

To temporarily deactivate the belt
minder, turn the ignition switch to
the ON position, fasten the driver’ s
seat belt for about 2 seconds or
longer, and then unfasten it within
20 seconds. The belt minder will be
deactivated until the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position again.
• (Long-term deactivation)

To deactivate the belt minder over
the long term, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer. If the
belt minder is long-term
deactivated, the belt minder will not
activate until it is restored at the
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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2-21
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Child Restraint
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 systems should sit in the rear and 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 in the outboard seats, and towards the buckle on the right if the
child is seated on the center seat.
Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up to 12 years of age,
and more so with a supplemental restraint system (air bags).
A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER
be used on the front seat with the air
bag system activated. The front passenger ’s seat is also the least preferred seat for other
child-restraint systems.
If your vehicle is equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors, a front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light is also equipped (page 2-29). To reduce the chance of
injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the front passenger seat
weight sensors work as a part of the supplemental restraint system. This system deactivates
the front passenger front and side air bags and also the front passenger seat belt
pretensioner system when the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than
approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, the 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 illuminates.
Even if the front passenger air bag is shut off, Mazda strongly recommends that children be
properly restrained and child-restraint systems of all kinds are properly secured on the rear
seats which are the best place for children.
For more details, refer to "Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-44)".
Child Restraint Precautions
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2-22
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Proper Size of Child-Restraint System:
For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, 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.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions and Always Keep the Child-Restraint System
Buckled Down:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure
the child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint
system manufacturer ’s instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or
fasten it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH
child-restraint systems.
Holding a Child While the Vehicle is Moving:
Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No
matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden
stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other
occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces
that could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed
into the adult, injuring the adult. Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint
system.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. Even though you may feel
assured that the front passenger air bag will not deploy based on the fact that the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, NEVER use a rear-facing
child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy even in a
moderate collision.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
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2-23
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Seating Children in a Child-Restraint System on the Front Passenger Seat:
If your vehicle is equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors, a front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light is also equipped (page 2-29). Even with the front
passenger seat weight sensors, if you must use the front passenger seat for children,
seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat under the
following conditions increases the danger of the front passenger air bag deploying
and could result in serious injury or death to the child.
•The total seated weight of the child with the child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat is approximately 30 kg (66 lb) or more.
• Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
• A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.
• A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with the feet.
• Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.
• The seat is washed.
• Liquids are spilled on the seat.
• The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
• The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.
• Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat.
• Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
The designated positions with seat belts on the rear seats are the safest places for
children. Always use seat belts and child restraints.
Children and Seating Position with Side and Curtain Air Bags:
Allowing anyone to lean over or against the front door, the area of front seat, front
and rear window pillars and the roof edge along both sides which the side and curtain
air bags deploy even though using a child-restraint system is dangerous. If the vehicle
is equipped with side and curtain air bags, the impact of inflation could cause serious
injury or death to the child. Furthermore, leaning over or against the front door could
block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of supplemental
protection. With the front air bag and the additional side air bag that comes out of the
front seat, the rear seat is always a better location for children. Do not allow a child to
lean over or against the doors, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.
WARNING
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2-24
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
One Belt, One Passenger:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way can’t 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.
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become 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.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially
designed LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seat. When using these anchors to
secure a child-restraint system, refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint Systems" (page 2-32).
WARNING
CAUTION
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2-25
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front
passenger’s seat is clearly the worst
choice for any child under 12, and with
rear-facing child-restraint systems it is
clearly unsafe due to air bags.
Some child-restraint systems now come
with tethers and therefore must be
installed on the seats that take tethers to
be effective. In your Mazda, tethered
child-restraint systems can only be
accommodated in the three positions on
the rear seat.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems" (page 2-32).

Rear Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the rear LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to "LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems" (page 2-32).
1. Make sure the seatback is securely
latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the manufacturer ’s instructions on
the child-restraint system for belt
routing instructions.
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems
Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear
Seats:
Installation of a tether equipped
child-restraint system in the front
passenger ’s seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury
if the child-restraint system goes
forward without benefit of being
tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
WARNING
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer ’s instructions carefully.
If you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system or tether, check in the
child-restraint system manufacturer ’s
instructions and follow them
accordingly. Depending on the type of
child-restraint system, it may not
employ seat belts which are in
automatic locking mode.
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2-26
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
3. To get the retractor into the automatic locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
4. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in the
automatic locking mode. If the belt
does not lock the seat down tight,
repeat this step. 5. If your child-restraint system requires
the use of a tether strap, hook and
tighten the tether strap by following the
manufacturer ’s instructions.NOTE
Inspect this function before each use of
the child-restraint system. You should
not be able to pull the shoulder belt out
of the retractor while the system is in
the automatic locking mode. When
you remove the child-restraint system,
be sure the belt fully retracts to return
the system to emergency locking mode
before occupants use the seat belts.
Cover
For rear right seat For rear left seat
Anchor
bracket
4 Door
Anchor bracket
location
For rear center seat
Anchor
bracket
Tether
strap4 Door
Tether strap
position
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2-27
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
For rear left seatFor rear right seat
5 Door
Anchor bracket
location
(Outboard position)
5 Door
Tether strap position
(Outboard position)
Tether strap
Cover
5 Door
Anchor bracket
location
(Center position)
For rear
center seat
Child-Restraint Tether Usage:
Using the tether or tether anchor to
secure anything but a child-restraint
system is dangerous. This could
weaken or damage the tether or tether
anchor and result in injury. Use the
tether and tether anchor only for a
child-restraint system.
Incorrect Attachment of the Tether
Strap:
Attaching the tether strap on top of
the head restraint is dangerous. In a
collision, the tether strap could slide
off the head restraint, and loosen the
child-restraint system. The child-
restraint system could move and
injure the child or someone else.
Always attach the tether strap
between the head restraint and the
seatback.
5 Door
Tether strap
position
(Center position)
Tether
strap
For rear
center seat
WARNING
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2-28
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

If You Must Use the Front Seat
for Children
If you cannot put all children in the rear
seat, at least put the smallest children in
the rear and be sure the largest child up
front uses the shoulder belt over the
shoulder.
Do not put rear-facing child-restraint
systems on the front passenger
’s seat.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in one of
the rear seat positions set up with tether
anchors.
Likewise the LATCH child-restraint
system cannot be secured in the front
passenger ’s seat and should be used in the
rear seat.
Don ’t allow anyone to sleep against the
right front or rear doors if you have an
optional side and curtain air bag, it could
cause serious injuries to an out of position
occupant. As children more often sleep in
cars, it is better to put them in the rear
seat. If installing the child-restraint
system on the front seat is unavoidable,
follow these instructions when using a
front-facing child-restraint system in the
front passenger ’s seat.
NOTE
• To check if your front seats have
side air bags:
Every Mazda side air bag will have
a "SRS-Air Bag" label on the
outboard shoulder of the front seats.
• To check if your vehicle has curtain
air bags:
Every Mazda curtain air bag will
have an "SRS-Air Bag" marking on
the front and rear window pillars
along the roof edge.
Fro n t Pa ss en ge r
’s Seat Position:
As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so if your vehicle has side air
bags, a front-facing child-restraint
system should be put on the front seat
only when it is unavoidable.
Even if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light
illuminates, always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the force
of a deploying air bag could cause
serious injury or death to the child.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
The child-restraint system can be hit
by a deploying air bag and moved
violently backward resulting in
serious injury or death to the child.
Even though you may feel assured
that the front passenger air bag will
not deploy based on the fact that the
front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates, NEVER
use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat with an air
bag that could deploy even in a
moderate collision.
WARNING
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