weight MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR 2004 User Guide

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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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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2-54
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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3-11
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Closing the liftgate
Use both hands to push the liftgate down
until the lock snaps shut. Do not slam it.
Pull up on the liftgate to make sure it is
secure.

Luggage Compartment
NOTE
If the vehicle battery is dead or there is
a malfunction in the electrical system
and the liftgate cannot be unlocked,
perform the following manual
procedure as an emergency measure to
unlock it:
1. Remove the cap on the interior
surface of the liftgate with a
flathead screwdriver.
2. Turn the lever to the right to unlock the liftgate.
After performing this emergency
measure, have the vehicle inspected at
an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon
as possible.
Cap
Lever
Placing Cargo on the Cover:
Placing luggage or other cargo on top
of the luggage compartment cover is
dangerous. During sudden braking or
a collision, the cargo could become a
projectile that could hit and injure
someone. The vehicle has a light
weight luggage compartment cover to
keep the contents of your luggage
area out of sight; it will not retain
heavy objects that are not tied down in
an accident like a rollover. Tie down
all heavy objects, whether luggage or
cargo, using the tie down hooks.
Don ’t place anything on top of the
cover.
Not Securing Luggage and Cargo:
Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as it could move or be
crushed during sudden braking or a
collision and cause injury. Make sure
luggage and cargo is secured before
driving.
Make sure the luggage compartment
cover is firmly secured. If it is not
firmly secured, it could unexpectedly
disengage resulting in injury.
WARNING
CAUTION
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4-7
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Driving Tips
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
•Don
’t race the engine.
• Don
’t maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
• Don
’t drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods
of time.
• Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
• Avoid full-throttle starts. How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
•
Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
• Avoid fast starts.
• Keep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
• Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
• Slow down on rough roads.
• Keep the tires properly inflated.
• Don
’t carry unnecessary weight.
• Don
’t rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
• Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
• Keep windows closed at high speeds.
• Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
Break-In PeriodMoney-Saving Suggestions
Coasting:
Stopping the engine when going down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident. Never stop the engine when
going down a hill.
WARNING
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4-12
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Driving In Flooded Area
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance
returns to normal.
Make sure water does not enter the
vehicle interior or the engine area. The
vehicle interior could become wet or
the engine could be damaged.
WARNING
CAUTION
Overloading
Vehicle Load Weight:
The gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
and the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of your vehicle are on the
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label
on the driver’s door frame. Exceeding
these ratings can cause an accident or
vehicle damage. You can estimate the
weight of your load by weighing the
items (or people) before putting them
in the vehicle. Be careful not to
overload your vehicle.
WARNING
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5-16
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
If the vehicle is kicked down at the
following speeds or lower, the gears shift
down automatically:
Recommendations for shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, we
recommend these shift points.
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep upgrade
, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
gives better acceleration when you need
more speed.
On a steep downgrade
, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.

Driving Tips
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release all brakes while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.
NOTE
If the vehicle is driven at a low speed
from a standing start while in M2, the
gear may not shift down to M1
automatically.
Gear Vehicle speed
M4 →
M3 135 km/h (83 mph)
M3 →
M2 64 km/h (39 mph)
M1 to M2 24 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 40 km/h (25 mph)
M3 to M4 65 km/h (40 mph)
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5-46
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Headlight High-Low Beam
Push the lever forward for high beam.
Pull it back for low.

Flashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
toward you. The headlight switch need
not be on, and the lever will return to the
normal position when released.

Headlight Leveling*
The number of riders and weight of cargo
in the luggage compartment change the
angle of the headlights.
The headlight leveling switch adjusts this
angle.
Select the proper setting from the
following chart.
×
: Yes —: No
High beam
Low beam
Front seat Rear
seat Load
Switch
Position
Driver Passenger
×— —— 0
×× —— 0
×× ×— 1
×× ×× 2
×— —× 3
*Some models.
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6-45
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
To separate vertically
Use the rear trunk board to separate the
luggage compartment vertically.
1. Pull the trunk board loops out.
2. Insert the trunk board loops into the trunk board slits. 3. Rock the trunk board to make sure the
board is installed securely.
To separate horizontally
Use the front trunk board to separate the
luggage compartment horizontally.
Compartment
divider loops
Rear trunk board
Front trunk board
Compartment
divider loop
Front
Trunk
board
NOTE
To facilitate insertion of the trunk
board loops into the trunk board slits,
first insert the bottom of the rear trunk
board into the groove of the luggage
sub-compartment.
• Do not place heavy objects on the
trunk board or apply excessive force
as they could damage the trunk
board. The permissible weight is
about 5 kg (11 lb).
• Do not use the rear trunk board to
separate the luggage compartment
horizontally. The rear trunk board
cannot be locked to the trunk board
loops and it could move and cause
injury while the vehicle is moving.
GrooveCargo sub-
compartment
CAUTION
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8-31
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.

Tire Inflation Pressure
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System*
does not alleviate the need to check the
tire condition every day, including
whether the tires all look inflated
properly. Inspect all tire pressure monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, top handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-8).
Tires
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Except for the limited use of the
temporary spare tire, use only the
same type tires (radial, bias-belted,
bias-type) on all four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-8)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
WARNING
Incorrect Tire Inflation:
Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling
or unexpected tire failure could result
in a serious accident. Always inflate
the tires to the correct pressure (page
10-8).
WARNING
Tire pressure label
*Some models.
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