sensor MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR 2017 User Guide

2–50
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
How the SRS Air Bags Work
Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries\
during an accident.
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to the
seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.
Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
The front seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or \
severe frontal, near
frontal collisions.
In addition, the pretensioners operate when a side collision (only on t\
he side in which the
collision occurs) or a roll-over accident is detected. The pretensioners operate differently
depending on what types of air bags are equipped. For more details about seat belt
pretensioner operation, refer to the SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page
2-54).
Driver Air Bag
The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheel.
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moder\
ate force, the
driver's air bag inflates quickly helping to reduce injury mainly to the driver's head or chest
caused by directly hitting the steering wheel.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page
2-54).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity, the driver's air bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it deploys with more energy.
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 502016/08/10 17:35:09

2–51
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
Front Passenger Air Bag
The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard.\
The inflation mechanism for the front passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page
2-54).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger air bag is designed to only deploy when\
the front passenger
occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat. For
details, refer to the front passenger occupant classification system (page
2-57).
Side Air Bags*
The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front seatbac\
ks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than mode\
rate force, the
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side
air bag inflates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or front passenger's chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page
2-54).
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 512016/08/10 17:35:09

2–52
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger side bag is designed to only deploy whe\
n the front passenger
occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat. For
details, refer to the front passenger occupant classification system (page
2-57).
Curtain Air Bags*
The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, a\
nd the roof edge
along both sides.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than mode\
rate force, the
curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to reduce injury mainly to the rear outboard
passenger's head caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a doo\
r or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page
2-54).
In a side impact:
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on that
side only to inflate.
Only one side curtain air bag will deploy on the
side of the vehicle that receives the force of an
impact.
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 522016/08/10 17:35:10

2–54
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria
This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type of
collision.
(The illustrations are the representative cases of collisions.)
SRS
equipment Types of collision
A severe frontal/near frontal collision A severe side
collision
*4A roll-over/near roll-over*3A rear collision
Front seat belt
pretensioner X*1 (both sides)
X*1 (impact side
only) X*1 (both sides)
No air bag and
front seat belt
pretensioner will be
activated in a rear
collision.
Driver air
bag X
Front
passenger air bag X
*1
Side air bag*X*2X*1 (impact side
only)
Curtain air bag
*X*2X (impact side only) X (both sides)
X: The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.
*1 (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System) The front passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretension\
er are designed to deploy when the front passenger occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat.*2 (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System) In an angled collision, the side air bag and curtain air bag may deploy .*3 (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System) In a roll-over accident, the seat belt pretensioners and the curtain air\
bags deploy .*4 (With Side/Curtain Air Bags) In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side/curtain ai\
r bags deploy (only on the side in which the collision occurs).
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 542016/08/10 17:35:12

2–57
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
Front Passenger Occupant Classification System*
First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-41)
carefully.
Front Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification sensor as a part
of the supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the front passenger's seat
cushion. This sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the front passenger's\
seat. The
SAS unit is designed to prevent the front passenger front and side air b\
ags and seat belt
pretensioner system from deploying if the front passenger air bag deacti\
vation indicator
light turns on.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passen\
ger air bag,
the system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and a\
lso the seat belt
pretensioner system when the front passenger air bag deactivation indica\
tor light turns
on. Refer to the following table for the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illumination conditions.
This 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 turns on
according to the following table.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a p\
ossible malfunction.
If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat be\
lt pretensioner system
will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light turns on to remind you that the front passenger fro\
nt and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the indicator light turns
on when the ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds. Then, the
indicator light turns on or is off under the following conditions:
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 572016/08/10 17:35:13

2–58
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart
Condition detected by the front passenger occupant classification system Front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light Front passenger front
and side air bags Front passenger seat
belt pretensioner system
Empty (Not occupied) OnDeactivated Deactivated
A child less than 1 year old is
seated in a child-restraint system On
Deactivated Deactivated
Child
*1On or off Deactivated or ready Deactivated or ready
Adult*2Off Ready Ready
*1 The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.*2 If a smaller adult sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might d\
etect the person as being a child depending on the person's physique.
The curtain air bag is ready for inflating regardless of what the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart indicates.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not tur\
n on when the ignition
is switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant to sit in the front passenge\
r
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work
properly in an accident.
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 582016/08/10 17:35:14

2–59
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
WARNING
Do not allow an occupant in the front passenger's seat to sit with a posture which
makes it difficult for the front passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the
occupant correctly:Sitting in the front passenger's seat with a posture which makes it difficult for the front
passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant correctly is dangerous.
If the front passenger occupant classification sensor cannot detect the occupant sitting
on the front passenger's seat correctly, the front passenger front and side air bags and
pretensioner system may not operate (deploy) or they may operate (deploy) accidentally.
The front passenger will not have the supplementary protection of the air bags or the
accidental operation (deployment) of the air bags could result in serious injury or death.
Under the following conditions, the front passenger occupant classification sensor
cannot detect a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat correctly and the
deployment/non-deployment of the air bags cannot be controlled as indicated in the
front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart. For example:
 A front passenger is seated as shown in the following figure:
 A rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with their feet. Luggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the front
passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat bottom.
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 592016/08/10 17:35:14

2–60
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
 An object, such as a seat cushion, is put on the front passenger's seat or between the
passenger's back and the seatback. A seat cover is put on the front passenger's seat. 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. 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. An electric device is put on the front passenger's seat. An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the
front passenger seat.
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.
CAUTION
 To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the sensor in
the front seat cushion:
 Do not place sharp objects on the front seat cushion or leave heavy luggage on them. Do not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
 To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
 Adjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly. If you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page 2-30).
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 602016/08/10 17:35:14

2–62
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagn\
ostic system:
 Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit) Front air bag sensors Air bag modules Side crash sensors Air bag/Front seat belt pretensioner system warning light Front seat belt pretensioners Related wiring
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
 Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light Front passenger occupant classification sensor Front passenger occupant classification module
The diagnostic module continuously monitors the system's readiness. This begins when the
ignition is switched ON and continues while the vehicle is being driven.
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 622016/08/10 17:35:14

3–28
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
Fuel Requirements
Vehicles with catalytic converters or oxygen sensors must use ONLY UNLEADED FUEL,
which will reduce exhaust emissions and keep spark plug fouling to a min\
imum.
This vehicle will perform best with fuel listed in the table.
FuelOctane Rating* (Anti-knock index)
Regular unleaded fuel 87 [(R
M)/2 method] or above (91 RON or above)
* U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gaso line station pumps.
Fuel with a rating lower than 87 octane (91 RON) will negatively affect the emission control
system performance and could also cause engine knocking and serious engi\
ne damage.
CAUTION
 USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Leaded fuel is harmful to the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors and will lead to
deterioration of the emission control system and or failures. This vehicle can only use oxygenated fuels containing no more than 10 % ethanol by
volume. Damage to the vehicle may occur when ethanol exceeds this recommendation, or
if the gasoline contains any methanol. Stop using gasohol of any kind if your vehicle engine
is performing poorly.
 Never add fuel system additives, otherwise the emission control system could be damaged.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer for details.
Gasoline blended with oxygenates such as alcohol or ether compounds are generally
referred to as oxygenated fuels. The common gasoline blend that can be used with your
vehicle is ethanol blended at no more than 10 %. Gasoline containing alcohol, such as
ethanol or methanol, may be marketed under the name "Gasohol".
Vehicle damage and drivability problems resulting from the use of the following may not be
covered by the warranty.
 Gasohol containing more than 10 % ethanol. Gasoline or gasohol containing methanol. Leaded fuel or leaded gasohol.
Mazda3_8FL6-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 282016/08/10 17:35:27