low MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK 2006 Owner's Manual (in English)

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Thank you for choosing a Mazda. We at Mazda design and build vehicles with complete
customer satisfaction in mind.
To help ensure enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your Mazda, read this manual
carefully and follow its recommendations.
An Authorized Mazda Dealer knows your vehicle best. So when maintenance or service is
necessary, that's the place to go.
Our nationwide network of Mazda professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best
possible service.
We assure you that all of us at Mazda have an ongoing interest in your motoring pleasure
and in your full satisfaction with your Mazda product.
Mazda Motor Corporation
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
Important Notes About This Manual
Keep this manual in the glove box as a handy reference for the safe and enjoyable use of your Mazda. Should you
resell the vehicle, leave this manual with it for the next owner.
All specifications and descriptions are accurate at the time of printing. Because improvement is a constant goal at
Mazda, we reserve the right to make changes in specifications at any time without notice and without obligation.
Event Data Recorder
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder. In the event of a crash, this device records data related to
vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time. These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur and lead to the designing of safer
vehicles.
Air Conditioning and the Environment
Your Mazda's genuine air conditioner is filled with HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that has been found not to
damage the earth's ozone layer. If the air conditioner does not operate properly, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Please be aware that this manual applies to all models, equipment and options. As a result, you may find
some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.
©2005 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed in Japan July 2005(Print2)
A Word to Mazda Owners
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We want to help you get the most driving
pleasure from your vehicle. Your owner's
manual, when read from cover to cover,
can do that in many ways.
Illustrations complement the words of the
manual to best explain how to enjoy your
Mazda. By reading your manual, you can
find out about the features, important
safety information, and driving under
various road conditions.
The symbol below in this manual means
“Do not do this”or“Do not let this
happen”.
Index:A good place to start is the Index,
an alphabetical listing of all information
in your manual.
You'll find several WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs, and NOTEs in the manual.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a situation in
which serious injury or death could
result if the warning is ignored.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which bodily injury or damage to your
vehicle, or both, could result if the
caution is ignored.
NOTE
A NOTE provides information and
sometimes suggests how to make better
use of your vehicle.
The symbol below, located on some parts
of the vehicle, indicates that this manual
contains information related to the part.
Please refer to the manual for a detailed
explanation.
How to Use This Manual
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qSeat Recline
WARNING
Reclining:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don't get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you can
slide under the lap belt and suffer
serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back and
upright.
Reclining the Front Passenger Seat
Can Turn Off the Front Passenger Air
Bags:
If your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors, sitting
in the front passenger seat improperly
out of position or with the seatback
reclined too far while the vehicle is
moving is dangerous as it can take off
weight from the seat bottom and affect
the decision of the front passenger
sensing system. The front passenger
will not have the supplementary
protection of the air bags and
pretensioner, which could result in
serious injury. Always sit upright
against your seatback, with your feet
on the floor.
WARNING
Unlocked Seatback:
The seatback plays an important role
in your protection in a vehicle.
Leaving the seatback unlocked is
dangerous as it can allow passengers
to be ejected or thrown around and
baggage to strike occupants in a
sudden stop or collision, resulting in
severe injury. After adjusting the
seatback at any time, even when there
are no other passengers, rock the
seatback to make sure it is locked in
place.
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while raising the lever.
Then lean back to the desired position and
release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seatback is locked in
place by attempting to push it forward and
backward.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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CAUTION
When returning a rear-reclined seatback
to its upright position, make sure you
hold onto the seatback with your other
hand while operating the lever. If the
seatback is not supported, it will flip
forward suddenly and could cause
injury.
qHeight Adjustment (Driver's Seat)í
By moving the seat lever up or down, the
seat bottom height can be adjusted.
DownUp
qLumbar Support Adjustment
(Driver's Seat)í
To adjust the lumbar support, pull the
lever forward.
qHead Restraint
WARNING
Head Restraints Adjustment:
Driving with the head restraints
adjusted too low or removed is
dangerous. With no support behind
your head, your neck could be
seriously injured in a collision. Always
drive with the head restraints inserted
when seats are being used and make
sure they are properly adjusted.
Height adjustment
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-
catch release, then push the head restraint
down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top is
even with the top of the passenger's ears,
never the passenger's neck.
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Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
Seats
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WARNING
Unlocked Seatback:
The seatback plays an important role
in your protection in a vehicle.
Leaving the seatback unlocked is
dangerous as it can allow passengers
to be ejected or thrown around and
baggage to strike occupants in a
sudden stop or collision, resulting in
severe injury. After returning the
seatback at any time, even when there
are no other passengers, rock the
seatback to make sure it is locked in
place.
Passenger on the Folded Seatback:
Driving with a passenger on the folded
seatback is dangerous. Allowing a
child to sit up on the folded seatback
while the vehicle is moving is
particularly dangerous. In a sudden
stop or even a minor collision, a child
not in a proper seat or child-restraint
system and seat belt could be thrown
forward, back or even out of the
vehicle resulting in serious injuries or
death. The child in the baggage area
could be thrown into other occupants
and cause serious injury. Never allow
a passenger to sit or stand on the
folded seatback while the vehicle is
moving.
Children and the Folding Rear Seats:
Playing with the folding rear seats is
dangerous. Do not give the car keys to
children and do not allow them to play
in the vehicle.
NOTE
When returning a rear seat to its
original position, also replace the seat
belt to its normal position. Verify that
the seat belt pulls out and retracts.
qSplit-Folding Rear Seatback
To fold the seatbacks
CAUTION
When operating the rear seatback knob,
make sure you support the seatback
with your hand. If the seatback is not
supported with your hand, it will flip
forward suddenly and could cause
injury to the finger that pushes the rear
seatback knob down.
1. Unfasten the lap portion of the center-
rear seat belt (page 2-16).
CAUTION
Always unfasten the lap portion of the
belt before folding the rear-left
seatback. Leaving the lap portion of the
belt fastened could cause damage to the
seat belt, buckle and seatback.
2. Position the outboard seat belts to the
side when folding the seatbacks down.
3. Support the seatback with your hand.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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qRear Seatback Lock (4 Door)
To lock or unlock a seatback, move the
lever.
NOTE
The seatback locks are part of the trunk
security system (page 3-14).
qHead Restraint
WARNING
Head Restraints Adjustment:
Driving with the head restraints
adjusted too low or removed is
dangerous. With no support behind
your head, your neck could be
seriously injured in a collision. Always
drive with the head restraints inserted
when seats are being used and make
sure they are properly adjusted.
Height adjustment
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-
catch release, then push the head restraint
down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top is
even with the top of the passenger's ears,
never the passenger's neck.
Removal
To remove the head restraint, press the
stop-catch release, then pull up on the
head restraint.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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WARNING
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 and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly
restrained.
CAUTION
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep them
clean.
qPregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions
Pregnant women should wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the
stomach area.
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your
doctor for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Seat Belt (Except Center-
Rear Position)
NOTE
When using the center-rear seat belt,
refer to“Center-Rear Position Seat
Belt”(page 2-16).
qFastening the Seat Belts
1. Grasp the tongue.
2. Slowly pull out the lap/shoulder belt.
TongueBelt
3. Insert the tongue into the buckle until
you hear a click.
BuckleTongue
WARNING
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of
the Seat Belt:
Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
Always make sure the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is positioned
across your shoulder and near your
neck, but never under your arm, on
your neck, or on your upper arm.
4. Make sure the shoulder belt is snugly
fitted against your body.
Keep low on
hip bone
Too high Take up slack
WARNING
Positioning the Lap Portion of the
Seat Belt:
The lap portion of the seat belt worn
too high is dangerous. In a collision,
this would concentrate the impact
force directly on the abdominal area,
causing serious injury. Wear the lap
portion of the belt snugly and as low
as possible.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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qUnfastening the Seat Belts
Depress the button on the buckle.
Button
NOTE
If a belt does not fully retract, inspect it
for kinks and twists. If it is still not
retracting properly, have it inspected at
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qShoulder Belt Adjuster
Adjust the height of the shoulder belt if
the seat belt touches your neck, or if it
crosses your arm instead of your shoulder.
To raise the shoulder belt adjuster, push
the adjuster up. To lower the shoulder belt
adjuster, pull the adjuster and slide it
down. Make sure the adjuster is locked.
WARNING
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of
the Seat Belt:
Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
Always make sure the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is positioned
across your shoulder and near your
neck, but never under your arm, on
your neck, or on your upper arm.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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WARNING
Pretensioner System Disposal:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is
dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of the
pretensioner system or how to scrap a
pretensioner-equipped vehicle.
NOTE
lThe pretensioner system will only
activate in a moderate or greater
frontal or near-frontal collision. It
will not activate in most rollovers,
side or rear impacts.
lSome smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not
indicate a fire. This gas normally has
no effect on occupants, however,
those with sensitive skin may
experience light skin irritation. If
residue from the deployment of the
air bags or the front pretensioner
system gets on the skin or in the
eyes, wash it off as soon as possible.
qAir 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 constantly 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.
WARNING
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
perform all servicing and repairs.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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