light MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK 2013 (in English) Owner's Manual

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 6 air bags.Please
verify the air bags equipped on your vehicle by locating the“SRS AIRBAG”location
indicators.These indicators are visible in the area where the air bags are installed.
The air bags are installed in the following locations:
lThe steering wheel hub (driver air bag)lThe front passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)lThe outboard sides of the front seatbacks (side air bags)í
lThe front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides (curtain air bags)í
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
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, near frontal, side 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.
If your vehicle is also equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system,
refer to the Front Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2-57) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system, the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified time after the
ignition is switched ON.
2-44
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
SRS Air Bags

Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-26).
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.
WARNING
Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:
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 the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal, side
collisions that are at least moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat
belts.
Children should not ride in the front passenger seat:
Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be
hit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. Even if the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as possible. A sleeping child is more likely to lean against
the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate collision to the front-passenger
side of the vehicle. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on
the rear seat with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child's age and size.
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that
could deploy:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous even
though you may feel assured that a front passenger air bag will not deploy based on
the fact that the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates. 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-45

Do not modify 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. Do not 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. An Authorized Mazda
Dealer can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of front
seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the
bags do not accidentally deploy, the front passenger seat weight sensors are not
damaged and that the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.
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.
lThis highly-visible label is displayed which warns against the use of rear-facing child-restraint
systems on the front passenger seat.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags

Supplemental Restraint System Components
Driver/Front passenger inflators and air bags
Crash sensor, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-20)
Front air bag sensor
Side crash sensorsí
Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-53)
Side and curtain inflators and air bagsí
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-57)
Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-57)
Front passenger seat weight sensor control module
Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-61)
NOTE
-are equipped only on models with the front passenger occupant classification system.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-49íSome models.

qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system is working properly, the warning light
illuminates when the ignition is switched ON or after the engine is cranked. The warning
light turns off after a specified period of time.
A system malfunction is indicated if the warning light constantly flashes, constantly
illuminates or does not illuminate at all when the ignition is switched ON. If any of these
occur, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not
operate in an accident.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/pretensioner systems and always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer perform all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the systems is dangerous. An air bag/pretensioner
could accidentally activate or become disabled causing serious injury or death.
qAir 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 Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning
beep sounding:
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.
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the vehicle inspected as soon as
possible.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-53

Front Passenger Occupant Classification Systemí
First, please read“Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions”(page 2-44)
carefully.
qFront Passenger Seat Weight Sensors
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger seat weight sensors as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. These sensors are located under both of the front passenger
seat rails. These sensors determine the total seated weight on the front passenger seat and
monitor the seat belt buckle for the front passenger seat. The SAS unit is designed to
prevent the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from
deploying if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illuminates. 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 illuminates
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 possible
malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air
bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-57íSome models.

If the front passenger weight sensors are normal, the indicator light illuminates when the
ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:
Condition detected by the
front passenger occupant
classification systemFront passenger air bag
deactivation indicator lightFront passenger front and
side air bagsFront passenger seat
belt pretensioner
system
Empty (Not occupied)
*1Off Deactivated Deactivated
Child or child-restraint
system
*2On Deactivated Deactivated
Adult
*3Off Ready Ready
*1 : If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates,
however this does not indicate a malfunction.
*2 : If a larger child sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the child as being an adult depending
on the child's physique.
*3 : If a smaller adult sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child
depending on the person's physique.
The curtain air bag is ready for inflating regardless of the chart above.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the
ignition is switched ON and does not illuminate as indicated in the above chart, do not
allow a child to sit in the front passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags

WARNING
Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:
When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat required for air bag deployment is
dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total
seated weight condition and the front passenger front and side air bags and seat
belt pretensioner system will not deploy during an accident. The front passenger will
not have the supplementary protection of the air bag, which could result in serious
injury. Decreasing the total seated weight on the front passenger seat could result in
an air bag not deploying under the following conditions, for example:
ØA rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with their feet.
ØLuggage 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.
ØThe front passenger seat occupant sits in a manner that does not place the entire
weight of the occupant on the seat such as by sitting too close to the door,
grasping the assist grip or the rim of the moonroof and sitting with the seatback
reclined too far.
ØAny accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to 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 illuminates.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-59

Do not increase the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat is dangerous. The front passenger seat
weight sensors will detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the
unexpected deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system in an accident and may cause serious injury. Increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat could result in the front passenger front
and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system deployment in an accident under
the following conditions, for example:
ØLuggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
ØA rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.
ØA rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with their feet.
ØLuggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.
ØHeavy items are placed in the seatback map pocket.
ØThe seat is washed.
ØLiquids are spilled on the seat.
ØThe front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
ØThe front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.
ØLuggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver
seat.
ØAny accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to 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 illuminates.
CAUTION
ØTo assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the
sensors in the front seat bottoms:
ØDo not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on
them.
ØDo not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
ØTo allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:
ØAdjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
ØIf 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
2-36).
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Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags

NOTElThe system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front passenger front and
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
lThe front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or
other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior
changes suddenly.
lThe front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat changes.
lThe air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light might illuminate if the front
passenger seat receives a severe impact.
lIf the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, first, re-install your child-restraint system
according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light still does not illuminate, install the child-restraint system on the rear
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
lIf the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates when an adult is seated in
the front passenger seat, have the passenger re-adjust their posture by sitting with their feet on the
floor, and then re-fastening the seat belt. If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
still illuminates, move the passenger to the rear seat. If sitting in the rear seat is not possible, slide
the front passenger seat as far back as possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
qDriver and Front Passenger Buckle Switches
The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the front seat belts are
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-61