tow MAZDA MODEL 6 2008 Owners Manual (in English)

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CAUTION
Always unfasten the lap portion of
the belt before folding the left-rear
seatback. Leaving the lap portion of
the belt fastened could cause
damage to the seat belt, buckle and
seatback.
NOTE
To encourage rear seat passengers to wear
their seat belts, we suggest leaving the center-
rear lap position of the belt fastened at all
times except when folding the rear seat
forward.
q Fastening the Lap Portion of the
Seat Belt
Grasp tongue (A) and insert it into the
anchor buckle (B) until you hear a click. It
is now secure for passenger use.
NOTE
After returning the left-rear seatback to its
upright position, fasten the lap portion of the
belt.
qStowing and pulling out the
Center-Rear Position Seat Belt
The center-rear position seat belt can be
stowed using the following procedure.
CAUTION
When stowing the seat belt, make
sure the belt is locked securely into
the recess. If the seat belt is not
properly stowed, it might get caught
in the seats and be damaged.
Sedan/5-Door
To stow the seat belt, retract the belt, put
tongues (A) and (C) together and insert
them into the recess. Sedan (Behind head restraint on left
side)
(A)
(C)
5-Door (Left side of luggage
compartment)
(A)(C)
To pull out the seat belt, slide tongues
with your finger, and slowly pull out the
seat belt from the recess.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Sport Wagon
To stow the seat belt, retract the belt, put
tongues (A) and (C) together and insert
them into the ceiling recess.
(A)(C)
Ceiling recess
To pull out the seat belt, slide tongue (A)
with your finger while moving it
downward, and slowly pull out the seat
belt from the ceiling recess.
Seat Belt Extender
If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order
one that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Child Restraint Precautions
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 shouldNEVERbe 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.
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 2-52).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Always close all the windows, lock the
doors and take the key with you when
leaving your vehicle unattended:(Except sedan)
Leaving your vehicle unlocked is
dangerous as children could lock
themselves in a hot vehicle, which
could result in death. Also, a vehicle
left unlocked becomes an easy target
for thieves and intruders.
(Sedan)
Leaving your vehicle unlocked is
dangerous as children could lock
themselves in a hot vehicle, or
become trapped by climbing into the
trunk, which could result in death.
Also, a vehicle left unlocked becomes
an easy target for thieves and
intruders.
qLocking, Unlocking with Key
The driver's door can be locked/unlocked
with the key.
Turn the key toward the front to unlock,
toward the back to lock.
Lock
Unlock
qLocking, Unlocking with Transmitter
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to Keyless Entry System
(page 3-3).
q
Locking, Unlocking with Door-
Lock Knob
To lock any door from the inside, push the
door-lock knob.
To unlock, pull it out.
This does not operate the other door
locks.
Lock
Unlock
To lock any door with the door-lock knob
from the outside, push the door-lock knob
to the lock position and close the door.
This does not operate the other door
locks.
Door-lock knob
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Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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2. Set the right side of the retainer baronto the retainer loop on the right side
of the luggage compartment.
Retainer
loop
3. Slowly pull out the cover towards youand insert the cover ends into the hook
retainers at the rear of the vehicle.
Hook
retainer
Removing the cover
1. Remove the cover ends from the hookretainers and slowly roll up the cover. NOTE
To fully retract and protect the cover, guide the
cover all the way into the retainer.
Ta b
2. Press and hold the button on the right
side of the retainer bar and lift the bar.
Button
3. Remove the left end of the retainer barfrom the notch.
qLuggage Compartment Net
The luggage compartment net can be used
as a compartment separator or to keep
animals in the back.
CAUTION
Make sure the net is firmly secured. If
it is not firmly secured, it could
unexpectedly disengage resulting in
injury.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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5-Door/Sport Wagon
Lock buttonUnlock button
Panic button
NOTElThe unlock button does not operate unless
it is pressed twice sequentially.
lThe lock button cannot be used to close the
power windows.
With key
1. Insert the key in the driver's door key cylinder.
2. Turn the key toward the front and hold it. After the doors and the hatch/
liftgate/trunk lid are unlocked, the
windows fully open automatically.
Open
To stop this operation, turn the key to the
center position, then turn it toward the
front again. NOTE
The window opening operation also can be
stopped by turning the key toward the back.
However, the doors and the hatch/liftgate/trunk
lid will lock.
Closing
The windows can be closed in case they
are left open after getting out of the
vehicle.
With key
1. Insert the key in the driver's door key
cylinder.
2. Turn the key toward the back and hold it. After the doors and the hatch/
liftgate/trunk lid are locked, the
windows close as long as the key is
turned.
Close
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Doors and Locks
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4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-4
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-5 Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-5
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-5
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-6 Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-6
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-6
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-7
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-8
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-8
Driving In Flooded Area ........................................................... 4-9
Overloading ............................................................................ 4-10
Towing .......................................................................................... 4-11 Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-11
4-1
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Trailer Towing
The Mazda6 is not designed for towing.
Never tow a trailer with your Mazda6.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
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You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check thebrake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-22).
2. After adding fluid, check the light again.
If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes out have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
Having to add brake fluid is sometimes an
indicator of leakage. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible even if the
brake light is no longer illuminated.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system
warning light illuminated. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible: Driving with the brake system
warning light illuminated is
dangerous. It indicates that your
brakes may not work at all or that
they could completely fail at any
time. If this light remains
illuminated, after checking that the
parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
qAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one
is about to lock up, the ABS responds by
automatically releasing and reapplying
that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal when the ABS operates. Don't
pump the brakes, continue to press down
on the brake pedal.
WARNING
Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for
safe driving:
The ABS cannot compensate for
unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another
vehicle too closely), driving on ice and
snow, and hydroplaning (reduced tire
friction and road contact because of
water on the road surface). You can
still have an accident.
NOTE
lBraking distances may be longer on loose
surfaces (snow or gravel, for example)
which usually have a hard foundation. A
vehicle with a normal braking system may
require less distance to stop under these
conditions because the tires will build up a
wedge of surface layer when the wheels
skid.
lThe sound of the ABS operating may be
heard when starting the engine or
immediately after starting the vehicle.
However, it does not indicate a malfunction.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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qABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you're driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function normally
as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to charge the
battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light comes on. This is due to a weak
battery, not a malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
qElectronic Brake Force
Distribution System Warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light and the ABS warning light
on at the same time. The problem is likely
to be the electronic brake force
distribution system.
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning
light and brake warning light
illuminated. Have the vehicle towed to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have
the brakes inspected as soon as
possible:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are illuminated at the same time is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
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Starting and Driving
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