belt MAZDA MODEL 6 SPORT WAGON 2005 Owner's Guide

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Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front passenger's
seat is clearly the worst choice for any
child under 12, and with rear-facing child-
restraint systems it is clearly unsafe due to
air bags.
Some child-restraint systems now come
with tethers and therefore must be
installed on the seats that take tethers to
be effective. In your Mazda, tethered
child-restraint systems can only be
accommodated in the three positions on
the rear seat.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems ”(page 2-39).
WARNING
Tethered Child-Restraint SystemsWork Only on Tether-Equipped RearSeats:
Installation of a tether equipped child-
restraint system in the front
passenger's seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury
if the child-restraint system goes
forward without benefit of being
tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
q Rear Outboard Seat Child-
Restraint System Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the rear LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to “LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems ”(page 2-39).
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully. If
you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system or tether, check in the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions and follow them
accordingly. Depending on the type of
child-restraint system, it may not
employ seat belts which are in
automatic locking mode.
1. Make sure the seatback is securely latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the manufacturer's instructions on
the child-restraint system for belt
routing instructions.
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3. To get the retractor into the automaticlocking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
4. Push the child-restraint system firmlyinto the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in the
automatic locking mode. If the belt
does not lock the seat down tight,
repeat this step.
NOTE
Inspect this function before each use of
the child-restraint system. You should
not be able to pull the shoulder belt out
of the retractor while the system is in
the automatic locking mode. When you
remove the child-restraint system, be
sure the belt fully retracts to return the
system to emergency locking mode
before occupants use the seat belts.
5. If your child-restraint system requires the use of a tether strap, hook and
tighten the tether strap by following the
manufacturer's instructions.
Anchor bracket location (Sedan)
Tether strap position (Sedan)
Anchor
bracket Tether
strap
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Anchor bracket location (5-Door/Sport
Wagon)
Tether strap position (5-Door/Sport
Wagon)
Tether strap
Route between head restraint upright.
WARNING
Child-Restraint Tether Usage:
Using the tether or tether anchor to
secure anything but a child-restraint
system is dangerous. This could
weaken or damage the tether or tether
anchor and result in injury. Use the
tether and tether anchor only for a
child-restraint system.
Incorrect Attachment of the TetherStrap:
Attaching the tether strap on top of the
head restraint is dangerous. In a
collision, the tether strap could slide
off the head restraint, and loosen the
child-restraint system. The child-
restraint system could move and injure
the child or someone else. Always
attach the tether strap between the
head restraint and the seatback.
q
Rear Center Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation
1. Secure the child-restraint system with
the seat belt, according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Secure the tether strap according to the child-restraint system manufacturer's
instruction.
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Child Restraint
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Tether strap position (Sedan)
Anchor
bracketTether
strap
Tether strap position (5-Door)
Tether strap
Anchor
bracket
Tether strap position (Sport Wagon)
Anchor
bracketTether strap
WARNING
Child-Restraint Tether Usage:
Child-restraint system anchorages are
designed to withstand only those loads
imposed by correctly installed child-
restraint systems.Under no
circumstances are they to be used for
adult seat belts, harnesses, or for
attaching other items or equipment to
the vehicle.
Incorrect Attachment of the TetherStrap:
Attaching the tether strap on top of the
head restraint is dangerous. In a
collision, the tether strap could slide
off the head restraint, and loosen the
child-restraint system. The child-
restraint system could move and injure
the child or someone else. Always
attach the tether strap between the
head restraint and the seatback.
Incorrect Attachment of theTetherStrap for the Rear Center SeatPosition (5-Door):
Attaching the tether strap for the rear
center seat position to one of the other
tether anchor positions on the
outboard seatbacks is dangerous. In a
collision, the tether strap could slide
and loosen the child-restraint system.
If the child-restraint system moves it
could injure the child or someone else.
Always attach the tether strap for the
rear center seat position to the correct
tether anchor position as shown in the
illustrations above.
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Child Restraint
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qIf You Must Use the Front Seat
for Children
If you cannot put all children in the rear
seat, at least put the smallest children in
the rear and be sure the largest child up
front uses the shoulder belt over the
shoulder.
Do not put rear-facing child-restraint
systems on the front passenger's seat.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in one of
the rear seat positions set up with tether
anchors.
Likewise the LATCH child-restraint
system cannot be secured in the front
passenger's seat and should be used in the
rear seat.
Don't allow anyone to sleep against the
right front or rear doors if you have an
optional side and curtain air bag, it could
cause serious injuries to an out of position
occupant. As children more often sleep in
cars, it is better to put them in the rear
seat. If installing the child-restraint system
on the front seat is unavoidable, follow
these instructions when using a front-
facing child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat.
NOTE
lTo check if your front seats have side
air bags:
Every Mazda side air bag will have a
“SRS AIRBAG ”tag on the outboard
shoulder of the front seats.
lTo check if your vehicle has curtain
air bags:
Every Mazda curtain air bag will
have an “SRS AIRBAG ”marking on
the front and rear window pillars
along the roof edge.
WARNING
Front Passenger's Seat Position:
As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so if your vehicle has side air
bags, a front-facing child-restraint
system should be put on the front seat
only when it is unavoidable.
Always move the seat as far back as
possible, because the force of a
deploying air bag could cause serious
injury or death to the child.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on
the front seat are particularly
dangerous.
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. NEVER
use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat with an air bag
that could deploy even in a moderate
collision.
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WARNING
Children and Seating Position withSide and Curtain Air Bags:
Allowing anyone to lean over or
against the front door, the area of the
front seat, front and rear window
pillars and the roof edge along both
sides from which the side and curtain
air bags deploy, even though using a
child-restraint system, is dangerous. If
the vehicle is equipped with side and
curtain air bags, the impact of
inflation could cause serious injury or
death to the child. Furthermore,
leaning over or against the front door
could block the side and curtain air
bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. With the
front air bag and the additional side
air bag that comes out of the front
seat, the rear seat is always a better
location for children. Do not allow a
child to lean over or against the doors,
even if the child is seated in a child-
restraint system.
qFront Passenger's Seat Child-
Restraint System Installation
1. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the manufacturer's instructions on
the child-restraint system for belt
routing instructions.
3. To get the retractor into the automatic locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
4. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in automatic
locking mode. If the belt does not lock
the seat down tight, repeat the previous
step and also this one.
NOTE
lInspect this function before each use
of the child-restraint system. You
should not be able to pull the
shoulder belt out of the retractor
while the system is in the automatic
locking mode. When you remove the
child-restraint system, be sure the
belt fully retracts to return the system
to emergency locking mode before
occupants use the seat belts.
lFollow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode.
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Child Restraint
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5. Make sure the front passenger air bagdeactivation indicator light illuminates
after installing a child-restraint system
on the front passenger seat.
WARNING
Seating a Child in a Child-RestraintSystem on the Front Passenger SeatWith the Front Passenger Air BagDeactivation Indicator Light NotIlluminated:
Seating a child in a child-restraint
system installed on the front passenger
seat with the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light not
illuminated is dangerous. If this
indicator light does not illuminate
even when the total seated weight is
less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb),
this means that the front passenger
front and side air bags, and seat belt
pretensioner are ready for deployment.
If an accident were to deploy an air
bag, a child sitting in the front
passenger seat could be seriously
injured or killed. If the indicator light
does not illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, install the child-
restraint system on the rear seat and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible. While it is always
better to install any child-restraint
system on the rear seat, it is essential
to do so if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not
illuminate (page 2-52).
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LATCH Child-Restraint Systems
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seat. Both anchors must be used, otherwise the
seat will bounce around and put the child in danger. Some LATCH child-restraint systems
must also be used in conjunction with a tether to be effective. If they have a tether you
must use it to better assure your child's safety.
WARNING
Manufacturer's Instructions for Child-Restraint System:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure
the child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions.
Attaching Two Child-Restraint Systems to the Same LATCH Lower Anchor:
Attaching two child-restraint systems to the same LATCH lower anchor is dangerous.
In a collision, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two child-restraint system
attachments and may break, causing serious injury or death. If you use the seat
position for another child-restraint system when an outboard LATCH position is
occupied, use the center seat belts instead, and the tether if tether-equipped.
Unsecured Child-Restraint System:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions on belt routing to secure the seat
just as you would with a child in it so that nobody is tempted to put a child in an
improperly secured seat later on. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten
it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH child-
restraint systems.
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems:
Not following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing
the child-restraint system is dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object prevent the
child-restraint system from being securely attached to the LATCH lower anchors and
the child-restraint system is installed improperly, the child-restraint system could move
in a sudden stop or collision causing serious injury or death to the child or other
occupants. When installing the child-restraint system, make sure there are no seat
belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH lower anchors. Always follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Tether strap position (5-Door/Sport
Wagon)
Tether strap
Route between head restraint upright.
WARNING
Child-Restraint Tether Usage:
Using the tether or tether anchor to
secure anything but a child-restraint
system is dangerous. This could
weaken or damage the tether or tether
anchor and result in injury. Use the
tether and tether anchor only for a
child-restraint system.
q
LATCH Child-Restraint System
Installation Procedure (Rear
Center Seat)
The LATCH lower anchors at the center
of the rear seat are much further apart than
the sets of LATCH lower anchors for
child-restraint system installation at other
seating positions. Child-restraint systems
with rigid LATCH attachments cannot be
installed on the center seating position.
Some LATCH equipped child-restraint
systems can be placed in the center
position and will reach the nearest
LATCH lower anchors which are 466 mm
(18.35 in) apart. LATCH compatible
child-restraint systems (with attachments
on belt webbing) can be used at this
seating position only if the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions state
that the child-restraint system can be
installed to LATCH lower anchors that are
466 mm (18.35 in) apart. Do not attach
two child-restraint systems to the same
LATCH lower anchor. If your child-
restraint system has a tether, it must also
be used for your child's optimum safety.
1. Make sure the seatback is securely
latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
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Child Restraint
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Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 6 air bags (verify
“SRS AIRBAG ”location indicator marks).
They are located in:
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
These systems operate independently depending on the type of accident encountered; if
you have side and curtain air bags, the side and curtain air bags are not likely to deploy on
both sides in the same accident because a vehicle is not often hit from both sides. The side
and curtain air bags and the frontal air bag system will not normally deploy during the
same type of accident unless a combination of frontal and side impacts occur.
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
only in the front seats in certain situations and the rear outside passenger positions only in
same-side collisions, 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 or 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.
Children should be protected by a child-restraint system. Laws vary on the size a child
must be to use a child-restraint system (page 2-28).
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.
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Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
SRS Air Bags
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