steering wheel MAZDA MODEL MPV 2002 (in English) User Guide

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
•Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
•Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
•If your vehicle is not equipped with
ABS, brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don’t hold the
pedal down constantly.
If your vehicle is equipped with ABS,
don’t pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
•If you get stuck, shift to 2 or 3 and
accelerate slowly. Don’t spin the front
wheels.
•For more traction in starting, use sand,
rock salt, chains, carpeting, or other
nonslip material under the front
wheels.If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from D to R.
Hazardous Driving
Downshifting on Slippery Surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident. If it is
necessary to downshift on slippery
surfaces, be very careful.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front
wheels.
WARNING
Rocking the Vehicle
Spinning the Wheels:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries. Don’t spin the wheels at
more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and
don’t allow anyone to stand behind a
wheel when pushing the vehicle.
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transaxle failure, and tire
damage.
WARNING
CAUTION
J16L_EA.book Page 8 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

4-18
Before Driving Your Mazda
To w i n g
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads
will affect handling.
If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is made, the
combination of less speed and firm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely to
the side of the road, park off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating (page 7-15).
Over Use of the Brake Pedal:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently is dangerous as it could
cause the brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a serious
accident. Use lower gears (1st and 2nd) to help reduce speed. Pull off the road and
allow brakes to cool down whenever braking performance feels reduced. Always use
lower gears to reduce speed.
WARNING
J16L_EA.book Page 18 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

4-19
Before Driving Your Mazda
To w i n g
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
If it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also the foot brake) and pull away from the wheel blocks.
Stop; apply the parking brake and shift into P.
4. Have a helper retrieve the wheel blocks.
Fuel consumption
Trailer towing causes higher fuel consumption.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer frequently, have your vehicle serviced as shown in Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).
J16L_EA.book Page 19 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

5-2
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Starting and Driving

Ignition Switch Positions
LOCK
The steering wheel locks to protect
against theft. Only in this position can the
key be removed.ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel unlocks and some
electrical accessories will operate.
ON
This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The warning lights
(except brakes) should be inspected
before the engine is started (page 5-23).
START
The engine is started in this position. It
will crank until you release the key; then
it returns to the ON position. The brake
warning light can be checked after the
engine is started (page 5-23).

Ignition Key Reminder
If the ignition switch is in the LOCK or
ACC position, a beep will sound when the
driver’s door is opened.
Ignition Switch
Removing the Key:
It’s dangerous to remove the key from
the ignition switch while the vehicle is
moving. Removing the key allows the
steering wheel to lock. You will lose
steering control and a serious
accident could occur.
Remove the key only when the vehicle
is parked.
Not Setting the Parking Brake:
Leaving the driver’s seat without
setting the parking brake is
dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur if the parking
brake is not set. This could cause an
accident. Before leaving the driver’s
seat, always set the parking brake and
make sure the shift lever is in P.
WARNING
NOTE
If turning the key is difficult, jiggle the
steering wheel from side to side.
J16L_EA.book Page 2 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

5-12
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to 3
or 2, depending on load weight and grade
steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or if
the power steering system is inoperable,
you can still steer, but it requires more
physical effort.
If the steering feels rigid during normal
driving, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.Power Steering
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than five
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power steering
system.
CAUTION
J16L_EA.book Page 12 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

5-37
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
To sound the horn, press around the
mark of the steering wheel.The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning switch and all
four turn signals will flash at once.
HornHazard Warning Flasher
NOTE
•The turn signals don’t work when
the hazard warning lights are on.
•Check local regulations about the
use of hazard warning lights while
the vehicle is being towed. They
may forbid it.
J16L_EA.book Page 37 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

11-5
Index
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
P
Paint Damage ................................... 8-38
Parking Brake
..................................... 5-5
Parking in an Emergency
................... 7-2
Power Door Locks
........................... 3-10
Power Sliding Doors
........................ 3-12
Power Steering
................................. 5-12
Fluid
.......................................... 8-14
Power Windows
............................... 3-19
Push-Starting
.................................... 7-19
R
Rear Console .................................... 6-50
Rear Door Child Safety Locks
......... 3-11
Rear Quarter Windows
.................... 3-22
Rear Window Defroster
................... 5-36
Rear Window Washer
...................... 5-36
Rear Window Wiper
........................ 5-36
Rearview Mirror
............................... 3-32
Recreational Towing
........................ 7-21
Registering Your Vehicle in A
Foreign Country
............................... 9-10
Rocking the Vehicle
........................... 4-8
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................ 9-15
Seat Belt System
2-point type
............................... 2-31
3-point type
............................... 2-27
Automatic locking
.................... 2-26
Emergency locking
................... 2-26
Extender
.................................... 2-33
Pregnant women
....................... 2-26
Pretensioner and load limiting
.. 2-29
Seat belt precautions
................. 2-25
Warning beep
............................ 2-34
Warning light
............................ 2-34
S
Seats
Flat folding
................................2-24
Front seat
.....................................2-3
Second-row seats
.........................2-9
Third-Row Seat
.........................2-16
Second-row seats
................................2-9
Security System
Immobilizer system
...................3-27
Theft-deterrent system
..............3-29
Service Publications
.........................9-16
Shopping Bag Hooks
........................6-51
Spare Tire and Tool Storage
...............7-3
Specifications
...................................10-4
Speedometer
.....................................5-20
SRS Air Bags
Air bag system description
........2-51
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions
................................2-47
Warning light
............................2-56
Starting the Engine
.............................5-3
Steering Wheel
.................................3-31
Horn
..........................................5-37
Storage Box
......................................6-49
Storage Compartments
.....................6-48
Sunroof
.............................................3-25
Sunshade
...........................................3-26
Sunvisors
..........................................6-41
T
Tachometer .......................................5-21
Temporary Spare Tire
......................8-25
Theft-Deterrent System
....................3-29
Third-row seat
..................................2-16
Tiedown
............................................7-21
Hook
..........................................7-21
Tires
Flat tire
........................................7-3
J16L_EA.book Page 5 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM