snow chains MAZDA MODEL MPV 2004 Owners Manual (in English)

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Don’t spin the front
wheels.
•For more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or packed
snow, use sand, rock salt, chains,
carpeting, or other nonslip material
under the front wheels.
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.
WARNING
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front
wheels.
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 8 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM

4-9
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.•Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
•Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
•Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
•Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-18).
•Don’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P and block the
rear wheels.
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
Winter Driving
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4-10
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H

Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Don’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi)
more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver’s door), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find it necessary to replace them
with snow tires during the winter months
to further improve traction on snow and
ice covered roads.

Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the front tires.
Don’t use chains on the rear tires.
Use only SAE Class "S" chains, and make
sure they fit.
Installing the chains
1. Remove the wheel covers, or the chain
bands will scratch them.
2. Secure the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Always follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Retighten the chains after driving
1/2—1 km (1/4—1/2 mile).
Mixing Tire Types:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle’s handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident. Use only the same size
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
WARNING
CAUTION
•Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels. Install tire chains
on steel wheels only.
•Chains may affect handling.
•Don’t go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer’s
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
•Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
•Avoid locked-wheel braking.
•Don’t use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage to
the vehicle and to the tire.
•Don’t use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
CAUTION
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5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by regulating
engine torque. When the TCS detects
driving wheel slippage, it lowers engine
torque to prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels
without causing them to spin and lose
traction.

TCS Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. If the TCS is
operating, the indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS may have a
malfunction and it may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Traction Control System
(TCS)*
TCS and Unsafe Driving:
The traction control system (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an
accident. So don’t rely on the traction
control system as a substitute for safe
driving.
TCS and Snow and Ice:
Driving without proper traction
devices on snow and/or ice-covered
roads is dangerous. The traction
control system (TCS) alone cannot
provide adequate traction and you
could still have an accident. Use snow
tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and/or snow.
WARNING
NOTE
•In addition to the indicator light
flashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This
indicates that the TCS is operating
properly.
•On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to
achieve high rpm when the TCS is
on.
*Some models.
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11-6
Index
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
S
Storage Box ..................................... 6-50
Storage Compartments
..................... 6-49
Cargo securing loops
................ 6-51
Eyeglass holder
......................... 6-49
Front console
............................ 6-50
Glove box
................................. 6-50
Overhead console
..................... 6-49
Rear console
............................. 6-51
Shopping bag hooks
................. 6-52
Storage box
............................... 6-50
Under seat tray
.......................... 6-50
Sunroof/Moonroof
........................... 3-25
Sunshade
.......................................... 3-27
Sunvisors
.......................................... 6-41
T
Tachometer ...................................... 5-22
Temporary Spare Tire
...................... 8-29
Theft-Deterrent System
................... 3-31
Third-row seat
.................................. 2-20
Tiedown
Hook
......................................... 7-23
Tires
Flat tire
........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure
...................... 8-27
Replacement
............................. 8-29
Rotation
.................................... 8-28
Snow tires
................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage
.......... 7-3
Specifications
........................... 10-7
Tire chains
................................ 4-10
Uniform tire quality
grading system (UTQGS)
......... 9-15
Tool
.................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description
............................... 7-22
Emergency towing
.................... 7-22
T
Recreational towing .................. 7-23
Trailer towing
........................... 4-12
Traction Control System (TCS)
....... 5-18
TCS indicator light
.................... 5-18
TCS OFF indicator light
........... 5-19
TCS OFF switch
....................... 5-19
Trailer Towing
................................. 4-12
Trip Meter
........................................ 5-21
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
........ 5-35
U
Under Seat Tray ............................... 6-50
V
Vanity Mirrors .................................. 6-41
Vehicle Information Labels
............. 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................ 5-24
ABS
........................................... 5-29
Air bag system
.......................... 5-29
Brake system
............................. 5-26
Charging system
....................... 5-27
Check engine
............................. 5-28
Door-ajar
................................... 5-30
Engine oil pressure
.................... 5-28
Front seat belt pretensioner
system
....................................... 5-29
Immobilizer system
................... 5-30
Low fuel
.................................... 5-30
Seat belt
..................................... 5-30
Warranty
............................................. 9-9
Washer Fluid
.................................... 8-18
Weights
............................................ 10-5
Wheel Replacement
......................... 8-30
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 6 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM