warning MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2002 Owners Manual

How to Use This Manual
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
We want to help you get the most driving
pleasure from your vehicle. Your owner’s
manual, when read from cover to cover,
can do that in many ways.
Illustrations complement the words of the
manual to best explain how to enjoy your
Mazda. By reading your manual, you can
find out about the features, important
safety information, and driving under
various road conditions.
The above symbol in this manual means
"Do not do this " or "Do not let this
happen". Index:
A good place to start is the Index,
an alphabetical listing of all information
in your manual.
Yo u ’ll find several WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs, and NOTEs in the manual.
The above symbol, located on some parts
of the vehicle, indicates that this manual
contains information related to the part.
Please refer to the manual for a detailed
explanation.
A WARNING indicates a situation in
which serious injury or death could
result if the warning is ignored.
A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which bodily injury or damage to your
vehicle, or both, could result if the
caution is ignored.
NOTE
A NOTE provides information and
sometimes suggests how to make
better use of your vehicle.
WARNING
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 2 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

1-2
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Dashboard Overview
Hood release handle
Climate control systemCup holder
Glove box
Shift lever
Parking brake
Audio system
Passenger-side air bag
Hazard warning flasher switch
Fog lights switch Lighting control/Turn signals Instrument cluster
Driver-side air bag
Wiper and washer lever
Ignition switch Ashtray
Center console
Power window
switches
Cruise control switches
Creuise main switch(page 2-16)
(page 5-17)
(page 5-29)
(page 5-13)
(page 5-30) (page 5-31)
(page 5-13)
(page 5-34)
(page 6-10)
(page 5-9)
(page 6-39) (page 3-9)
(page 3-10)
(page 5-2)
(page 6-2) (page 5-5)
(page 6-38) (page 6-38) (page 6-39)
(page 2-16)
J07L(02MY).book Page 2 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-1
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
2Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, SRS air bags and
child-restraint systems.
Seats .............................................................................................. 2- 2
Seats ......................................................................................... 2- 2
Seat Belt Systems ......................................................................... 2- 4
Seat Belt Precautions ............................................................... 2- 4
3-Point Type Seat Belt ............................................................. 2- 7
Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ................ 2- 8
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-10
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................. 2-11
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-12
Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-12
Installing a Child-Restraint System ......................................... 2-15
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-16
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-16
Passenger-Side Air Bag Deactivation Switch .......................... 2-19
Air Bag System Description .................................................... 2-22
J07L(02MY).book Page 1 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-2
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Seats

Seat Slide
To move a seat forward or backward, raise
the lever and slide the seat to the desired
position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and
backward. Seats
Securing the Seats:
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that
are not securely locked are
dangerous. In a sudden stop or
collision, the seat or seatback could
move, causing injury. Make sure the
adjustable components of the seat are
locked in place by attempting to slide
the seat forward and backward and
rocking the seatback.
Driver’s Seat Adjustment:
Adjusting the driver’s seat while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. The
driver could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident. Adjust the
driver’s seat only when the vehicle is
stopped.
WARNING
WARNING
Lever
J07L(02MY).book Page 2 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-3
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Seat ReclineTo change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while raising the lever.
Then lean back to the desired position and
release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seatback is locked in
place by attempting to push it forward and
backward.
Reclining:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don
’t get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you
can slide under the lap belt and suffer
serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back
and upright.
Unlocked Seatback:
A seatback plays an important role in
your protection in a vehicle. Leaving
the seatback unlocked is dangerous as
it can allow passengers to be ejected
or thrown around and baggage to
strike occupants in a sudden stop or
collision, resulting in severe injury.
After adjusting the seatback at any
time, even when there are no other
passengers, rock the seatback to make
sure it is locked in place.
WARNING
When returning a rear-reclined
seatback to its upright position, make
sure you support the seatback while
operating the seatback lever. If the
seatback is not supported, it will flip
forward suddenly and could cause
injury.
Lever
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 3 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-5
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Not Wearing Seat Belts:
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not
wearing seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown
out of the vehicle. They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same
collision, occupants wearing seat belts would be much safer. Always wear your seat
belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained.
Seat Belt Damaged During an Accident:
Using a damaged seat belt is dangerous. An accident could damage the belt webbing
of the seat belt in use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide adequate protection in a
collision. Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect all seat belt systems in use during
an accident before they are used again.
Twisted Seat Belts:
Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt isn’t
available to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt,
which could break them or cause other serious injury or death. Don ’t wear twisted
seat belts.
One Belt, One Passenger:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way can ’t spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could be
crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more
than one person at a time.
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep them
clean.
WARNING
CAUTION
Ring
J07L(02MY).book Page 5 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-7
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Fastening the Seat Belts
1. Grasp the buckle and tongue.
2. Slowly pull out the lap/shoulder belt.
3. Insert the tongue into the buckle until
you hear a click. 4. Make sure the shoulder belt is snugly
fitted against your body.
3-Point Type Seat Belt
Belt
Tongue
Tonge
Buckle
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of
the Seat Belt:
Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
An improperly positioned belt will
provide little or no protection in a
collision. Always make sure the
shoulder portion of the seat belt is
positioned across your shoulder and
near your neck, but never under your
arm, on your neck, or on your upper
arm.
Positioning the Lap Portion of the
Seat Belt:
The lap portion of the seat belt worn
too high is dangerous. In a collision,
this would concentrate the impact
force directly on the abdominal area,
causing serious injury. Wear the lap
portion of the belt snugly and as low
as possible.
WARNING
Keep low on
hip bone
Too high
Take up slack
WARNING
J07L(02MY).book Page 7 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-9
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Incorrect Positioning of the Driver
and Passenger Seat Belts:
Incorrect positioning of the driver
and passenger seat belts is dangerous.
Without proper positioning, the
pretensioner and load limiting
systems cannot provide adequate
protection in an accident and this
could result in serious injury. Wear
seat belts only as recommended in
this owner’s manual.
Modification or Testing of the
Pretensioner System:
Modifying the components or wiring
of the pretensioner system, including
the use of electronic testing devices is
dangerous. You could accidentally
activate it or make it inoperable which
would prevent it from activating in an
accident. The occupants could be
seriously injured. Never modify the
components or wiring, or use
electronic testing devices on the
pretensioner system.
Pretensioner System Disposal:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is
dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of the
pretensioner system or how to scrap a
pretensioner-equipped vehicle.
WARNINGNOTE
• The pretensioner system will only
activate in a moderate or greater
frontal or near-frontal collision. It
will not activate in side or rear
impacts.
• Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not
indicate a fire. This gas normally
has no effect on occupants,
however, those with sensitive skin
may experience light skin irritation.
If residue from the deployment of
the air bags or the pretensioner
system gets on the skin or in the
eyes, wash it off as soon as possible.
• The seat belt pretensioners will only
function once. After they are
expended, they will not work again
and must be replaced immediately,
even if there was no seat occupant
seated at the time.
J07L(02MY).book Page 9 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-10
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
Systems Warning Light
If the air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
is OK, the warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position or after the engine is cranked.
After about 6 seconds it goes out.
A system malfunction is indicated when
the warning light constantly flashes, stays
on or doesn
’t come on at all. If any of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident. 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.
Self-Servicing the Air Bag/
Pretensioner Systems:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled. This
could cause serious injuries. Never
tamper with the systems and always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
Seat Belt Extender
J07L(02MY).book Page 10 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

2-11
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, a beep will sound for about
6 seconds and the seat belt warning light
will remain on until the belt is fastened.
If the system does not operate correctly,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Unnecessary Use of an Extender:
Using a seat belt extender when not
necessary is dangerous. The seat belt
will be too long and not fit properly.
In an accident, the seat belt will not
provide adequate protection and you
could be seriously injured. Only use
the extender when it is required to
fasten the seat belt properly.
Using an Improper Extender:
Using a seat belt extender that is for
another person or a different vehicle
or seat is dangerous. The seat belt will
not provide adequate protection and
the user could be seriously injured in
an accident. Only use the extender
provided for you and for the
particular vehicle and seat. NEVER
use the extender in a different vehicle
or seat.
Using an Extender That is Too Long:
Using an extender that is too long is
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit
properly. In an accident, the seat belt
will not provide adequate protection
and you could be seriously injured.
Don ’t use the extender or choose one
shorter in length if the distance
between the extender ’s buckle and the
center of the user ’s body is less than
15cm (6 in).
WARNINGSeat Belt Warning Light/
Beep
J07L(02MY).book Page 11 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM