belt MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2004 User Guide

2-10
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Light
If the air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
is OK, the warning light illuminates 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 illuminate at all when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. 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
performs all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
Seat Belt Extender
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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).
WARNINGNOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt
extender and store it in the vehicle. If
the seat belt extender is left connected,
the seat belt warning light will not
illuminate and function properly.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, 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. If the driver
’s seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, a beep sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds.
Seat Belt Warning LightSeat Belt Warning Beep
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2-13
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Child Restraint
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 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 .
A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER
be used in the front seat with the air
bag system activated.
We have installed lower LATCH anchor points for LATCH style booster seats and infant
carriers that work without tethers only. Any other child-restraint system that has an upper
tether cannot be used in this vehicle because there is no tether anchor. Do not try to connect
a tether, the seat and head restraint combination allows you maximum adult space but any
attempt to install a tether point will result in too much slack in an accident or a very skewed
child seat location and pose a serious risk of injury or death to your child. Use the seat belts
to properly secure the non-tethered child-restraint systems other than the LATCH booster
seats and non-tethered infant carriers. Turn off the passenger air bag deactivation switch.
To expose and use the lower LATCH anchor points, which are affixed to the body and not
the seat, slide the seat all the way rearward which is the optimal vehicle seat position for all
children in this two seat car.
We have provided a deactivation switch that will disable passenger air bag inflation. Do not
switch off the passenger air bag without reading the "Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
Switch" (page 2-23).
Child Restraint Precautions
Proper Size of Child-Restraint System:
For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be
properly restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and
size. If not, the child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions and Always Keep the Child-Restraint System
Buckled Down:
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. 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.
Holding a Child While the Vehicle is Moving:
Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No
matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden
stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other
occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces
that could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed
into the adult, injuring the adult. Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint
system.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
When a rear-facing child-restraint system is installed on the passenger ’s seat and the
passenger air bag deactivation switch is not in the OFF position, it is extremely
dangerous. In an accident, the air bag could inflate and cause serious injuries or even
death to the child in the rear-facing child-restraint system. When using a rear-facing
child-restraint system, always set the passenger air bag deactivation switch to OFF
position.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
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2-15
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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.
Child-Restraint Tether:
Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether is dangerous. Your Mazda doesn ’t
have a child-restraint tether. The child-restraint system cannot be properly secured. In
a collision, it could move and cause serious injury or even death to the child or
someone else. Always use a child-restraint system designed for use without a tether.
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during
warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child
touches them.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially
designed LATCH child-restraint systems behind the passenger seat. When using these
anchors to secure a child-restraint system, refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint Systems"
(page 2-18).
WARNING
CAUTION
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
The passenger lap/shoulder belt can easily
be converted into the automatic locking
mode, which must be done to hold the
child-restraint system.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems" (page 2-18).
Follow these instructions when installing
a child-restraint system on the passenger’s
seat, unless you are attaching a LATCH-
equipped child-restraint system to the
LATCH lower anchors. Refer to "LATCH
Child-Restraint Systems" (page 2-18).
Before installing a rear-facing child-
restraint system, the passenger air bag
must be deactivated (page 2-23). 1. Make sure to remove articles from
behind the passenger seat that would
prevent the seat from sliding back fully,
and then 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 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 this step.
Installing a Child-
Restraint System
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer’ s instructions carefully.
If you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system, 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, however if it
uses an upper tether, it cannot be
mounted properly in this vehicle as
there is no safe way to anchor the
tether.
NOTE
Before installing a child-restraint
system, refer to "Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch" (page 2-23).
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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.
• Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer’
s instruction carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode, however if it uses an
upper tether, it cannot be mounted
properly in this vehicle as there is
no safe way to anchor the tether.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems behind the passenger seat. Only LATCH booster seats and
infant carriers without upper tethers can be used in this position, as there is no good place
to anchor the tether due to this vehicle’s design. Both anchors must be used when installing
these lower anchor only child-restraint systems, otherwise the seat will bounce around and
put the child in danger.
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems
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 does not rely on an upper tether and then properly secure
those non-tethered seats according to the child-restraint system manufacturer ’s
instructions.
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.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
SRS Air Bags
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 2 air bags (verify "SRS AIRBAG"
location indicator marks).
They are located in:
•The steering wheel hub
• The passenger side dashboard
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
only in the front seats in certain situations, so seat belts become 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:
• Keep the passenger away from an inflating air bag.
• Reduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
• Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal collisions that are not severe enough to
activate the air bags.
• Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.
• Reduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts.
• Hold 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 2-13).
We have provided a deactivation switch that will disable passenger air bag inflation. Do not
switch off the passenger air bag without reading the "Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
Switch" (page 2-23).
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.
Please be aware that there is no good way to anchor an upper tether, so do not pick a child
restraint system that uses upper tethers at all.
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
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