MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2006 Service Manual

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WARNING
Suspension Adjustment:
Adjusting the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the
suspension is changed, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Modification of the Supplemental Restraint System:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is
dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Don't make any
modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,
badges, or anything else over the air bag modules. It also includes installing extra
electrical equipment on or near system components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda
Dealer can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of front
seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the
bags do not accidentally deploy, the driver seat slide position sensor and front
passenger seat weight sensors are not damaged and that the seats retain an
undamaged air bag connection.
NOTE
lWhen an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be
released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may
cause light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.
lShould you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems
and that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is
important.
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Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch
WARNING
Unnecessary Deactivation of Passenger Air Bag:
Unnecessary deactivation of the passenger air bag is dangerous. If turned off
unnecessarily, the passenger will not receive the added protection of the air bag.
Serious injuries or even death could occur. With the exception of passengers fitting
the categories described below, do not turn the air bag deactivation switch to the OFF
position.
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger air bag deactivation switch. The switch is
located in the position shown in the figure below. The switch must be used to deactivate
the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt pretensioner system
when the occupant of the passenger seat fits into one of the following categories (as
described in the request form for the passenger air bag deactivation switch, the appendix B
to part 595 of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA]):
lInfants (less than one year old; for all types of restraint, but particularly the rear-facing
child restraint.)
lChildren aged 1 to 12
lPeople with certain medical conditions which, according to his/her physician, could be
adversely affected by air-bag activation
For more government release information on air bag deactivation, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer for the occupant categories as described in the request form for the air bag
deactivation switch in the NHTSA rules.
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The air bag deactivation switch turns off the passenger front and side air bags and the also
seat belt pretensioner system. Make sure the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the
ON position except when a passenger fitting the previous categories occupies the front
passenger seat.
Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch Air Bag Deactivation
Indicator Light Passenger Air Bag
Operation Passenger Seat Belt
Pretensioner System
OFF position
ON Deactivate Deactivate
ON position
OFF ReadyReady
When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light comes on for about 6 seconds.
If the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the OFF position, the indicator light
remains on to warn that the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system have been deactivated.
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In addition to using the key to deactivate the passenger front and side air bags and the also
seat belt pretensioner system, the passenger front and side air bags and the also seat belt
pretensioner system is also deactivated and the passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light is illuminated automatically when the total seated weight on the passenger seat is less
than 30 kg (66 lb).
NOTE
Have the passenger air bag deactivation switch inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer if any of these conditions occur:
lThe indicator light does not illuminate for about 6 seconds when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
lThe indicator light does not remain on when the ignition switch is in the ON position
and the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the OFF position.
lThe indicator remains on when the ignition switch is in the ON position and the
passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the ON position.
qTo Deactivate the Passenger Air Bag
Before driving, always confirm that the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the
appropriate position according to your requirements (page 2-30).
WARNING
Do not leave the Key in the Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch:
Unintentional deactivation of the passenger air bag is dangerous. In an accident, the
passenger will not be properly protected. Serious injuries or even death could occur.
To avoid unintentional deactivation, always use the same key to operate the passenger
air bag deactivation switch and the ignition switch, that way you won't leave the key in
the passenger air bag deactivation switch.
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1. Insert the key into the passenger air bag deactivation switch and turn the key clockwiseuntil the key points to OFF.
2. Remove the key.
3. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light remains illuminated when the ignitionis in the ON position.
The passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system will remain
deactivated until the passenger air bag deactivation switch is turned to the ON position.
q To Ready the Passenger Air Bag
Before driving, always confirm that the passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the
appropriate position according to your requirements (page 2-30).
1. Insert the key into the passenger air bag deactivation switch and turn the key
counterclockwise until the key points to ON.
2. Remove the key.
3. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light turns off after the ignition switch isturned to the ON position.
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Supplemental Restraint System Components
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
lThe air bag system with inflators and air bags.
lThe electrical system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations:
lThe steering wheel hub
lThe passenger dashboard
lThe outboard sides of the seatbacksí
The air bags are out of sight until activated.
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qFront Air Bag System Components
(4)
(8)
(7) (5) (2)
(9)
(3)
(1)
(6)
(5)
(1) Front dual stage inflators and air bags
(2) Front crash sensor
(3) Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-37)
(4) Crash sensor and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(5) Seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-10)
(6) Passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-37)
(7) Driver and passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-37)
(8) Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-37)
(9) Seats
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qSide Air Bag System Componentsí
(2) (1)
(3) (4)
(1) Crash sensor and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(2) Side crash sensors
(3) Side inflators and air bags
(4) Seats
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How the Air Bags Work
qHow the Front Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the front air bags and after the inflation, the front air bags
quickly deflate.
The front air bags will function only once. After that, the front air bags will not work
again and must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the system components.
The front, dual stage air bags control air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity the front air bags deploy with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, they deploy with more energy. Deployment of the front air bags may
differ between the driver and the front passenger depending on the driver seat position,
front passenger weight and front seat belt usage, which allow for further controlling of the
system.
The front air bags will deploy only
in a frontal or frontal offset impact.
Driver seat slide position sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver seat slide position sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. The sensor is located under the driver seat. The sensor
determines whether the driver seat is fore or aft of a reference position and sends the seat
position to the crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit). The sensor is also designed
to control the deployment of the driver air bag depending on how close the driver seat is to
the steering wheel.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a possible
malfunction (page 2-45).
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Passenger seat weight sensors
Your vehicle is also equipped with the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light. The
deactivation indicator light illuminates when the key is used to turn the passenger air bag
off or the automatic function operates based on the passenger seat weight sensors. These
sensors are located under both of the passenger seat rails. These sensors determine the total
seated weight on the passenger seat. The sensors are also designed to prevent the passenger
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from inflating if the total seated
weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the system
deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system
when:
lThere is no passenger in the passenger seat. (The passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate.)
lThe total seated weight on the passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
(The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)
This system shuts off the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this
happens, the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not
deploy.
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and
seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
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