steering wheel MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ 2002 Owners Manual (in English)

2-35
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
SRS Air Bags
Read this owner’s manual carefully to verify what air bags (driver-side air bag, passenger-
side air bag, side air bags) are equipped in your vehicle.
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include 4 air bags.
They are located in:
•The steering wheel
•The passenger side dashboard
•The outboard sides of the front seatbacks
These systems operate independently depending on the type of accident encountered; both
side air bags are not likely to deploy in the same accident because a vehicle is not often hit
from both sides. The front and side air bag systems will not normally deploy during the
same type of accident unless a combination of frontal and side impacts occur.
In a front-end or side impact, the air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to
provide only supplemental protection for the driver and front seat passenger. Seat belts
must still be worn.
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 or side 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.
Small children, those under 18 kg (40 lb), should be protected by a child-restraint system
(page 2-22).
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
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2-36
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Air Bags without Seat Belts:
Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous.
Alone, air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be
expected to inflate only during a frontal, side or near-frontal collision of at least
moderate force. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Child in the Front Seat:
Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be
hit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. A sleeping child is
more likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate, right-
side collision. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on the
rear seat with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child’s age and size.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. NEVER use a rear-facing
child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy.
Seating Position with Front Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag storage compartments or placing hands or feet on them
is extremely dangerous. Front Air bags inflate with great force and speed. Serious
injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto only
the rim of the steering wheel. The front seat passenger should keep both feet on the
floor. Front seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and
always sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
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2-37
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Seating Position with Side Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the side air bag storage compartments or placing hands on them is
extremely dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of
the outboard shoulder of the front seat and expands along the front door on the side
the car is hit.
Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning
against a window in the front seats or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the
seatbacks. Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver’s-side
window while driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. Give the side airbags room to work by sitting in the center of
the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
Front Air Bag Storage Areas:
Attaching an object to a front air bag storage area or placing something in front of it
is dangerous. In an accident, the object could interfere with front air bag inflation
and injure the occupants.
Always keep the front air bag storage areas free of objects.
Side Air Bag Storage Areas:
Attaching things to the seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the seat in
any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air bag,
which inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added
protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is
dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open spewing exhaust.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or back pads with side straps on the front seats.
Always keep the side air bag storage areas in your front seats free to deploy in the
event of a side collision.
Hot Air Bag Inflators:
Hot air bag inflators are dangerous. Immediately after inflation, the inflators in the
steering wheel, dashboard or the seatbacks are very hot. You could get burned. Don’t
touch the internal components of the air bag storage areas after the bags have
inflated.
WARNING
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2-40
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
•The air bag system with inflators and air bags.
•The electric system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations: the center of the steering wheel, the
passenger-side of the dashboard, and in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks. They are
out of sight until activated.

How the Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal or side impact of greater than moderate force,
an electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the air bags and after the inflation, the air bags quickly
deflate.
The air bags will function only once. After that, the air bags will not work again and
must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the systems.
Air Bag System Description
Inflators and air bags
Side crash sensor Inflator and air bag
Side crash sensor
Inflator and air bagCrash sensors and
diagnostic module
(SAS unit)
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2-46
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Damaged Air Bag Sensors:
Driving with damaged air bag sensors
is dangerous. A collision, even one
not strong enough to inflate the air
bags, could damage the sensors. If
there was a subsequent collision, a
damaged sensor would not inflate the
air bags. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the air bag
systems after a collision.
Removing Interior Parts:
Removing any components such as
the front seat, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts containing air
bag sensors is dangerous. These parts
contain essential air bag parts. The
air bag could accidentally activate
and cause serious injuries. Always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
remove these parts.
Air Bag Disposal:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a
vehicle with live air bags in it can be
extremely dangerous. Unless all
safety procedures are followed, injury
can result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of an air
bag or how to scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.
WARNING
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3-1
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
3Knowing Your Mazda
Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and adjustment
of various parts.
Doors and Locks
.......................................................................... 3- 2
Keys ......................................................................................... 3- 2
Keyless Entry System .............................................................. 3- 2
Door Locks .............................................................................. 3- 6
Liftgate (Hatchback) ................................................................ 3- 9
Trunk Lid (Sedan) ................................................................... 3-11
Trunk Release Handle (Sedan) ................................................ 3-13
Power Windows ....................................................................... 3-15
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap ........................................................... 3-17
Hood ........................................................................................ 3-18
Sunroof .................................................................................... 3-19
Roof Rack ................................................................................ 3-21
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
...................................................... 3-24
Steering Wheel ........................................................................ 3-24
Mirrors ..................................................................................... 3-24
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3-24
Knowing Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Steering Wheel and Mirrors

Tilt Steering Wheel
To change the angle of the steering wheel,
stop the vehicle, pull the tilt wheel release
lever under the steering column down,
adjust the wheel, then push the release
lever up to lock the column.
After adjusting, push the wheel up and
down to be certain it’s locked before
driving.

Outside Mirrors
Check the mirrors’ angles before driving.
Manual control mirror
To adjust, move the mirror’s control lever,
just inside the door.
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control
or an accident. Never adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is
moving.
WARNING
Tilt wheel release
lever
Mirrors
Convex Mirror (Passenger Side):
Changing lanes without taking into
account the actual distance of the
vehicle in the convex mirror is
dangerous. You could have a serious
accident. What you see in the convex
mirror is closer than it appears. Be
sure to look over your shoulder or to
check your inside mirror before
changing lanes.
WARNING
Control lever
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3-25
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Power control mirror
The ignition switch must be in the ACC or
ON position.
To a d j u s t :
1. Move the selector switch to the left or
right to choose the mirror.
2. Depress the perimeter switch in the
appropriate direction.
After adjusting the mirror, lock the
control by moving the selector switch to
the middle position.
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
flush with the vehicle.

Rearview Mirror (With Day/
Night Function)
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window. Do this with the day/night lever
in the day position.
Push the lever forward for day driving.
Pull it back to reduce glare from
headlights.Outside mirrorSelector switch
Perimeter switch
Driving with Mirrors Folded In:
Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident. Always return the
outside mirrors to the driving position
before you start driving.
WARNING
Day/Night lever
Day
Night
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3-26
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Blocked View:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes. Don’t stack
things higher than the seatbacks.
WARNING
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4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Driving Tips
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
•Don’t race the engine.
•Don’t maintain one constant speed for
long.
•Don’t drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods
of time.
•Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
•Avoid full-throttle starts.How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
•Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
•Avoid fast starts.
•Keep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
•Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
•Slow down on rough roads.
•Keep the tires properly inflated.
•Don’t carry unnecessary weight.
•Don’t rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
•Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
•Keep windows closed at high speeds.
•Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
Break-In PeriodMoney-Saving Suggestions
Coasting:
Turning off the engine to coast down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control. Any loss of steering or
braking control could cause an
accident. Never turn off the engine
and coast down a hill.
WARNING
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