flat tire MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ 2003 Owners Manual (in English)

2-29
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Front Passenger’s Seat Child-
Restraint System Installation
1. 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.Children and Seating Position with
Side Air Bag:
Allowing anyone to lean over or
against the front door is dangerous. If
the vehicle is equipped with side air
bags, the impact of an inflating side
air bag could cause serious injury or
death to the person. Children are
more likely to sleep in the vehicle;
when they do, they are more at risk in
the front passenger’s seat that has a
side air bag because they may slump
over into the path of the seatback-
mounted air bag. Furthermore,
leaning over or against the doors
could block the side air bag and
eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. With the
front air bag and the additional side
air bag that comes out of the front
seat, the rear seat is always a better
location for children who are prone to
sleeping. If a child can’t be seated in
the rear, do not allow the child to lean
over or against the front door, even if
the child is seated in a child-restraint
system.
WARNING
J39L_EA.book Page 29 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

4-5
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Before Starting the Engine
•Be sure the windows, outside mirror
(s), and outside lights are clean.
•Inspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
•Look under the vehicle for any sign of
a leak.
•If you plan to back up, make sure
nothing will be in your way.•Are all doors closed and locked?
•Are the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
•Is everyone’s seat belt fastened?
•Do all the lights work?
•Check all gauges.
•Check all warning lights when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
•Release the parking brake and make
sure the parking brake warning light
goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Getting In
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake/
clutch fluid, washer fluid, and other
fluid levels should be inspected daily,
weekly, or at refueling, depending on
the fluid. See Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
J39L_EA.book Page 5 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
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
J39L_EA.book Page 6 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
•Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a 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.
•Use only cold-weather engine oil
(page 8-9).
•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 with an
automatic transaxle and to 1 or R with
a manual transaxle. Block the rear
wheels.

Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
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.
Don’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
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.
Winter Driving
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
J39L_EA.book Page 8 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

7-1
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
7In Case of an Emergency
Helpful information on what to do in an emergency.
Parking in an Emergency
............................................................. 7-2
Parking in an Emergency ........................................................... 7-2
Flat Tire
.......................................................................................... 7-3
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ...................................................... 7-3
Changing a Flat Tire .................................................................. 7-7
Overheating
................................................................................. 7-13
Overheating ............................................................................. 7-13
Emergency Starting
.................................................................... 7-15
Starting a Flooded Engine ....................................................... 7-15
Jump-Starting .......................................................................... 7-15
Push-Starting ........................................................................... 7-17
Emergency Towing
...................................................................... 7-18
Towing Description ................................................................. 7-18
Towing/Tiedown Hooks ........................................................... 7-19
Recreational Towing ................................................................ 7-20
J39L_EA.book Page 1 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

7-3
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Flat Tire
Spare tire and tools are stored in the locations illustrated in the diagram.
Spare Tire and Tool Storage
Jack handle
Lug wrench Conventional tire
hold-down bolt Spare tire Tool bag Jack
Sedan
J39L_EA.book Page 3 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

7-4
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Jack handle
Lug wrench Conventional tire
hold-down bolt Spare tire Tool bag Jack
Hatchback
J39L_EA.book Page 4 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

7-5
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Jack
To remove the jack
(Sedan)
1. Remove the jack container lid.
2. Turn the wing bolt counterclockwise.(Hatchback)
1. Remove the cover.
2. Turn the wing bolt counterclockwise.
To secure the jack
Perform the removal procedure in reverse.

Spare Tire
Your Mazda has a temporary spare tire.
It’s lighter and smaller than a
conventional tire, and is designed only for
emergency use and should be used only
for VERY short periods. Temporary
spares should NEVER be used for long
drives or extended periods.
Jack
Wing bolt
JackWing bolt
J39L_EA.book Page 5 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

7-6
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
To remove the spare tire
Turn the tire hold-down bolt
counterclockwise with the lug wrench.
Driving with a Temporary Spare Tire
on Ice or Snow:
Driving with a spare tire on the front
(driving) wheels on ice or snow is
dangerous. Handling will be affected.
You could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident. Put the spare
tire on the rear axle and move a
regular tire to the front.
To avoid damage to the temporary
spare or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
•Don’t exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
•Avoid driving over obstacles.
Also, don’t drive through an
automatic car wash. This tire’s
diameter is smaller than a
conventional tire’s, so the ground
clearance is reduced about 25 mm
(1 in).
•Don’t use a tire chain on this tire
because it won’t fit properly.
•Don’t use your temporary spare on
any other vehicle; it has been
designed only for your Mazda.
•Use only one temporary spare tire
on your vehicle at the same time.
WARNING
CAUTIONLug wrench
Bolt
Tire clamp
Except MAZDASPEED Protege
Bolt
Tire clamp
MAZDASPEED Protege
J39L_EA.book Page 6 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

7-7
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
If you have a flat tire, drive slowly to a
level spot that is well off the road and out
of the way of traffic to change the tire.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder of a
busy road is dangerous.1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transaxle in Park (P), a manual
transaxle in Reverse (R) or 1, and turn
off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle
and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire
(page 7-3).
6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite
the flat tire. When blocking a front
wheel, place the block both in front and
behind the tire. When blocking a rear
wheel, place the block both in front and
behind the tire.
Changing a Flat Tire
NOTE
If the following occurs while driving, it
could indicate a flat tire.
•Steering becomes difficult.
•The vehicle begins to vibrate
excessively.
•The vehicle pulls in one direction.
Jacking a Vehicle:
Changing a tire is dangerous if not
done properly. The vehicle can slip off
the jack and seriously injure
someone.
Be sure to follow the directions for
changing a tire, and never get under a
vehicle that is supported only by a
jack.
Passenger in Vehicle Supported by a
Jack:
Allowing someone to remain in a
vehicle supported by a jack is
dangerous. The occupant could cause
the vehicle to fall resulting in serious
injury. Never allow anyone inside a
vehicle supported by a jack.
WARNING
NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.
J39L_EA.book Page 7 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM