Mazda 6 2009 User Manual

A Word to Mazda Owners

Thank you for choosing a Mazda. We at Mazda design and build vehicles with complete customer satisfaction in mind.

To help ensure enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your Mazda, read this manual carefully and follow its recommendations.

An Authorized Mazda Dealer knows your vehicle best. So when maintenance or service is necessary, that's the place to go.

Our nationwide network of Mazda professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best possible service.

We assure you that all of us at Mazda have an ongoing interest in your motoring pleasure and in your full satisfaction with your Mazda product.

Mazda North American Operations

Important Notes About This Manual

Keep this manual in the glove box as a handy reference for the safe and enjoyable use of your Mazda. Should you resell the vehicle, leave this manual with it for the next owner.

All specifications and descriptions are accurate at the time of printing. Because improvement is a constant goal at Mazda, we reserve the right to make changes in specifications at any time without notice and without obligation.

Event Data Recorder

This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder. In the event of a crash, this device records data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time. These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur and lead to the designing of safer vehicles.

Air Conditioning and the Environment

Your Mazda's genuine air conditioner is filled with HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that has been found not to damage the earth's ozone layer. If the air conditioner does not operate properly, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Perchlorate

Certain components of this vehicle such as [air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners, lithium batteries, ...] may contain Perchlorate Material– Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.

Please be aware that this manual applies to all models, equipment and options. As a result, you may find some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.

Printed in U.S.A. (Print1)

How to Use This Manual

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 symb ol below 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.

You'll find several WARNINGs, CAUTIONs, and NOTEs in the manual.

WARNING

A WARNING indicates a situation in which serious injury or death could result if the warning is ignored.

NOTE

A NOTE provides information and sometimes suggests how to make better use of your vehicle.

The symb ol below, 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.

CAUTION

A CAUTION indicates a situation in which bodily injury or damage to your vehicle, or both, could result if the caution is ignored.

Table of Contents

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Interior, exterior views and part identification of your Mazda.

Essential Safety Equipment

Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint systems and SRS air bags.

Knowing Your Mazda

Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and adjustment of various parts.

Before Driving Your Mazda

Important information about driving your Mazda.

Driving Your Mazda

Explanation of instruments and controls.

Interior Comfort

Use of various features for drive comfort, including air-conditioning and audio system.

In Case of an Emergency

Helpful information on what to do in an emergency.

Maintenance and Care

How to keep your Mazda in top condition.

Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects

Important consumer information including warranties and add-on equipment.

Specifications

Technical information about your Mazda.

Index

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Interior, exterior views and part identification of your Mazda.

Interior Overview .............................. ............................................ 1-2

Interior Equipment (View A) .................................................... 1-2

Interior Equipment (View B) .................................................... 1-3

Interior Equipment (View C) .................................................... 1-4

Exterior Overview ......................................................................... 1-5

Front .......................................................................................... 1-5

Rear ........................................................................................... 1-6

1-1

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Interior Overview

Interior Equipment (View A)

Door-lock knob .................................................................................................. page 3-30

Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-31

Headlight leveling switch .................................................................................. page 5-62

TCS-OFF switch ................................................................................................ page 5-23

DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-25

BSM OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-36

Lighting control ................................................................................................. page 5-60

Turn and lane-change signals ............................................................................ page 5-63

Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-38

Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-64

Lock release lever .............................................................................................. page 3-59

Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-33

Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-59

Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-38

Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-40

1-2

The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Interior Overview

Interior Equipment (View B)

Audio control switches ...................................................................................... page 6-56

SRS air bags ...................................................................................................... page 2-41

Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-19

Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-16

Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-70

Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2

MT shift lever .................................................................................................... page 5-10

AT shift lever ...................................................................................................... page 5-12

Push button start ................................................................................................ page 3-10

Seat warmer switches ........................................................................................ page 2-13

Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-46

Storage pocket ................................................................................................. page 6-102

Navigation system (if equipped) .......................................... Refer to the separate manual

1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Interior Overview

Interior Equipment (View C)

SRS air bags ...................................................................................................... page 2-41

Seat belts ............................................................................................................ page 2-15

Remote fuel-filler lid relea se ............................................................................. page 3-45

Bottle holder .................................................................................................... page 6-101

Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-93

Overhead lights .................................................................................................. page 6-94

Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-60

Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-93

Accessory sockets ............................................................................................ page 6-105

Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2

Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-6

Cup holders ...................................................................................................... page 6-100

Center console ................................................................................................. page 6-103

Rear seat ............................................................................................................ page 2-10

1-4

The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Exterior Overview

Front

Hood .................................................................................................................. page 3-46

Windshield wiper blades .................................................................................... page 8-28

Moonroof .................................................................................................. ......... page 3-47

Door lock ............................................................... ............................................ page 3-30

Fuel-filler lid ...................................................................................................... page 3-44

Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-32

Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-37

1-5The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Exterior Overview

Rear

Trunk lid ............................................................................................................ page 3-33

Rear window antenna ........................................................................................ page 6-16

Child safety lock ................................................................................................ page 3-32

Outside mirror .................................................................................................... page 3-59

Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-32

Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-37

1-6

The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle

Essential Safety Equipment

Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint systems and SRS air bags.

Seats .......................................................... ..................................... 2-2

Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats) ..................................... 2-2

Front Seats (Electrically Operated Seats) .................................. 2-4

Rear Seat ................................................................................. 2-10

Head Restraints ....................................................................... 2-12

Seat Warmer

Seat Belt Systems ........................................................................ 2-15

Seat Belt Precautions .............................................................. 2-15

Seat Belt .................................................................................. 2-19

Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ....... 2-21

Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-23

Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-25

Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-27

Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-27

Installing Child-Restraint Systems .......................................... 2-31

LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ............................................ 2-37

SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-41

Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-41

Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-45

How the Air Bags Work .......................................................... 2-47

......................................................................... 2-13

Some models.

2-1

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats)

WARNING

Do not modify or replace the front seats:

Modifying or replacing the front seats such as replacing the upholstery or loosening any bolts is dangerous. The front seats contain air bag components essential to the supplemental restraint system. Such modifications could damage the supplemental restraint system and result in serious injury. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is any need to remove or reinstall the front seats.

Do not drive with damaged front seats:

Driving with damaged front seats is dangerous. A collision, even one not strong enough to inflate the air bags, could damage the front seats which contain essential air bag components. If there was a subsequent collision, an air bag may not deploy which could lead to injuries. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats, front seat belt pretensioners and air bags after a collision.

Make sure the adjustable components of a seat are locked in place:

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.

qSeat Slide

WARNING

Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is stopped:

Adjusting the driver's seat while the vehicle is moving is dangerous. The driver could lose control of the vehicle and have an accident.

To move a seat forward or backward, raise the lever and slide the seat to the desired position and release the lever.

2-2

Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seat is locked in place by attempting to push it forward and backward.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

qSeat Recline

WARNING

Do not drive with either front seat reclined:

Sitting in a reclined position while the vehicle is moving is dangerous because you do not 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.

Always sit in the passenger seat properly with the seatback upright and feet on the floor:

Your front passenger seat has weight sensors, sitting in the front passenger seat improperly out of position or with the seatback reclined too far while the vehicle is moving is dangerous as it can take off weight from the seat bottom and affect the weight determination of the front passenger sensing system. As a result the front passenger will not have the supplementary protection of the air bag and seat belt pretensioner, which could result in serious injury. Always sit upright against the seatback with your feet on the floor.

Do not drive with the seatback unlocked:

All of the seatbacks play 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 seatbac k at any time, even when there are no other passengers, rock the seatback to make sure it is locked in place.

To 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.

2-3

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

CAUTION

When returning a rear-reclined seatback to its upright position, make sure you hold onto the seatback with your other hand while operating the lever. If the seatback is not supported, it will flip forward suddenly and could cause injury.

Height Adjustment (Driver's Seat)

By movi ng the seat lever up or down, the driver's seat bottom height can be adjusted.

Down

Front Seats (Electrically Operated Seats)

WARNING

Do not modify or replace the front seats:

Do not drive with damaged front seats:

2-4

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

CAUTION

Ø The seat-bottom power

adjustment is operated by motors. Avoid extended operation because excessive use can damage the motors.

Ø To prevent the battery from

running down, avoid using the power adjustment when the engine is stopped. The adjuster uses a large amount of electrical power.

Ø Do not use the switch to make

more than one adjustment at a time.

qSeat Slide

To slide the seat, move the slide lifter switch on the outside of the seat to the front or back and hold it. Release the switch at the desired position.

qSeat Recline

WARNING

Do not drive with either front seat reclined:

Always sit in the front passenger seat properly with the seatback upright and feet on the floor:

2-5

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

Change the seatback angle by pressing the front or rear side of the reclining switch. Release the switch at the desired position.

Height Adjustment (Driver's Seat)

The seat height can be adjusted by moving the switch up or down.

qSeat Position Memory (Driver's

Seat)

One-touch seat position progra mming and activation is avail able on the driver's seat.

CAUTION

When activating the seat position, do not place your hands or fingers around the seat bottom. The seat moves to the desired position automatically, and if your hands or fingers are placed around the seat bottom, it could cause injury.

2-6

Some models.

Set button

Programming of the driver's seat positions is possible using the following functions:

Programming buttons 1, 2, or 3 and the set button.

Operation using the advanced key/

retractable type key Programmed seat positions can activated using the following functions:

Programming buttons 1, 2, or 3.

Operation using ad vanced keyless

functions/keyless entry system

NOTE

Individual seat positions can be programmed to the three available programming buttons on the side of the driver's seat, plus one seat position for each advanced key/retractable type key used with the vehicle.

Operation using the seat-side buttons

Programming

Park the vehicle in a safe location before performing the seat position programming. (Vehicle must be stopped)

1. Adjust the seat to the desired position.

For each seat position adjustment

method refer to the following pages:

Seat Slide (page 2-5)

Seat Recline (page 2-5)

Height Adjustment (page 2-6)

2. Press the desired programming button

1, 2, or 3 while pressing the set button

until a beep sound is heard.

The butt on is programmed after a beep

sound is heard. Other buttons can be

programmed using the same procedure.

NOTE

Vehicle maintenance or other reasons requiring the vehicle battery to be disconnected will result in the seat position memory being erased. In this case, re-program the seat positions.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

Setting the driver's seat to a preprogrammed position

There are two methods for setting the driver's seat to a pre-programmed position. For example, the type A method can be used before sitting in the seat and while the driver's door is open, and the type B method can be used after getting in the vehicle with the driver's door closed.

TYPE A

When the ignition switched off and the driver's door is open, press the programming button 1, 2, or 3 for the desired seating position.

NOTE

In the following cases, the seat position set function cancels:

Any of the seat adjustment switches are operated.

The set switch is pressed.

A programming button 1, 2, or 3 is pressed.

The vehicle starts moving.

Vehicle locking/unlocking is done using the transmitter.

Vehicle unlocking is done by pressing the request switch on a front door while the advanced key is being carried.

Vehicle unlocking is done by touching the sensor area on the backside of the front door handle while the advanced key is being carried.

TYPE B

When the ignition is switched ON or the driver's door is closed, press and hold the desired programming button 1, 2, or 3.

2-7

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

NOTE

In the following cases, the seat position set function cancels:

Any of the seat adjustment switches are operated.

The set switch is pressed.

The vehicle starts moving.

Operation using the advanced key/ retractable type key

With advanced key

Lock button

Unlock button

With retractable type key

Lock button

Operation indicator light

Unlock button

After the following conditions have been met, operate the seat and the advanced key/retractable type key to program the seat positions.

The igni tion switched off (The auxiliary key/retractable type key is removed from the ignition switch)

The driver's door is open

1. Adjust the seat to the desired position. For each seat position adjustment method, refer to the following pages: Seat Slide (page 2-5) Seat Recline (page 2-5) Height Adjustment (page 2-6)

2. Press and hold the unlock button on the advanced key/retractable type key while pressing the set button until a beep sound is heard. The advanced key/retractable type key is programmed after a beep sound is heard.

Seat position activation

With the ignition switched off, unlock the doors using any of the following methods and open the driver's door within about 40 seconds to set the driver's seat to a preprogrammed position.

Press the unlock switch on the advanced key/retractable type key.

Touch the sensor area on the backside of the front door handle while the advanced key is being carried.

Programming

One seat position can be programmed into each advanced key/retractable type key.

2-8

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

NOTE

If any of the following occurs, the seat position activation function cancels:

Press the lock/unlock button while the key is not inserted into the ignition switch or the key slot.

A seat adjustment switch is operated.

The vehicle moves or starts to move.

The selected programming button 1, 2, or 3 or the set button is pressed again.

Press the request switch on a front door while the advanced key is being carried.

Touch the sensor area on the backside of the front door handle while the advanced key is being carried.

The set switch is pressed.

Erasing memory

After the following conditions have been met, press the lock button on the advanced key/retractable type key while pressing the set button until a beep sound is heard.

The igni tion switch is in the LOCK position (The auxiliary key/retractable type key is removed from the ignition switch)

The driver's door is open

NOTE

Memory will also be erased if any of the following operations are performed:

The advanced key/retractable type key code has been changed. Refer to Immobilizer System (with Advanced Key) on page 3-50. Refer to Immobilizer System (without Advanced Key) on page 3-53.

The vehicle battery is disconnected for vehicle maintenance or other reasons.

qLumbar Support Adjustment

(Driver's Seat)

The amoun t of lumbar support can be adjusted by rotating dial.

2-9

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

Rear Seat

WARNING

Make sure luggage and cargo is secured before driving:

Not securing cargo while driving is dangerous as it could move or be crushed during sudden braking or a collision and cause injury.

Do not drive with the seatback unlocked:

All of the seatbacks play 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 returning the seatback at any time, even when there are no other passengers, rock the seatback to make sure it is locked in place.

Never give the car keys to children and do not allow them to play in the vehicle:

Playing with the folding rear seats is dangerous.

Always leave your car locked and keep the car keys safely away from children:

Leaving your car unlocked or the keys in reach of children is dangerous. Children who find their way into the trunk through an unlocked rear seatback or an open trunk can become accidentally locked in the trunk. This could result in death or brain damage from heat prostration, particularly in the summer. Always lock the doors and the trunk, and as an added measure, keep the rear seatbacks locked, whether you have children in your home or not.

Do not leave the key in your vehicle with children and keep them in a place where your children will not find or play with them:

Leaving children in a vehicle with the key is dangerous. This could result in someone being badly injured or even killed. Children may find these new kinds of keys to be an interesting toy to play with and could cause the power windows or other controls to operate, or even make the vehicle move.

NOTE

When returning a rear seat to its original position, also replace the seat belt to its normal position. Verify that the seat belt pulls out and retracts.

2-10

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

qSplit-Folding Rear Seatback

The seatbacks can be folded down to provide more space in the trunk.

To fold down the seatbacks

WARNING

Always remove the child-restraint system from the rear seat before operating the straps (in trunk) for the rear seat:

Operating (pulling) the straps (in trunk) while a rear-facing childrestraint system is in the rear seat is dangerous. It could cause injury to a child seated in the child-restraint system when the seatback suddenly flips forward.

Make sure there is nobody in the rear seat area before operating (pulling) the straps (in trunk):

Not checking the rear seat area for persons before folding the seatbacks down with the straps (in trunk) is dangerous. The rear seat area is difficult to see from the rear of the vehicle. Operating (pulling) the straps (in trunk) without checking could cause injury to a person when a seatback suddenly flips forward.

CAUTION

Before folding the seatbacks down with the straps (in trunk), make sure there is no cup in a rear cup holder. Folding the seatbacks with the straps (in trunk) while a cup is in the cup holder could soil or damage the seat bottom and seatback.

CAUTION

Be careful of the following when using the straps (in trunk): On a downward slope, the seatback could flip forward faster than on a flat surface.

1. After checking that the rear seats are clear, open the trunk and pull the straps (in trunk) on the left and right sides of the trunk.

2. Open the rear door and fold the rear seatbacks forward.

To return the seatbacks to the upright position

1. Lift the seatbacks upright.

2. Pull on the top of the seatbacks from inside the vehicle to make sure they are locked.

WARNING

Always make sure the seat belts are fully pulled out from under the seatbacks:

A seat belt caught under a seatback after the seatb ack is returned to its upright position is dangerous. In a collision or sudd en stop, the seat belt cannot provide adequate protection.

2-11

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

qArmrest

The rear armrest in the center of the rear seatback can be used (no occupant in the center seat) or placed upright.

Armrest

Head Restraints

Head restraints are intended to help protect you and the passengers from neck injury.

WARNING

Always drive with the head restraints installed when seats are being used and make sure they are properly adjusted:

Driving with the head restraints adjusted too low or removed is dangerous. With no support behind your head, your neck could be seriously injured in a collision.

Height adjustment

To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the desired position. To lower the head restraint, press the stopcatch release, then push the head restraint down. Adjust the head restraint so that the top is even with the top of the passenger's ears, never the passenger's neck to prevent injury.

Front seat

2-12

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

Rear seat

Seat Warmer

Press the HI or LO side of the seat warmer switch with the ignition is switched ON. The indi cator on the switch illuminates and the seat warms up. If a higher temperature is preferred, press the HI side of the switch, and for a lower temperature, press the LO side. When not using the seat warmer, set the switch to neutral with neither HI or LO depressed.

Some models.

2-13

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

WARNING

Ø Be careful when using the seat

warmer. The heat from the seat warmer may be too hot for some people, as indicated below, and could cause a low-temperature burn.

Infants, small babies, elderly people, and physically challenged people

People with delicate skin

People who are excessively fatigued

People who are drunk

People who have taken sleepinducing medicine such as sleeping pills or cold medicine

Ø Do not use the seat warmer with

anything having high moistureretention ability such as a blanket or cushion on the seat. The seat may be heated excessively and cause a low-temp erature burn.

Ø Do not use the seat warmer even

when taking a short nap in the vehicle. The seat may be heated excessively and cause a lowtemperature burn.

Ø Do not place heavy objects with

sharp projections on the seat, or insert needles or pins into it. This could cause the seat to become excessively heated and result in injury from a minor burn.

NOTE

Use the seat warmer when the engine is running, and do not continue to use it for a long period of time. The temperature of the seat warmer cannot be adjusted beyond High and Low because the seat warmer is controlled by a thermostat.

CAUTION

Do not use organic solvents to clean the seat. It may damage the seat surface and the heater.

2-14

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

Seat Belt Precautions

Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and all passengers always wear seat belts.

All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way when not in use.

The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a collision.

However, the front passenger's seat and all rear lap/shoulder belt retractors operat e in two modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode. While we recommend you put all children in the rear seats, if you must use the front passenger seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible and make sure any child-restraint system is secured properly.

2-15

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

WARNING

Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained:

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.

Do not wear twisted seat belts:

Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt is not available to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt, which could cause serious injury or death.

Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:

Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used in this way cannot 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 and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly restrained.

Do not operate a vehicle with a damaged seat belt:

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.

Have your seat belts changed immediately if the pretensioner or load limiter has been expended:

One or both front air bags may deploy, and the corresponding pretensioner(s) may also deploy at the same time. Like the air bags, the seat belt pretens ioners will only function once. While it is safer to use a post-crash (a seat belt that was used in an accident) than no seat belt at all, using a seat belt with an expended pretensioner or load limiter loaded reduces the safety available to you. If the seat belt pretensioners are not replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will increase. Expended seat belt pretensioners and air bags must be replaced after any collision which caused them to deploy. Additionally, the load limiter will only limit loads on the chest once in a collision and this is another reason to have the front seat belts inspected. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the seat belt pretensioners and air bags after any collision.

2-16

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

CAUTION

Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep them clean. For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to “Cleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt Webbing” (page 8-57).

qPregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions

Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific recommendations. The lap belt should be worn SNUGLYAND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS. The shoul der belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the stomach area. Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your doctor for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.

qEmergency Locking Mode

In the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the retractor will lock in position during a collision. When the seat belt is fastened, it will always be in the emergency locking mode until it is switched to automatic locking mode by pulling it all the way out to its full length. If the belt feels tight and hinders comfortable movement while the vehicle is stopped or in motion, it may be in the automatic locking mode because the belt has been pulled too far out. To return the belt to the more comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until the vehicle has stopped in a safe, level area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locki ng mode and then extend it around you again. If the belt is locked and cannot be pulled out, retract the belt once, and then try pulling it out slowly. If this fails, pull the belt strongly one time and loosen, then pull it out again slowly.

2-17

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

qAutomatic Locking Mode

Always use the automatic locking mode to keep the child-restraint system from shifting to an unsafe position in the event of an accident. To enable seat belt automatic locking mode, pull it all the way out and connect it as instructed on the child-restraint system. It will retract down to the child-restraint system and stay locked on it. See the section on child restraint (page 2-27).

2-18

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