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Mazda RX-8 (2011 year). Instruction - part 4

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Supplemental Restraint System Components

The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:

The air bag system with inflators and air bags.

The electrical system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.

The air bags are mounted in the following locations:

The steering wheel hub

The front passenger dashboard

The outboard sides of the front seatbacks

The front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides

The air bags are out of sight until activated.

Driver/Front passenger dual stage inflators and air bags
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Front seat belt pretensioners (page 2-20)
Front air bag sensor
Side crash sensors
Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-55)
Side and curtain inflators and air bags
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-46)
Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-46)
Front passenger seat weight sensor control module

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Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-46)
Driver seat slide position sensor
Front 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, all of which provide data from each sensor
to the air bag 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 diagnostic module (SAS unit). The SAS unit 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/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a
possible malfunction (page 2-55).

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Front passenger seat weight sensors

Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger seat weight sensors as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. (page 2-34). These sensors are located under both of the
front passenger seat rails. These sensors determine the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat and monitor its seat belt buckle. The SAS unit is designed to prevent the
front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from deploying if
the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illuminates.
Refer to the following table for the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illumination conditions.

This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.

The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible
malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system will not deploy.

Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air
bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.

If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates
when the ignition is switched ON. After a specified period of time it goes out.

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The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:

Condition detected by

front passenger occupant

classification system

Front passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light

Front passenger front and

side air bags

Front passenger seat

belt pretensioner

system

Empty (Not occupied)

Off

Deactivated

Child or child-restraint
system

Deactivated

Adult

Off

Ready

*1 : If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates,

however this does not indicate a malfunction.

*2 : If a larger child sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the child as being an adult depending

on the child's physique.

*3 : If a smaller adult sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child

depending on the person's physique.

The curtain air bag is always ready to inflate and is not deactivated like the front passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner systems.

If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the
ignition is switched ON and does not illuminate as indicated in the above chart, do not
allow a child to sit in the front passenger seat; contact the Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.

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WARNING

Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:

When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat required for air bag deployment is
dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total
seated weight condition and the front passenger front and side air bags and seat
belt pretensioner system will not deploy during an accident. The front passenger will
not have the supplementary protection of the air bag, which could result in serious
injury. Decreasing the total seated weight on the front passenger seat could result in
an air bag not deploying under the following conditions, for example:

Ø A rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with their feet.

Ø Luggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the

front passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat
bottom.

Ø The front passenger seat occupant sits in a manner that does not place the entire

weight of the occupant on the seat such as by sitting too close to the door,
grasping the assist grip or the rim of the moonroof and sitting with the seatback
reclined too far.

Ø Any accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front

passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.

Ø Tension in the upward direction is placed on the seat belt slide bar such as by

pulling up on the seat belt.

The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates and
they will reactivate if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns
off.

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Do not increase the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:

When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat is dangerous. The front passenger seat
weight sensors will detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the
unexpected deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system in an accident and may cause serious injury. Increasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat could result in the front passenger front
and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system deployment in an accident under
the following conditions, for example:

Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint

system.

Ø A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.

Ø A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with their feet.

Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.

Ø Heavy items are placed in the seatback map pocket.

Ø The seat is washed.

Ø Liquids are spilled on the seat.

Ø The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items

placed behind it.

Ø The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.

Ø Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver

seat.

Ø Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front

passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.

Ø Feet or other items are placed on the seat belt slide bar.

The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

CAUTION

Ø To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the

sensors in the front seat bottoms:

Do not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on
them.

Do not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.

Ø To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:

Adjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.

If you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint
system properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page
2-34).

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NOTE

The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front passenger front and
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.

The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or
other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior
changes suddenly.

The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat changes.

The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light might illuminate if the front
passenger seat receives a severe impact.

If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, first, re-install your child-restraint system
according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light still does not illuminate, install the child-restraint system on the rear
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.

If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates when an adult is seated in
the front passenger seat, have the passenger re-adjust their posture by sitting with their feet on the
floor, and then re-fastening the seat belt. If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
still illuminates, move the passenger to the rear seat. If sitting in the rear seat is not possible, slide
the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

Driver and front passenger buckle switches

The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the front seat belts are
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.

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qHow the Side and Curtain Air Bags Work

When air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the side and curtain air bags and after the inflation, the side
and curtain air bags quickly deflate. However, the side air bag system for the front
passenger is designed to only deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat, however the curtains are not deactivated.
The side and curtain air bags will function only once. After that, the side and curtain air
bags will not work again and must be replaced. Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can
replace the systems.

The side and curtain air bags will deploy only on the side the
vehicle receives the force of the impact.

qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation

NOTE

If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, the front passenger front and
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner may not deploy (page 2-46), but the curtain air bags may
deploy.

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Front air bag activation

The front air bags will inflate if the
severity of impact is above the designed
threshold level.

Hitting a solid wall straight on at
greater than about 22 km/h (14 mph).

Hitting a curb, pavement edge or hard
object.

Landing hard or the vehicle falling.

Frontal impact within about a 30
degree range from head-on to the
vehicle.

Driving into a big hole or hitting the far
side of a hole.

Limitations to front air bag activation

Depending on the severity of impact, the
front air bags may not inflate in the
following cases:

Impacts involving trees or poles cause
severe cosmetic damage but may not
have enough stopping force to activate
the air bag.

Frontal offset impact to the vehicle
may not provide the stopping force
necessary for air bag deployment.

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Rear-ending or running under a truck's
tail gate may not provide the stopping
force necessary for air bag deployment.

Non-activation of front air bags

Front air bags will not normally inflate in
the following cases:

Collision from the rear.

Impact to the side, but it may deploy
the side and curtain air bags.

Vehicle roll-over, may deploy the side
and curtain air bags but not the front air
bags.

Side and curtain air bag activation

The severity of impact above the designed
threshold level to one side of the vehicle
(driver or passenger side areas) will cause
the side and curtain air bags on that side
to inflate, but it will not normally deploy
the front air bags.

Limitations to side and curtain air bag
activation

Depending on the severity of impact, the
side and curtain air bags may not inflate in
the following cases:

Frontal offset impact may not provide
enough side impact to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.

Side impacts involving trees or poles
can cause severe cosmetic damage but
may not have enough impact force to
activate the side and curtain air bags.

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Vehicle roll-over may not provide
enough side force to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.

Side impacts with two-wheeled
vehicles may not provide enough force
to deploy the side and curtain air bags.

Non-activation of side and curtain air
bag

The side and curtain air bags will not
normally inflate in the following cases:

Collision from the rear.

Collision from the front, but it may
deploy the front air bags.

qConstant Monitoring

The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:

SAS unit

Front air bag sensor

Air bag modules

Side crash sensors

Air bag/Front seat belt pretensioner
system warning light

Front seat belt pretensioners

Front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light

Driver seat slide position sensor

Front passenger seat weight sensors

Driver and front passenger seat belt
buckle switches

Related wiring

The diagnostic module continuously
monitors the system's readiness. This
begins when the ignition is switched ON
and continues while the vehicle is being
driven.

qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt

Pretensioner System Warning Light

If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is working properly, the warning
light illuminates when the ignition is
switched ON or after the engine is
cranked. The warning light turns off after
a specified period of time.

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A system malfunction is indicated if the
warning light constantly flashes,
constantly illuminates or does not
illuminate at all when the ignition is
switched ON. If any of these occur,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not
work in an accident.

WARNING

Never tamper with the air bag/
pretensioner systems and always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform
all servicing and repairs:

Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.

qMaintenance

The air bag systems do not require regular
maintenance. But if any of the following
occurs, take your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:

The air bag system warning light
flashes.

The air bag system warning light
remains illuminated.

The air bag system warning light does
not illuminate when the ignition is
switched ON.

The air bags have deployed.

Front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate
when the ignition is switched ON or
does not illuminate as indicated in the
chart. For more details about this
indicator light and this chart, refer to

“Front passenger seat weight sensors”
(page 2-46).

WARNING

Do not operate a vehicle with damaged
air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
components:

Expended or damaged air bag/seat
belt pretensioner system components
must be replaced after any collision
which caused them to deploy or
damage them. Only a trained
Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully
evaluate these systems to see that
they will work in any subsequent
accident. Driving with an expended
or damaged air bag or pretensioner
unit will not afford you the necessary
protection in the event of any
subsequent accident which could
result in serious injury or death.

Do not remove interior air bag parts:

Removing any components such as
the front seats, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts on the front
and rear window pillars and along
the roof edge, containing air bag
parts or sensors is dangerous. These
parts contain essential air bag
components. The air bag could
accidentally activate and cause
serious injuries. Always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer remove
these parts.

Dispose of the air bag properly:

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.

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NOTE

If it becomes necessary to have the components
or wiring system for the supplementary
restraint system modified to accommodate a
person with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certified physician, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to
“Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)” (page 9-2).

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