RX-7 Convertible Owner's Manual Stuff

Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System
The Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System is designed to provide protection for the driver in a frontal accident in addition to that provided to the driver by the three-point seat belt system. However, the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System is not designed to deploy in any accident except a moderate to sever frontal collision, and is not designed to assist the driver in a side impact, rear impact or roll-over accident. Seat belts, which are designed to help decrease the possibility or severity of injury in accidents or sudden stops, must be used to obtain the best occupant protection of which the vehicle is capable. We recommend the use of seat belts by all vehicle occupants to reduce the risk of injury in an accident.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System consists of two basic sub-systems: the driver air bag system, with the inflator and the air bag; and the electrical system, including crash sensors and diagnostic module. The air bag is mounted in the center of the steering wheel, but it is designed to stay out of sight until activated by a moderate to severe frontal collision.

sensors! modules!

WARNING!
To avoid accidental activation of the system or rendering the system inoperative, which may result in serious injury, no modifications should be made to any components or wiring of the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System as illustrated. This includes the installation of additional trim material, or badges or similar items over the steering wheel hub and installation of additional electrical/electronic equipment on or near Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System components and/or wiring.

The Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System is designed to rapidly inflate after receiving a signal from the crash sensors. Upon inflation, the rubber coated nylon bag helps prevent the driver's face and chest from striking the steering wheel or windshield, supplementing the restraint provided by the seat belt. The bag then rapidly deflates.

NOTE
During a severe frontal impact, a sudden, fairly loud inflation noise will be heard and a small quantity of smoke will be released, neither of which is injurious. The smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

The air bag is designed to function on a one-time-only basis. In the event that the air bag is deployed, the air bag module will not function again and must be replaced. Only Authorized Mazda Dealers should repair or replace the system.
Please contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

WARNING!
If the vehicle has been in a collision that was not great enough to activate the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System, a careful inspection should be made to check for deformation of the parts on which the sensors are mounted, and repairs must be made if necessary.
See your Authorized Mazda Dealer; otherwise the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint system may not function properly in the event of an accident.

DRIVER INFORMATION FEATURES
A diagnostic module continually monitors the readiness of the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System. Monitoring begins when the ignition switch is turned to ON (II) and continues when the vehicle is being driven. The following components are monitored by the supplemental driver air bag restraint system warning lamp or beep.

Crash sensors.
Backup battery.
Air bag module.
Diagnostic module.
Related wiring.
Warning lamp.
WARNING LAMP
If the air bag system is operating properly, the warning lamp comes ON when turning the ignition switch ON or after cranking the engine, then goes out after approximately 6 seconds. A system malfunction is indicated by the flashing or continuous illumination of the warning lamp or failure of the lamp to turn on. If the warning lamp fails to light, or stays on continuously or flashes, the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System is in need of service and should be taken to your nearest Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. Unless serviced, the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System may not function properly in the event of an accident.

WARNING BEEP
The Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint system warning lamp is the prime means of determining the air bag system condition. However, a series of 5 beeps will be heard 5 times if the warning lamp is out and malfunction occurs in the system. This also means that the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System is in need of service. See your Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The beeps will repeat each time the ignition switch is turned to ON(II) until the cause of the lamp outage is rectified. The malfunction of the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System must also be repaired. Unless serviced, the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System may not function properly in the event of an accident.

WARNING!
Do not attempt any self-servicing of the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System; tampering could cause activation of the system and risk of personal injury. For servicing of the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System, see your Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Please refer to safety instructions available at an Authorized Mazda Dealer when the air bag module is disposed or your vehicle is scrapped. Failure to follow these instructions could increase the risk of personal injury.

MAINTENANCE
The Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System is maintenance free. But in the event of a malfunction indicated by any of the following, the vehicle should be taken promptly to your nearest Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the system checked. Unless checked and repaired, the Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System will not function reliably:

Flashing of the warning lamp.
Continuous illumination of the warning lamp.
Failure of the warning lamp to illuminate, when the ignition switch is first turned to ON(II) and warning beeps sound.
The air bag has inflated.

NOTE
When you sell the vehicle, we urge you to give notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with a Supplemental Driver Air Bag Restraint System by alerting him to the applicable section in the Owner's Manual.
Return to index