Mazda MX-6 Manual page 86

J94S.book Page 6 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Driving Your M azda
Starting and Driving
L o w b r a k e flu id level w a rn in g
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you m ay have a brake
problem .
D rive to the side o f the road and park off
the right-of-w ay.
You m ay notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it m ay go closer to the floor.
In either case, it w ill take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. W ith the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level im m ediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-15).
2. A fter adding fluid, check the light
again.
If the w arning light rem ains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. H ave it towed to an
A uthorized M azda Dealer.
Even if the light goes off, have y our brake
system inspected as soon as possible.
& WARNING
Brake Warning Light:
D riving w ith the brake system
w arning ligh t on is dangerous. It
indicates th at y o u r brakes m ay not
work a t a ll o r th at they could
com pletely f a il a t any time. I f this
ligh t rem ains on, have the brakes
inspected im m ediately. D o n 't drive
w ith this lig h t on, a n d contact an
A uth orized M azda D ea ler to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible.
5-6
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
▼
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
m onitors the speed o f each w heel. If one
is about to lock up, the ABS responds by
autom atically releasing and reapplying
that w h eel's brake.
The driver w ill feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and m ay hear a chattering
noise from the brake system . This is
norm al w hen the A BS operates. D o n 't
pum p the brakes, continue to press down
on the brake pedal.
& WARNING
ABS:
The A B S cannot com pensate f o r
unsafe a n d reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (follow ing another
vehicle too closely), a n d hydroplaning
(reduced tire frictio n a n d road
contact because o f w ater on the road
surface). You can still have an
accident. So d o n 't rely on A B S a s a
substitute f o r safe driving.
N O TE
B raking distances m ay be longer on
loose surfaces (snow or gravel, for
exam ple) w hich usually have a hard
foundation. A vehicle w ith a norm al
braking system m ay require less
distance to stop under these conditions
because the tires w ill build up a w edge
o f surface layer w hen the w heels skid.