2008 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 27

Essential Safety Equipment Seat Belt Systems WARNING Wear seat belts only as recommended in this owner's manual: Incorrect positioning of the driver and front passenger seat belts is dangerous. Without proper positioning, the pretensioner and load limiting systems cannot provide adequate protection in an accident and this could result in serious injury. For more details about wearing seat belts, refer to "Fastening the seat belts" (page 2-13). 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. While it is safer to use a crash-used 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. Like the air bags, the seat belt pretensioners will only function once. After they are expended, they will not function again and must be replaced immediately. If the seat belt pretensioners are not replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will increase. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the seat belt pretensioners and air bags after any collision. 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. Do not modify the components or wiring, or use electronic testing devices on the pretensioner system: Modifying the components or wiring of the pretensioner system, including the use of electronic testing devices is dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable which would prevent it from activating in an accident. The occupants or repairers could be seriously injured. 2-15