Driving Your Mazda; Brake Warning Light:; Starting and Driving- Page 86

5-6

Driving Your Mazda

Starting and Driving

Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G

Low brake fluid level warning

If the light stays on after the parking brake 
is fully released, you may have a brake 
problem.

Drive to the side of the road and park off 
the right-of-way.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to 
push or that it may go closer to the floor. 
In either case, it will take longer to stop 
the vehicle.

1. With the engine stopped, check the 

brake fluid level immediately and add 
fluid as required (page 8-15).

2. After adding fluid, check the light 

again.

If the warning light remains on, or if the 
brakes do not operate properly, do not 
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Even if the light goes off, have your brake 
system inspected as soon as possible.

▼

▼

▼

▼

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) 

The ABS control unit continuously 
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one 
is about to lock up, the ABS responds by 
automatically releasing and reapplying 
that wheel’s brake.

The driver will feel a slight vibration in 
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering 
noise from the brake system. This is 
normal when the ABS operates. Don’t 
pump the brakes, continue to press down 
on the brake pedal.

Brake Warning Light:
Driving with the brake system 
warning light on is dangerous. It 
indicates that your brakes may not 
work at all or that they could 
completely fail at any time. If this 
light remains on, have the brakes 
inspected immediately. Don’t drive 
with this light on, and contact an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the 
brakes inspected as soon as possible.

WARNING

ABS:
The ABS cannot compensate for 
unsafe and reckless driving, excessive 
speed, tailgating (following another 
vehicle too closely), and hydroplaning 
(reduced tire friction and road 
contact because of water on the road 
surface). You can still have an 
accident. So don’t rely on ABS as a 
substitute for safe driving.

NOTE

Braking distances may be longer on 
loose surfaces (snow or gravel, for 
example) which usually have a hard 
foundation. A vehicle with a normal 
braking system may require less 
distance to stop under these conditions 
because the tires will build up a wedge 
of surface layer when the wheels skid.

WARNING

J94S.book  Page 6  Saturday, June 23, 2001  1:04 PM