Mazda 2003 Protege, Owner'S Manual

Page: 86 / 275

4-3
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Your vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is part of
this system) that enables your vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions
requirements.
Emission Control System
Parking Over Things That Burn:
Parking over or near anything inflammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even
with the engine turned off, the exhaust system could ignite it because the exhaust
system gets very hot during normal use. A resulting fire could cause serious injury or
death. Never park over or near anything inflammable.
Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside
the converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the
converter and cause poor performance.
•
USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
•
Don’t drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
•
Don’t coast with the ignition switch turned off.
•
Don’t descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switch turned off.
•
Don’t operate the engine at high idle for more than 5 minutes.
•
Don’t tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must
be made by a qualified technician.
•
Don’t try to push-start or pull-start your vehicle.
NOTE
Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control
system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some
states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
WARNING
CAUTION
J39L_EA.book Page 3 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM