Page 116 of 365
Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-10
037-1CE
Special Driving Conditions Hazardous Driving
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
• Be cautious and allow extra
distance for braking.
• Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
• Brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don’ t hold
the pedal down constantly.
• If you get stuck, shift to 1 or 2 and
accelerate slowly. Don’ t spin the
front wheels. •
For more traction in starting, use
sand, rock salt, chains, carpeting, or
other nonslip material under the
front wheels.
037-3A1E
WARNING
!
Downshifting on SlipperySurfaces:Downshifting into first gear with
a manual transaxle or into low
with an automatic transaxle while
driving on slippery surfaces could
be dangerous. The sudden change
in tire speed could cause the tires
to skid. This could lead to loss of
vehicle control and an accident. If
it is necessary to downshift on
slippery surfaces, be very careful.
Page 118 of 365

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-12
Q037-7IE
Winter Driving
• Carry emergency gear, including
tire chains, window scraper, flares,
a small shovel, jumper cables, and
a small bag of sand or salt.
• Have the proper ratio of antifreeze
in the radiator (page 8-22).
• Inspect the battery and its cables.
Cold reduces battery capacity.
• Use only cold-weather engine oil
(page 8-16).
• Inspect the ignition system for
damage and loose connections. •
Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’ t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-33).
• Don’ t use the parking brake if it
might freeze. Instead, shift to P
with an automatic transaxle and to
1 or R with a manual. Block the
rear wheels.
037-8H1E
Snow tires
Your vehicle is originally equipped
with all season radials designed to be
used all year around. In some extreme
climates you may find it necessary to
replace them with snow tires during
the winter months to further improve
traction on snow and ice covered roads.
Use snow tires on all four wheels.
Don’ t go faster than 120 km/h (75
mph). Inflate snow tires 28 kPa (0.3
kgf/cm
2, 4 psi) more than
recommended on the tire pressure
label (driver ’s door), but never more
than the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
Page 119 of 365
Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda
4-13
WARNING
!
Mixing Tire Types:Using tires different in size or type
is dangerous. Your vehicle’s
handling could be greatly affected
and result in an accident. Use
only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on
all four wheels.NOTECheck local regulations before
using studded tires.
037-9A5E
Tire chains
Check local regulations before using
tire chains.
Install the chains on the front tires.
Don’ t use chains on the rear tires.
Use only SAE Class “S” chains, and
make sure they fit.
To install the chains:
1. Remove the wheel covers, or the chain bands will scratch them.
2. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible. Always
follow the chain manufacturer ’s
instructions. 3. Retighten the chains after driving
1/2-1 km (1/4-1/2 mile).
Page 120 of 365
Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-14
CAUTION
!
•Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels. Install tire
chains on steel wheels only.
• Chains may affect handling.
• Don’ t go faster than 50 km/h
(30 mph) or the chain
manufacturer ’s recommended
limit, whichever is lower.
• Drive carefully and avoid
bumps, holes, and sharp turns.
• Avoid locked-wheel braking.
(Continued)
•Don’ t use chains on the
temporary tire; it may result in
damage to the vehicle and to
the tire.
• Don’ t use chains on roads that
are free of snow or ice. The
tires and chains could be
damaged.
037-10AE
Driving in Flooded Areas
CAUTION
!
Make sure water does not enter the
vehicle interior or the engine area.
The vehicle interior could become
wet or the engine could be
damaged.
Page 140 of 365

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
*Some models.
Driving Your Mazda5-16
114-1A1E
Traction Control System
(TCS)*The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by
regulating engine torque. When the
TCS detects driving wheel slippage, it
lowers engine torque to prevent loss of
traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to
provide optimum power to the drive
wheels without causing them to spin
and lose traction.
WARNING
!
TCS and Unsafe Driving:The traction control system (TCS)
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 the traction control
system as a substitute for safe
driving.
WARNING
!
TCS and Snow and Ice:Driving without proper traction
devices on snow- and ice-covered
roads is dangerous. The traction
control system (TCS) alone
cannot provide adequate traction
and you could still have an
accident. Use snow tires or tires
chains and drive at reduced
speeds when roads are covered
with ice and snow.
Page 364 of 365

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Index11-9
PagePage Page
Limitations to side air bag
activation 2-49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance 2-53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-activation of front air bags 2-47 . . .
Non-activation of side air bags 2-50 . . . .
Side air bag activation 2-48
. . . . . . . . . .
System description 2-38
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning light 5-41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TTachometer 5-34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temporary Spare Tire 8-44
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft-Deterrent System 3-26
. . . . . . . . . . .
How to arm the system 3-27
. . . . . . . . . .
Modification and Add-On
Equipment 3-25
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation 3-26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Security indicator light 5-42
. . . . . . . . . .
Theft-deterrent labels 3-29
. . . . . . . . . . .
To stop the warning alarm 3-29 . . . . . . . To turn off an armed system 3-28
. . . . . .
Tilt Steering 3-32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Chains 4-13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Quality Grading 9-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire, Flat 6-19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire, Spare 6-27, 8-44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires 8-40
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflation pressure 8-41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement 8-43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotation 8-42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow tires 4-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 6-16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction Control System (TCS) 5-16 . . . . .
Indicators 5-17
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TCS OFF switch 5-18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction Control System (TCS) OFF
Indicator Light 5-43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light 5-39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer Towing 4-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transaxle Ranges, Automatic 5-10 . . . . . . Transaxle, Automatic
5-9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transaxle, Manual 5-7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmission (see Transaxle)
Trip meter 5-31
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trunk Lid 3-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Key-operated trunk lid release 3-15 . . . .
Remote trunk lid release 3-16
. . . . . . . . .
Trunk security 3-17
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trunk Light 3-41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trunk release handle 3-18
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn and Lane-Change Signals 5-46 . . . . .
Turn Signal 5-46
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UUnderbody Maintenance 7-10
. . . . . . . . . .
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
(UTQGS) 9-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temperature–A, B, C 9-12
. . . . . . . . . . .
Traction–AA, A, B, C 9-12
. . . . . . . . . . .
Tread wear 9-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .