2001 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ Owners Manual (in English)

Driving Your Mazda
Manual Transaxle 0peration
NOTE
Whethercold or warm, the engine
should be staned witlout use of the
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).
Follow this procedure:
I - Depress the accelerator all the way
and hold it there.
2. Tum the ignition switch to the STARTposition and hold iithere forupto
l0 seconds. If the engine starts, release
lhe key and accelerator immediacly
because the engine will suddenly rev
up.
3. Ifthe engine fails to start, crank it
without using ihe accelerator-for up
I Manual Transa\le Shift Pattern
The shift pattem of the iransa{le is
conventional, as shown,
Press the clutch pedal all the way down
while sbifting; then release il slowly.
A safely feature prevents accidentai
shifling from 5 to R. The shifi lever must
be pu! in neulral before being shifted to
R,
135
FfrI
?/4 e
NOTE
. Make sure the vehicle is stopped
befoie shiiting to R.
. If shiftinC into reverse is difficult.
shift into neutral, release the clutchp€dal, and try again.
AcaurroN
Keep your foot off the clutcb pedal
except wben shifting gears. Also,
donl use the clutcb ro hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. This will avoid
needless clutch wear and damage.
5-!

Driving Your Mszda
Automatic Transaxle
I Automatic Tla saxle Controls
Shift lererTo prevenr unsafe shifting
Pa -- -tr)
^ -
.lll o*".,*,riih v fl^ Forsele!rmBerherathre-
N o VI \Peed or rns
eed rr .dle
:: irOverdrive (O/D) OFI indicato.This lieht codes on *hen lhe overdnve
1O
Shift pattern indicatorShows shift leler positjon
+o
tl
Indicates that you must depress the bnke pedal and. hold in the lo.k rlease
button to shift (The ignilion swiich nustbe in tne ACC orON position.)
The shiftlevercan be sbifted fteely into any position
indicated by the 1l arow.
Indicates irrat you musthold in the lock-release burcn to shift.
0/D
OFF
ooo
5.6

Driving Your Mazda
I Transexle Rang€s
The shifl lever mustbe in P or Nro
V P (Park)
P locks the aansaxie and prevenrs rhefiont wheels from roiaring.
V N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely evenon the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
V R (Reverse)
In posiiion R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You mustbe at a complere
stop before shifting from R, excepr asexplained under Rocking rhe Vehicle(page 4-8).
AcaurroN
shifting into P orR while ftevehicle is moving can damage your
Shifiing into a driving gear orreverse wh€n the engine is running
faster than idle can damage rhe
Awtnwwc
HoUing the Vehicle with P:
Setting the shift lewr to the Pposition without using the pa*ing
brake to hoA the vehicle is
dansenut. If P faik to how, the
whicle couA move and ca teanaccdent. To hou the vehick, set the
shift lever to P AND set the parkins
AWARNING
Shiftine.from N ot P:
It danselou' to shilt ton N ot Pinto a driring eear when the engine
is runni g faster than Ule. If this isdone, the vehi.le couu move
s dde l!, causing an accident or
seioLt inju.r. If the e gi eisrunning faster than ink, don't shilt
frcmN orP i toadriyitggear,

Driving Your Mazda
VD(D ve)
D is the nonnal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically
shift through a 4-gear sequence.
V 2 (Second)
The 2 position is helpful when driving in
heavy, slow'moving traiTic and climbing
hills, for engine braking assistwhen
going downhills, or for stariing on slick
surfaces and other situations where gende
acceleration may be necessary. Do not
exceed 100 knth (62 rnpb) in the 2
posrhon.
V I (Low)
Use the I position for maximum power in
hard-pulling siiuations. or for clirnbing
and descending very sleep grades. Do not
exceed:18 knr./h (30 mph) in the I
I Drivins Tips
V Passing
For extra power when passing anoiher
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the acceleraior fu]Iy. The transaxle will
shift 10 a lower gear, depending on
vehicle speed.
V Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift !o D or 1 depending on the load
weighl and grade steepness.
3. Release all brrles while gradually
V Descending steep grades
Wben descending a sleep grade, shif! to 2
or l, depending on load weight and grade
steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally lo prevent them
from overheating.
5-8

Driving Your Mazda
And fbr a smoother rid€ with less
shifting, don't use ir when:
. Going up a steep grade.
. Driving in slop and go traffic.
. Pullinc heavy loads.
To turn off the overdrive, push the
buiton.
The transaxle will then shift through a
three gear sequence in D.
Shifl pa(ems without overdrive:
D - lst,2nd, 3rd
2:2ntl
l-lst
0/D
OFF
ooo
V Overdrive-off indicator
This lightcomes on when the overdrive
AclurroN
If fte overdrive-off indicator light
flaslres, lh€ transaxle has an electricalproblen. Continuing 10 drive your
Mazda in this condition could cause
damage to your transaxle- Consult an
Authorized Mazda Deaier as soon aspossible.
5-9
I Overdrive
V OYerdrive operation
In D, the transaxle automatically slifts to
overdrive. which irnp.oves fuel econorny
To allow engine braking when going
down a steep grade, nake sure the
overdrive butlon is in the offposition.

Driving Your Mazda
To turn it on, push lhe button again.
Shift pattems rvith overdrive:
D : I st. 2nd, 3.d, 4th
2-2I],d
l-lsi
I Shift-Irck Syst€n
For your safety. the automatic transaxle
has a shift-lock, which preYents
shlfting out of P unless the brake pedal
is depr€ssed.
To shif! from Pi
l. Depress and hold the bral(e pedal.
2. Start fte engine.
3- Push and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the shifl lever.
When the ignition switch is in the
LOCK position, the transaxle
cannot be shifted from P.
To be sure the vehicle is in park.
the ignition key cannot be
r€moved unless the shift lever is
in P,
5-10

Drivins Your Mazda
Brake System
I Foot Brake
Your Mazda has power-assisted brakes
thar adjust aulomalicalty through normal
Should power-assist fail, you can stop by
applying greater force than normal to the
brake pedal. But tbe distance rcquired io
stop will be greater than usual.
Awnnutxc
Riding the Brakes:
Divins'a,ith rourfoot continuoustr
on the brake pedalor steadilr
applyins the brakes for tons
distances is dtngercus.This causes
ot'e.heated brakes, resulting irl
longer stoppilg tlbtanees or even
total bruke failure. This couu ca6e
loss of vehicle contrcl and a seious
ac cide nt. Av oid contin uo us
appticanon of the bnkes. Shift to a
lo\'ers.ar when going down st ep
hills.
Awl.nume
Dritine flith Wet B kes:
Driving with wet brakes is
dangero us. I nc.e as e d stopping
distance ot the vehicle puling to o e
sine when brakins couu rcsult in a
seious accident. Lisht brakinc wilt
indicate whather the bnkes h0ve
been alfected. Dr! the brakes b!
driving very slowlt and applJing the
brakes lightlr untit brake
peiomance is nonut.Awl'nutue
Dnring with the Engine Off:
Continuing to d.ive when the engine
is stalled or turned oJf is drrngerout.
B.dking $'i rcquire more efoft, ann
the brake's pover-assist couu be
depleted if rou punp the brake. This
vi caure toneer stopping dkti ces
or eyen a accident. Don't coatinue
diving when the engine is stalled or
tuned off, frnd a safe pla& to rtop,
5-11

Driving Your Mazda
Awl.ntuNc
Dtit'ins $'ith Wom Disc Pads:
Drivins wilh wom disc pans is
dansercus. The brukes couulail and
cause a seious acci.dent. As soon as
lou hear a screeching oise consult
an Authoriaed Maula Deolei
I Brake Pad Wear Indicator
wlen the disc brake pads become wom,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes ascreeching
noise to warn that rhe pads should be
replaced.
When ]ou be3r this noise. consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
I Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, depress ihe
brake pedal; lhen pull ihe brake handle
fully upward.
To release i!. pull the handle up and press
the bunon. Depress the brake pedal: then
lower tbe handle to the release position
while holding in $€ butlon. Release the
pedal when it's safe to do so.
5-12