Page 92 of 290

Protecting Your Mrzdg
Before Driving
I Belore Getting In
. Be sure the windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights a.re clean.
. Inspect inllation pressures and
condition of tires-
. Look under the vebicle for any sign of
. If you plan to back up, make sure
nothing will be in your way.
I After Getting In
. Are all doors closed and locked?
. Are tbe inside and outside mirors
adj'rsGd?
. Is everyone seat belt faslened?
. Do all the lights work?
. Check all gauges.
. Check all waming lights when the
ignition switch is lumed 1() the ON
posirion.
. Release ihe parking brake and make
sure the brate waming lighlgoes off
Always be lhoroughly f:rmiliar with your
Mazda.
Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the firs! 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the peformance.
economy, and life of your Mazda.
. Don'trace the engine.
. Don't maintain one consiantspeed for
long.
. Donl drive constantly at full th.ottle
or high engine rpm for exlended
. Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
. Avoid full throule starts.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolanl,
brake/clutch fluid, washer fluid. and
other fluid levels shouldbe inspected
daily, weekly, or at refueling,
dependjng on the fluid. See
Maintenance, Section 8.
4-6
Page 95 of 290

Protecting Your Mazda
Aw,qntaxo
spiatiaglLcMElls:
When the vehicle b stuck, spinni g
the wheels tt high speed h
ddngetuus.The spinning tirc couw
orefieat and explode.This couu
cause seioui injuies. Don't spin the
wheels at nore than 56 kt tlh (35
nph), ond don't allot!' anlone to
sta d behi d a wheel when pushing
I Winter Driving
. Carry emergency gear. including tlre
chains. window scraper. flares, a snall
shovel,jumper cables, and a small bag
. Ask a Mazda dealer !o pedorm the
following precautions.
. Have the proper ratio of dntifreeze in
. Inspecl rhe battery and irs cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
. Use only cold-wea$er engine oil
(page 8 16).
. Inspect ihe ignition systen for damage
and loose conneclions.
. Use washerfluid made wiih
antifreeze-but don t use engine
coolanl antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8 27).
. Donl use the parking brake if il might
freeze. Insiead. shifr to P wirh an
automatic transaxle and to I orR with
a manual iransaxle. Block the rear
AcaurroN
Too much rocking nay cause engine
overheating, transaxle failure, and lire
damage.
4-9
Page 103 of 290
Driving Your Mazda
NOTE
If tuming tfte key is difficult, jiggle
the steering wheel from side to side-
V Automatic transaxle
When tuming the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, keep the shift lever in P
Aw,cnullc
Renoving the Ke!:
It's d4 gerous to remow the ke!
fiom the lgnitiott switch tthile the
vehicle is moting. Remoi gtheker
allows the steenng wheel to lock. vou
reill lose skenng contnl and a
seious acctuIent coud oceui
Redove the ker only when theNOTE
If the ignition switch is in ille LOCK
orACC position. abeep will sound
when any door is opened.
Aw,cm,{tuc
Not SexinLthe Parking Bmke:
Leaving the .livet's seat withou1
setting the pa*ing brcke is
dange rcus. U nexpe cted w hicle
noyenent coua occu.t'ifthe pa*ins
bmke is not set.This eouuca se a,t
ac.ident. Beforc tearins the driver's
seat, alvors set the parking brake
and nuke surc the sNft lerer is in P
)ith an aulonmti. tra saieolinI
or R with a manual transaio.
Page 104 of 290

Driring Your Mn da
Starting the Engine
1. Occupanls should fasten their seat
be1ts.
2. Make sure the parkingbrake is on.
3. Depress ihe brake pedal.
4. (Manu6l transaxle)
Depress the clutcb pedal all the way
and shifl into neutral.
K€ep $e pedal depressed while
cranking the engine.
(Automatic rransaxle)
Put the vehicle in park (P). Ifyou must
resiart the engine whjle ihe v€hicle is
moving, shifi into neutral (N).
6. After slaning the engine, lel it idle for
about 10 seconds.
NOTE
In extremely cold wealhe! below
18"C (0'F), or after the !'ehicle has
stood idle several days, le! lhe engine
warm up without operating the
5. Tum th€ ignition switch to the START
position and hold (up to l0 seconds at
a tirne) until ihe engine shns.
NOTE
The starter will nol operate.-.
. If the shift lever is not in P or N
. Ifthe clutch pedal is not pushed
down all lhe way (manual).
Ac.turroN
Don't try the slari,er for more ihan 10
seconds at a time.Ifthe engine stalls
or fails to start, wait 10 seconds
before trying again- Olherwise, you
may damage the starler and drain the
5.4
Page 107 of 290

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,
Page 112 of 290
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
Page 113 of 290
Drivins Your Mazda
AclurroN
Driving wiih the pa*ing brake on
will cause excessive lvear of the brake
linings or pads.
(o)
BRAKE
^.-)^1,
\__/\,/\__/.
I Brake System Warning Light
If fte brake waming iighi sLays on after
the parking brake is fully released. $e
brake system has amalfunction. Refer to
w:ming LightYBeeps (page 5 26).
I Antilock Brake Syst€n (ABS)
The ABS control unil continuously
nonitors the speed of each wheel. If one
is about lo lock up, r}le ABS responds by
automatically releasing and reapplying
The driver will feel a slight vibraiion in
the brake pe&al and may bear a chattering
noise from ihe brake system. This is
normal when the ABS operates. Don't
pump fte brakes, continue to press down
on the brake pedal.
5-r3
Page 126 of 290

Drit ing Your Mazda
Warning LightVBeeps
I Warning Lights Inspection
Inspect lhe waming lights by turning the
ignilion switch !o the ON position with
th€ engine offand the parking brake on.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
about any light thai doesn't come on.
If the brake system waming light is off
when dre ignition switch is in the START
position, have the system inspectedby an
Authorized Mazda Dealer
After starting the engine, make sure all
warning lights are off.Ifone stays on. it's
signaling for attenlion.
The brake syslem waming lighr sbould
go off when the parking brake is released.
I Brak€ System Wsming
Light
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that ihe pedal is harder to
push or tlat it may go closer to the floor.
Ineirher case, jt will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
l. With the engine stopped. check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8 23).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again.
Ifthe waming 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 ifihe light goes off, have your
brake system inspected as soon as
possibte.
This waming lightcomes on when the
ignition switch is tumed to the ON
position. Wlen the parking brake is not
applied. itgoes out after about2 seconds.
This waming has the following functions:
V Parking brak€ warning
The light cones on when the parking
brake is applied with fte ignition switch
in the START orON position.Ilgoes off
when $e parking brake is fully released.
V Low brake fluid level
warning/Elect.onic b.ake force
distribution system warning
lf the light stays on after the parking
brake is fully released, you may have a
Drive to $e side of the road and park off
the right of way.
5-26