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3-31
Knowing Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Tilt Steering Wheel
To change the angle of the steering wheel,
stop the vehicle, pull the tilt wheel release
lever under the steering column down,
adjust the wheel, then push the release
lever up to lock the column.
After adjusting, push the wheel up and
down to be certain it’s locked before
driving.
Outside Mirrors
Check the mirrors’ angles before driving.
Manual control mirror
Adjust by hand.
Power control mirror
The ignition switch must be in the ACC or
ON position.
To a d j u s t :
1. Move the selector switch to the left or
right to choose the mirror.
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control
or an accident. Never adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is
moving.
WARNING
Tilt wheel release
lever
Mirrors
Convex Mirror (Passenger Side):
Changing lanes without taking into
account the actual distance of the
vehicle in the convex mirror is
dangerous. You could have a serious
accident. What you see in the convex
mirror is closer than it appears. Be
sure to look over your shoulder or to
check your inside mirror before
changing lanes.
WARNING
Outside mirror
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3-32
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
2. Depress the perimeter switch in the
appropriate direction.
After adjusting the mirror, lock the
control by moving the selector switch to
the middle position.
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
flush with the vehicle.Mirror defroster
To turn on the mirror defroster, turn the
ignition on and push the rear window
defroster switch (page 5-36).
Rearview Mirror (With Day/
Night Function)
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window.
Do this with the day/night lever in the day
position.
Push the lever forward for day driving.
Pull it back to reduce glare from
headlights.
Perimeter switch Selector switch
Driving with Mirrors Folded In:
Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident. Always return the
outside mirrors to the driving position
before you start driving.
WARNING
Day/Night lever
Day
Night
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Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Blocked View:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes. Don’t stack
things higher than the seatbacks.
WARNING
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Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
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4-1
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
....................................... 4- 2
Fuel Requirements ................................................................... 4- 2
Emission Control System ........................................................ 4- 3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ....................................... 4- 5
Before Starting the Engine
......................................................... 4- 6
Before Getting In ..................................................................... 4- 6
After Getting In ....................................................................... 4- 6
Driving Tips
................................................................................. 4- 7
Break-In Period ....................................................................... 4- 7
Money-Saving Suggestions ..................................................... 4- 7
Hazardous Driving ................................................................... 4- 8
Rocking the Vehicle ................................................................. 4- 8
Winter Driving ......................................................................... 4- 9
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-10
Overloading ............................................................................. 4-11
To w i n g
.......................................................................................... 4-12
Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-12
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4-2
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
Vehicles with catalytic converters must use ONLY UNLEADED FUEL, which will reduce
exhaust emissions and keep spark plug fouling to a minimum.
Fuel with a lower rating could cause the emission control system to lose effectiveness. It
could also cause engine knocking and serious engine damage.
Your Mazda will perform best with fuel listed in the table.
*U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gasoline station pumps.
Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela
Use only premium unleaded fuel: 91 [ (R+M)/2 method] or above (96 RON or above)
Gasoline blended with oxygenates such as alcohol or ether compounds are generally
referred to as oxygenated fuels. The common gasoline blend that can be used with your
vehicle is ethanol blended at no more than 10%. Gasoline containing alcohol, such as
ethanol or methanol, may be marketed under the name "Gasohol".
Vehicle damage and drivability problems resulting from the use of the following may not
be covered by the Mazda warranty.
•Gasohol containing more than 10% ethanol.
•Gasoline or gasohol containing methanol.
•Leaded fuel or leaded gasohol.
Fuel Requirements
Fuel Octane Rating* (Anti-knock index)
Regular unleaded fuel 87 [ (R+M)/2 method] or above (91 RON or above)
•USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Leaded fuel is harmful to the catalytic converter. The lead will accumulate on the
oxygen sensor and the catalyst inside the converter. This will result in a malfunction
of the emission control system, causing poor performance.
•Your vehicle can only use oxygenated fuels containing no more than 10% ethanol by
volume. Damage to your vehicle may occur when ethanol exceeds this
recommendation, or if the gasoline contains any methanol. Stop using gasohol of any
kind if your vehicle engine is performing poorly.
•Never add fuel system additives. Never add cleaning agents other than those specified
by Mazda. Other cleaning agents and additives may damage the system. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
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4-3
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
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
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4-4
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
NOTE
After driving some distance and turning off the engine, the sound of a valve opening and
closing can be heard near the lower left part of the driver's seat or below the driver-side
door from the outside, however this does not indicate an abnormality. Your vehicle has a
self-checking device and it operates after turning off the engine.
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