2002 MAZDA MODEL MPV parking brake

5-5
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K

Parking Brake
Setting the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal, then pull the
brake handle fully upward.
Releasing the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal, then pull the
handle up and press the button. Lower the
handle to the release position while
holding in the button.

Brake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning/
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-13).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again. Driving with the parking brake on will
cause excessive wear of the brake
linings or pads.
CAUTION
J16L_EA.book Page 5 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

5-9
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K

Transaxle Ranges
The shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except as
explained under Rocking the Vehicle
(page 4-8).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically shift
through a 5-gear sequence.
NOTE
When shifting the automatic transaxle
in extremely could temperature, the
shift pattern indicator will respond
more slowly than under normal
conditions.
Holding the Vehicle with P:
Setting the shift lever to the P position
without using the parking brake to
hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P
fails to hold, the vehicle could move
and cause an accident. To hold the
vehicle, set the shift lever to P AND
set the parking brake.
•Shifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage your
transaxle.
•Shifting into a driving gear or
reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transaxle.
WARNING
CAUTION
Shifting from N or P:
It’s dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine is
running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move
suddenly, causing an accident or
serious injury. If the engine is
running faster than idle, don’t shift
from N or P into a driving gear.
Shifting into N while Driving:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury. Do not shift into N when
driving the vehicle.
WARNING
J16L_EA.book Page 9 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

5-25
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K

Brake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning/
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-13).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again.If the warning 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 if the light goes off, have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible.
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light on.
In this case, the ABS warning light comes
on at the same time (page 5-27).
J16L_EA.book Page 25 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

5-33
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K

Daytime Running Lights
(Canada Model)
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with
the headlights on during daytime
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights
automatically turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position.

Tu r n S i g n a l
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to
its original position.
Green indicators on the dashboard show
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the
direction of the change—until the
indicator flashes—and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
NOTE
The running lights go off when the
parking brake is applied.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, the
turn signal bulb may be burned out.
Right turn
Left turn Right lane
change
Left lane
changeOFF
J16L_EA.book Page 33 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

7-9
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Shift into Park (P) and turn off the
engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle
and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire
(page 7-3).
6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite
the flat tire. When blocking a front
wheel, place the block both in front and
behind the tire. When blocking a rear
wheel, place the block both in front and
behind the tire.

Removing a Flat Tire
1. Pry off the wheel cover with the
beveled end of the lug wrench.
NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.If the jack leans towards the front or
the rear when jacking up, lower the
vehicle until the wheels are firmly on
the ground. Then confirm that the
parking brake is set, the shift lever is in
Park (P), then push the blocks into the
tire strongly.
NOTE
Force the end of the wrench firmly
between wheel and cover, or removal
will be difficult.
CAUTION
Lug wrenchWheel cover
J16L_EA.book Page 9 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

7-15
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience power loss,
or you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.
If this happens:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and
park off the right-of-way.
2. Shift into park (P).
Apply the parking brake.
3. Turn off the air conditioner.4. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Don’t go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine. Then turn the ignition
switch to the ON position without
starting the engine.
The radiator cooling fans will start to
cool the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools. If this doesn’t lower the
temperature, stop the engine and let it
cool.
5. Check the coolant level.
If it’s low, look for leaks in the radiator
hoses and connections, heater hoses
and connections, radiator, and water
pump.
If you find a leak or other damage, or if
coolant is still leaking, stop the engine
and call an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If you find no problems, the engine is
cool, and no leaks are obvious, carefully
add coolant as required (page 8-11).
Overheating
Steam from Overheated Engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you. Open the hood
ONLY after steam is no longer
escaping from the engine.
WARNING
F
L
Cooling
system cap
Coolant reservoir
J16L_EA.book Page 15 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

7-20
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Emergency Towing
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
front wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
Towing Description
Wheel dollies
Don’t tow the vehicle pointed
backward with driving wheels on the
ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transaxle.
Don’t tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
CAUTION
CAUTION
J16L_EA.book Page 20 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM

8-15
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K

Inspecting Automatic Transaxle
Fluid Level
The automatic transaxle fluid level should
be inspected regularly. Measure it as
described below.
The volume of fluid changes with the
temperature. Fluid must be checked at idle
without driving at normal operating
temperature.
1. Park on a level surface and set the
parking brake firmly.
2. Idle the engine about two minutes.
Push down on the brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever through all ranges
and set it at P.4. With the engine still idling, pull out the
dipstick, wipe it clean, and put it back.
5. Pull it out again.
The proper fluid level is marked on the
dipstick as follows.
Fluid hot scale A
When the vehicle has been driven and the
fluid is at normal operating temperature,
about 65°C (150°F), the level must be
between Full and Low.
Fluid cold scale B
When the engine has not been running
and the outside temperature is about 20°C
(70°F), the level must be between Full and
Low.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(ATF)
•Low fluid level causes transaxle
slippage. Overfilling can cause
foaming, loss of fluid, and transaxle
malfunction.
•Use specified fluid (page 10-4). A
nonspecified fluid could result in
transaxle malfunction and failure.
CAUTION
Sudden Vehicle Movement:
Shifting the shift lever without first
depressing the brake pedal is
dangerous. The vehicle could move
suddenly and cause an accident.
Make sure the brake pedal is applied
before shifting the shift lever.
WARNING
A
B
J16L_EA.book Page 15 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM