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
5-8
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes a screeching noise
to warn that the pads should be replaced.
When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.Various Lockouts:
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to
charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs
and the ABS warning light comes on.
This is due to a weak battery, not a
malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
Driving with Worn Disc Pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is
dangerous. The brakes could fail and
cause a serious accident. As soon as
you hear a screeching noise consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
Automatic Transaxle
Controls
Indicates that you must depress the
brake pedal and pull the shift lever
toward you to shift (The ignition
switch must be in the ON position).
Indicates the shift lever can be shifted
freely into any position.
Indicates that you must pull the shift
lever toward you to shift.
Overdrive button
For gear selection
with either a four-
speed or five-speed
transaxle
J16L_EA.book Page 8 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
