5-5
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
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.
Driving with the Engine Off:
Continuing to drive when the engine
is stalled or turned off is dangerous.
Braking will require more effort, and
the brake
’s power-assist could be
depleted if you pump the brake. This
will cause longer stopping distances
or even an accident. Don ’t continue
driving when the engine is stalled or
turned off, find a safe place to stop.
Riding the Brakes:
Driving with your foot continuously
on the brake pedal or steadily
applying the brakes for long distances
is dangerous. This causes overheated
brakes, resulting in longer stopping
distances or even total brake failure.
This could cause loss of vehicle
control and a serious accident. Avoid
continuous application of the brakes.
Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep hills.
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance is
normal.
WARNING
Driving with the parking brake on will
cause excessive wear of the brake
linings or pads.
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 5 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM
5-10
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Transmission Ranges
The shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transmission and prevents the
rear 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 4-7).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transmission 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 transmission will automatically
shift through a 4-gear sequence.
2 (Second)
The 2 position is helpful when driving in
heavy, slow-moving traffic and climbing
hills, for engine braking assist when going
down hills, or for starting on slick
surfaces and other situations where gentle
acceleration may be necessary.
Do not exceed 104 km/h (64 mph) in the 2
position.
1 (Low)
Use the 1 position for maximum power in
hard-pulling situations, or for climbing
and descending very steep grades.
Do not exceed 59 km/h (36 mph) in the 1
position.
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 or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage your
transmission.
• Shifting into a driving gear or
reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transmission.
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.
WARNING
J07L(02MY).book Page 10 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM
7-11
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
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. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
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. Visually inspect the alternator/water pump drive belt for looseness and
breakage and all cooling hose
connections for leaks. If the belt is
broken or coolant is leaking, call an
Authorized Mazda Dealer for
assistance.
6. If the drive belt is OK, the engine is cool, and no coolant leaks are obvious,
inspect the coolant level. Carefully add
coolant as required (page 8-15).
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
Cooling system cap
Engine coolant
reservoir
J07L(02MY).book Page 11 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM
11-2
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Index
A
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories
...................................... 9-10
Air Bag Systems
.............................. 2-16
Air Filter
.......................................... 8-23
Antenna
............................................ 6-10
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
........ 5-7
Warning light
.............................. 5-7
Appearance Care
.............................. 8-41
Ashtray
............................................. 6-38
Audio System
................................... 6-10
Audio set
................................... 6-17
Operating tips for
audio system
............................. 6-10
Safety certification
.................... 6-36
Automatic Transmission Driving tips
............................... 5-12
Fluid
.......................................... 8-20
Overdrive
.................................. 5-11
Shift-lock override
.................... 5-11
Shift-lock system
...................... 5-11
Transmission ranges
................. 5-10
B
Battery Emergency starting
................... 7-13
Maintenance
............................. 8-26
Specifications
........................... 10-4
Beeps Ignition key reminder
............... 5-28
Lights-on reminder
................... 5-28
Before Starting the Engine
................. 4-5
After getting in
........................... 4-5
Before getting in
......................... 4-5
Body Lubrication
............................. 8-23
Brake Fluid
.......................................... 8-17
B
BrakesAnti-lock brake system (ABS)
....5-7
Foot brake
................................... 5-4
Pad wear indicator
...................... 5-8
Parking brake
.............................. 5-5
Warning light
.............................. 5-6
Break-In Period
.................................. 4-6
Bulb Replacement
............................ 8-31
C
Capacities ......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide
.............................. 4-4
Catalytic Converter
............................ 4-3
Cell Phones
...................................... 9-11
Center Console
................................. 6-39
Child Restraint Child restraint precautions
........ 2-12
Installing child-restraint
system
....................................... 2-15
Cigarette Lighter
.............................. 6-37
Climate Control System
.....................6-2
Gas specification
....................... 10-6
Clutch Fluid
.......................................... 8-18
Convertible Top
............................... 3-17
Cruise Control
.................................. 5-13
Cup Holders
..................................... 6-38
Customer Assistance
.......................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-21
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-31
Defroster Rear window
............................. 5-33
Detachable Hardtop
.......................... 3-22
Dimensions
....................................... 10-5
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