2002 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ Owners Manual (in English)

5-11
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F

Shift-Lock System
For your safety, the automatic transaxle
has a shift-lock, which prevents shifting
out of P unless the brake pedal is
depressed.
To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Push and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the shift lever.

Overdrive
Overdrive operation
In D, the transaxle automatically shifts to
overdrive, which improves fuel economy
and reduces noise.
To allow engine braking when going
down a steep grade, make sure the
overdrive button is in the off position.
And for a smoother ride with less shifting,
don’t use it when:
•Going up a steep grade.
•Driving in stop-and-go traffic.
•Pulling heavy loads.
To turn off the overdrive, push the
button.
The transaxle will then shift through a
three-gear sequence in D.
Shift patterns without overdrive:
D = 1st, 2nd, 3rd
2 = 2nd
1 = 1st
To turn it on, push the button again.
Shift patterns with overdrive:
D = 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
2 = 2nd
1 = 1st
NOTE
•When the ignition switch is in the
LOCK position, the transaxle
cannot be shifted from P.
•To be sure the vehicle is in park,
the ignition key cannot be
removed unless the shift lever is in
P.Overdrive button
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
O/D OFF indicator light
This light comes on when the overdrive
has been turned off.

Driving Tips
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or 1, depending on the load
weight and grade steepness.
3. Release all brakes while gradually
accelerating.Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to 2
or 1, depending on load weight and grade
steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
If the overdrive-off indicator light
flashes, the transaxle has an electrical
problem. Continuing to drive your
Mazda in this condition could cause
damage to your transaxle. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
CAUTION
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or if
the power steering system is inoperable,
you can still steer, but it requires more
physical effort.
If the steering feels rigid during normal
driving, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 40 km/h (25 mph).

Cruise Set Indicator Light
This light comes on when a cruising speed
is set.
Power Steering
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than five
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power steering
system.
CAUTION
Cruise Control
Cruise Control Use:
Using cruise control in the following
conditions could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle:
•Heavy or unsteady traffic
•Slippery or winding roads
•Similar restrictions that require
inconsistent speed
Don’t use cruise control in these
situations.
WARNING
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5-14
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F

Activation/Deactivation
To activate the system, push the CRUISE
MAIN switch.
To deactivate the system, push the switch
again.

To Set Speed
1. Turn on the CRUISE MAIN switch.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which
must be more than 40 km/h (25 mph).
3. (Type A)
Press the lever down to SET/COAST
and release it at the speed you want.
Release the accelerator at the same
time.
Don’t continue to hold the lever. Until
you release it, speed will continue to
drop (unless you continue to
accelerate) and you’ll miss the desired
speed.
Cruise main switch
Ty p e A
Cruise main switch
Ty p e B
Cruise Main Switch:
Leaving the CRUISE MAIN switch
on when not using the cruise control
is dangerous as it may be switched on
accidentally. This could result in loss
of vehicle control. Keep the CRUISE
MAIN switch off when cruise control
is not in use.
WARNING
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5-15
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
(Type B)
Press the SET/COAST button and
release it at the speed you want.
Release the accelerator at the same
time.
Don’t continue to hold in the button.
Until you release it, speed will
continue to drop (unless you continue
to accelerate) and you’ll miss the
desired speed.
To Increase Cruising Speed
Follow either of these procedures.
• (Type A)
Press the lever up to RES/ACC and
hold it. Your vehicle will accelerate.
Release the lever at the speed you
want.
Your vehicle has a tap-up feature that
allows you to increase your current
speed in increments of 1.6 km/h (1
mph) by a momentary tap of the lever.
Multiple taps will increase your vehicle
speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each tap.
NOTE
•The SET function can’t be activated
until about 2 seconds after the
CRUISE MAIN switch has been
engaged.
•On a steep grade, the vehicle may
momentarily slow down going up or
speed up while going down.
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
(Type B)
Press the RESUME/ACCEL button
and hold it. Your vehicle will
accelerate.
Release the button at the speed you
want.
Your vehicle has a tap-up feature that
allows you to increase your current
speed in increments of 1.6 km/h (1
mph) by a momentary tap of the
RESUME/ACCEL button. Multiple
taps will increase your vehicle speed
1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each tap.• (Type A)
Accelerate to the desired speed.
Press the lever down to SET/COAST
and release it immediately.
(Type B)
Accelerate to the desired speed.
Press the SET/COAST button and
release it immediately.
NOTE
Accelerate if you want to speed up
temporarily when the cruise control is
on. Greater speed will not interfere
with it or change the set speed.
Take your foot off the accelerator to
return to the set speed.
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5-17
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F

To Decrease Cruising Speed
(Type A)
Press the lever down to SET/COAST and
hold it. The vehicle will gradually slow.
Release the lever at the speed you want.
Your vehicle has a tap-down feature that
allows you to decrease your current speed
in decrements of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the lever. Multiple taps
will decrease your vehicle speed 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) for each tap. (Type B)
Press the SET/COAST button and hold it.
The vehicle will gradually slow.
Release the button at the speed you want.
Your vehicle has a tap-down feature that
allows you to decrease your current speed
in decrements of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the SET/COAST
button. Multiple taps will decrease your
vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each
tap.
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F

To Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 40 km/h (25 mph)
(Type A)
If some other method besides the CRUISE
MAIN was used to cancel cruising speed
and the system is still activated, the most
recent set speed will automatically resume
when the lever is pressed up to RES/ACC,
then released.
If vehicle speed is below 40 km/h (25
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 40
km/h (25 mph) and press the lever up to
RES/ACC. (Type B)
If some other method besides the CRUISE
MAIN was used to cancel cruising speed
and the system is still activated, the most
recent set speed will automatically resume
when the RESUME/ACCEL button is
pressed.
If vehicle speed is below 40 km/h (25
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 40
km/h (25 mph) and press the RESUME/
ACCEL button.
NOTE
With an automatic transaxle vehicle,
the gear is automatically selected when
going uphill.
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