
ªTread Lightlyº is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Mazda Motor
Corporation joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by ªtreading lightly.º
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill,
start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a
higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to
turnaround because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
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153 

Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral, disengage
overdrive or manually shift to a
lower gear. When descending a
steep hill, avoid sudden hard
braking as you could lose control.
When you brake hard, the front
wheels can't turn and if they aren't
turning, you won't be able to steer.
The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the vehicle. Rapid
pumping of the brake pedal will help you slow the vehicle and still
maintain steering control.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not
ªpumpº the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
²4x4 vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
²Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
²Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
²Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a 4x4 vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won't stop
any faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four
wheels. Do not become overconfident as to road conditions.
²Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other
vehicles for stopping as well as drive slower than usual and consider
using one of the lower gears. In emergency stopping situations, avoid
locking of the wheels. Use a ªsqueezeº technique, push on the brake
pedal with a steadily increasing force which allows the wheels to brake
yet continue to roll so that you may steer in the direction you want to
travel. If you lock the wheels, release the brake pedal and repeat the
squeeze technique. If your vehicle is equipped with a Four Wheel
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), apply the brake steadily. Do not
ªpumpº the brakes. Refer to theBrakessection of this chapter for
additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system.
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154 

²Never drive with chains on the front tires of 4x4 vehicles without also
putting them on the rear tires. This could cause the rear to slide and
swing around during braking.
Tires, Replacement Requirements
Do not use a size and type of tire and wheel other than that originally
provided by Mazda Motor Corporation because it can affect the safety
and performance of your vehicle, which could lead to loss of vehicle
control or roll over and serious injury. Make sure all tires and wheels on
the vehicle are of the same size, type, tread design, brand and
load-carrying capacity. If you have questions regarding tire replacement,
see an authorized Mazda/Mazda dealer.
If you nevertheless decide to equip your 4x4 for off-road use with tires
larger than what Mazda Motor Corporation recommends, you should not
use these tires for highway driving.
If you use any tire/wheel combination not recommended by Mazda Motor
Corporation, it may adversely affect vehicle handling and could cause
steering, suspension, axle or transfer case failure.
Do not use ªaftermarket lift kitsº or other suspension modifications,
whether or not they are used with larger tires and wheels.
These ªaftermarket lift kitsº could adversely affect the vehicle's handling
characteristics, which could lead to loss of vehicle control or roll over
and serious injury.
Tires can be damaged during off-road use. For your safety, tires that are
damaged should not be used for highway driving because they are more
likely to blow out or fail.
You should carefully observe the recommended tire inflation pressure
found on the safety compliance certification label attached to the left
front door lock facing or door latch post pillar. Failure to follow tire
pressure recommendations can adversely affect the way your vehicle
handles. Do not exceed the Mazda Motor Corporation recommended
pressure even if it is less than the maximum pressure allowed for the
tire.
Driving
155 

DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the
depth is unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited
and if the ignition system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water
may also enter your engine's air intake and severely damage your
engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars).
Once through the water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop
the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by
moving your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause
internal transmission damage. Have the fluid checked and, if
water is found, replace the fluid.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum permissible total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissible
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer.
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157 

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
²Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to the ªScheduled Maintenanceº section
for more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be no more than 10±15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or N (Neutral) (manual transmissions).
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper.
²Do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (6 inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
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163 

Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting driveability, emissions, reliability
and causing internal transmission damage.
Replace the rear axle lubricant any time the axle has been
submerged in water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be
checked or changed unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer into the
water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the trailer is removed
from the water. Water entering these areas, while connected, could
short-circuit the system.
RECREATIONAL TOWING
An example of ªrecreational towingº is towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome.
If your vehicle is automatic transmission equipped, with a 4x2
(front-wheel drive only) configured powertrain, ªrecreational towingº is
permitted by trailering the vehicle with its front wheels on a dolly. This
protects the transmission's internal mechanical components from
potential lack of lubrication damage.
If your vehicle is manual transaxle equipped and 2WD or 4WD, shifting
the transaxle into neutral permits ªflat-towingº (all wheels on the
ground) for pulling behind a motorhome. Your vehicle may be towed up
to a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) but you should always obey local speed
limits.
If your vehicle is automatic transaxle equipped and 4WD (all-wheel
drive), ªrecreational towingº is permitted only if the vehicle is trailered
with all four (4) wheels off the ground. Otherwise, no ªrecreational
towingº is permitted.
For other towing requirements, refer toWrecker Towingin the
Roadside emergencieschapter.
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164 

COLOR
Fuse
ratingMini
fusesStandard
fusesMaxi
fusesCartridge
maxi
fusesFuse link
cartridge
40A Ð Ð Orange Green Green
50A Ð Ð Red Red Red
60A Ð Ð Blue Ð Yellow
70A Ð Ð Tan Ð Brown
80A Ð Ð Natural Ð Black
Passenger compartment fuse panel
The fuse panel is located below and to the left of the steering wheel by
the brake pedal. Remove the panel cover to access the fuses.
To remove a fuse use the fuse puller tool provided on the fuse panel
cover.
ACC
12
34
56 
78 
910
11 12
13 14
15 16
17 18
19 20
21 22
23 24
25 26
27
Roadside Emergencies
169 

The fuses are coded as follows:
Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingPassenger Compartment Fuse
Panel Description
1 5A Canister vent control solenoid
2 5A Blower relay (coil), Rear defrost relay
(coil), Pressure switch to PCM
3 10A Rear wiper motor, Rear washer
motor, Rear wiper relay (coil)
4 10A Four-wheel drive control module,
Cluster (restraints control warning)
5 5A ABS unit (EVAC & FILL), ASC unit,
Restraints Control Module (RCM),
ASC main SW to ASC unit
6 10A Flasher unit, Reversing lamps
7 10A Passive Anti-theft Transceiver
(PATS), RCM
8 10A Cluster, Shift lock relay (coil), O/D
signal to PCM
9 3A PCM relay (coil), Fan relay 1, 2, 3
(coil), A/C relay (coil)
10 20A Front wiper motor, Front washer
motor, INT relay
11 10A IGN relay (coil), ACC relay (coil),
Starter relay (coil), Key interlock
solenoid, GEM
12 5A Radio, Clock
13 Ð Not used
14 20A Cigar lighter
15 15A Front position lamps, License lamps,
Tail lamps, Park lamp relay (coil),
Trailer fuse, Illumination fuse
16 10A Cluster, Power mirror, GEM
17 15A Sun roof motor
Roadside Emergencies
170