2003 MAZDA MODEL 6 snow chains

4-7
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
When driving in water, mud, sand, or
similar hazard:
•
Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
•
Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
•
If your vehicle is not equipped with
ABS, brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don’t hold the
pedal down constantly.
If your vehicle is equipped with ABS,
don’t pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
•
If you get stuck, shift to 1 or 2 and
accelerate slowly. Don’t spin the front
wheels.
•
For more traction in starting, use sand,
rock salt, chains, carpeting, or other
nonslip material under the front
wheels.If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from 1 (D) to R.
Hazardous Driving
Downshifting on Slippery Surfaces:Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident. If it is
necessary to downshift on slippery
surfaces, be very careful.
WARNING
Rocking the Vehicle
Spinning the Wheels:When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries. Don’t spin the wheels at
more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and
don’t allow anyone to stand behind a
wheel when pushing the vehicle.
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transaxle failure, and tire
damage.
WARNING
CAUTION
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 7 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
•
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a Mazda dealer to perform the
following precautions:
•
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
•
Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•
Use only cold-weather engine oil (page
8-10).
•
Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
•
Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-19).
•
Don’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transaxle and to 1 or R with
a manual transaxle. Block the rear
wheels.

Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find it necessary to replace them
with snow tires during the winter months
to further improve traction on snow and
ice covered roads.
Don’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
Inflate snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3
psi) more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver’s door frame), but
never more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.

Tire Chains
This vehicle cannot be operated with tire
chains because it could cause interference
with the vehicle body and scratching.
Winter Driving
Mixing Tire Types:Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle’s handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident. Use only the same size
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
WARNING
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
CAUTION
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 8 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

5-20
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

To C a n c e l
To turn off the system, use one
of these
methods:
•
Press the ON/OFF switch.
•
Slightly depress the brake pedal.
•
Press the CANCEL button.
•(Manual transaxle)

Depress the clutch pedal.
The system is off when the ignition is off.The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by regulating
engine torque. When the TCS detects
driving wheel slippage, it lowers engine
torque to prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels
without causing them to spin and lose
traction.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15
km/h (9 mph) below the preset speed
or below 40 km/h (25 mph).
Traction Control System
(TCS)
TCS and Unsafe Driving:The traction control system (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an
accident. So don’t rely on the traction
control system as a substitute for safe
driving.
TCS and Snow and Ice:
Driving without proper traction
devices on snow and ice-covered
roads is dangerous. The traction
control system (TCS) alone cannot
provide adequate traction and you
could still have an accident. Use snow
tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and snow.
WARNING
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 20 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

11-6
Index
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
S
Sunroof ............................................ 3-18
Sunshade
.......................................... 3-19
Sunvisors
.......................................... 6-43
T
Tachometer ...................................... 5-25
Temporary Spare Tire
...................... 8-27
Theft-Deterrent System
................... 3-22
Tiedown
Hook
......................................... 7-18
Tires
Flat tire
........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure
...................... 8-25
Replacement
............................. 8-27
Rotation
.................................... 8-26
Snow tires
................................... 4-8
Spare tire and tool storage
.......... 7-3
Specifications
........................... 10-5
Tire chains
.................................. 4-8
Uniform tire quality grading
system (UTQGS)
...................... 9-14
Tool
.................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description
............................... 7-17
Emergency towing
.................... 7-17
Recreational towing
.................. 7-18
Trailer towing
........................... 4-10
Traction Control System (TCS)
....... 5-20
TCS indicator light
................... 5-21
TCS OFF indicator light
........... 5-21
TCS OFF switch
....................... 5-22
Trailer Towing
................................. 4-10
Trip Meter
........................................ 5-24
Trunk Lid
......................................... 3-10
Trunk Light
...................................... 3-12
Trunk Release lever
......................... 3-12
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
....... 5-38
V
Vanity Mirrors .................................. 6-43
Vehicle Information Labels
............. 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................ 5-27
ABS
........................................... 5-31
Air bag system
.......................... 5-32
Automatic transaxle
.................. 5-33
Brake system
............................. 5-29
Charging system
....................... 5-30
Check engine
............................. 5-31
Door-ajar
................................... 5-33
Engine oil pressure
.................... 5-30
Front seat belt pretensioner
system
....................................... 5-32
Low fuel
.................................... 5-32
Low washer fluid level
............. 5-33
Seat belt
..................................... 5-32
Warranty
............................................. 9-8
Washer Fluid
.................................... 8-19
Weights
............................................ 10-4
Wheel Replacement
......................... 8-28
Windows
Power windows
......................... 3-14
Windshield Washer
.......................... 5-40
Windshield Wipers
........................... 5-40
Blades replacement
................... 8-22
Winter Driving
...................................4-8
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 6 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM