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position. If the brake system warning light does not illuminate at this
time, seek service immediately from your dealership. Illumination after
releasing the parking brake indicates low brake fluid level and the brake
system should be inspected immediately by your servicing dealership.WARNING: Driving a vehicle with the brake system warning
light on is dangerous. A significant decrease in braking
performance may occur. It will take you longer to stop the
vehicle. Have the vehicle checked by your dealer immediately.
Anti-lock brake system: If the
ABS light stays illuminated or
continues to flash, a malfunction has
been detected, have the system
serviced immediately. Normal
braking is still functional unless the brake warning light also is
illuminated.
Air bag readiness: If this light fails
to illuminate when ignition is turned
to ON, continues to flash or remains
on, have the system serviced
immediately. A chime will also
sound when a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system has been
detected.
Safety belt: Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A chime will also
sound to remind you to fasten your
safety belt. Refer to the Seating
and safety restraints chapter.
Charging system: Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
Check gage: Illuminates when any
of the following conditions has
occurred:
• The engine coolant temperature
is high.
• The engine oil pressure is low.
• The fuel gauge is at or near empty.
ABS
CHECK
GAGE
Instrument Cluster
14
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Engine oil pressure gauge:
Indicates engine oil pressure. At
normal operating temperature, the
needle will be in the normal range
(the area between the “L” and “H”);
if the needle goes below the
normal range, stop the vehicle as
soon as safely possible and
switch off the engine
immediately.Check the oil level.
Add oil if needed (refer to Engine oilin theMaintenance and
Specifications chapter). If the oil level is correct, have your vehicle
checked by your authorized Mazda dealership.
Fuel gauge: Displays approximately
how much fuel is in the fuel tank.
The fuel gauge may vary slightly
when the vehicle is in motion or on
a grade.
When refueling the vehicle from
empty indication, the amount of fuel
that can be added will be less than
the advertised capacity due to the reserve fuel.
NOTE: The FUEL DOOR icon and arrow indicates which side of the
vehicle the fuel filler door is located.
H
L
Instrument Cluster
18
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MULTI-FUNCTION LEVER
Windshield wiper:Rotate the end
of the control away from you to
increase the speed of the wipers;
rotate towards you to decrease the
speed of the wipers.
Windshield washer: Push the end
of the stalk:
• briefly: causes a single swipe of
the wipers without washer fluid.
• a quick push and hold: the wipers
will swipe three times with
washer fluid.
• a long push and hold: the wipers and washer fluid will be activated for
up to ten seconds.
Windshield wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean both the windshield and
wiper blades using undiluted windshield wiper solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. To avoid damaging the
blades, do not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner or other solvents.
Check the wiper blades for wear at least twice a year or when they seem
less effective. Substances such as tree sap and some hot wax treatments
used by commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of wiper blades.
Note: There are different wiper blades for cold and warm weather use.
Driver Controls
47
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•Press the speed control OFF
control.
Note: When you turn off the speed
control or the ignition, your speed
control set speed memory is erased.
OVERDRIVE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
Activating overdrive
(Overdrive) is the normal drive position for the best fuel economy.
The overdrive function allows automatic upshifts and downshifts through
all available gears.
Deactivating overdrive
Press the Transmission Control
Switch (TCS) located on the end of
the gearshift lever. The O/D Off
indicator light will illuminate on the
instrument cluster. The transmission
will operate in all gears except overdrive.
To return to normal overdrive mode,
press the Transmission Control
Switch again. The O/D Off indicator
light will no longer be illuminated.
When you shut off and re-start your
vehicle, the transmission will automatically return to normal
(Overdrive) mode.
For additional information about the gearshift lever and the transmission
control switch operation refer to the Automatic Transmission
Operation section of the Drivingchapter.
O/D
ON/OFF
O/D
ON/OFF
Driver Controls
56
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STARTING
Positions of the ignition1. ACCESSORY, allows the electrical accessories such as
the radio to operate while the
engine is not running.
2. LOCK, locks the steering wheel, automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and all accessories without locking
the steering wheel. This position
also allows the automatic transmission shift lever to be moved from
the P (Park) position without the brake pedal being depressed.
WARNING: When the key is in the ignition OFF position, the
automatic transmission shift lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position without the brake pedal depressed. To avoid
unwanted vehicle movement, always set the parking brake.
4. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key position when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system.
Note: This system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
standard requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of
radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, don’t press the accelerator before
or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have difficulty
starting the engine. For more information on starting the vehicle, refer to
Starting the engine in this chapter.
WARNING: Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce
very high temperatures in the engine and exhaust system,
creating the risk of fire or other damage.
1
2
34
5
Driving
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•steering wheel is turned when getting in or out of the vehicle
Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate or illuminate briefly. If a
light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle serviced.
• If the driver’s safety belt is fastened, the
light may not illuminate.
Refer to the Instrument Cluster chapter for more information.
Starting the engine
Note: Whenever you start your vehicle, release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
1. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without turning the key to 5 (START). If
there is difficulty in turning the
key, rotate the steering wheel
until the key turns freely. This
condition may occur when:
• the front wheels are turned
• a front wheel is against the curb
Turn the key to 5 (START), then
release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
Note: If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try,
turn the key to 3 (OFF), wait 10 seconds and try again.
Cold weather starting (flexible fuel vehicles only)
In cold weather, ethanol fuel distributors should supply winter grade
(E
d85) ethanol. If summer grade (Ed85) ethanol is used in cold weather,
you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle or hesitation
C
012
3
4
5
6
RPMx1000
ABS!
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
CHECK FUEL CAP
E FH
H
H
P
RN D 2 1THEFT
SPEED
CONT
4WD
HIGH 4WD
LOW
O/D
OFFL
L
10MPH
20 50
60
70
30 40
80
90
km/h
0 0 0
101
00
1
20
1
0 0 0 0 0 040 60
80
100
120
140
160180
20
DOOR
AJAR
CHECK
GAGE
3
2
1
5
4
Driving
113
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until the engine has warmed up. Consult your fuel distributor for the
availability of winter grade (E
d85) ethanol. High-quality blends of winter
grade (E
d85) ethanol will produce satisfactory cold weather starting and
driving results.
Cold starting performance can also be improved by using an engine block
heater. Engine block heaters are available as an option and can be
obtained from your Mazda dealer. Consult the engine block heater
section for proper use of the engine block heater.
If you experience cold weather starting problems on (E
d85) ethanol, and
neither an alternative brand of (E
d85) ethanol nor an engine block
heater is available, adding unleaded gasoline to your tank will improve
cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to operate on (E
d85)
ethanol, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture of the two.
If the engine fails to start using the preceding instructions (flexible
fuel vehicles only)
1. Press and hold down the accelerator 1/3 to 1/2 way to floor, then crank the engine.
2. When the engine starts, release the key, then gradually release the accelerator pedal as the engine speeds up. If the engine still fails to
start, repeat Step 1.
Using the engine block heater (if equipped)
An engine block heater warms the engine coolant which aids in starting
and heater/defroster performance. Use of an engine block heater is
strongly recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach
-23° C (-10° F) or below. For best results, plug the heater in at least
three hours before starting the vehicle. The heater can be plugged in the
night before starting the vehicle. WARNING: To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not use
your heater with ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged
(cheater) adapters.
Guarding against exhaust fumes
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.
Driving
114
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The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned ON) until the
parking brake is released.WARNING: Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or in 1 (First) (manual transmission).
NOTE: The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle’s stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Pull the release lever to release the
brake.
Driving with the parking brake
on will cause the brakes to wear
out quickly and reduce fuel
economy.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy
from the engine to decrease the driver’s effort in steering the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the power steering pump:
• Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left
for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
• Do not operate the vehicle with the power steering pump fluid level
below the MIN mark on the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
• Underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
!
BRAKE
BRAKE
RELEASE
Driving
117
