2003 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ engine

5-17
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Shifting Recommendation
In manual shift mode, shift the gears
within the vehicle speed specified for each
gear.
Shifting up
If the vehicle speed is lower than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted up to a higher gear.
Shifting up to M2
You can shift up to M2 when the engine is
running, whether the vehicle is stopped or
moving.
Shifting up to M3
The vehicle speed must be higher than 20
km/h (12 mph) to shift up to M3.
Shifting up to M4
The vehicle speed must be higher than 38
km/h (24 mph) to shift up to M4.Shifting down
If the vehicle speed is higher than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted down to a lower gear.
In this situation, the shift position and
gear position indicators will flash twice to
signal that the gears cannot be shifted
down.
Shifting down to M3
The vehicle speed must be lower than 161
km/h (100 mph) to shift down to M3.
Shifting down to M2
The vehicle speed must be lower than 100
km/h (62 mph) to shift down to M2.
Shifting down to M1
The vehicle speed must be lower than 45
km/h (28 mph) to shift down to M1.
NOTE
•If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the
gear will shift to M1.
•If you tap the shift lever back when
the vehicle is stopped and the gear
is at M1, the gear will shift to M2.
M2 is helpful for starting on
slippery surfaces.
•Gears may not be shifted from M1
to M2 right after shifting the lever
from D to M. Wait a few seconds
and then shift up to M2.
NOTE
•At M4, the gears shift down to M3
automatically when the vehicle
speed slows to 36 km/h (22 mph) or
less.
•At M3 or M2, the gears shift down
to M1 automatically when the
vehicle speed slows to 9 km/h (6
mph) or less.
J39L_EA.book Page 17 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Driving Tips
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully (D range). 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 M1, 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
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.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.
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
J39L_EA.book Page 18 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM

5-23
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
1 Speedometer ..............................................................................................................5-24
2 Odometer and Trip Meter ..........................................................................................5-24
3 Tachometer ................................................................................................................5-25
4 Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge..........................................................................5-25
5 Fuel Gauge................................................................................................................ 5-26
Meters and Gauges
With tachometer
Without tachometer
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5-25
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter is
again reset. Return it to "0.0" by holding
the selector depressed for more than 1
second. Use this meter to measure trip
distances and to compute fuel
consumption.

Tachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).

Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge
shows the temperature of the engine
coolant.
If the needle exceeds normal range toward
H, it indicates overheating.
NOTE
•Only the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
•The trip record will be erased when;
The power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
The vehicle is driven over 999.9
km (mile).
Red zone
Don’t run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
Driving with an overheated engine can
cause serious engine damage
(page 7-13).
CAUTION
CAUTION
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5-27
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Warning/Indicator Lights
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-29
Charging System Warning Light 5-30
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light 5-31
Check Engine Light 5-31
ABS Warning Light 5-32
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light 5-32
Low Fuel Warning Light 5-33
Warning/Indicator lights will appear in any of the highlighted areas
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5-29
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Brake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning/
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-14).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again.If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes off, have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible.
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light on.
In this case, the ABS warning light comes
on at the same time (page 5-32).
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5-30
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Charging System Warning Light
This warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and goes off when the engine is
started.
If the warning light comes on while
driving, it indicates a malfunction of the
alternator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Brake Warning Light:
Driving with the brake system
warning light on is dangerous. It
indicates that your brakes may not
work at all or that they could
completely fail at any time. If this
light remains on, have the brakes
inspected immediately. Don’t drive
with this light on, and contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible.
ABS Warning Light and Brake
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
Don’t drive with both lights on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
WARNING
Don't continue driving when the
charging system warning light is
illuminated.
CAUTION
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5-31
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Engine Oil Pressure Warning
Light
This warning light indicates low engine
oil pressure.
If the light comes on while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park
off the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the
engine oil level (page 8-9). If it’s low,
add oil.
3. Check the light.
If the light remains on even after you add
oil, have your vehicle towed to the nearest
service station or to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.

Check Engine Light
If this light comes on while driving, the
vehicle may have a problem. It is
important to note the driving conditions
when the light came on and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The check engine light may come on in
the following cases:
•The fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty.
•The engine’s electrical system has a
problem.
•The emission control system has a
problem.
•The fuel-filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
If the check engine light flashes
continuously, decrease your speed and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. Don’t run the engine if oil pressure is
low. It could result in extensive engine
damage.
CAUTION
J39L_EA.book Page 31 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM