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5-6
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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 8-15).
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 5-29).
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5-8
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
ABS Warning Light*
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you’re driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function
normally as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes a screeching noise
to warn that the pads should be replaced.
When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer 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
NOTE
•When the engine is jump-started to
charge the battery, uneven rpm
occurs and the ABS warning light
comes on. This is due to a weak
battery, not a malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
•When the ABS warning light
remains illuminated, the power
sliding doors cannot be opened
electrically. Refer to "Power Sliding
Doors" (page 3-13).
*Some models.
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5-9
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Various Lockouts:
Driving with Worn Disc Pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is
dangerous. The brakes could fail and
cause a serious accident. As soon as
you hear a screeching noise consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNINGAutomatic Transaxle
Controls
Indicates that you must depress the
brake pedal and pull the shift lever
toward you to shift (The ignition
switch must be in the ACC or ON
position).
Indicates the shift lever can be shifted
freely into any position.
Indicates that you must pull the shift
lever toward you to shift.
Overdrive button
For turning the
overdrive off or on
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5-11
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically shift
through a 5-gear sequence.
3 (Third)
The 3 position is helpful when driving in
heavy, slow-moving traffic and climbing
hills, for engine braking assist when going
down hills, or for starting on slick
surfaces and other situations where gentle
acceleration may be necessary.
Do not exceed 141 km/h (87 mph) in the 3
position.
2 (Second)
Use the 2 position for maximum power in
hard-pulling situations, or for climbing
and descending very steep grades.
Do not exceed 93 km/h (57 mph) in the 2
position.
Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system 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. Move the shift lever.
Sudden Engine-Braking:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which 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. Do not use sudden
engine braking on slippery road
surfaces or at high speeds.
WARNING
NOTE
•When the ignition switch is in the
LOCK position, the transaxle
cannot be shifted from P.
•If the brake is pumped with the shift
lever in P, a chattering near the shift
lever may be heard. This does not
indicate an abnormality.
•To be sure the vehicle is in park, the
ignition key cannot be removed
unless the shift lever is in P.
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5-17
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.
To Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 40 km/h (25 mph)
If some other method besides the ON/
OFF switch was used to cancel cruising
speed and the system is still activated, the
most recent set speed will automatically
resume when the RES/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 RES/
ACCEL button.
To Cancel
To turn off the system, use one
of these
methods:
•Press the ON/OFF switch.
•Slightly depress the brake pedal.
•Press the CANCEL button.
The system is off when the ignition is off.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15
km/h (9 mph) below the preset speed
or below 40 km/h (25 mph).
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5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.
TCS Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. If the TCS is
operating, the indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS may have a
malfunction and it may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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/or 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/or snow.
WARNING
NOTE
•In addition to the indicator light
flashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This
indicates that the TCS is operating
properly.
•On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to
achieve high rpm when the TCS is
on.
*Some models.
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5-19
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
TCS OFF Indicator Light
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position.
It goes off when the engine is started. It
also comes on when you switch off the
traction control system or when the
system has a malfunction.
TCS OFF Switch
Press the TCS OFF switch to turn off the
TCS. The TCS OFF indicator light will
illuminate.
Press the switch again to turn the TCS
back on. The TCS OFF indicator light
will go out.
NOTE
After starting the engine on very cold
days, the TCS OFF indicator will
remain on and TCS will not operate
until the engine is warm.
NOTE
•When TCS is on and you attempt to
free the vehicle when it is stuck, or
drive it out of freshly fallen snow,
the TCS will activate. Depressing
the accelerator will not increase
engine power and freeing the
vehicle may be difficult. When this
happens, turn off the TCS.
•If the TCS is off when the engine is
turned off, it automatically activates
when the ignition switch is turned
on.
•Leaving the TCS on will provide the
best traction.
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5-21
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Speedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.
Odometer, Trip Meter and
Selector
The display mode can be changed from
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter B
and then back to odometer by pressing the
selector while they are displayed. The
selected mode will be displayed.
Odometer
When this mode is selected, ODO will be
displayed.
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Tr i p m e t e r
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
trip meter A, and the other is recorded in
trip meter B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and trip
meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
Selector
Odometer
Trip meter A Press the selector
Press the selector
Press the selector Trip meter B
NOTE
The odometer and trip meter can be
displayed as follows even when the
ignition switch is in the LOCK
position.
•Displays for 10 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned to the
LOCK position from the ACC or
ON position.
•Displays for 10 minutes after any
door is opened.
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