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Emission Control System
Your vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is part of
this system) that enables your vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions
requirements.
WARNING
Never park over or near anything flammable:
Parking over or near anything flammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with
the engine turned off, the exhaust system remains very hot after normal use and could
ignite anything flammable. A resulting fire could cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside
the converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the
converter and cause poor performance.
lUSE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
lDon't drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
lDon't coast with the ignition switch turned off.
lDon't descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switch turned off.
lDon't operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes.
lDon't tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must
be made by a qualified technician.
lDon't push-start or pull-start your vehicle.
NOTE
Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control
system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some
states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
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NOTE
After driving some distance and turning off the engine, the sound of a valve opening and
closing can be heard at the rear of the vehicle, however this does not indicate an
abnormality. Your vehicle has a self-checking device and it operates after turning off the
engine.
4-4
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Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
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Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide)
WARNING
Do not drive your vehicle if you smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle:
Engine exhaust gas is dangerous. This gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), which is
colorless, odorless, and poisonous. When inhaled, it can cause loss of consciousness
and death. If you smell exhaust gas inside your vehicle, keep all windows fully open
and contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer immediately.
Do not run the engine when inside an enclosed area:
Running the engine inside an enclosed area, such as a garage, is dangerous. Exhaust
gas, which contains poisonous carbon monoxide, could easily enter the cabin. Loss of
consciousness or even death could occur.
Open the windows or adjust the heating or cooling system to draw fresh air whenidling the engine:
Exhaust gas is dangerous. When your vehicle is stopped with the windows closed and
the engine running for a long time even in an open area, exhaust gas, which contains
poisonous carbon monoxide, could enter the cabin. Loss of consciousness or even
death could occur.
Clear snow from underneath and around your vehicle, particularly the tail pipe,before starting the engine:
Running the engine when a vehicle is stopped in deep snow is dangerous. The exhaust
pipe could be blocked by the snow, allowing exhaust gas to enter the cabin. Because
exhaust gas contains poisonous carbon monoxide, it could cause loss of
consciousness or even death to occupants in the cabin.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
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Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
lDon't race the engine.
lDon't maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
lDon't drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods
of time.
lAvoid unnecessary hard stops.
lAvoid full-throttle starts.
Money-Saving Suggestions
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
lAvoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
lAvoid fast starts.
lKeep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
lUse the air conditioner only when
necessary.
lSlow down on rough roads.
lKeep the tires properly inflated.
lDon't carry unnecessary weight.
lDon't rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
lKeep the wheels in correct alignment.
lKeep windows closed at high speeds.
lSlow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING
Never stop the engine when goingdown a hill:
Stopping the engine when going down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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NOTE
If turning the key is difficult, jiggle the
steering wheel from side to side.
ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel unlocks and some
electrical accessories will operate.
ON
This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The warning lights
(except brakes) should be inspected
before the engine is started (page 5-29).
NOTE
When the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position, the sound of the fuel
pump motor operating near the fuel
tank can be heard. This does not
indicate an abnormality.
START
The engine is started in this position. It
will crank until you release the key; then
it returns to the ON position. The brake
warning light can be checked after the
engine is started (page 5-29).
qIgnition Key Reminder
If the ignition switch is in the LOCK or
ACC position with the key inserted, a
continuous beep sound will be heard
when the driver's door is opened.
Starting the Engine
NOTE
Engine-starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
1. Occupants should fasten their seat
belts.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the brake pedal.
4.(Manual transaxle)
Depress the clutch pedal all the way
and shift into neutral.
Keep the clutch pedal depressed while
cranking the engine.
(Automatic transaxle)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the clutch
pedal isnotdepressed all the way.
(Automatic transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the shift
lever isnotin P or N.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the START
position and hold (up to 10 seconds at
a time) until the engine starts.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Gear position indicator
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
Shift position
indicator
Gear position
indicator
NOTE
lIf the gears cannot be shifted down
when driving at higher speeds, the
gear position indicator will flash
twice to signal that the gears cannot
be shifted down.
l(2.3-liter engine model)
If the automatic transaxle fluid (ATF)
temperature becomes too high, there
is the possibility that the transaxle
will switch to automatic shift mode,
canceling manual shift mode and
turning off the gear position indicator
illumination. This is a normal
function to protect the AT. After the
ATF temperature has decreased, the
gear position indicator illumination
turns back on and driving in manual
shift mode is restored.
Shifting
Manually Shifting up
(M1→M2→M3→M4→M5→M6
*)
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the shift
lever back (
) once.
* 3.0-liter engine model
NOTE
lWhen driving slowly, the gears may
not shift up depending on vehicle
speed.
lIn manual shift mode, gears do not
shift up automatically. Don't run the
engine with the tachometer needle in
the RED ZONE. If the tachometer
needle enters the RED ZONE, you
may feel engine-braking because the
fuel delivery will be stopped to
protect the engine. However, this
does not indicate an abnormality.
lGears 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.
lWhen depressing the accelerator
fully, the transaxle will shift to a
lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Meters and Gauges
(Black-out meter)
When the ignition switch is in the ON position, the dashboard gauges illuminate.
Speedometer ...................................................................................................... page 5-25
Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip Meter Selector .................................................. page 5-25
Tachometer ........................................................................................................ page 5-26
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge .................................................................. page 5-26
Fuel Gauge ........................................................................................................ page 5-27
5-24
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
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qSpeedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.
qOdometer, Trip Meter and Trip
Meter Selector
The display mode can be changed
between trip meter A and trip meter B by
pressing the selector while one of them is
displayed. The selected mode will be
displayed.
Trip meterOdometer
Selector
Trip meter B
Press the selector Press the selector Trip meter AOdometer
Odometer
NOTE
(Standard meter)
The odometer and trip meter can be
displayed as follows even when the
ignition switch is in the ACC or LOCK
position.
The headlight switch must be in the
orposition to see the display.
lDisplays for 10 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned to the ACC
or LOCK position from the ON
position.
lDisplays for 10 minutes after any
door is opened.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
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.
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
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Form No.8W89-EA-06K