2008 MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR Owners Manual

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Steering Wheel
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving:Adjusting the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control
or an accident.
qSteering Wheel Adjustment
To change the angle or length of the
steering wheel:
1. Stop the vehicle, pull down the lock
release lever under the steering
column.
Lock release lever
2. Tilt the steering wheel and/or adjust thesteering column length to the desired
positions, push the lever up to lock the
column.
3. Push the wheel up and down to be certain it's locked before driving.
Mirrors
qOutside Mirrors
Check the mirror angles before driving.
Mirror type
Flat type (driver's side)
Flat surface mirror.
Convex type (front passenger side)
The mirror has single curvature on its
surface.
WARNING
Be sure to look over your shoulder
before changing lanes:
Changing lanes without taking into
account the actual distance of the
vehicle in the convex mirror is
dangerous. You could have a serious
accident. What you see in the convex
mirror is closer than it appears.
Power mirror
The ignition switch must be in the ACC
or ON position.
To adjust:
1. Move the selector switch to the left or
right to choose the left or right side
mirror.
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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2. Depress the mirror switch in theappropriate direction.
Mirror switch
Outside mirror
Selector switch
After adjusting the mirror, lock the control
by moving the selector switch to the
middle position.
Manual control mirror
To adjust, move the mirror's control lever,
just inside the door.
Control lever
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
flush with the vehicle.
WARNING
Always return the outside mirrors to
the driving position before you start
driving: Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident.
qRearview Mirror
Rearview mirror adjustment
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window.
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Type A
Type B
Reducing glare from headlights
Adjust the mirror with the day/night lever
in the day position.Push the lever forward for day driving.
Pull it back to reduce glare from
headlights.
Night
Day Day/Night lever
WARNING
Do not stack cargo or objects higher
than the seatbacks:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes.
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Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-4
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-5
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-6 Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-6
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-6
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-7 Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-7
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-7
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-8
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-9
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-9
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-11
Overloading ............................................................................. 4-11
Turbocharger Information
í.................................................... 4-12
Towing ......................................................................................... 4-13 Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-13
4-1íSome models.
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Fuel Requirements
Vehicles with catalytic converters or oxygen sensors must use ONLY UNLEADED FUEL,
which will reduce exhaust emissions and keep spark plug fouling to a minimum.
2.3-liter turbocharger engine
Your Mazda will perform best with fuel listed in the table.
FuelOctane Rating*(Anti-knock index)
Premium unleaded fuel 91 [ (R+M)/2 method] or above (96 RON or above)
* U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gasoline station pumps.
This vehicle is designed for and requires use of premium unleaded fuel. If 91 octane fuel [
(R+M)/2 method] (96RON) is not available, gasoline as low as 87 octane [ (R+M)/2
method] (91RON) can be used temporarily for emergency purposes. Use of gasoline lower
than 91 octane [ (R+M)/2 method] (96RON) can decrease performance during its use.
Refueling the vehicle with the correct octane fuel a couple of times will restore vehicle
performance.
Except 2.3-liter turbocharger engine
Your Mazda will perform best with fuel listed in the table.
Fuel Octane Rating*(Anti-knock index)
Regular unleaded fuel 87 [ (R+M)/2 method] or above (91 RON or above)
* U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gasoline station pumps.
Fuel with a rating lower than 87 octane (91 RON) could cause the emission control system
to lose effectiveness. It could also cause engine knocking and serious engine damage.
CAUTION
Ø USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Leaded fuel is harmful to the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors and will lead
to deterioration of the emission control system and or failures.
Ø Your vehicle can only use oxygenated fuels containing no more than 10% ethanol
by volume. Damage to your vehicle may occur when ethanol exceeds this
recommendation, or if the gasoline contains any methanol. Stop using gasohol of
any kind if your vehicle engine is performing poorly.
Ø Never add fuel system additives. Never add cleaning agents other than those
specified by Mazda. Other cleaning agents and additives may damage the system.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Gasoline blended with oxygenates such as alcohol or ether compounds are generally
referred to as oxygenated fuels. The common gasoline blend that can be used with your
vehicle is ethanol blended at no more than 10%. Gasoline containing alcohol, such as
ethanol or methanol, may be marketed under the name “Gasohol ”.
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Vehicle damage and drivability problems resulting from the use of the following may not
be covered by the Mazda warranty.
lGasohol containing more than 10% ethanol.lGasoline or gasohol containing methanol.lLeaded fuel or leaded gasohol.
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Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
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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.
ØUSE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Ø Do not drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
Ø Do not coast with the ignition switch turned off.
Ø Do not descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switch turned off.
Ø Do not operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes.
Ø Do not tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments
must be made by a qualified technician.
Ø Do not 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.
NOTE
While the engine is off, the sound of a valve opening and closing can be heard at the rear of the right
side of the vehicle, however this does not indicate an abnormality. Your vehicle has a self-checking
device and it operates while the engine is off.
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