2008 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK tow

Black plate (366,1)
Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not taw a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or trailer, to keep
your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating capability, with or without a trailer.
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of vehicle design performance.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle's weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle's Safety
Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's
suspension system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure,
handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the
distance required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail
completely, particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation
pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (368,1)
SAMPLE
CARGO
Cargo Weightincludes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight, including cargo and
optional equipment. When towing, trailer tongue load or king pin weight is also part of
cargo weight.
The cargo weight limit decreases depending on the number of vehicle occupants. The cargo
weight limit can be calculated by subtracting the total weight of the vehicle occupants from
the“combination weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed”value on the tire
label.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (370,1)
SAMPLE
WARNING
Exceeding Axle Weight Rating Limits:
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits is dangerous and
could result in death or serious injury as a result of substandard vehicle handling,
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, or loss of control.
Always keep the vehicle within the axle weight rating limits.
Do not taw a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (371,1)
GCW
GCW (Gross Combination Weight)is the weight of the loaded vehicle (GVW) plus the
weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating)is the maximum allowable weight of the
vehicle and the loaded trailer - including all cargo and passengers - that the vehicle can
handle without risking damage. (Important: The towing vehicle's braking system is rated
for operation at GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers weighing more than 1,500 lbs).The GCW must
never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weightis the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer
the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only mandatory options, no cargo (internal or
external), a tongue load of 10_
15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15_
25%
(fifth-wheel trailer), and driver only (150 lbs).Consult your dealership (or the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide provided by your dealership) for more detailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth-Wheel King Pin Weightrefers to the amount of the weight that a
trailer pushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples:For a 5000 lb conventional trailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a
proper tongue load range of 500 to 750 lbs. For an 11,500 lb fifth-wheel trailer, multiply by
0.15 and 0.25 to obtain a proper king pin load range of 1,725 to 2,875 lbs.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (373,1)
Steps for Determining the Correct Load Limit:
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit:
(1) Locate the statement“The combined weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs”on your vehicle's placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg
or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the“XXX”amount equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400_
750 (5 × 150) = 650
lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (375,1)
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada)
Canadian customers who wish to report a safety-related defect to Transport Canada, Defect
Investigations and Recalls, may telephone the toll free hotline 1-800-333-0510, or contact
Transport Canada by mail at: Transport Canada, ASFAD, Place de Ville Tower C, 330
Sparks Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0N5.
For additional road safety information, please visit the Road Safety website at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/menu.htm
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects
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Black plate (389,1)
C
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-35
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-53
Defroster
Rear window .............................. 5-58
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ......................................... 3-8
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-11
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-7
Automatic transaxle ................... 5-18
Break-in period ............................ 4-7
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-11
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-8
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-9
Turbocharged vehicles ............... 4-12
Winter driving .............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-24
DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-25
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-25
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-24
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-16
Flooded engine ........................... 7-16
Jump-starting .............................. 7-17
Push-starting .............................. 7-20
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-21
Emission Control System .................... 4-4
E
Engine
Coolant ....................................... 8-21
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-5
Hood release .............................. 3-21
Oil .............................................. 8-18
Overheating ................................ 7-14
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-17
Engine Coolant
Overheating ................................ 7-14
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-34
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-5
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-60
F
Flasher
Hazard warning .......................... 5-60
Headlights .................................. 5-50
Flat Tire ............................................... 7-3
Changing ...................................... 7-8
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Flexible Floor Board ......................... 6-62
Fluids
Classification .............................. 10-4
Owner maintenance ................... 8-15
Fog Lights ......................................... 5-54
Foot Brake .......................................... 5-5
Front Seats .......................................... 2-2
Fuel
Filler lid and cap ........................ 3-20
Gauge ......................................... 5-35
Requirements ............................... 4-2
Tank capacity ............................. 10-5
Fuses ................................................. 8-50
Panel description ........................ 8-53
Replacement ............................... 8-50
Index
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Black plate (391,1)
M
Manual Transaxle Operation ............... 5-9
Recommendations for shifting.... 5-10
Map Lights ........................................ 6-51
Mirrors
Outside mirrors .......................... 3-29
Rearview mirror ......................... 3-30
Money-Saving Suggestions ................ 4-7
Moonroof .......................................... 3-23
O
Odometer and Trip Meter .................. 5-33
Outside Mirrors ................................. 3-29
Overhead Lights ................................ 6-51
Overheating ....................................... 7-14
Overloading ...................................... 4-11
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-58
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-6
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Power Door Locks .............................. 3-9
Power Steering .................................. 5-18
Fluid ........................................... 8-24
Power steering malfunction indicator
light ............................................ 5-18
Power Windows ................................ 3-18
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-20
R
Rear Door Child Safety Locks .......... 3-10
Rear Seat ............................................. 2-5
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-58
Rear Window Washer ....................... 5-58
Rear Window Wiper .......................... 5-58
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-30
R
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-23
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-15
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-9
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................. 9-42
Seat Belt System
Automatic locking ...................... 2-13
Belt minder ................................. 2-23
Center-rear lap/shoulder ............. 2-19
Emergency locking .................... 2-12
Except center-rear position ......... 2-14
Extender ..................................... 2-21
Pregnant women ........................ 2-12
Pretensioner and load limiting .... 2-16
Seat belt precautions .................. 2-10
Warning light/beep ..................... 2-23
Seats
Front seat ...................................... 2-2
Rear seat ....................................... 2-5
Seat warmer .................................. 2-5
Security System
Immobilizer system .................... 3-25
Theft-deterrent system ............... 3-27
Service Publications .......................... 9-44
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ................ 7-3
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speedometer ...................................... 5-33
SRS Air Bags
How the Air Bags Work ............. 2-47
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions ................................. 2-40
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-4
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-29
Horn ........................................... 5-59
Index
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