2008 MAZDA MODEL 5 tow

Black plate (21,1)
qFolding the Second-Row Seats
To create a flat luggage compartment
space, lift the seat-bottoms of the second-
row seats and fold the seatbacks forward.
Folding the seatbacks
1. Insert the second-row outboard seat
belts in the retainers.
2. Move the seat all the way back.
3. Lower the head restraint all the waydown (page 2-12).
4. Pull the strap and lift the end of the seat-bottom up and forward.
5. If the armrest and storage box are inthe position for use, store them.
Refer to Storage Box on page 6-71. 6. Raise the lever and fold the seatback
forward.
CAUTION
ØWhen folding a seatback, always
hold onto the seatback with your
other hand while operating the
lever. If the seatback is not
supported, it will flip forward
suddenly and could cause injury.
Ø When folding the seatback of the
right second-row seat, make sure
the storage box is stowed. If the
storage box is not stowed, it could
be damaged.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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Black plate (75,1)
qLocking, Unlocking with Key
The driver's door can be locked/unlocked
with the key.
Turn the key toward the front to unlock,
toward the back to lock.
Unlock
Lock
qLocking, Unlocking with Transmitter
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to Keyless Entry System
(page 3-3).
qLocking, Unlocking with Door-
Lock Knob
Front doors
To lock either front door from the inside,
push the door-lock knob.
To unlock, pull it out.
Unlock Lock
To lock either front door with the door-
lock knob from the outside, push the
door-lock knob to the lock position and
close the door (pulling the door handle is
not required).
Door-lock knob
NOTE
When locking the doors using the door-lock
knob from the outside, be careful not to leave
the key inside the vehicle.
Sliding doors
To lock a sliding door from the inside,
slide the door-lock knob toward the front.
To unlock, slide it toward the back.
UnlockLock
Door-lock knob
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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Form No.8X53-EA-07I

Black plate (76,1)
To lock a sliding door with the door-lock
knob from the outside, slide the door-lock
knob toward the front to the lock position
and close the door (pulling the door
handle is not required).
Door-lock
knob
qPower Door Locks
Vehicle lock-out prevention
The vehicle lock-out prevention feature
prevents you from locking yourself out of
the vehicle. With the key in the ignition
switch, all doors and the liftgate will
automatically unlock if they are locked
using the power door locks with any door
or the liftgate open.
Locking, unlocking with key
All doors and the liftgate lock
automatically when the driver's door is
locked with the key. All doors and the
liftgate unlock when the driver's door is
unlocked and the key is held in the unlock
position for one second or longer.
Unlock
Lock
NOTE
Holding the key in the unlocked position in the
driver's door lock for about a second unlocks
all doors and the liftgate. To unlock only the
driver's door, insert the key into the driver's
door lock and turn the key briefly to the unlock
position and then immediately return it to the
center position.
3-8
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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Form No.8X53-EA-07I

Black plate (78,1)
Opening/closing from inside
To open, pull the inner door handle
toward the back.
To close, push the inner door handle
toward the front.
Open Close
Opening/closing from outside
Pull the outer door handle and slide the
door.
NOTE
The right sliding door cannot fully open when
the fuel-filler lid is open. Close the fuel filler
lid before opening the sliding door.
NOTE
When closing the sliding door from the fully-
opened position and from outside the vehicle,
pull the outside door handle outward to
release the latch, and slide the door toward the
front.
q
Rear Door Child Safety Locks
These locks are intended to help prevent
children from accidentally opening the
sliding doors. Use them both whenever a
child rides in the vehicle.
If you slide the child safety lock to the
lock position before closing that door, the
door cannot be opened from the inside.
The door can be opened only by pulling
the outside handle.
Unlock
Lock
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Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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Form No.8X53-EA-07I

Black plate (97,1)
4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-4
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-5 Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-5
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-5
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-6 Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-6
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-6
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-7
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-7
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-8
Driving In Flooded Area ........................................................... 4-9
Overloading ............................................................................ 4-10
Towing .......................................................................................... 4-11 Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-11
4-1
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Black plate (107,1)
Trailer Towing
The Mazda5 is not designed for towing.
Never tow a trailer with your Mazda5.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
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Black plate (115,1)
qBrake 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 turns off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level 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.
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 8-22).
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 out have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer. NOTE
Having to add brake fluid is sometimes an
indicator of leakage. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible even if the
brake light is no longer illuminated.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system
warning light illuminated. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible:
Driving with the brake system
warning light illuminated 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
illuminated, after checking that the
parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
qAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one
is about to lock up, the ABS responds by
automatically releasing and reapplying
that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal when the ABS operates. Don't
pump the brakes, continue to press down
on the brake pedal.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Black plate (117,1)
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning
light and brake warning light
illuminated. Have the vehicle towed to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have
the brakes inspected as soon as
possible:Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are illuminated at the same time is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
qBrake Assist
During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the brake
pedal with greater force, the brake assist
system provides braking assistance, thus
enhancing braking performance.
When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the brakes apply
more firmly.
NOTE
lWhen the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the pedal will feel
softer but the brakes will apply more firmly.
This is a normal effect of the brake assist
operation and does not indicate an
abnormality.
lWhen the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, a clicking noise
from the brake booster may be heard. This
is a normal effect of the brake assist and
does not indicate an abnormality.
lThe brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the vehicle's
main braking system.
Manual Transaxle Operation
qManual Transaxle Shift Pattern
Neutral position
The shift pattern of the transaxle is
conventional, as shown.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
A safety feature prevents accidental
shifting from 5 to R (reverse). The shift
lever must be put in neutral before being
shifted to R.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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