Black plate (137,1)
Before Getting In
lBe sure the windows, outside mirrors,
and outside lights are clean.
lInspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
lLook under the vehicle for any sign of
fluid leaks.
lIf you plan to back up, make sure
nothing is in your way.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake/clutch fluid,
washer fluid, and other fluid levels should be
inspected. See Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
lAre all doors closed and locked?lIs the seat adjusted properly?lAre the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
lIs the steering wheel adjusted properly?lIs everyone's seat belt fastened?lCheck all gauges.lCheck all warning lights when the
ignition is switched ON.
lRelease the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Before Starting the Engine
4-5
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
Black plate (148,1)
Starting the Engine
With advanced key
Refer to“Starting the engine (page 3-10) ”
for information on how to start 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 unless the clutch is
depressed sufficiently.
(Automatic transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the shift lever is
not in 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.
CAUTION
Do not try the starter for more than
10 seconds at a time. If the engine
stalls or fails to start, wait 10 seconds
before trying again. Otherwise, you
may damage the starter and drain
the battery.
6. After starting the engine, let it idle for about 10 seconds.
NOTE
lIn extremely cold weather or after the
vehicle has not been driven in several days,
let the engine warm up without operating
the accelerator.
lWhether the engine is cold or warm, it
should be started without use of the
accelerator.
lIf the engine does not start the first time,
refer to Starting a Flooded Engine under
Emergency Starting. If the engine still does
not start, have your vehicle inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer (page 7-13).
5-4
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Mazda6_8Z64-EA-08H_Edition1 Page148
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
Black plate (187,1)
Warning/Indicator Lights
SignalWarning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-45
Charging System Warning Light5-47
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light5-47
Check Engine Light5-47
Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power Warning Light5-48
ABS Warning Light5-46
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light5-48
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-43
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
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SignalWarning/Indicator Lights Page
Low Fuel Warning Light 5-49
Check Fuel Cap Warning Light5-49
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep5-49
Door-Ajar Warning Light5-51
Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Light5-51
Automatic Transaxle Warning Light5-51
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light5-51
KEY Warning Light (Red)/KEY Indicator Light (Green)5-53
Electronic Steering Lock Warning Light5-55
Security Indicator Light5-55
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light5-55
Shift Position Indicator Light5-56
TCS/DSC Indicator Light5-56
TCS OFF Indicator Light5-56
DSC OFF Indicator Light5-57
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green) 5-57
5-44
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
Mazda6_8Z64-EA-08H_Edition1 Page188
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
Black plate (192,1)
The check engine light may illuminate in
the following cases:
lThe fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty.
lThe engine's electrical system has a
problem.
lThe emission control system has a
problem.
If the check engine light remains on or
flashes continuously, do not drive at high
speeds and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
q Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced
Power Warning Light (3.7-liter
engine)
This warning light illuminates for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
If this light illuminates while driving, the
vehicle may have a problem. It is
important to note the driving conditions
when the light illuminated and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The powertrain malfunction/reduced
power warning light may illuminate in the
following cases:
lThe engine's electrical system has a
problem.
lThe emission control system has a
problem. If the powertrain malfunction/reduced
power warning light remains on, do not
drive at high speeds and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is working properly, the warning
light illuminates when the ignition is
switched ON or after the engine is
cranked. The warning light turns off after
a specified period of time.
A system malfunction is indicated if the
warning light constantly flashes,
constantly illuminates or does not
illuminate at all when the ignition is
switched ON. If any of these occur,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not
work in an accident.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/
pretensioner systems and always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform
all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.
5-48
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
Mazda6_8Z64-EA-08H_Edition1 Page192
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
Black plate (193,1)
qLow Fuel Warning Light
Low fuel
warning light
This warning light in the fuel gauge
signals that the fuel tank will soon be
empty.
Refuel as soon as possible.
qCheck Fuel Cap Warning Light
This warning light illuminates for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
If the check fuel cap warning light
illuminates while driving, the fuel-filler
cap may not be installed properly. Stop
the engine and reinstall the fuel-filler cap.
Refer to the fuel-filler cap on page 3-45.
qSeat Belt Warning Light/Beep
The seat belt warning light illuminates
and a beep sound will be heard if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition is switched ON.
Conditions of operation
Condition Result
The driver's seat belt is not
fastened when the ignition is
switched ON. The warning light
illuminates for about 1
minute and a beep
sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened while the warning
light and the beep sound are
activated. The warning light
turns off and the beep
sound stops.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened before the ignition
is switched ON. The warning light will
not illuminate and the
beep sound will not be
heard.
Belt minder
NOTE
The belt minder can be deactivated. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to deactivate or
restore the seat belt minder.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-49
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
Black plate (194,1)
Driver seated/Front passenger not
seated
The belt minder is a supplemental
warning to the seat belt warning function.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition is switched ON, the
warning light/beep operates to give you
further reminders according to the chart
below.
ConditionVehicle speed
Between 0 ―20
km/h
(0 ― 12 mph) 20 km/h
(12 mph) or more
Seat belt
Indicator
Beep
: Fastened: Unfastened: Illuminated: Flashing: Beep
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period has passed. Driver seated/Front passenger seated
The seat belt warning function reminds
the front passenger to fasten the seat belt
according to the chart below.
Condition
Vehicle speed
Between 0 ―20
km/h
(0 ― 12 mph) 20 km/h
(12 mph) or more
Seat belt
(Driver)
Seat belt
(Passenger)
Indicator
Beep
: Fastened: Unfastened: Illuminated: Flashing: Beep
Placing heavy items on the front
passenger seat may cause the front
passenger seat belt warning function to
operate depending on the weight of the
item.
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period has passed.
NOTE
lTo allow the front passenger seat weight
sensor to function properly, do not place
and sit on an additional seat cushion on the
front passenger seat. The sensor may not
function properly because the additional
seat cushion could cause sensor
interference.
lWhen a small child sits on the front
passenger seat, it is possible that neither
the warning light nor the warning beep
operate.
5-50
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
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Form No.8Z64-EA-08H
Black plate (203,1)
Beep Sounds
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Beep
If a malfunction is detected in both the air
bag/front seat belt pretensioner system
and the warning light, a warning beep
sound will be heard for about 1 minute.
After that, the one-minute beep will be
repeated every 30 minutes.
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the air
bag/front seat belt pretensioner system
warning beep sounding:Driving the vehicle with the air bag/
front seat belt pretensioner system
warning beep sounding is dangerous.
In a collision, the air bags and the
front seat belt pretensioner system
will not deploy and this could result
in death or serious injury.
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the vehicle inspected as soon
as possible.
qSeat Belt Warning Beep
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition is switched ON, a beep
sound will be heard for about 6 seconds.
If the driver or the front passenger's seat
belt is not fastened and the vehicle is
driven at a speed faster than about 20
km/h (12 mph), a beep sound will be
heard again for a specified period of time.
Refer to Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep on
page 5-49.
qIgnition Key Reminder
If the ignition is switched to off (LOCK)
or ACC with the key inserted, a
continuous beep sound will be heard
when the driver's door is opened.
qTire Inflation Pressure Warning
Beep
The warning beep sound will be heard for
about 3 seconds when there is any
abnormality in tire inflation pressures
(page 5-27).
qAdvanced Keyless Warningí
Warning indicators for the advanced key,
such as “the advanced key removed from
vehicle warning ”, use a beep sound and
warning/indicator lights in the instrument
cluster.
Refer to Warning and Beep Sounds on
page 3-19.
q Electronic Steering Lock
Warning Beepí
The warning beep operates if the steering
wheel is not unlocked after the push
button start is pressed. (page 3-10)
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-59íSome models.
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