Black plate (166,1)
qParking Brake
WARNING
Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition off, set the parking
brake, and make sure the shift lever is
in P (automatic transaxle) or in 1st gear
or R (manual transaxle):
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching off the ignition, setting the
parking brake, and shifting the shift
lever to P (automatic transaxle) or to
1st gear or R (manual transaxle) is
dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur which could
result in an accident.
In addition, if your intention is to
leave the vehicle for even a short
period, it is important to switch the
ignition off, as leaving it in another
position will disable some of the
vehicle's security systems and run the
battery down.
CAUTION
Driving with the parking brake on
will cause excessive wear of the brake
linings or pads.
NOTE
For parking in snow, refer to Winter Driving
(page 4-9) regarding parking brake use.
Setting the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and then firmly
pull the parking brake lever fully upwards
with sufficient force to hold the vehicle in
a stationary position.
Releasing the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and pull the
parking brake lever upwards, then press
the release button. While holding the
button, lower the parking brake lever all
the way down to the released position.
5-6
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page166
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Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (200,1)
Warning/Indicator Lights
Warning/Indicator lights will appear in any of the highlighted areas
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-42
Charging System Warning Light 5-44
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light 5-44
Check Engine Light 5-44
High Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light 5-45
ABS Warning Light 5-43
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light 5-45
5-40
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page200
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Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (201,1)
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Low Fuel Warning Light 5-46
Check Fuel Cap Warning Light 5-46
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep 5-46
Door-Ajar Warning Light 5-47
Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Light 5-47
Automatic Transaxle Warning Light 5-48
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light 5-48
KEY Warning Light (Red)/KEY Indicator Light (Green) 5-50
Electronic Steering Lock Warning Light 5-51
Security Indicator Light 5-51
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light 5-52
Shift Position Indicator Light 5-52
TCS/DSC Indicator Light 5-52
DSC OFF Indicator Light 5-53
AFS OFF Indicator Light 5-53
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green) 5-53
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-41
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page201
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Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (205,1)
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.
lThe fuel-filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
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.
qHigh Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light
When the ignition is switched ON, the
light illuminates momentarily and then
turns off.
The light flashes when the engine coolant
temperature is extremely high, and
illuminates when the engine coolant
temperature increases further.
Handling Procedure
Flashing light
Drive slowly to reduce engine load.
Illuminated light
This indicates the possibility of
overheating. Park the vehicle in a safe
place immediately and take appropriate
measures.
Refer to Overheating (page 7-15).
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle with the high
engine coolant temperature warning
light illuminated. Otherwise, it could
result in damage to the engine.
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.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-45
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page205
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Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (206,1)
qLow Fuel Warning Light
This warning light 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 3-49.
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.
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
5-46
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page206
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (207,1)
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.
ConditionVehicle 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.
qDoor-Ajar Warning Light
This warning light illuminates when any
door, trunk, or liftgate is not securely
closed.
Close the door, trunk, or liftgate securely
before driving the vehicle.
qLow Washer Fluid Level
Warning Lightí
This warning light indicates that little
washer fluid remains. Add fluid (page
8-26).
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-47íSome models. Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page207
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (215,1)
Beep Sounds
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Beep
If a malfunction is detected in the air bag/
front seat belt pretensioner systems and
the warning light, a warning beep sound
will be heard for about 5 seconds every
minute.
The air bag and seat belt pretensioner
system warning beep sound will continue
to be heard for approximately 35 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 5-46.
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.
NOTE
A personalized function is available to change
the sound volume for the ignition key reminder.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
10-10.
qLights-On Reminder
If lights are on and the key is removed
from the ignition switch, a continuous
beep sound will be heard when the
driver's door is opened.
NOTE
lWhen the advanced keyless function is used
and the push button start is pressed to
ACC, the“Push Button Start Not in OFF
Warning Beep”(page 3-22) overrides the
lights-on reminder.
lA personalized function is available to
change the sound volume for the lights-on
reminder. Refer to Personalization Features
on page 10-10.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-55
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page215
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Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (220,1)
Select the proper setting from the
following chart.
(2.0-liter and 2.5-liter engine models)
Front seat
Rear
seatLoadSwitch
Position
Driver Passenger
×―――0
××――0
×××―1
××××2
×――×3
×: Yes
―:No
(2.3-liter turbocharged engine model)
Front seat
Rear
seatLoadSwitch
Position
Driver Passenger
×―――0
××――0
×××―1
××××2
×――×2
×: Yes
―:No
qAdaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)í
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS)
automatically adjusts the headlight beams
to the left or right in conjunction with the
operation of the steering wheel after the
headlights have been turned on and the
vehicle speed is about 2 km/h (2 mph) or
higher.
AFS OFF indicator light
The AFS OFF indicator light illuminates
briefly when the ignition is switched ON,
and then turns off.
Pressing the AFS OFF switch cancels the
AFS function and illuminates the
indicator light.
The following conditions could indicate
that the system is malfunctioning. If one
of the following conditions occurs,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
lThe AFS OFF indicator light does not
illuminate even though the ignition is
switched ON.
lThe AFS OFF indicator light flashes
continuously.
NOTE
Even if the AFS is not operating due to some
malfunction, the normal headlight function is
still operable.
AFS OFF switch
Pressing the AFS OFF switch turns off the
AFS.
5-60
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page220
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Form No.8AR3-EA-09E