Black plate (173,1)
qTransaxle Ranges
The shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
WARNING
Always set the shift lever to P and set
the parking brake:
Only setting the shift lever to the P
position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is
dangerous. If P fails to hold, the
vehicle could move and cause an
accident.
CAUTION
ØShifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage
your transaxle.
ØShifting into a driving gear or
reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transaxle.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except under
rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 4-9).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
If the engine is running faster than idle,
do not shift from N or P into a driving
gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine
is running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move
suddenly, causing an accident or
serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury.
CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle
damage.
NOTE
Apply the parking brake or depress the brake
pedal before moving the shift lever from N to
prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically shift
through a 5-gear sequence.
M (Manual)
M is the manual shift mode position.
Gears can be shifted up or down by
operating the shift lever.
Refer to Manual Shift Mode (page 5-15).
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-13
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page173
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (184,1)
Type B
Press the SET - switch and hold it. The
vehicle will gradually slow.
Release the switch at the speed you want.
Your vehicle has a tap-down feature that
allows you to decrease your current speed
in decrements of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the SET- switch.
Multiple taps will decrease your vehicle
speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each tap.
qTo Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 32 km/h (20 mph)
If some other method besides the OFF
switch was used to cancel cruising speed
(such as applying the brake pedal) and the
system is still activated, the most recent
set speed will automatically resume when
the RES switch is pressed.
If vehicle speed is below 32 km/h (20
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 32
km/h (20 mph) or more and press the RES
switch.(Type A)
(Type B)
qTo Cancel
To cancel the system, useoneof these
methods:
lPress the OFF switch.lSlightly depress the brake pedal.lDepress the clutch pedal (Manual
transaxle only).
lPress the CANCEL switch.
5-24
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page184
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
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
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (202,1)
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Lights-On Indicator Light 5-54
Power Steering Malfunction Indicator Light 5-54
Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights 5-54
qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light illuminates when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switched
to START or ON. 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
depress 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, open the
hood and check the brake fluid level
immediately, and then add fluid if
required (page 8-23).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 turns off 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.
5-42
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page202
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (203,1)
qABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you're driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function normally
as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
lWhen the engine is jump-started to charge
the battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light may illuminate. If this occurs,
it is the result of the weak battery and does
not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
l(With DSC vehicles)
The brake assist system does not operate
while the ABS warning light is illuminated.
qElectronic Brake Force
Distribution System Warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may illuminate the brake
system warning light and the ABS
warning light on simultaneously. The
problem is likely to be the electronic
brake force distribution system.
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 simultaneously is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-43
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page203
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (211,1)
lUnder the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) will flash
continuously when the push button
start has not been pressed off to notify
the driver that the advanced key has
been removed. The KEY warning light
(red) will stop flashing when the
advanced key is back inside the
vehicle:
lThe push button start has not been
pressed off, the driver's door is
open, and the advanced key is
removed from the vehicle.
lThe push button start has not been
pressed off and all the doors are
closed after removing the advanced
key from the vehicle.
NOTE
Because the advanced key utilizes low-intensity
radio waves, the Advanced Key Removed From
Vehicle Warning may activate if the advanced
key is carried together with a metal object or it
is placed in a poor signal reception area.
KEY Indicator Light (Green)
When illuminated
When the brake pedal is depressed with
an automatic transaxle or the clutch pedal
is depressed with a manual transaxle, the
system confirms that the correct advanced
key is inside the vehicle, the KEY
indicator light (green) illuminates, and the
push button start can be pressed to ACC
(page 3-11).
When flashing
When the push button start is pressed off
from ON, the KEY indicator light (green)
flashes for approximately 30 seconds
indicating that the remaining battery
power is low. Replace with a new battery
before the advanced key becomes
unusable.Refer to Advanced Key Maintenance on
page 3-7.
NOTE
The advanced key can be set so that the KEY
indicator light (green) does not flash even if
the battery power is low.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
10-10.
qElectronic Steering Lock
Warning Lightí
The warning light remains illuminated for
a few seconds after the push button start is
pressed ON.
It flashes if the steering wheel is not
unlocked after the push button start is
pressed. (page 3-11)
qSecurity Indicator Light
This indicator light starts flashing every 2
seconds when the ignition is switched
from ON to ACC and the immobilizer
system is armed.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-51íSome models. Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page211
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (221,1)
Pressing the AFS OFF switch again turns
off the AFS OFF indicator light and turns
on the AFS.
qDaytime Running Lights (Canada)
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with
the headlights on during daytime
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights
automatically turn on when the ignition is
switched ON.
NOTE
The Daytime Running Lights turn off when the
parking brake is applied.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
qTurn Signal
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to
its original position.
Right turn
Left turn Right lane change
Left lane changeOFF
Green indicators on the dashboard show
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the
direction of the change―until the
indicator flashes―and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-61
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page221
Monday, June 1 2009 1:17 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E
Black plate (336,1)
3. Select the item you want to turn off
(TIRE ROTATION or SERVICE DUE)
by pressing the Enter (up/down) switch
up or down, and then press the Enter
(up/down) switch.
4. Select OFF and press the Enter (up/
down) switch.
qWarning Indicator
The following warning indicators are
displayed according to necessity. Warning
indicators are displayed regardless of the
multi-information display operation.
lDOOR OPEN (including trunk and the
liftgate)
lTIGHTEN FUEL CAP (Displayed
when the check fuel cap warning light
illuminates in the instrument cluster.)
lCHECK TIRE PRESSURE
lRELEASE PARKING BRAKElAdvanced Keyless Entry System
related
lKEY BATTERY IS LOWlADVANCED KEY NOT FOUNDlMOVE SHIFT LEVER TO PlSTEERING WHEEL LOCK NOT
RELEASED TURN WHEEL LEFT
AND RIGHT
lDEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL TO
START ENGINE
lDEPRESS CLUTCH PEDAL TO
START ENGINE
lUSE AUXILIARY KEY
NOTE
When more than two warnings occur at the
same time, indicators are switched at each
specified time.
qSettings
The following settings can be changed:lBuzzer volume (Ignition key reminder,
lights-on reminder)
lTurn indicator soundlDistance unitlTemperature unitlDisplay language
The data for the trip computer average
fuel economy and the average vehicle
speed can also be changed.
To change settings
1. Press the INFO switch until the
SETTINGS screen is displayed.
2. Select PREFERENCES by pressing the
Enter (up/down) switch up or down,
and then press the Enter (up/down)
switch.
3. Select the setting item you want to
change by pressing the Enter (up/
down) switch up or down, and then
press the Enter (up/down) switch.
6-106
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
Mazda3_8AR3-EA-09E_Edition2 Page336
Monday, June 1 2009 1:18 PM
Form No.8AR3-EA-09E