2012 MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR clutch

Black plate (174,1)
NOTElWhen 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 a
malfunction.
l(Without DSC vehicles)
When 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 a malfunction.
l(With DSC vehicles)
When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, a motor/pump
operation noise may be heard. This is a
normal effect of the brake assist and does
not indicate a malfunction.
lThe brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the vehicle's
main braking system.
Manual Transaxle Operation
qManual Transaxle Shift Pattern
5-speed transaxle
6-speed transaxleNeutral position
Neutral position
The vehicle is equipped with either a 5-
speed or 6-speed manual transaxle. The
shift pattern for each is shown above.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
(5-speed transaxle)
A safety feature prevents accidental
shifting from 5 to R (reverse). The shift
lever must be put in neutral before being
shifted to R.
5-10
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page174
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:17 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (175,1)
(6-speed transaxle)
Vehicles with 6-speed transaxle are
equipped with a device to prevent shifting
to R (reverse) by mistake. Push the shift
lever downward and shift to R.
WARNING
Do not use sudden engine braking on
slippery road surfaces or at high
speeds:Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which is dangerous.
The sudden change in tire speed
could cause the tires to skid. This
could lead to loss of vehicle control
and an accident.
Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended: Otherwise the vehicle could move
and cause an accident.
CAUTION
ØKeep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also,
do not use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.
Ø Do not apply any excessive lateral
force to the gear lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear.
This could lead to the accidental
selection of 2nd gear, which can
result in damage to the transaxle.
Ø Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
still moving may damage the
transaxle.
NOTE
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
q Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend
these shift points.
(MZR 2.0)
Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 21 km/h (13 mph)
2 to 3 39 km/h (24 mph)
3 to 4 55 km/h (34 mph)
4 to 5 79 km/h (49 mph)
(SKYACTIV-G 2.0) Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 24 km/h (15 mph)
2 to 3 42 km/h (26 mph)
3 to 4 60 km/h (37 mph)
4 to 5 75 km/h (46 mph)
5 to 6 79 km/h (49 mph)
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-11
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page175
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:17 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (190,1)
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)
q
To Cancel
To cancel the system, use oneof these
methods:
lPress the OFF switch.lSlightly depress the brake pedal.lDepress the clutch pedal (Manual
transaxle only).
lPress the CANCEL switch.
5-26
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page190
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:17 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (222,1)
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 3-12).
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 Service 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
10-12.
q
Security 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.
The light stops flashing when the ignition
is switched ON with the correct ignition
key.
At this time, the immobilizer system is
disarmed and the light illuminates for
about 3 seconds and then turns off.
If the engine does not start with the
correct ignition key, and the security
indicator light keeps illuminating or
flashing, the system may have a
malfunction. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
5-58
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page222
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:17 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (350,1)
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 OPENlTRUNK OPEN (including 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 PlDEPRESS 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.
q Settings
The following settings can be changed:lScreen adjustment (Brightness/contrast,
screen-off)í
lBuzzer volume (Ignition key reminder,
lights-on reminder, Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning beep)
lTurn indicator soundlTemperature unitlDisplay language
NOTE
A personalized function is available to change
the distance unit.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
10-12.
The data for the trip computer average
fuel economy and the average vehicle
speed can also be reset.
To change settings
1. Press the INFO switch until the SETTINGS screen is displayed.
6-108
Interior Comfort
íSome models.
Interior Equipment
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page350
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:18 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (376,1)
Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).
Follow this procedure:
(Without Advanced Keyless Entry &
Push Button Start System)
1. If the engine does not start within fiveseconds on the first try, switch the
ignition off, wait ten seconds and try
again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and hold it there.
4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual transaxle) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transaxle).
5. Switch the ignition to START and hold it there ―for up to ten seconds. If the
engine starts, release the key and
accelerator immediately because the
engine will suddenly rev up.
6. If the engine fails to start, crank it without depressing the accelerator ―for
up to ten seconds.
(With Advanced Keyless Entry & Push
Button Start System)
1. If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try, wait ten
seconds and try again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and hold it there. 4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual
transaxle) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transaxle), then press the
push button start. If the engine starts,
release the accelerator immediately
because the engine will suddenly rev
up.
5. If the engine fails to start, crank it without depressing the accelerator.
If the engine still does not start using the
above procedure, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
7-18
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page376
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:18 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (387,1)
8Maintenance and Care
How to keep your Mazda in top condition.
Introduction .................................................................................. 8-2Introduction ............................................................................... 8-2
Scheduled Maintenance ................................................................ 8-3 Scheduled Maintenance (USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico) ....... 8-3
Scheduled Maintenance (Mexico) ............................................. 8-8
Owner Maintenance ................................................................... 8-15 Owner Maintenance Schedule ................................................ 8-15
Owner Maintenance Precautions ............................................. 8-16
Engine Compartment Overview .............................................. 8-17
Engine Oil ............................................................................... 8-19
Engine Coolant ....................................................................... 8-22
Brake/Clutch Fluid .................................................................. 8-24
Power Steering Fluid ............................................................... 8-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (ATF)
í........................................ 8-26
Washer Fluid ........................................................................... 8-27
Body Lubrication .................................................................... 8-28
Wiper Blades ........................................................................... 8-29
Battery ..................................................................................... 8-33
Tires ........................................................................................ 8-37
Light Bulbs ............................................................................. 8-44
Fuses ....................................................................................... 8-56
Appearance Care ........................................................................ 8-63 How to Minimize Environmental Paint Damage .................... 8-63
Exterior Care ........................................................................... 8-65
Interior Care ............................................................................ 8-69
8-1íSome models.
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page387
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:18 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F

Black plate (401,1)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these vehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
qWhen Refueling
lBrake and clutch fluid level (page 8-24)lEngine coolant level (page 8-22)lEngine oil level (page 8-21)lWasher fluid level (page 8-27)
qAt Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 8-38)
qAt Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
lAutomatic transaxle fluid level (page 8-26)lPower steering fluid level (page 8-25)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
lEngine coolant (page 8-22)lEngine oil (page 8-19)
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-15
Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition3 Page401
Thursday, March 1 2012 10:18 AM
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F