Black plate (122,1)
The three main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed, and
improper trailer loading.
Before driving
lHave your cooling and braking system checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.lBefore starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and trailer lights and all vehicle-
to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspect all lights and connections after driving a short
distance.
Driving
lYour Mazda will handle differently with a trailer in tow, so practice turning, backing,
and stopping in a traffic-free area.
lTake time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.lAllow more room between your vehicle and the one in front because braking distance
increases with a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow at least one vehicle
and trailer length between your Mazda and the vehicle ahead.
lAvoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.lAvoid sudden braking. It may cause loss of control and result in jackknifing, especially
so on wet or slippery roads.
lShift the shift lever to the D position when towing a trailer in hilly terrain or when
heavily loaded.
The D position will allow operating the vehicle without frequent shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, sudden turns, and tight turns. Slow down before turning to
avoid the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tighter arc than the tow vehicle. Compensate with turns that
are larger than normal.
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads
will affect handling.
If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is made, the
combination of less speed and firm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
3-50
Before Driving
Towing
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page122
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (123,1)
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
WARNING
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently is dangerous as it could
cause the brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a
serious accident. Use lower gears to help reduce speed. Pull off the road and allow
brakes to cool down whenever braking performance feels reduced.
Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely to
the side of the road, park off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating (page 7-18).
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
lIf the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
lIf it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
Before Driving
Towing
3-51
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (125,1)
4When Driving
Information concerning safe driving and stopping.
Start/Stop Engine .................................... 4-2
Ignition Switch .................................... 4-2
Starting the Engine
í........................... 4-3
Turning the Engine Off ....................... 4-8
Instrument Cluster and Display ............. 4-9
Meters and Gauges .............................. 4-9
Warning/Indicator Lights .................. 4-15
Transaxle ................................................ 4-31
Manual Transaxle Operation ............. 4-31
Automatic Transaxle Controls .......... 4-33
Switches and Controls ........................... 4-40
Lighting Control ............................... 4-40
Fog Lights
í...................................... 4-45
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 4-46
Windshield Wipers and Washer ........ 4-47
Rear Window Wiper and Washer ...... 4-51
Rear Window Defroster ..................... 4-51
Horn .................................................. 4-52
Hazard Warning Flasher .................... 4-53
HomeLink Wireless Control
System
í............................................ 4-53
Brake ...................................................... 4-57
Brake System .................................... 4-57
ABS/TCS/DSC ....................................... 4-62
Antilock Brake System (ABS) .......... 4-62
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 4-63
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 4-64
AWD ....................................................... 4-65
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Operation... 4-65Power Steering ....................................... 4-67
Power Steering .................................. 4-67
Cruise Control ....................................... 4-68
Cruise Control ................................... 4-68
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ........ 4-71
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 4-71
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
System .................................................... 4-75
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
System
í............................................ 4-75
Rear View Monitor ................................ 4-79
Rear View Monitor
í........................ 4-79
4-1íSome models.
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page125
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (146,1)
qPower Steering Malfunction
Indicator Light
This indicator light illuminates when the
ignition is switched ON, and turns off
when the engine is started.
The power steering malfunction indicator
light illuminates if there is a malfunction
with the power steering while the engine
is running.
If the indicator light illuminates, park the
vehicle in a safe place immediately and
stop the engine.
If the indicator light does not turn off even
if the engine is restarted afterwards,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
lIf the indicator light illuminates, the power
steering will not operate normally. If this
happens, the steering wheel can still be
operated, however, the operation may feel
heavy compared to normal, and the
steering wheel could vibrate when turning.
lRepeatedly jerking the steering wheel left
and right while the vehicle is stopped or
moving extremely slowly will cause the
power steering system to go into protective
mode which will make the steering feel
heavy, but this does not indicate a problem.
If this occurs, park the vehicle safely and
wait a few seconds for the system to return
to normal.
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
operate 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.
4-22
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (168,1)
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Press the lever forward to turn on the high
beams.
Pull the lever back to its original position
for the low beams.
The headlight high-beam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates while
the high beams are turned on.
High beam
Low beam
qFlashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does
not need to be on). The headlight high-
beam indicator light in the instrument
cluster illuminates simultaneously. The
lever will return to the normal position
when released.
OFF
Flashing
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-15.
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.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-15.
4-44
When Driving
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page168
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (176,1)
Manual Type Climate Control
Indicator light
CAUTION
Do not use sharp instruments or
window cleaners with abrasives to
clean the inside of the rear window
surface. They may damage the
defroster grid inside the window.
NOTE
This defroster is not designed for melting snow.
If there is an accumulation of snow on the rear
window, remove it before using the defroster.
qMirror Defrosterí
To turn on the mirror defrosters, switch
the ignition ON and press the rear window
defroster switch (page 4-51).
Horn
To sound the horn, press themark on
the steering wheel.
4-52
When Driving
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page176
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (191,1)
Power Steering
lPower steering is only operable when
the engine is running. If the engine is
off or if the power steering system is
inoperable, you can still steer, but it
requires more physical effort.
If the steering feels stiffer than usual
during normal driving or the steering
vibrates, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
lA system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-15.
CAUTION
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than 5
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power
steering system.
When Driving
Power Steering
4-67
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (197,1)
NOTE
Because this system detects slight changes in tire conditions, the timing of the warning may be faster
or slower in the following cases:
lThe size, manufacturer, or the type of tires is different from the specification.lThe size, manufacturer, or the type of a tire is different from the others, or the level of tire wear is
excessively different between them.
lA run-flat tire, studless tire, snow tire, or tire chains are used.lAn emergency tire is used (The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may flash and then
continue illuminating).
lA tire is repaired using the emergency flat tire repair kit.lThe tire pressure is excessively higher than the specified pressure, or the tire pressure is suddenly
lowered for some reason such as a tire burst during driving.
lThe vehicle speed is lower than about 15 km/h (9.3 mph) (including when the vehicle is stopped),
or the drive period is shorter than 5 minutes.
lThe vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road or a slippery, icy road.lHard steering and rapid acceleration/deceleration are repeated such as during aggressive driving
on a winding road.
lLoad on the vehicle is applied to a tire such as by loading heavy luggage to one side of the
vehicle.
lSystem initialization has not been implemented with the specified tire pressure.
qTire Pressure Monitoring System
Initialization
In the following cases, system
initialization must be performed so that
the system operates normally.
lA tire pressure is adjusted.lTire rotation is performed.lA tire or wheel is replaced.lThe battery is replaced or completely
drained.
lThe tire pressure monitoring system
warning light is illuminated.
Initialization method
1. Park the car in a safe place and firmly
apply the parking brake.2. Let the tires cool, then adjust the tire
pressure of all four (4) tires to the
specified pressure indicated on the tire
pressure label located on the door jamb
of the driver's door (door open). Refer
to Tires on page 9-7.
3. Switch the ignition ON.
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
4-73
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L