
Black plate (99,1)
CAUTION
(U.S.A. and Canada)
If the check fuel cap warning light
illuminates, the fuel-filler cap may
not be properly installed. If the
warning light illuminates, park your
vehicle safely off the right-of-way,
remove the fuel-filler cap and
reinstall it correctly. After the cap has
been correctly installed, the fuel cap
warning light may continue to
illuminate until a number of driving
cycles have been completed. A drive
cycle consists of starting the engine
(after four or more hours with the
engine off) and driving the vehicle on
city and highway roads.
Continuing to drive with the check
fuel cap warning light illuminated
could cause the check engine light to
illuminate as well.
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
3-25
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (114,1)
Hazardous Driving
WARNING
Be extremely careful if it is necessary to
downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces 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.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
lBe cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
lAvoid sudden braking and sudden
maneuvering.
lDo not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-82.
lIf you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the front
wheels.
lFor more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or packed
snow, use sand, rock salt, chains,
carpeting, or other nonslip material
under the front wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front wheels.
Floor Mat
WARNING
Make sure the floor mats are hooked
on the retention pins to prevent them
from bunching up under the foot
pedals:
Using a floor mat that is not secured
is dangerous as it will interfere with
the accelerator and brake pedal
operation, which could result in an
accident.
Do not install two floor mats, one on
top of the other, on the driver's side:
Installing two floor mats, one on top
of the other, on the driver's side is
dangerous as the retention pins can
only keep one floor mat from sliding
forward.
In using a heavy duty floor mat for
winter use always remove the
original floor mat.
Loose floor mat(s) will interfere with
the foot pedal and could result in an
accident.
When setting a floor mat, position the
floor mat so that its grommets are inserted
over the pointed end of the retention
posts.
3-40
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (115,1)
Rocking the Vehicle
WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at more than 56
km/h (35 mph), and do not allow
anyone to stand behind a wheel when
pushing the vehicle:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is
dangerous. The spinning tire could
overheat and explode. This could
cause serious injuries.
CAUTION
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transaxle failure, and
tire damage.
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from 1 (D) to R.
Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 6-23.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lUse an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-21).
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 6-26).
lDo not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transaxle and to 1 or R with a manual
transaxle. Block the rear wheels.
lSnow left on the windshield is
dangerous as it could obstruct vision.
Remove snow before driving.
lDo not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
lNever use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
3-41
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (121,1)
WARNING
Always keep tow loads within specified limits as indicated in the Trailer Towing-Load
Table:
Attempting to tow loads greater than those specified is dangerous as it may cause
serious handling and performance problems that could result in personal injury or
vehicle damage, or both.
Load your trailer with the weight about 60 % toward the front and 40 % toward the
rear:
Loading the trailer with more weight in the rear than in the front is dangerous.
Doing so could cause you to lose control. The trailer tongue load must be 10 %―15
% of the total trailer load (sum of the weights of the trailer and cargo).
Always have the total trailer weight and tongue load determined prior to departure:
Attempting to tow loads without determining the total trailer weight and tongue
load is dangerous. Trailer sway from crosswinds, rough roads or other causes could
result in loss of control and a serious accident.
CAUTION
The total trailer weight and tongue load can be determined by weighing the trailer
on platform scales at a highway weight station or a trucking company.
qTrailer Hitch
Use only a hitch ball recommended by the trailer manufacturer that conforms to the gross
trailer weight requirement.
When not towing a trailer, remove the trailer hitch (if detachable) to reduce the possibility
of damage as a result of the vehicle being rear-ended.
Before Driving
Towing
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (122,1)
WARNING
Always make sure the trailer hitch is securely attached before departure:
An unsecured trailer hitch is dangerous as it causes greater trailer sway from
crosswinds, rough roads or other causes, resulting in loss of control and a serious
accident.
Examine all trailer-hitch mounting bolts regularly and tighten any that are loose. If
the hitch is removed, seal any open mounting holes to prevent exhaust, dust, water,
dirt and other foreign elements from filtering in, possibly endangering personal
safety and damaging your vehicle.
Do not install a hitch that stiffens the bumper as it will reduce the bumper's
performance.
Make sure there are no exhaust gas leaks into the passenger compartment if any
mounting bolts are connected to the body:
Modifying your vehicle exhaust system is dangerous. Exhaust gas entering the
vehicle could cause loss of consciousness or even death.
When mounting the trailer hitch, make no modifications to the vehicle exhaust
system.
CAUTION
ØMake all hitch adjustments with actual loads. Do not load and unload vehicle
while adjusting hitch. This action will change the vehicle height.
ØDo not use an axle-mounted hitch. This may damage the axle and related parts.
qTires
When towing a trailer, make sure all tires are inflated to the recommended cold-tire
pressure, as indicated on the tire pressure chart on the driver's door frame. Trailer tire size,
load rating, and inflation pressures should conform to tire manufacturer specifications.
WARNING
Never use the temporary spare tire when towing:
Using the temporary spare tire on your vehicle when towing a trailer is dangerous as
it could result in tire failure, loss of control, and injury to vehicle occupants.
3-48
Before Driving
Towing
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (160,1)
Handling Procedure
Flashing light
Drive slowly to reduce engine load until
you can find a safe place to stop the
vehicle and wait for the engine to cool
down.
Illuminated light
This indicates the possibility of
overheating. Park the vehicle in a safe
place immediately and stop the engine.
Refer to Overheating (page 7-18).
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle with the high
engine coolant temperature warning
light illuminated. Otherwise, it could
result in damage to the engine.
qAWD Warning Indication/
Warning Lightí
Type A
The warning indication will display under
the following conditions;
lWhen there is an abnormality with the
AWD system.
lIf there is too much difference in tire
radius between the front and rear
wheels.
lWhen the differential oil temperature is
abnormally high.
lWhen there are continually large
differences between front and rear
wheel rotation, such as when trying to
pull away from an icy surface, or when
trying to remove the vehicle from mud,
sand or similar conditions.
When“4WD system inspection
required”is indicated
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When“Stop vehicle at safe area”is
indicated
Park the vehicle in a safe place. After a
few moments, if the indication disappears,
you can resume driving. If the indication
does not disappear, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Type B
This warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
The warning light will illuminate or flash
under the following conditions:
lIlluminates when there is an
abnormality with the AWD system.
lIlluminates if there is too much
difference in tire radius between the
front and rear wheels.
lFlashes when the differential oil
temperature is abnormally high.
lFlashes when there are continually
large differences between front and rear
wheel rotation, such as when trying to
pull away from an icy surface, or when
trying to remove the vehicle from mud,
sand or similar conditions.
When illuminated
If the AWD warning light illuminates,
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
4-32
When Driving
íSome models.
Instrument Cluster and Display
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (167,1)
“Set Power to OFF”is displayed
This message is displayed when the
driver's door is opened without switching
the ignition off.
“Key not found”is displayed
This message is displayed when any of
the following operations is performed
with the key out of the operational range
or placed in areas inside the cabin where it
is difficult for the key to be detected.
lThe push button start is pressed with
the ignition switched off
lThe ignition is switched onlThe driver's door is opened or all doors
are closed without switching the
ignition off
“Depress the Brake Pedal and Touch
the Key to the Start Button”
(Automatic Transaxle vehicle)/“Depress
the Clutch Pedal and Touch the Key to
the Start Button”(Manual Transaxle
vehicle) is displayed
This message is displayed when any of
the following operations is performed
with the key out of the operational range
or placed in areas inside the cabin where it
is difficult for the key to be detected.
lThe push button start is pressed with
the ignition switched off
lBrake pedal (Automatic transaxle
vehicle)/Clutch pedal (Manual
transaxle vehicle) is depressed with the
ignition switched off
“Key Battery is low”is displayed
This message is displayed when the
remaining battery power of the key is low
and the ignition is switched from on to
off.NOTE
Because the key utilizes low-intensity radio
waves, the Key Removed From Vehicle
Warning may activate if the key is carried
together with a metal object or it is placed in a
poor signal reception area.
Type B
This indicator has two colors.
KEY Warning Light (Red)
When illuminated
If any malfunction occurs in the keyless
entry system, it illuminates continuously.
CAUTION
If the key warning indicator light
illuminates or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, the
engine may not start. If the engine
cannot be started, try starting it
using the emergency operation for
starting the engine, and have the
vehicle inspected at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Refer to Emergency Operation for
Starting the Engine on page 4-8.
When flashing
lUnder the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes to
notify the driver that the ignition
cannot be switched from off.
lThe key battery is dead.lThe key is not within operational
range.
lThe key is placed in areas where it is
difficult for the system to detect the
signal (page 3-6).
lA key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range.
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K

Black plate (168,1)
lUnder the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) will flash
continuously when the ignition has not
been switched off to notify the driver
that the key has been removed from the
vehicle. The KEY warning light (red)
will stop flashing when the key is back
inside the vehicle:
The ignition has not been switched off
and all the doors and the liftgate are
closed after removing the key from the
vehicle.
NOTE
Because the key utilizes low-intensity radio
waves, the Key Removed From Vehicle
Warning may activate if the 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 key is
inside the vehicle, the KEY indicator light
(green) illuminates, and the engine can be
started (page 4-3).
When flashing
When the ignition is switched from ON to
off, 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 key becomes unusable.
Refer to Replace Electrical Battery on
page 6-33.
qWrench Warning Indicationí
Type A
Perform maintenance in accordance with
the message.
qTCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON. If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC or the
brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
lIn addition to the indicator light flashing, a
slight lugging sound will come from the
engine. This indicates that the TCS/DSC is
operating properly.
lOn slippery surfaces, such as fresh snow, it
will be impossible to achieve high rpm
when the TCS is on.
4-40
When Driving
íSome models.
Instrument Cluster and Display
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Form No.8CT5-EA-12K