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qActive Adaptive Shift (AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transmission
shift points to best suit the road conditions
and driver input. This improves driving
feel.
If the driver accelerates rapidly, or
accelerates and decelerates rapidly by
operating the accelerator and brake pedal
for a certain period of time while the shift
lever is in the D position, AAS mode
could activate.
When cornering the vehicle, AAS mode
will hold the transmission in the gear the
vehicle was in before entering the curve,
allowing the vehicle to be accelerated
from the same gear after exiting the curve.
AAS mode will maintain the transmission
in the optimum gear and the driver may
sense that the transmission is not shifting,
however this does not indicate an
abnormality.
qShift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting
out of P unless the brake pedal is
depressed.
To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Move the shift lever.
NOTE
lWhen the ignition is switched off, the shift
lever cannot be shifted from P.
lTo be sure the vehicle is in park, the
ignition key cannot be removed unless the
shift lever is in P.
l(With Advanced Key)
The ignition cannot be switched from ACC
to OFF when the shift lever is not in P.
q Manual Shift Mode
This mode gives you the feel of driving a
manual transmission vehicle by operating
the shift lever and allows you to control
engine rpm and torque to the rear wheels
much like a manual transmission when
more control is desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift the
lever from D to M.
NOTE
Changing to manual shift mode while driving
will not damage the transmission.
To return to automatic shift mode, shift
the lever from M to D.
NOTE
lIf you change to manual shift mode when
the vehicle is stopped, the gear will shift to
M1.
lIf you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 5th gear, the gear will
shift to M4.
lIf you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 6th gear, the gear will
shift to M5.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-15
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Black plate (161,1)
NOTElWhen driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
lIn manual shift mode, gears do not shift up
automatically. Do not run the engine with
the tachometer needle in the RED ZONE. If
the tachometer needle enters the RED
ZONE, you may feel engine-braking.
However, this does not indicate an
abnormality.
lWhen depressing the accelerator fully, the
transmission will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed (Except M2→
M1).
Manually Shifting down
(M6→ M5→M4 →M3 →M2 →
M1)
To shift down to a lower gear, move the
shift lever forward (
) once.
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, press either of the
DOWN switches away from you once
with your thumb.
DOWN switches
WARNING
Do not use 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.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers or thumbs on
the steering shift switches: Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous.
If the driver's air bag were to deploy
in a collision, your hands could be
impacted causing injury.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-17
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F
Page 162 of 452
Black plate (162,1)
NOTElWhen driving at high speeds, the gear may
not shift down.
lDuring deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.
lWhen depressing the accelerator fully, the
transmission will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed (Except M2→
M1).
Second gear fixed mode
When the selector lever is tapped back
(
) while the vehicle speed is about 10
km/h (6 mph) or less, the transmission is
set in the second gear fixed mode. The
gear is fixed in second while in this mode
for easier acceleration from a stop and
driving on slippery roads such as snow-
covered roads.
If the selector lever is tapped back (
)or
forward (
) while in the second gear
fixed mode, the mode will be canceled.
5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F
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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 cruise control 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 30 km/h (19 mph)
If some other method besides the ON/
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 cruise control RES/+ switch is
pressed up.
If vehicle speed is below 30 km/h (19
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 30
km/h (19 mph) or more and press up the
cruise control RES/+ switch.
Cruise
control
switch
qTo Cancel
To cancel the system, use oneof these
methods:
lPress the ON/OFF switch.lSlightly depress the brake pedal.lDepress the clutch pedal (Manual
transmission only).
lPress the CANCEL switch.
The system turns off when the ignition is
switched off.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15 km/h (9
mph) below the preset speed (such as may
happen when climbing a long, steep grade).
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F
Page 184 of 452

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Automatic Transmission
Red zone
CAUTION
Do not run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine
damage.
qEngine Coolant Temperature Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge
shows the temperature of the engine
coolant.
If the needle is near H, it indicates
overheating.
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine
can cause serious engine damage
(page 7-20).
qFuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately how
much fuel is remaining in the tank when
the ignition is switched ON.
We recommend keeping the tank over 1/4
full. When the low fuel warning light
illuminates or when the needle is near E,
refuel as soon as possible.
Low fuel
warning light
NOTElAfter refueling, it may require some time for
the needle to stabilize. In addition, the
needle may deviate while driving on a slope
or curve since the fuel moves in the tank.
lThe direction of the arrow () indicates
that the fuel-filler lid is on the left side of
the vehicle.
5-40
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F
Page 187 of 452
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SignalWarning/Indicator Lights Page
Seat Belt Warning Light 5-47
Door-Ajar Warning Light5-47
Automatic Transmission Warning Light5-47
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light5-48
Flat Tire Warning Light5-50
KEY Warning Light (Red)/KEY Indicator Light (Green)5-50
Security Indicator Light5-52
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light5-52
Shift Position Indicator Light5-52
TCS/DSC Indicator Light5-53
DSC OFF Indicator Light5-53
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green) 5-54
Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights5-54
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F
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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.
qLow Fuel Warning Light
Low fuel
warning light
This warning light signals that the fuel
tank will soon be empty.
Refuel as soon as possible.
qSeat Belt Warning Light
The seat belt warning light illuminates if
the driver or front passenger's seat is
occupied and the seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switched ON.
qDoor-Ajar Warning Light
This warning light illuminates when any
door is not securely closed.
Close the door securely before driving the
vehicle.
qAutomatic Transmission Warning
Light
This warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
The light illuminates when the
transmission has a problem.
CAUTION
If the automatic transmission
warning light illuminates, the
transmission has an electrical
problem. Continuing to drive your
Mazda in this condition could cause
damage to your transmission.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F
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Black plate (196,1)
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 Setting Change (Function
Customization) on page 3-21.
qSecurity Indicator Light
This indicator light starts flashing every
two 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 three 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.
qHeadlight High-Beam Indicator
Light
This light indicates one of two things:lThe high-beam headlights are on.lThe turn signal lever is in the flash-to-
pass position.
qShift Position Indicator Light
(Automatic Transmission)
This indicates the selected shift position
when the ignition is switched ON.
Gear position indicator
5-52
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
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Form No.8DG6-EA-13F