2015 MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR snow chains

3–46
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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:
 y  Be cautious and allow extra distance for
braking.
 y  Avoid sudden braking and sudden
maneuvering.
 y  Do not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
 Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-78 .
 y If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the front
wheels.
 y  For 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 fl oor mats are hooked on
the retention pins to prevent them from
bunching up under the foot pedals: Using a fl oor 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 fl oor mats, one on top
of the other, on the driver's side: Installing two fl oor mats, one on top
of the other, on the driver's side is
dangerous as the retention pins can
only keep one fl oor mat from sliding
forward.
In using a heavy duty fl oor mat for
winter use always remove the original
fl oor mat.
Loose fl oor mat(s) will interfere with
the foot pedal and could result in an
accident.
When setting a fl oor mat, position the fl oor
mat so that its grommets are inserted over
the pointed end of the retention posts.
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3–47
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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, fl ares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check
the following:
 y  Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
 Refer to Engine Coolant on page 6-29 . y  Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
 y  Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-27 ).
 y  Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
 y  Use washer fl uid made with antifreeze—
but do not use engine coolant antifreeze
for washer fl uid (page 6-31 ).
NOTE
 y  Do 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.
 y Remove snow before driving. Snow left
on the windshield is dangerous as it
could obstruct vision.
 y Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
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3–48
Before Driving
Driving Tips
 y Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows and
mirrors as it could result in the glass
cracking.
 y Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if snow or
ice adheres to the brake components. If
this situation occurs, drive the vehicle
slowly, releasing the accelerator pedal
and lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Infl ate snow
tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2 , 4.3 psi) more
than recommended on the tire pressure
label (driver's door frame), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
The vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates you
may fi nd it necessary to replace them with
snow tires during the winter months to
further improve traction on snow and ice
covered roads.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels: Using tires diff erent in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly aff ected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION


4–79
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
Traction Control System
(TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by controlling
engine torque and braking. When the TCS
detects driving wheel slippage, it lowers
engine torque and operates the brakes to
prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin and loss of traction.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-21 .
WARNING
Do not rely on the Traction Control
System (TCS) as a substitute for safe
driving: The Traction Control System ( TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road contact
because of water on the road surface).
You can still have an accident.

Use snow tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are covered
with ice and/or snow: Driving without proper traction devices
on snow and/or ice-covered roads
is dangerous. The Traction Control
System ( TCS) alone cannot provide
adequate traction and you could still
have an accident.
NOTE
To turn off the TCS, press the DSC OFF
switch (page 4-81 ).
TCS/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 fl ashes.
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
 y  In addition to the indicator light
fl ashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This indicates
that the TCS/DSC is operating properly.
 y On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to achieve
high rpm when the TCS is on.
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4–105
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
NOTE
Because this system detects slight changes in tire conditions, the timing of the warning may
be faster or slower in the following cases:
 y The size, manufacturer, or the type of tires is different from the specifi cation. y The size, manufacturer, or the type of a tire is different from the others, or the level of tire
wear is excessively different between them.
 y A run-fl at tire, studless tire, snow tire, or tire chains are used. y An emergency tire is used (The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may fl ash
and then continue illuminating).
 y A tire is repaired using the puncture tire repair kit. y The tire pressure is excessively higher than the specifi ed pressure, or the tire pressure is
suddenly lowered for some reason such as a tire burst during driving.
 y The vehicle speed is lower than about 15 km/h (9.3 mph) (including wh\
en the vehicle is
stopped), or the drive period is shorter than 5 minutes.
 y The vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road or a slippery, icy road. y Hard steering and rapid acceleration/deceleration are repeated such as during aggressive
driving on a winding road.
 y Load on the vehicle is applied to a tire such as by loading heavy luggage to one side of
the vehicle.
 y System initialization has not been implemented with the specifi ed tire pressure.
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10–7
Index
Security System Immobilizer system ....................... 3-41
Theft-deterrent system .................. 3-43
Sensor Radar Sensor ................................. 4-64
Service Publications ............................ 8-50
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) ..... 4-71
Deactivating the Smart City Brake
Support (SCBS) System operation
... 4-77
Laser sensor handling .................... 4-75
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)
Indicator Light (Red)..................... 4-77
Spare Tire .............................................. 7-5
Specifi cations ........................................ 9-4
Speed Unit Selector ............................. 4-12
Speedometer ........................................ 4-12
Starting the Engine ................................ 4-5
Steering Wheel .................................... 3-32 Horn............................................... 4-57
Storage Compartments ...................... 5-140 Center console ............................. 5-141
Glove compartment ..................... 5-140
Overhead console ........................ 5-140
Rear coat hooks ........................... 5-141
Sunshade ............................................. 3-40
Sunvisors ........................................... 5-134
T
Tachometer .......................................... 4-13
Theft-Deterrent System ....................... 3-43
Tiedown Hook .............................................. 7-22
Tire Information .................................. 8-24
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ..... 4-103
Tire infl ation pressure warning beep ... 7-37 Tires .................................................... 6-42
Flat Tire ........................................... 7-3
Replacing a Tire ............................ 6-44
Replacing a Wheel ........................ 6-45
Snow tires ...................................... 3-48
Specifi cations ................................ 9-10
Temporary Spare Tire .................... 6-44
Tire Infl ation Pressure ................... 6-42
Tire Rotation ................................. 6-43
Tire chains ..................................... 3-48
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ....................................... 8-22
Towing Recreational towing ...................... 3-52
Trailer Towing ............................... 3-52
Towing Description ............................. 7-21
Traction Control System (TCS) .......... 4-79 TCS/DSC Indicator Light ............. 4-79
Transmitter ............................................ 3-4
Trip Computer ..................................... 4-16
Trip Meter ........................................... 4-12
Trouble Battery runs out ............................. 7-15
Emergency Starting ....................... 7-18
Emergency Towing........................ 7-21
Flat Tire ........................................... 7-3
Overheating ................................... 7-19
Parking in an Emergency ................ 7-2
When liftgate/trunk lid cannot be
opened ........................................... 7-39
Trunk Lid ............................................ 3-20
Inside trunk release lever .............. 3-25
When liftgate/trunk lid cannot be
opened ........................................... 7-39
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 5-134
Vehicle Information Labels ................... 9-2
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