2015 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK brakes

3–53
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Running-In
No special running-in is necessary, but
a few precautions in the fi rst 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of the vehicle.
 


 Do not race the engine.



 Do not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
 


 Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods of
time.
 


 Avoid unnecessary hard stops.



 Avoid full-throttle starts.



 Do not tow a trailer.
Saving Fuel and
Protection of the
Environment
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save fuel and
reduce CO2.
 


 Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
 


 Avoid fast starts.



 Drive at lower speeds.



 Anticipate when to apply the brakes
(avoid sudden braking).
 


 Follow the maintenance schedule
(page 6-3 ) and have an expert repairer,
we recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer perform inspections and
servicing.
 


 Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
 


 Slow down on rough roads.



 Keep the tyres properly infl ated.



 Do not carry unnecessary weight.



 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
 


 Keep the wheels in correct alignment.



 Keep windows closed at high speeds.



 Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







3–54
Before Driving
Driving Tips
WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:
Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident.
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 tyre
speed could cause the tyres 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:
 


 Be cautious and allow extra distance for
braking.
 


 Avoid sudden braking and sudden
manoeuvring.
 


 Do not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
  Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-87 .
 


 If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the front
wheels.
 


 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.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







3–57
Before Driving
Driving Tips
NOTE
  Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
  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 Tyres
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tyres
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tyres different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tyres.
Use snow tyres on all four wheels
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for your snow tyres or legal speed
limits.
Europe
When snow tyres are used, select the
specifi ed size and pressure (page 9-13 ).
Tyre Chains
Check local regulations before using tyre
chains.
CAUTION
  Chains may affect handling. 
 Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
  Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
  Avoid locked-wheel braking. 
 Do not use chains on a temporary
spare tyre; it may result in damage to
the vehicle and to the tyre.
  Do not use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tyres and
chains could be damaged.
  Chains may scratch or chip
aluminium wheels.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







3–59
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Driving In Flooded Area
WARNING
Dry off brakes that have become
wet by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the brake
performance returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been affected.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle on fl ooded
roads as it could cause short circuiting
of electrical/electronic parts, or
engine damage or stalling from water
absorption. If the vehicle has been
immersed in water, consult an expert
repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







3–69
Before Driving
Towing
Safety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a precautionary measure should the trailer become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to the hitch.
Leave enough slack to allow full turns. Consult literature published by your trailer or hitch
manufacturer for more details.
WARNING
Make sure the safety chain is securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle prior
to departure:
Towing a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer and
the vehicle is dangerous. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, the trailer
could wander into another lane and cause a collision.
Trailer Lights
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directly to the lighting system of your Mazda.
This may damage your vehicle's electrical system and lighting systems. To connect the
lighting system, consult an Authorised Mazda Dealer.
Trailer Brakes
Check the Maximum trailer towing-load table in Weight Limits (page 3-61 ), and if your
trailer weight exceeds the value in the TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT (Trailer without brake),
trailer brakes are required.
If your trailer has brakes, make sure they meet regulations.
WARNING
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system:
Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system directly to the vehicle brake system is
dangerous and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







3–70
Before Driving
Towing
Trailer Towing Tips
Before driving
 




 Verify that your Mazda maintains a near-normal attitude when a loaded or unloaded trailer
is connected. Do not drive if it has an abnormal front-up or front-down position. Inspect
for incorrect nose weight, worn suspension parts, and trailer overloading. Have the vehicle
inspected by an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
 


 Make sure the trailer cargo is secure to prevent it from shifting.



 Make sure the mirrors meet all government regulations. Inspect them.



 Before 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
 




 Your Mazda will handle differently with a trailer in tow, so practice turning, backing, and
stopping in a traffi c-free area.




 Take time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.



 Do not exceed 100 km/h (62 mph) with a trailer in tow. If the local legal maximum speed
with a trailer in tow is less than 100 km/h (62 mph), do not exceed the legal speed.
CAUTION
If the vehicle exceeds 100 km/h (62 mph) with a trailer in tow, the vehicle could be
damaged.
 


 When ascending a hill, shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or
overheating the engine, or both.
 


 When descending a hill, shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking
effect. Pay constant attention to speed and use the brakes only as needed. Holding the
brake pedal down for a prolonged period may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
power.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







3–71
Before Driving
Towing
Parking
Avoid parking on an incline with a trailer. If this must be done, follow these instructions.
Parking on an Incline
1. Set the parking brake and the brakes.
2. Have someone block the wheels of the vehicle and trailer while you apply the brakes.
3. After the wheels are blocked, release the parking brake and the brakes slowly, allowing
the blocks to bear the load.
4. Set the parking brake fi rmly.
5. If the vehicle has an automatic transaxle, put the selector lever in P. If it has a manual
transaxle, place the gear shift in 1 or R.
Starting on an Incline
1. Start the engine (page 4-5 ).
2. Release the parking brake and slowly pull away a short distance from the wheel blocks.
3. Stop on the nearest level ground, set the parking brake, and pick up the wheel blocks.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC







4–15
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
NOTE
To ensure safe and comfortable use of the vehicle, the i-stop function controls engine stop
and restart automatically while constantly monitoring operations other than those of the
driver, such as the vehicle's interior and exterior environment, and the operational status
of the vehicle.
 
 The engine stops automatically when all of the following conditions are met:




 The engine has been started and the vehicle is driven for a certain period. The i-stop
function will not operate if the vehicle is not fi rst driven, no matter how long the
engine is left idling. Also, after the vehicle is driven for a certain period and then
stopped, the i-stop function (automatic engine-stop and restart) operates only once
while the vehicle is stopped.
 


 The engine is started with the bonnet closed.



(SKYACTIV-G 1.5, SKYACTIV-G 2.0)
 The engine has warmed up suffi ciently.



(Manual transaxle)
 The vehicle speed is about 3 km/h (2 mph) or less.
(Automatic transaxle)
 The vehicle is stopped.



 The battery is in good condition.



 The bonnet is closed.



 All the doors and the liftgate/boot lid are closed.



 The driver's seat belt is fastened.



 The windscreen defroster switch is off.



(Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning)
 The temperature setting dial for the air conditioning is set to a position other than
maximum heating/maximum cooling (A/C ON).
 


(Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning)
 The vehicle's interior temperature and the set temperature for the air-conditioning
system are nearly the same.
 


(European model)
 The vehicle is driven at elevations of 1,800 meters (5,905 ft) or less.
(Except European model)
 The vehicle is driven at elevations of 1,500 meters (4,921 ft) or less.



 The i-stop warning light (amber) is not illuminated or fl ashing.



 The keyless entry system operate normally.



 The brakes are applied suffi ciently (brake system vacuum level is suffi cient).



 The steering wheel is not being operated.
.B[EB@&'&&"@&EJUJPOJOEC