2015 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK Owners Manual (in English)

*Some models.4–59
When Driving
Transaxle
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle speed during deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fi xed mode, the gear remains in
second.
Direct Mode *
Direct mode can be used for temporarily
switching gears by operating the steering
shift switch while the vehicle is being
driven with the selector lever in the D
range.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate and the gear position
in use is illuminated.
Direct mode is cancelled (released) under
the following conditions.
 


 The UP switch () is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time or
longer.
 


 The vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating).
 


 The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.Type A
Gear position indication
Direct mode indication
Type B
Gear position indication
Direct mode indication
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4–60
When Driving
Transaxle
Type C
Gear position indication
Direct mode indication
NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct
mode may not be possible depending on
the vehicle speed. In addition, because
direct mode is cancelled (released)
depending on the rate of acceleration
or if the accelerator is fully depressed,
use of the manual shift mode is
recommended if you need to drive the
vehicle in a particular gear for long
periods.
Driving Tips
WARNING
Do not let the vehicle move in a
direction opposite to the direction
selected by the selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward
with the selector lever in a forward
position, or do not let the vehicle move
forward with the selector lever in the
reverse position. Otherwise, the engine
may stop, causing the loss of the power
brake and power steering functions,
and make it diffi cult to control the
vehicle which could result in an
accident.
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
NOTE
(Some models)
The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how
much the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown,
and functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed.
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4–61
When Driving
Transaxle
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually
accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight and
grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
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*Some models.4–62
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Lighting Control
Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to turn the headlights, other exterior lights and instrument panel
illumination on or off.
When the lights are turned on, the lights-on indicator light in the instrument cluster turns on.
NOTE
To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while the engine is off unless
safety requires them.
Without auto-light control
Without coming home light system
Switch Position
Ignition Position ON ACC or
OFF ON ACC or
OFF ON ACC or
OFF
Headlights — — — — × ×
Running lights
* × — — — — —
Tail lights
Position lights
Number plate lights
Instrument panel illumination — — × × × ×
×: On
—: Off
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*Some models.4–63
When Driving
Switches and Controls
With coming home light system
Switch Position
Ignition Position ON ACC or
OFF ON ACC or
OFF ON ACC or
OFF
Headlights — — — — × ×
Running lights
* × *1 — — — — —
Tail lights
Position lights
Number plate lights
Instrument panel illumination — — × × × ×
*2
×: On
—: Off
*1 It turns on while driving the vehicle.
*2 If the driver's door is opened or 30 s have elapsed with the lights turned on, the lights turn off.
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*Some models.4–64
When Driving
Switches and Controls
With auto-light control
Without coming home light system
Switch Position
Ignition Position ON ACC
or OFF ON ACC
or OFF ON ACC
or OFF ON ACC
or OFF
Headlights — — Auto
*1 — — — × ×
Running lights * × — Auto *1 — — — — —
Tail lights
Position lights
Number plate lights
Instrument panel illumination — — Auto
*1 — × × × ×
×: On
—: Off
*1 The headlight and other light settings switch automatically depending on the surrounding brightness detected by
the sensor.
With coming home light system
Switch Position
Ignition Position ON ACC
or OFF ON ACC
or OFF ON ACC
or OFF ON ACC
or OFF
Headlights — — Auto
*1 — — — × —
Running lights * × *2 — Auto *1 — — — — —
Tail lights
Position lights
Number plate lights
Instrument panel illumination — — Auto
*1 × *3 /— *4 × × × × *5
×: On
—: Off
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4–65
When Driving
Switches and Controls
*1 The headlight and other light settings switch automatically depending on the surrounding brightness detected by
the sensor.
*2 It turns on while driving the vehicle.
*3 While the lights are turned on, they will remain on even if the ignition is switched to a position other than ON.
If the driver's door is opened or 30 s have elapsed with the lights turned on, the lights turn off.
*4 When the ignition is switched to a position other than ON, the lights will not turn on even if the light switch is
switched to
.
*5 If the driver's door is opened or 30 s have elapsed with the lights turned on, the lights turn off.
Auto-light control
When the headlight switch is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON, the light
sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the headlights,
other exterior lights and instrument panel illumination on or off (see chart above).
CAUTION
  Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a sticker or a label on the windscreen.
Otherwise the light sensor will not operate correctly.

  The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windscreen when the wiper lever is in the
position and the
ignition is switched ON as fi ngers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades
damaged when the wipers activate automatically. If you are going to clean the
windscreen, be sure the wipers are turned off completely — this is particularly
important when clearing ice and snow — when it is particularly tempting to leave the
engine running.
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*Some models.4–66
When Driving
Switches and Controls
NOTE

 The headlights, other exterior lights and instrument panel illumination may not turn
off immediately even if the surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor
determines that it is night time if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several
minutes such as inside long tunnels, traffi c jams inside tunnels, or in indoor parking
lots.
 In this case, the lights turn off if the light switch is turned to the position.
  When the headlight switch is in the position and the ignition is switched to ACC
or the ignition is switched off, the headlights, other exterior lights and instrument panel
illumination will turn off.
  The instrument panel illumination can be adjusted by rotating the knob in the
instrument cluster. Also, the antidazzle mode can be changed by rotating the knob until
a beep sound is heard. To adjust the brightness of the instrument panel illumination:
Refer to Instrument panel Illumination on page 4-28 .

 The sensitivity of the AUTO lights may be changed by an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
Refer to Personalisation Features on page 9-16 .
Xenon fusion headlight bulbs
*
The low-beam bulbs of the headlights have xenon fusion bulbs that produce a bright white
beam over a wide area.
WARNING
Do not replace the xenon fusion bulbs yourself
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs yourself is dangerous. Because the xenon fusion
bulbs require high voltage, you could receive an electric shock if the bulbs are handled
incorrectly. Consult an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer
when the replacement is necessary.
NOTE
If the headlights fl icker, or the brightness weakens, the bulb-life may be depleted and a
replacement is necessary. Consult an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer.
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