2015 MAZDA MODEL 6 brake

Black plate (166,1)
qHBC Warning Light (Amber)/
HBC Indicator Light (Green)í
HBC warning light (Amber)
When illuminated
When the ignition is switched ON, this
warning light illuminates and then turns
off after a few seconds. The warning light
illuminates if the area of the windshield in
front of the forward sensing camera (FSC)
is fogged or obstructed.
When flashing
This light flashes if there is a malfunction
in the high beam control system (HBC).
Have your vehicle inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
HBC indicator light (Green)
This indicator light illuminates when the
system is operating and turns off when the
system operation is canceled.
qWrench Indicationí
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.
qDSC OFF Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
It also illuminates when the DSC OFF
switch is pressed and TCS/DSC is
switched off.
Refer to DSC OFF Switch on page 4-94.
4-42
When Driving
íSome models.
Instrument Cluster and Display
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page166
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (171,1)
Manual Transaxle Operation
qManual Transaxle Shift Pattern
Neutral position
The shift pattern of the transaxle is
conventional, as shown.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a device to
prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake.
Push the shift lever downward and shift to
R.
WARNING
Do not use sudden 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.
Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended:
Otherwise the vehicle could move
and cause an accident.
CAUTION
ØKeep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also,
do not use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.
ØDo not apply any excessive lateral
force to the gear lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear.
This could lead to the accidental
selection of 2nd gear, which can
result in damage to the transaxle.
ØMake sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
still moving may damage the
transaxle.
NOTE
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
When Driving
Transaxle
4-47
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page171
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (172,1)
qRecommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend
these shift points.
(U.S.A. and Canada)
Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 24 km/h (15 mph)
2 to 3 42 km/h (26 mph)
3 to 4 60 km/h (37 mph)
4 to 5 75 km/h (46 mph)
5 to 6 79 km/h (49 mph)
(Mexico)
Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 15 km/h (9 mph)
2 to 3 35 km/h (22 mph)
3 to 4 50 km/h (31 mph)
4 to 5 70 km/h (43 mph)
5 to 6 100 km/h (62 mph)
For cruising (U.S.A. and Canada)
Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 13 km/h (8 mph)
2 to 3 29 km/h (18 mph)
3 to 4 49 km/h (30 mph)
4 to 5 63 km/h (39 mph)
5 to 6 70 km/h (43 mph)
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steepupgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
reduces the chance of stalling and gives
better acceleration when you need more
speed.
On a steepdowngrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
4-48
When Driving
Transaxle
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page172
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (173,1)
Automatic Transaxle Controls
Lock-release button
Indicates the shift lever can be shifted freely into any position.
Indicates that you must hold in the lock-release button to shift.
Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal and hold in the lock-release
button to shift (The ignition must be switched ACC or ON).
Various Lockouts:
NOTE
The Sport AT has an option that is not included in the traditional automatic transaxle giving the
driver the option of selecting each gear instead of leaving it to the transaxle to shift gears. Even if
you intend to use the automatic transaxle functions as a traditional automatic, you should also be
aware that you can inadvertently shift into manual shift mode and an inappropriate gear may be
retained as the vehicle speed increases. If you notice the engine speed going higher or hear the
engine racing, confirm you have not accidentally slipped into manual shift mode (page 4-52).
When Driving
Transaxle
4-49
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page173
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (174,1)
qDisplay Indication
For vehicles with the type A instrument
cluster, check the vehicle condition or
have the vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer according to
the indication.
qWarning Light
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-23.
qTransaxle Ranges
lThe shift position indicator light in the
instrument cluster illuminates.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-23.
lThe shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
WARNING
Always set the shift lever to P and set
the parking brake:
Only setting the shift lever to the P
position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is
dangerous. If P fails to hold, the
vehicle could move and cause an
accident.
CAUTION
ØShifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage
your transaxle.
ØShifting into a driving gear or
reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transaxle.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except under
rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-47).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
If the engine is running faster than idle,
do not shift from N or P into a driving
gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine
is running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move
suddenly, causing an accident or
serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury.
4-50
When Driving
Transaxle
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page174
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (175,1)
CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle
damage.
NOTE
Apply the parking brake or depress the brake
pedal before moving the shift lever from N to
prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically shift
through a 6-gear sequence.
M (Manual)
M is the manual shift mode position.
Gears can be shifted up or down by
operating the shift lever.
Refer to Manual Shift Mode on page
4-52.
qActive Adaptive Shift (AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transaxle shift
points to best suit the road conditions and
driver input. This improves driving feel.
The transaxle may switch to AAS mode
when driving up and down slopes,
cornering, driving at high elevations, or
depressing the accelerator pedal quickly
while the shift lever is in the D position.
Depending on the road and driving
conditions/vehicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a problem
because the AAS mode will maintain the
optimum gear position.
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. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
NOTE
lWhen the ignition is switched to ACC or the
ignition is switched off, the selector lever
cannot be shifted from P.
lThe ignition cannot be switched to OFF if
the selector lever is not in P.
qShift-Lock Override
If the selector lever will not move from P
using the proper shift procedure, continue
to hold down the pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
using a cloth-wrapped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
Cover
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
When Driving
Transaxle
4-51
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page175
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (180,1)
Recommendations for shifting (U.S.A.
and Canada)
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, we
recommend these shift points.
Gear Vehicle speed*1
M1 to M2 24 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 40 km/h (25 mph)
M3 to M4 65 km/h (40 mph)
M4 to M5 73 km/h (45 mph)
M5 to M6 81 km/h (50 mph)
*1: Always observe local speed limit regulations.
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steepupgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
gives better acceleration when you need
more speed.
On a steepdowngrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
qDirect 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
indicator lights illuminate and the gear
position in use is illuminated.
Direct mode is canceled (released) under
the following conditions.
lThe UP switch (/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time
or longer.
lThe vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating).
lThe vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.
Gear position indicator
Direct mode indicator
NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct mode may
not be possible depending on the vehicle
speed. In addition, because direct mode is
canceled (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.
qDriving Tips
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position:
Otherwise, the engine will stop,
causing the loss of the power brake
and power steering functions, and
make it difficult to control the vehicle
which could result in an accident.
4-56
When Driving
Transaxle
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page180
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L

Black plate (181,1)
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
The accelerator pedal feels heavy as it is being
depressed, but then lightens as it is fully
depressed. 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.
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.
When Driving
Transaxle
4-57
Mazda6_8DQ8-EA-13L_Edition3 Page181
Friday, June 13 2014 6:21 PM
Form No.8DQ8-EA-13L