Black plate (70,1)
Do not modify the suspension:Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the
suspension is modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the
possibility of serious injuries.
To prevent false detection by the air bag sensor system, heed the following: ØDo not use tires or wheels other than those specified for your Mazda:
Use of any tire or wheel other than those specified for your Mazda (page 10-7) is
dangerous. Use of such wheels will prevent the vehicle's accident detections
system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
Ø Do not overload your vehicle:
Overloading your vehicle is dangerous as it could prevent the air bag crash sensor
system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
The gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
for your vehicle are on the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label on the driver's
door frame. Do not exceed these ratings.
Ø Do not drive the vehicle off-road:
Driving your Mazda off-road is dangerous because the vehicle has not been
designed to do so. Driving the vehicle off-road could prevent the air bag crash
sensor system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting
in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Do not modify a front door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect a damaged front door: Modifying a front door or leaving any damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each front
door has a side crash sensor as a component of the supplemental restraint system. If
holes are drilled in a front door, a door speaker is left removed, or a damaged door is
left unrepaired, the sensor could be adversely affected causing it to not detect the
pressure of an impact correctly during a side collision. If a sensor does not detect a
side impact correctly, the side and curtain air bags may not operate normally which
could result in serious injury to occupants.
2-58
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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Before Getting In
lBe sure the windows, outside mirrors,
and outside lights are clean.
lInspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
lLook under the vehicle for any sign of
fluid leaks.
lIf you plan to back up, make sure
nothing is in your way.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer
fluid, and other fluid levels should be
inspected. See Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
lAre all doors closed and locked?lIs the seat adjusted properly?lAre the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
lIs the steering wheel adjusted properly?lIs everyone's seat belt fastened?lCheck all gauges.lCheck all warning lights when the
ignition is switched ON.
lRelease the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Before Starting the Engine
4-5
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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Winter Driving
lCarry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, a small shovel,
jumper cables, and a small bag of sand
or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-23.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze ―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-26).
lDo not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P and block the rear
wheels.
lSnow left on the windshield is
dangerous as it could obstruct vision.
Remove snow before driving.
lDo not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
lNever use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
lBraking performance can be adversely
affected if snow or ice adheres to the
brake equipment. 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.
q Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
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.
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find 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 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 tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system may
not function correctly when using tires with
steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls (page
5-33).
4-10
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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qTire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
Ø Chains may affect handling.
Ø Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
Ø Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
Ø Avoid locked-wheel braking.
Ø Do not use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage
to the vehicle and to the tire.
Ø Do not use chains on roads that
are free of snow or ice. The tires
and chains could be damaged.
Ø Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
lUse of tire chains on a vehicle equipped
with P245/50R20 specification tires could
cause interference with the vehicle body
and scratching. If tire chains are to be used,
replace both front and rear tires with P
245/60R18 tires. Please consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
lIf your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system may
not function correctly when using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the front tires only.
Do not use chains on the rear tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible. Always follow the
chain manufacturer's instructions.
2. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2 ―1 km (1/4 ―1/2 mile).
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
4-11
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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WARNING
Always make sure the trailer hitch is securely attached before departure:An unsecured trailer hitch is dangerous as it causes greater trailer sway from
crosswinds, rough roads or other causes, resulting in loss of control and a serious
accident.
Examine all trailer-hitch mounting bolts regularly and tighten any that are loose. If
the hitch is removed, seal any open mounting holes to prevent exhaust, dust, water,
dirt and other foreign elements from filtering in, possibly endangering personal
safety and damaging your vehicle.
Do not install a hitch that stiffens the bumper as it will reduce the bumper's
performance.
Make sure there are no exhaust gas leaks into the passenger compartment if any
mounting bolts are connected to the body: Modifying your vehicle exhaust system is dangerous. Exhaust gas entering the
vehicle could cause loss of consciousness or even death.
When mounting the trailer hitch, make no modifications to the vehicle exhaust
system.
CAUTION
ØMake all hitch adjustments with actual loads. Do not load and unload vehicle
while adjusting hitch. This action will change the vehicle height.
Ø Do not use an axle-mounted hitch. This may damage the axle and related parts.
qTires
When towing a trailer, make sure all tires are inflated to the recommended cold-tire
pressure, as indicated on the tire pressure chart on the driver's door frame. Trailer tire size,
load rating, and inflation pressures should conform to tire manufacturer specifications.
WARNING
Never use the temporary spare tire when towing:
Using the temporary spare tire on your vehicle when towing a trailer is dangerous as
it could result in tire failure, loss of control, and injury to vehicle occupants.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
4-17
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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5Driving Your Mazda
Explanation of instruments and controls.
Starting and Driving ..................................................................... 5-2Ignition Switch .......................................................................... 5-2
Starting the Engine .................................................................... 5-4
Turning the Engine Off ............................................................. 5-5
Brake System ............................................................................ 5-5
Automatic Transaxle Controls ................................................. 5-11
Power Steering ........................................................................ 5-18
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Operation
í..................................... 5-18
Cruise Control ......................................................................... 5-21
Traction Control System (TCS) .............................................. 5-24
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)/Roll Stability Control
(RSC) ...................................................................................... 5-27
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
í......................................... 5-29
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Systemí................................. 5-35
Parking Sensor System ........................................................... 5-46
Instrument Cluster and Indicators ............................................ 5-52 Meters and Gauges .................................................................. 5-52
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds ............................ 5-56 Warning/Indicator Lights ........................................................ 5-56
Beep Sounds ........................................................................... 5-70
Switches and Controls ................................................................ 5-72 Lighting Control ..................................................................... 5-72
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ............................................... 5-78
Fog Lights
í............................................................................ 5-79
Windshield Wipers and Washer .............................................. 5-80
Rear Window Wiper and Washer ............................................ 5-84
Rear Window Defogger .......................................................... 5-85
Horn ........................................................................................ 5-86
Hazard Warning Flasher .......................................................... 5-87
HomeLink Wireless Control System
í.................................... 5-88
5-1íSome models.
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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WARNING
Never spin a wheel that is off the
ground:Spinning a wheel that is off the
ground as a result of the vehicle
being stuck or in a ditch is
dangerous. The drive assembly could
be seriously damaged which could
lead to an accident or could even
lead to overheating, oil leakage, and
a fire.
qTires and Tire Chains
The condition of the tires plays a large
role in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse effects to
the drive assembly, please note the
following:
Tires
lWhen replacing tires, always replace
all front and rear tires at the same time.
lAll tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread pattern.
Pay particular attention when
equipping snow or other types of
winter tires.
lDo not mix tread-worn tires with
normal tires.
lInspect tire inflation pressures at the
specified periods and adjust to the
specified pressures.
NOTE
Check the tire inflation pressure label attached
to driver's door frame for the correct tire
inflation pressure.
lMake sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine wheels of the specified size,
on all wheels. With AWD, the system
is calibrated for all four wheels being
of the same dimensions.
Tire chains
lInstall tire chains to the front tires.lDo not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
lDo not drive the vehicle faster than 30
km/h (19 mph) with the tire chains
installed.
lDo not drive the vehicle with tire
chains on road conditions other than
snow or ice.
q Towing
If the vehicle requires towing, all four
wheels MUST be completely off the
ground. Never tow the vehicle with only
the front or rear wheels raised (page
7-21).
5-20
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H
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Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemí
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) monitors the pressure for each tire.
If tire pressure is too low in one or more tires, the system will inform the driver via the
warning light in the instrument panel and by the warning beep sound.
The tire pressure sensors installed on each wheel send tire pressure data by radio signal to
the receiver unit in the vehicle.
Tire pressure sensors
NOTE
When the ambient temperature is low due to seasonal changes, tire temperatures are also lower.
When the tire temperature decreases, the air pressure decreases as well. The TPMS warning light
may illuminate more frequently. Visually inspect the tires daily before driving, and check tire
pressures monthly with a tire pressure gauge. When checking tire pressures, use of a digital tire
pressure gauge is recommended.
TPMS does not alleviate your need to check the pressure and condition of all four tires
regularly.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-29íSome models.
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Form No.8DU1-EA-14H