
3–30
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
Fuel-Filler Cap
To remove the fuel-filler cap, turn it
counterclockwise.
Attach the removed cap to the inner side
of the fuel lid.
To close the fuel-filler cap, turn it
clockwise until a click is heard.
Open
Close
CAUTION
If the check fuel cap warning light
illuminates, the fuel-filler cap may not
be properly installed. If the warning
light illuminates, park your vehicle
safely off the right-of-way, remove the
fuel-filler cap and reinstall it correctly.
After the cap has been correctly
installed, the fuel cap warning light
may continue to illuminate until a
number of driving cycles have been
completed. A drive cycle consists of
starting the engine (after four or more
hours with the engine off ) and driving
the vehicle on city and highway roads.
Continuing to drive with the check
fuel cap warning light illuminated
could cause the check engine light to
illuminate as well.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 302015/05/11 14:00:25

3–44
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the first 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.
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 6-4) and have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer perform inspections and
servicing.
Use the air conditioner only when
necessary. Slow down on rough roads. Keep the tires properly inflated. 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.
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.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 442015/05/11 14:00:31

4–1*Some models.
4When Driving
Information concerning safe driving and stopping.
Start/Stop Engine ................................4-4
Ignition Switch
...............................4-4
Starting the Engine
.........................4-5
Turning the Engine Off
................4-10
Instrument Cluster and Display
......4-11
Meters and Gauges
.......................4-11
Active Driving Display* ...............4-18
Warning/Indicator Lights
.............4-20
Transaxle
............................................4-26
Manual Transaxle Operation
........4-26
Automatic Transaxle Controls
.....4-29
Switches and Controls
......................4-40
Lighting Control
...........................4-40
Fog Lights* ...................................4-46
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
....4-46
Windshield Wipers and Washer
...4-47
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer
*......................................... 4-51
Rear Window Defogger
...............4-52
Horn
.............................................4-53
Hazard Warning Flasher
...............4-54
HomeLink Wireless Control
System
* .........................................4-54
Brake
..................................................4-58
Brake System
...............................4-58
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
............4-60 ABS/TCS/DSC
...................................4-62
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
.....4-62
Traction Control System (TCS)
...4-63
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)
...........................................4-64
i-ELOOP
............................................4-66
i-ELOOP* .....................................4-66
Fuel Economy Monitor
.....................4-69
Fuel Economy Monitor* ...............4-69
Drive Selection
...................................4-71
Drive Selection* ...........................4-71
Power Steering ................................... 4-73
Power Steering
.............................4-73
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 12015/05/11 14:00:32

4–5
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
ON
This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The indicator light
(amber) turns off. (The indicator light
(amber) illuminates when the ignition
is switched ON and the engine is not
running.)
Some indicator lights/warning lights
should be inspected before the engine is
started (page 4-20).
NOTE
When the push button start is pressed to
ON, the sound of the fuel pump motor
operating near the fuel tank can be heard.
This does not indicate an abnormality.
Starting the Engine
WARNING
Radio waves from the key may affect
medical devices such as pacemakers:
Before using the key near people who
use medical devices, ask the medical
device manufacturer or your physician
if radio waves from the key will affect
the device.
NOTE
The key must be carried because the key
carries an immobilizer chip that must
communicate with the engine controls at
short range.
The engine can be started when the
push button start is pressed from off,
ACC, or ON.
The push button start system functions
(function which can start the engine
by only carrying the key) can be
deactivated to prevent any possible
adverse effect on a user wearing a
pacemaker or other medical device. If
the system is deactivated, you will be
unable to start the engine by carrying
the key. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for details. If the push button
start system functions have been
deactivated, you can start the engine by
following the procedure indicated when
the key battery goes dead.
Refer to Engine Start Function When
Key Battery is Dead on page 4-8.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 52015/05/11 14:00:32

4–7
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
CAUTION
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button
start indicator light (amber) flashes,
this could indicate a problem with
the engine starting system and the
inability to start the engine or switch
the ignition to ACC or ON. Have your
vehicle inspected at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
Under the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes after
the push button start is pressed to
inform the driver that the push button
start will not switch to ACC even if it is
pressed from off.
The key battery is dead. The key is out of operational range. The key is placed in areas where it is
difficult for the system to detect the
signal (page 3-7).
A key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range.
(Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (r ed)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may not
start using the usual starting method.
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. If this occurs, the engine can
be force-started. Press and hold the
push button start until the engine starts.
Other procedures necessary for starting
the engine such as having the key in the
cabin, and depressing the clutch pedal
(manual transaxle) or the brake pedal
(automatic transaxle) are required.
When the engine is force-started,
the KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button
start indicator light (amber) remains
flashing.
(Automatic transaxle)
When the selector lever is in the neutral
(N) position, the KEY indicator light
(green) and the push button start
indicator light (green) do not illuminate.
7. Press the push button start after both
the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.
NOTE
After starting the engine, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to the
ON position.
After pressing the push button start and
before the engine starts, the operation
sound of the fuel pump motor from near
the fuel tank can be heard, however, this
does not indicate a malfunction.
8. After starting the engine, let it idle for
about ten seconds.
NOTE
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it
should be started without the use of the
accelerator.
If the engine does not start the first
time, refer to Starting a Flooded Engine
under Emergency Starting. If the engine
still does not start, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer (page 7-18).
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 72015/05/11 14:00:33

4–11
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
Meters and Gauges
Type A
Type B
Type C
Steering Switch
(Digital Speedometer Type)
(Analog Speedometer Type (With
Tachometer))
(Analog Speedometer Type (Without Tachometer))
Some models.
Instrument Cluster
Speedometer ........................................................................\
..................................page 4-12
Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip Meter Selector ....................................................page 4-12
Tachometer ........................................................................\
....................................page 4-14
Fuel Gauge ........................................................................\
....................................page 4-14
Dashboard Illumination........................................................................\
................. page 4-15
Outside Temperature Display ........................................................................\
........page 4-16
Cruise Control Set Vehicle Speed Display ............................................................page 4-16
Active Driving Display ........................................................................\
.................page 4-18
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 112015/05/11 14:00:35

4–13
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
off, the odometer or trip meters cannot be
displayed, however, pressing the selector
can inadvertently switch the trip meters or
reset them during an approximate ten-
minute period in the following cases:
After the ignition is switched to off from
ON. After the driver's door is opened.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
The trip meter can record the total distance
of two trips. One is recorded in trip meter
A, and the other is recorded in trip meter
B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and
trip meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter
is again reset. Return it to “0.0” by
depressing and holding the selector for
one second or more. Use this meter to
measure trip distances and to compute fuel
consumption.
NOTE
(Vehicles with type B audio)
If the fuel economy data is reset using
the fuel economy monitor, or trip A
is reset using the trip meter when the
function which synchronizes the fuel
economy monitor and the trip meter is
on, the fuel economy data and trip A are
reset simultaneously.
Refer to Fuel Economy Monitor on page
4-69. Only the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles). The trip record will be erased when:
The power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
The vehicle is driven over 9999.9 km
(mile).
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 132015/05/11 14:00:35

4–14
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
Tachometer*
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute (rpm).
CAUTION
Do not run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
Type A
*1The range varies depending on the type
of gauge.*
1Striped zone
*
1Red zone
Type B
*1The range varies depending on the type of gauge. *
1Striped zone
*
1Red zone
NOTE
When the tachometer needle enters the
STRIPED ZONE, this indicates to the
driver that the gears should be shifted
before entering the RED ZONE.
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately
how much fuel is remaining in the tank
when the ignition is switched ON. We
recommend keeping the tank over 1/4 full.
Type A/Type B instrument cluster
Full
1/4 Full
Type C instrument cluster
Full
1/4 Full
If the low fuel warning light illuminates or
the fuel level is very low, refuel as soon as
possible.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-20.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 142015/05/11 14:00:36