2–45
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats:Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The components
essential to the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of
a side collision, the appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death
or serious injury. To prevent damage to the components essential to the supplemental
restraint system, do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats.
Do not operate a vehicle with damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
components: Expended or damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components must be
replaced after any collision which caused them to deploy or damage them. Only a trained
Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully evaluate these systems to see that they will work in
any subsequent accident. Driving with an expended or damaged air bag or pretensioner
unit will not afford you the necessary protection in the event of any subsequent accident
which could result in serious injury or death.
Do not remove interior air bag parts: Removing any components such as the front seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel
or parts on the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, containing air bag
parts or sensors is dangerous. These parts contain essential air bag components. The air
bag could accidentally activate and cause serious injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer remove these parts.
Properly dispose of the air bag system: Improper disposal of an air bag or a vehicle with live air bags in it can be extremely
dangerous. Unless all safety procedures are followed, injury could result. Have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer safely dispose of the air bag system or scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 452015/05/11 14:00:11
2–51
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy\
in accordance with
the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer \
to the front passenger
occupant classification system (page 2-56).
Curtain Air Bags*
The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, a\
nd the roof edge
along both sides.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than mode\
rate force, the
curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to reduce injury mainly to the rear outboard
passenger's head caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a doo\
r or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53).
In a side impact:
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on that
side only to inflate.
Only one side curtain air bag will deploy on the
side of the vehicle that receives the force of an
impact.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 512015/05/11 14:00:13
3–1*Some models.
3Before Driving
Use of various features, including keys, doors, mirrors and windows.
Keys ......................................................3-2
Keys
...............................................3-2
Keyless Entry System
....................3-3
Advanced Keyless Entry System
.......3-9
Advanced Keyless Entry
System
* ...........................................3-9
Operational Range
.......................3-10
Doors and Locks
................................3-11
Door Locks
...................................3-11
Liftgate/Trunk Lid
........................3-20
Inside Trunk Release Lever
(4-Door)
* ......................................3-24
Fuel and Emission
.............................3-26
Fuel and Engine Exhaust
Precautions
...................................3-26
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
................3-29
Steering Wheel ................................... 3-31
Steering Wheel
.............................3-31
Mirrors
...............................................3-32
Mirrors
.........................................3-32
Windows
.............................................3-35
Power Windows
...........................3-35
Moonroof * ...................................3-38 Security System
.................................3-40
Modification and Add-On
Equipment
....................................3-40
Immobilizer System
.....................3-40
Theft-Deterrent System* ...............3-42
Driving Tips
.......................................3-44
Break-In Period
............................3-44
Saving Fuel and Protection of the
Environment
.................................3-44
Hazardous Driving
.......................3-45
Floor Mat
.....................................3-45
Rocking the Vehicle
.....................3-46
Winter Driving
.............................3-46
Driving In Flooded Area
..............3-48
Overloading
..................................3-49
Driving on Uneven Road
.............3-50
Towing
................................................3-51
Trailer Towing
..............................3-51
Recreational Towing
....................3-51
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 12015/05/11 14:00:16
3–11
Before Driving
Doors and Locks
Door Locks
WARNING
Always take all children and pets with
you or leave a responsible person with
them:Leaving a child or a pet unattended in
a parked vehicle is dangerous. In hot
weather, temperatures inside a vehicle
can become high enough to cause
brain damage or even death.
Do not leave the key in your vehicle with
children and keep them in a place where
your children will not find or play with
them: Leaving children in a vehicle with the
key is dangerous. This could result in
someone being badly injured or even
killed.
Keep all doors locked when driving: Unlocked doors in a moving vehicle
are dangerous. Passengers can fall out
if a door is accidentally opened and
can more easily be thrown out in an
accident.
Always close all the windows and
moonroof, lock the doors and take the
key with you when leaving your vehicle
unattended: Leaving your vehicle unlocked is
dangerous as children could lock
themselves in a hot vehicle, which
could result in death. Also, a vehicle left
unlocked becomes an easy target for
thieves and intruders. After closing the doors, always verify
that they are securely closed:
Doors not securely closed are
dangerous, if the vehicle is driven with
a door not securely closed, the door
could open unexpectedly resulting in
an accident.
Always confirm the safety around the
vehicle before opening a door: Suddenly opening a door is dangerous.
A passing vehicle or a pedestrian could
be hit and cause an accident.
CAUTION
Always confirm the conditions around
the vehicle before opening/closing the
doors and use caution during strong
winds or when parked on an incline.
Not being aware of the conditions
around the vehicle is dangerous
because fingers could get caught in
the door or a passing pedestrian could
be hit, resulting in an unexpected
accident or injury.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 112015/05/11 14:00:19
3–38
Before Driving
Windows
*Some models.
Moonroof*
The moonroof can be opened or closed
electrically only when the ignition is
switched ON.
Tilt/Slide switch
WARNING
Do not let passengers stand up or
extend part of the body through the
open moonroof while the vehicle is
moving:Extending the head, arms, or other
parts of the body through the
moonroof is dangerous. The head or
arms could hit something while the
vehicle is moving. This could cause
serious injury or death.
Make sure the opening is clear before
closing the moonroof: A closing moonroof is dangerous. The
hands, head, or even neck of a person,
especially a child, could be caught in
it as it closes, causing serious injury or
even death.
NOTE
Before washing your Mazda, make sure
the moonroof is completely closed so that
water does not get inside the cabin area.
After washing your Mazda or after it rains,
wipe the water off the moonroof before
operating it to avoid water penetration
which could cause rust and water damage
to your headliner.
Tilt Operation
The rear of the moonroof can be tilted
open to provide more ventilation.
To fully tilt automatically, momentarily
press the tilt/slide switch.
To stop tilting partway, press the tilt/slide
switch.
To close to the desired position, press the
tilt/slide switch in the forward direction.
Close (Tilt down)
Tilt up
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 382015/05/11 14:00:29
3–39
Before Driving
Windows
Slide Operation
To fully open automatically, momentarily
press the tilt/slide switch in the backward
direction.
To stop sliding partway, press the tilt/slide
switch.
To close to the desired position, press the
tilt/slide switch in the forward direction.
CloseOpen
Power Moonroof Reset Procedure
If the battery is disconnected, the
moonroof will not operate. The moonroof
will not operate correctly until it is reset.
Carry out the following procedure to reset
the moonroof and resume operation:
1. Switch the ignition ON.
2. Press the tilt switch, to partially tilt
open the rear of the moonroof.
3. Repeat Step 2.
The rear of the
moonroof tilts open to the fully open
position, then closes a little.
NOTE
If the reset procedure is performed while
the moonroof is in the slide position
(partially open) it will close before the
rear tilt opens.
Sunshade
The sunshade can be opened and closed
by hand.
The sunshade opens automatically when
the moonroof is opened, but must be
closed by hand.
Sunshade
CAUTION
The sunshade does not tilt. To avoid
damaging the sunshade, do not push up
on it.
Do not close the sunshade while the
moonroof is opening. Trying to force the
sunshade closed could damage it.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 392015/05/11 14:00:30
3–42
Before Driving
Security System
*Some models.
Theft-Deterrent System*
If the theft deterrent system detects an
inappropriate entry into the vehicle,
which could result in the vehicle or its
contents being stolen, the alarm alerts the
surrounding area of an abnormality by
sounding the horn and flashing the hazard
warning lights.
The system will not function unless it's
properly armed. So when you leave the
vehicle, follow the arming procedure
correctly.
Operation
System triggering conditions
The horn sounds intermittently and the
hazard warning lights flash for about 30
seconds when the system is triggered by
any one of the following:
Unlocking a door with the key, door
lock switch, or an inside door-lock knob. Forcing open a door, the hood or the
liftgate/trunk lid. Opening the hood by operating the hood
release handle. Switching the ignition ON without using
the push button start.
If the system is triggered again, the lights
and horn will activate until the driver's
door is unlocked with the transmitter.
(With advanced key)
The lights and horn can also be
deactivated by pressing the request switch
on a door.
NOTE
If the battery goes dead while the theft-
deterrent system is armed, the horn will
activate and the hazard warning lights
will flash when the battery is charged or
replaced.
How to Arm the System
1. Close the windows and the moonroof*
securely.
2. Switch the ignition OFF .
3. Make sure the hood, the doors, and the
liftgate/trunk lid are closed.
4. Press the lock button on the transmitter
or lock the driver's door from the
outside with the auxiliary key.
The hazard warning lights will flash
once.
The following method will also arm the
theft-deterrent system:
Press the door-lock switch “” while
any door is open and then close all of
the doors.
(With the advanced keyless function)
Press a request switch.
The security indicator light in the
instrument panel flashes twice per
second for 20 seconds.
5. After 20 seconds, the system is fully
armed.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 422015/05/11 14:00:30
4–109
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.
Under the following conditions, the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) sy\
stem may not
operate normally.
Heavy luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment or on the rear seat. If there is the possibility of partial contact with a vehicle ahead. When driving on continuously curving roads, and entering and exiting exits. Elongated luggage or cargo is loaded onto installed roof rails and covers the laser
sensor (front). Exhaust gas from the vehicle in front, sand, snow, and water vapor rising from
manholes and grating, and water splashed into the air. When towing a malfunctioning vehicle.
In the following cases, the laser sensor (fr ont) may inadvertently determine that there is a
vehicle ahead and the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system may opera\
te.
Objects on the road at the entrance to a curve. Vehicles passing in the opposite lane while making a curve. Metal objects, bumps, or pr otruding objects on the road. When passing through a toll gate. When passing under a vinyl curtain or flag. Plastic objects such as pylons. Two-wheeled vehicles, pedestrians, animals or standing trees. Vehicle is driven with some of the tires having significant wear.
When the system operates, the user is notified by the flashing Sm art City Brake Support
(SCBS) indicator light (red) and the active driving display*. The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) warning light (amber) turns on w\
hen the system
has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-21.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 1092015/05/11 14:01:08