2016 MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR clutch

4–4
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Ignition Switch
Push Button Start Positions
The system operates only when the key is
within operational range.
Each time the push button start is pressed,
the ignition switches in the order of off,
ACC, and ON. Pressing the push button
start again from ON switches the ignition
off.
Indicator light
NOTE
 The engine starts by pressing the push
button start while depressing the clutch
pedal (manual transaxle) or the brake
pedal (automatic transaxle). To switch
the ignition position, press the push
button start without depressing the
pedal.
 Do not leave the ignition switched ON
while the engine is not running. Doing
so could result in the battery going
dead. If the ignition is left in ACC (For
automatic transaxle, the selector lever
is in the P position, and the ignition
is in ACC), the ignition switches off
automatically after about 25 minutes. Off
The power supply to electrical devices
turns off and the push button start indicator
light (amber) also turns off.
In this position the steering wheel is
locked.
WARNING
Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition off, set the parking
brake, and make sure the selector lever
is in P (automatic transaxle) or in 1st
gear or R (manual transaxle):
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition off, setting the
parking brake, and shifting the selector
lever to P (automatic transaxle) or
to 1st gear or R (manual transaxle)
is dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur which could
result in an accident.
In addition, if your intention is to leave
the vehicle for even a short period, it
is important to switch the ignition off,
as leaving it in another position will
disable some of the vehicle's security
systems and run the battery down.
ACC (Accessory)
Some electrical accessories will operate
and the indicator light (amber) illuminates.
NOTE
The keyless entry system does not function
while the push button start has been
pressed to ACC, and the doors will not
lock/unlock even if they have been locked
manually.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 42015/05/11 14:00:32

4–6
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
 After starting a cold engine, the engine
speed increases and a whining sound
from the engine compartment can be
heard.
This is for improved exhaust gas
purification and does not indicate defect
of the parts.
 Engine-starting is contr olled by the
spark ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
1. Make sure you are carrying the key .
2. Occupants should fasten their seat
belts.
3. Make sure the parking brake is on.
4. Continue to press the brake pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
5. (Manual transaxle)
Continue to press the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
(Automatic transaxle)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the clutch
pedal is not depressed sufficiently.
(Automatic transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the selector
lever is not in P or N and the brake pedal
is not depressed sufficiently.
6. Verify that the KEY indicator light
(green) in the instrument cluster and the
push button start indicator light (green)
illuminate.

Indicator light
Push button start
KEY indicator light
(green)/ KEY
warning light (red)
NOTE
 If the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes, make sure that the key is
being carried.
 If the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes with the key being
carried, touch the key to the push
button start and start the engine. Refer
to Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead on page 4-8.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 62015/05/11 14:00:33

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

4–8
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead
CAUTION
When starting the engine by holding
the transmitter over the push button
start due to a dead key battery or a
malfunctioning key, be careful not
to allow the following, otherwise the
signal from the key will not be received
correctly and the engine may not start.
 Metal parts of other keys or metal
objects touch the key.

 Spare keys or keys for other vehicles
equipped with an immobilizer system
touch or come near the key.

 Devices for electronic purchases, or
security passage touch or come near
the key. If the engine cannot be started due to a
dead key battery, the engine can be started
using the following procedure:
1. Continue to depress the brake pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
2. (Manual transaxle)
Continue to depress the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
3. Verify that the push button start
indication light (green) flashes.
4. Touch the push button start using the
backside of the key (as shown) while
the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes.

Transmitter
NOTE
When touching the push button start using
the backside of the key as shown in the
illustration, touch the push button start
with the lock switch side of the key facing
up.
5. Verify that the push button start
indicator light (green) turns on.
6. Press the push button start to start the
engine.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 82015/05/11 14:00:33

4–9
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
NOTE
 The engine cannot be started unless the
clutch pedal is fully depressed (manual
transaxle) or the brake pedal is fully
depressed (automatic transaxle).
 If there is a malfunction with the push
button start function, the push button
start indicator light (amber) flashes.
In this case, the engine may start,
however, have the vehicle checked at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
 If the push button start indicator light
(green) does not illuminate, perform the
operation from the beginning again. If
it does not illuminate, have the vehicle
checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
 To switch the ignition position without
starting the engine, perform the
following operations after the push
button start indicator light (green) turns
on.
1. Release the clutch pedal (manual
transaxle) or brake pedal (automatic
transaxle).
2. Press the push button start to switch
the ignition position. The ignition
switches in the order of ACC, ON,
and off each time the push button
start is pressed. To switch the
ignition position again, perform the
operation from the beginning.
Emergency Operation for Starting
the Engine
If the KEY warning light (red) 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.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 92015/05/11 14:00:33

4–26
When Driving
Transaxle
Manual Transaxle
Operation
Manual 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.
Always 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
 Keep 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.
 Do not apply any excessive lateral force
to the shift lever when changing from
5th to 4th gear. This could lead to the
accidental selection of 2nd gear, which
could result in damage to the transaxle.
 Make 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.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 262015/05/11 14:00:43

4–27
When Driving
Transaxle
*Some models.
NOTE
 (For vehicles with type C instrument
cluster*1)
If the engine speed is about to exceed
the permissible engine speed, the buzzer
sounds.
Refer to Over Rev. Buzzer on page
7-39.
*1 To determine which instrument
cluster is equipped on your Mazda,
Refer to Meters and Gauges on page
4-11.
 If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
Gear Shift Indicator*
The gear shift indicator supports you to
obtain optimum fuel economy and smooth
driving. It displays the selected gear
position in the instrument cluster as well
as notifies the driver to change to the most
suitable gear position corresponding to the
actual driving condition.
Selected gear positionSuitable gear position
Indication Condition
Numeral The selected gear position is
displayed.
and numeral Shift up or down to the indicated
gear position is recommended.
CAUTION
Do not rely solely on the shift-up/
shift-down recommendations by
indications. The actual driving
situation might require shift operations
different from indication. To avoid the
risk of accidents, the road and traffic
conditions have to be judged correctly
by the driver before shifting.
NOTE
The gear shift indicator turns off when the
following operations are performed.
 The vehicle is stopped. The vehicle is put in neutral. The vehicle is driven in r
everse. The clutch is not fully engaged when
accelerating from a stop. The clutch pedal remains depressed for
2 seconds or longer while driving.
Mazda3_8FA4-EA-15G_Edition1.indb 272015/05/11 14:00:44

4–58
When Driving
Brake
Brake System
Foot Brake
This vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
use.
Should power-assist fail, you can stop by
applying greater force than normal to the
brake pedal. But the distance required to
stop will be greater than usual.
WARNING
Do not coast with the engine stalled or
turned off, find a safe place to stop:Coasting with the engine stalled or
turned off is dangerous. Braking will
require more effort, and the brake's
power-assist could be depleted if
you pump the brake. This will cause
longer stopping distances or even an
accident.
Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep hills: Driving with your foot continuously on
the brake pedal or steadily applying
the brakes for long distances is
dangerous. This causes overheated
brakes, resulting in longer stopping
distances or even total brake failure.
This could cause loss of vehicle
control and a serious accident. Avoid
continuous application of the brakes. Dry off brakes that have become
wet by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the brake
performance returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been affected.
CAUTION
 Do not drive with your foot held on the
clutch pedal or brake pedal, or hold
the clutch pedal depressed halfway
unnecessarily. Doing so could result in
the following:
 The clutch and brake parts will wear
out more quickly. The brakes can overheat and
adversely affect brake performance.
 Always depress the brake pedal with
the right foot. Applying the brakes with
the unaccustomed left foot could slow
your reaction time to an emergency
situation resulting in insufficient braking
operation.

 Wear shoes appropriate for driving in
order to avoid your shoe contacting
the brake pedal when depressing the
accelerator pedal.
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