2017 MAZDA MODEL 2 trailer

3–62
Before Driving
Towing
Safety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a precautionary measure should the trailer become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to the hitch.
Leave enough slack to allow full turns. Consult literature published by your trailer or hitch
manufacturer for more details.
WARNING
Make sure the safety chain is securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle prior
to departure:
Towing a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer and
the vehicle is dangerous. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, the trailer
could wander into another lane and cause a collision.
Trailer Lights
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directly to the lighting system of your Mazda.
This may damage your vehicle's electrical system and lighting systems. To connect the
lighting system, consult an Authorised Mazda Dealer.
Trailer Brakes
Check the Maximum trailer towing-load table in Weight Limits (page 3-56 ), and if your
trailer weight exceeds the value in the TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT (Trailer without brake),
trailer brakes are required.
If your trailer has brakes, make sure they meet regulations.
WARNING
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system:
Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system directly to the vehicle brake system is
dangerous and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.

3–63
Before Driving
Towing
Trailer Towing Tips
Before driving
 




 Verify that your Mazda maintains a near-normal attitude when a loaded or unloaded trailer
is connected. Do not drive if it has an abnormal front-up or front-down position. Inspect
for incorrect nose weight, worn suspension parts, and trailer overloading. Have the vehicle
inspected by an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
 


 Make sure the trailer cargo is secure to prevent it from shifting.



 Make sure the mirrors meet all government regulations. Inspect them.



 Before starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and trailer lights and all vehicle-
to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspect all lights and connections after driving a short
distance.

Driving
 




 Your Mazda will handle differently with a trailer in tow, so practice turning, backing, and
stopping in a traf¿ c-free area.




 Take time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.



 Do not exceed 100 km/h (62 mph) with a trailer in tow. If the local legal maximum speed
with a trailer in tow is less than 100 km/h (62 mph), do not exceed the legal speed.
CAUTION
If the vehicle exceeds 100 km/h (62 mph) with a trailer in tow, the vehicle could be
damaged.
 


 When ascending a hill, shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or
overheating the engine, or both.
 


 When descending a hill, shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking
effect. Pay constant attention to speed and use the brakes only as needed. Holding the
brake pedal down for a prolonged period may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
power.

3–64
Before Driving
Towing
Parking
Avoid parking on an incline with a trailer. If this must be done, follow these instructions.
Parking on an Incline
1. Set the parking brake and the brakes.
2. Have someone block the wheels of the vehicle and trailer while you apply the brakes.
3. After the wheels are blocked, release the parking brake and the brakes slowly, allowing
the blocks to bear the load.
4. Set the parking brake ¿ rmly.
5. If the vehicle has an automatic transaxle, put the selector lever in P. If it has a manual
transaxle, place the gear shift in 1 or R.

Starting on an Incline
1. Start the engine (page 4-5 ).
2. Release the parking brake and slowly pull away a short distance from the wheel blocks.
3. Stop on the nearest level ground, set the parking brake, and pick up the wheel blocks.

4–120
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator light may turn on and the vehicle
detection screen may be displayed in the display in reaction to stationary objects
(guardrails, tunnels, sidewalls, and parked vehicles) on the road or the roadside.
Objects such as guardrails and concrete walls
running alongside the vehicle.Places where the width between guardrails or
walls on each side of the vehicle narrows.

The walls at the entrance and exits of tunnels,
turnouts.
  A Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator light may À ash or the warning beep
may be activated several times when making a turn at a city intersection.
  Turn off the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) while pulling a trailer or while an accessory
such as a bicycle carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radar’s
radio waves will be blocked causing the system to not operate normally.
  In the following cases, it may be dif¿ cult to view the illumination/À ashing of the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights equipped on the door mirrors.
 


 Snow or ice is adhering to the door mirrors.



 The front door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt. 

 The system switches to the Rear Cross Traf¿ c Alert function when the shift lever
(manual transaxle) or the selector lever (automatic transaxle) is shifted to the reverse
(R) position.
 Refer to Rear Cross Traf¿ c Alert (RCTA) on page 4-130 .

4–134
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
  In the following cases, it may be dif¿ cult to view the illumination/À ashing of the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights equipped on the door mirrors.
 


 Snow or ice adheres to the door mirrors.



 The front door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt. 

 Turn off the Rear Cross Traf¿ c Alert (RCTA) system while pulling a trailer or while
an accessory such as a bicycle carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise,
the radio waves emitted by the radar will be blocked causing the system to not operate
normally.

4–165
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
  In the following cases, an ultrasonic sensor (rear) may detect something as a target
obstruction which could cause the Smart City Brake Support [Reverse] (SCBS R)
system to operate.
 


 Driving on a steep slope.



 Wheel blocks.



 Hanging curtains, gate poles such as at toll gates and railroad crossing.



 When travelling near objects such as foliage, barriers, vehicles, walls, and fences
along a road.
 


 When driving off-road in areas where there is grass and forage.



 When passing through low gates, narrow gates, car washing machines, and tunnels.



 A towing bar is installed or a trailer is connected. 

 (Manual transaxle)  If the vehicle is stopped by the SCBS operation and the clutch pedal is not depressed,
the engine stops.
  The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) warning indication (amber) turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
 Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-38 .
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)
Indicator Light (Red)
If the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) is
operating, the indicator light (red) À ashes.


Automatic Brake Operation
Display
“SCBS Automatic Brake” is indicated in
the active driving display after the SCBS
brakes is operated.

4–174
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
  In the following cases, the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) may not be able to detect
target objects correctly.
 


 Under bad weather condition, such as rain, fog and snow.



 The window washer is being used or the windscreen wipers are not used when it's
raining.
 


 Ice, fog, snow, frost, rainfall, dirt, or foreign matter such as a plastic bag is stuck on
the windscreen.
 


 Trucks with low loading platforms and vehicles with an extremely low or high
pro¿ le.




 When driving next to walls with no patterning (including fences and longitudinally
striped walls).
 


 The tail lights of the vehicle ahead are turned off.



 A vehicle is outside the illumination range of the headlights.



 The vehicle is making a sharp turn, or ascending or descending a steep slope.



 Entering or exiting a tunnel.



 Heavy luggage is loaded causing the vehicle to tilt.



 Strong light is shone at the front of the vehicle (back light or high-beam light from
on-coming vehicles).
 


 There are many light emitters on the vehicle ahead.



 When the vehicle ahead is not equipped with tail lights or the tail lights are turned
off at nighttime.
 


 Elongated luggage or cargo is loaded onto installed roof rails and covers the Forward
Sensing Camera (FSC).
 


 Exhaust gas from the vehicle in front, sand, snow, and water vapour rising from
manholes and grating, and water splashed into the air.
 


 When towing a malfunctioning vehicle.



 The vehicle is driven with tyres having signi¿ cantly different wear.



 The vehicle is driven on down slopes or bumpy roads.



 There are water puddles on the road.



 The surroundings are dark such as during the night, early evening, or early morning,
or in a tunnel or indoor parking lot.
 


 The illumination brightness of the headlights is reduced or the headlight illumination
is weakened due to dirt or a deviated optical axis.
 


 The target object enters the blind spot of the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC).



 A person or object bursts onto the road from the shoulder or cuts right in front of
you.
 


 You change lanes and approach a vehicle ahead.



 When driving extremely close to the target object.



 Tyre chains or a temporary spare tyre is installed.



 The vehicle ahead has a special shape. For example, a vehicle towing a trailer house
or a boat, or a vehicle carrier carrying a vehicle with its front pointed rearward.

4–17 8
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
  Under the following conditions, the radar sensor (front) may not be able to detect
vehicles ahead or obstructions correctly and each system may not operate normally.
 


 The rear surface of a vehicle ahead does not reÀ ect radio waves effectively, such as
an unloaded trailer or an automobile with a loading platform covered by a soft top,
vehicles with a hard plastic tailgate, and round-shaped vehicles.
 


 Vehicles ahead with low vehicle height and thus less area for reÀ ecting radio waves.



 Visibility is reduced due to a vehicle ahead casting off water, snow, or sand from its
tyres and onto your windscreen.
 


 The boot/luggage compartment is loaded with heavy objects or the rear passenger
seats are occupied.
 


 Ice, snow, or soiling is on the front surface of the front emblem.



 During inclement weather such as rain, snow, or sand storms.



 When driving near facilities or objects emitting strong radio waves. 

 Under the following conditions, the radar sensor (front) may not be able to detect
vehicles ahead or obstructions.
 


 The beginning and end of a curve.



 Roads with continuous curves.



 Narrow lane roads due to road construction or lane closures.



 The vehicle ahead enters the radar sensor's blind spot.



 The vehicle ahead is running abnormally due to accident or vehicle damage.



 Roads with repeated up and down slopes



 Driving on poor roads or unpaved roads.



 The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is extremely short.



 A vehicle suddenly comes close such as by cutting into the lane. 

 To prevent incorrect operation of the system, use tyres of the same speci¿ ed size,
manufacturer, brand, and tread pattern on all four wheels. In addition, do not use
tyres with signi¿ cantly different wear patterns or tyre pressures on the same vehicle
(Including the temporary spare tyre).
  If the battery power is weak, the system may not operate correctly. 
 If the vehicle is driven on a road with little traf¿ c and few vehicles ahead or
obstructions for the radar sensor (front) to detect, the sensor detects that the radar
sensor (front) is dirty and the Smart Brake Support/Smart City Brake Support (SBS/
SCBS) Warning Light (amber) may be temporarily turned on. However, it does not
indicate a malfunction.