4–39
When Driving
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.
NOTE
If shifting to R is dif fi cult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
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4–46
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
Manually Shifting Up
You can shift gears up by operating the
selector lever.
M1 → M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the
selector lever back
once.
NOTE
When driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE
while in manual shift mode. In
addition, manual shift mode switches
to automatic shift mode while the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed.
This function is canceled while the TCS is turned off. However, if the vehicle
is continuously driven at a high rpm,
the gears may automatically shift up to
protect the engine.
Manually Shifting Down
You can shift gears down by operating the
selector lever.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward
once.
WARNING
Do not use 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.
NOTE
When driving at high speeds, the gear
may not shift down.
During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.
When depressing the accelerator fully,
the transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed. However,
the gears do not kickdown while the
TCS is turned off.
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4–82
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If
one wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing and
reapplying that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal ABS system operation. Continue to
depress the brake pedal without pumping
the brakes.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-33 .
WARNING
Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for
safe driving: The ABS cannot compensate for unsafe
and reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), driving on ice and snow,
and hydroplaning (reduced tire friction
and road contact because of water on
the road surface). You can still have an
accident.
NOTE
Braking distances may be longer on
loose surfaces (snow or gravel, for
example) which usually have a hard
foundation. A vehicle with a normal
braking system may require less
distance to stop under these conditions
because the tires will build up a wedge
of surface layer when the wheels skid.
The sound of the ABS operating may
be heard when starting the engine
or immediately after starting the
vehicle, however, it does not indicate a
malfunction.
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4–83
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
Traction Control System
(TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by controlling
engine torque and braking. When the TCS
detects driving wheel slippage, it lowers
engine torque and operates the brakes to
prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin and loss of traction.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-33 .
WARNING
Do not rely on the Traction Control
System (TCS) as a substitute for safe
driving: The Traction Control System (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road contact
because of water on the road surface).
You can still have an accident.
Use snow tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are covered
with ice and/or snow: Driving without proper traction devices
on snow and/or ice-covered roads
is dangerous. The Traction Control
System (TCS) alone cannot provide
adequate traction and you could still
have an accident.
NOTE
To turn off the TCS, press the TCS OFF
switch (page 4-84 ).
TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON. If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light fl ashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC
or the brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
In addition to the indicator light
fl ashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This indicates
that the TCS/DSC is operating properly.
On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to achieve
high rpm when the TCS is on.
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4–85
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and engine
torque in conjunction with systems such
as ABS and TCS to help control side slip
when driving on slippery surfaces, or
during sudden or evasive maneuvering,
enhancing vehicle safety.
Refer to ABS (page 4-82 ) and TCS
(page 4-83 ).
DSC operation is possible at speeds
greater than 20 km/h (12 mph).
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-33 .
WARNING
Do not rely on the Dynamic Stability
Control as a substitute for safe driving: The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road contact
because of water on the road surface).
You can still have an accident.
CAUTION
The DSC may not operate correctly unless the following are observed:
Use tires of the correct size specifi ed for your Mazda on all four wheels.
Use tires of the same manufacturer, brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
Do not mix worn tires. The DSC may not operate correctly when tire chains are used or a temporary spare
tire is installed because the tire diameter
changes.
TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON. If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light fl ashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC
or the brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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4–90
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
Tires 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
When replacing tires, always replace all
front and rear tires at the same time.
All tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread pattern.
Pay particular attention when equipping
snow or other types of winter tires.
Do not mix tread-worn tires with normal
tires.
Inspect tire in fl ation pressures at the
specifi ed periods adjust to the speci fi ed
pressures.
NOTE
Check the tire in fl ation pressure label
attached to driver's door frame for the
correct tire in fl ation pressure.
Make sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine wheels of the speci fi ed size, on
all wheels. With AWD, the system is
calibrated for all four wheels being of
the same dimensions.
Tire chains
Install tire chains to the front tires. Do not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
Do not drive the vehicle faster than
30 km/h (19 mph) with the tire chains
installed.
Do not drive the vehicle with tire chains
on road conditions other than snow or
ice.
Towing
If the vehicle requires towing, have it
towed with all four wheels completely off
the ground.
Refer to Towing Description on page
7-20 .
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4–97
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
The timing in which the system switches the headlights changes under the\
following
conditions. If the system does not switch the headlights appropriately, manually switch
between high and low beams according to the visibility as well as road and traffi c
conditions.
When there are sources of light in the area such as street lamps, illuminated signboards,
and traffi c signals.
When there are re fl ective objects in the surrounding area such as re fl ective plates and
signs.
When visibility is reduced under rain, snow and foggy conditions. When driving on roads with sharp turn or hilly terrain. When the headlights/rear lamps of vehicles in front of you or in the opposite lane are dim
or not illuminated.
When there is suffi cient darkness such as at dawn or dusk. When the luggage compartment is loaded with heavy objects or the rear passenger seats
are occupied.
When visibility is reduced due to a vehicle in front of you spraying water from its tires
onto your windshield.
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4–107
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
NOTE
The Traffi c Sign Recognition System (TSR) does not operate if there is a malfunction in
the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC).
Under the following conditions, the Traf fi c Sign Recognition System (TSR) may not
operate normally.
An object placed on the dashboard is re fl ected in the windshield and picked up by the
camera.
Heavy luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment or on the rear seat and the
vehicle is tilted.
The tire pressures are not adjusted to the speci fi ed pressure. Tires other than standard tires are equipped. The vehicle is driven on the ramp and surrounding area to or from a rest area or a
tollgate on a highway.
When surrounding brightness suddenly changes such as when entering or exiting a
tunnel.
The illumination of the headlights is weakened because of dirt or the op\
tical axis is
deviated.
The windshield is dirty or foggy. The windshield and camera are fogged (water droplets). Strong light is directed at the front of the vehicle (such as backlight or high-beam
headlights of on-coming vehicles).
The vehicle is making a sharp turn. Strong light re fl ects off the road. A traffi c sign is in a position which makes it dif fi cult to re fl ect the light from the
vehicle's headlights, such as when the vehicle is driven at night or in \
a tunnel.
The vehicle is driven under weather conditions such as rain, fog, or sno\
w. The stored map data for the navigation system is not current. A traffi c sign is obscured by mud or snow. A traffi c sign is concealed by trees or a vehicle. A traffi c sign is partially shaded. A traffi c sign is bent or warped. A traffi c sign is too low or too high. A traffi c sign is too bright or too dark (including electronic traf fi c signs). A traffi c sign is too big or too small. There is an object similar to the traf fi c sign being read (such as another traf fi c sign or
other signs resembling it).
The Traffi c Sign Recognition System (TSR) does not operate if the active drivin\
g display
is set to non-display.
The Traffi c Sign Recognition System (TSR) can be set to inoperable. Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-11 .
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