2017 MAZDA MODEL CX-9 steering

3–63
Before Driving
Towing
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads will
affect handling.
If swaying occurs, fi rmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is made, the
combination of less speed and fi rm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
WARNING
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently is dangerous as it could cause
the brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a serious accident.
Use lower gears to help reduce speed. Pull off the road and allow brakes to cool down
whenever braking performance feels reduced.

Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely
to the side of the road, park off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating on page 7-24 .
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3–64
Before Driving
Towing
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake fi rmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
 


 If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
 


 If it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.

To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also the foot brake) and pull away from the wheel blocks.
Stop; apply the parking brake and shift into P.
4. Have a helper retrieve the wheel blocks.

Fuel consumption
Trailer towing causes higher fuel consumption.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer frequently, have your vehicle serviced as shown in Scheduled
Maintenance (page 6-4 ).
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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 ...... 4-12
Meters and Gauges ....................... 4-12
Multi-information Display and INFO
Switch
* ......................................... 4-21
Active Driving Display * ............... 4-29
Warning/Indicator Lights ............. 4-31

Automatic Transaxle ......................... 4-38
Automatic Transaxle Controls ..... 4-38
Shift-Lock System ....................... 4-39
Transaxle Ranges ......................... 4-40
Manual Shift Mode ...................... 4-42
Driving Tips ................................. 4-47

Switches and Controls ...................... 4-48
Lighting Control ........................... 4-48
Fog Lights
* ................................... 4-54
Turn and Lane-Change Signals .... 4-54
Windshield Wipers and Washer ... 4-55
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer .......................................... 4-59
Rear Window Defogger ............... 4-60
Horn ............................................. 4-61
Hazard Warning Flasher ............... 4-61
HomeLink Wireless Control
System
* ......................................... 4-62
Brake .................................................. 4-66
Brake System ............................... 4-66
Hill Launch Assist (HLA) ............ 4-70

ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer Stability Assist
(TSA) .................................................. 4-72
Antilock Brake System (ABS) ..... 4-72
Traction Control System (TCS) ... 4-73
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) ........................................... 4-75
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)....... 4-76

Fuel Economy Monitor ..................... 4-77
Fuel Economy Monitor ................ 4-77

Drive Selection ................................... 4-79
Drive Selection ............................. 4-79

i-ACTIV AWD ................................... 4-81
i-ACTIV AWD Operation
* ........... 4-81

Power Steering................................... 4-83
Power Steering ............................. 4-83

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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 brake
pedal. 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 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:
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition off , setting the
parking brake, and shifting the selector
lever to P 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.

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4–12
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
Meters and Gauges


Instrument Cluster
Type A
(With Multi-information Display)
(Without Multi-information Display) Type B
Steering Switch
Active Driving Display

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4–32
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
Warning Indication/Warning Lights
These lights turn on or fl ash to notify the user of the system operation status or a system
malfunction.

Signal Warning Page

Brake System Warning Indication/Warning Light *1*2 7-30

ABS Warning Light *1 Electronic
Brake Force
Distribution
System Warning
7-30 ,
ABS warning
7-33

Charging System Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-30

Engine Oil Warning Light *1 7-30


(Red) * High Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-30

Power Steering Malfunction Indication/Malfunction Indicator Light *1 7-30

* Master Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-33

Electric Parking Brake (EPB) Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-33

* Engine Oil Level Warning Indication 7-33

Check Engine Light *1 7-33

Automatic Transaxle Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-33

* AWD Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-33

Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light *1 7-33
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4–47
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
Driving Tips
WARNING
Do not let the vehicle move in a
direction opposite to the direction
selected by the selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward
with the selector lever in a forward
position, or do not let the vehicle
move forward with the selector lever
in the reverse position. Otherwise, the
engine may stop, causing the loss of
the power brake and power steering
functions, and make it diffi cult to
control the vehicle which could result
in an accident.

Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
NOTE
 

 The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how
much the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown,
and functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed.
 




 While the selector lever is in the M
position and the TCS is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch
to automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.

Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:

1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually
accelerating.

Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight and
grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
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4–61
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Horn
To sound the horn, press the mark on
the steering wheel.
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.



The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffi c hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.



Depress the hazard warning fl asher and
all the turn signals will fl ash. The hazard
warning indicator lights in the instrument
cluster fl ash simultaneously.
NOTE




 The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
 


 Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.

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