2017 MAZDA MODEL CX-9 wheel

3–57
Before Driving
Towing
Trailer Towing (U.S.A. and Canada)
Your Mazda was designed and built primarily to carry passengers and cargo.
If you tow a trailer, follow these instructions because driver and passenger safety depends
on proper equipment and safe driving habits. Towing a trailer will affect handling, braking,
durability, performance, and fuel economy.
Never overload your vehicle or trailer. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer if you need
further details.
CAUTION
Do not tow a trailer during the fi rst 1,000 km (600 miles) of your new Mazda. If you do,
you may damage the engine, transaxle, diff erential, wheel bearings, and other power-
train components.

NOTE
Your vehicle is equipped with a Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) mechanism, which enhances
vehicle stability when towing a trailer.
Refer to Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on page 4-76 .

Weight Limits
TTW and GCWR
The total trailer weight (TTW), gross combination weight rating (GCWR), gross
axle weight rating (GAWR), trailer load, and trailer tongue load must be within the
prescribed limits.
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 The total trailer weight (TTW) is the sum of the weights of the trailer load (trailer
weight plus cargo), trailer hitch, 2 passengers, and vehicle load (baggage, food, camp
gear, etc.). Never allow the total trailer weight (TTW) to exceed specifi cations in the
Trailer Towing-Load Table.
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 The maximum GCWR is the combination weight of the trailer and load plus the
towing vehicle (including trailer hitch, vehicle passengers, and load). It must not
exceed specifi cations in the load table.

GAWR and GVWR
Do not exceed front and rear GAWR (gross axle weight rating) and GVWR (gross vehicle
weight rating). If you do, vehicle handling, braking, and performance will be affected. These
values are also on the Motor Vehicle Safety Certifi cation Label posted on the driver's door
frame.
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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.
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
 If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
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
 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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3–65
Before Driving
Towing
Recreational Towing
An example of "recreational towing" is towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to "Towing Description" (page 7-26 ) and carefully
follow the instructions.

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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
 
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 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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4–40
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
Transaxle Ranges
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 The shift position indicator light in the
instrument cluster illuminates. Refer
to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-31 .
 
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 The selector lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.

P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the front
wheels from rotating.
WARNING
Always set the selector lever to P and set
the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the
P position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous.
If P fails to hold, the vehicle could move
and cause an accident.

CAUTION
 
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 Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transaxle.
 
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 Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster than
idle can damage the transaxle.

R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete
stop before shifting to or from R, except
under rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-51 ).
NOTE
(With parking sensor system)
When the selector lever is shifted to the R
position with the ignition switched ON, the
parking sensor system is activated and a
beep sound is heard.
Refer to Parking Sensor System on page
4-163 .

N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
If the engine is running faster than idle,
do not shift from N or P into a driving
gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine
is running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move suddenly,
causing an accident or serious injury.

Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot
be applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury.

CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle
damage.

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4–42
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
Manual Shift Mode
The manual shift mode gives you the feel
of driving a manual transaxle vehicle by
allowing you to operate the selector lever
manually. This allows you to control
engine rpm and torque to the drive wheels
much like a manual transaxle when more
control is desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift the
lever from D to M.



NOTE
Changing to manual shift mode while
driving will not damage the transaxle.

To return to automatic shift mode, shift the
lever from M to D.
NOTE
 
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 If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear
will shift to M1.
 
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 If you change to manual shift mode
without depressing the accelerator
pedal when driving in D range, 5th
gear/6th gear, the gear will shift to M4/
M5.

Indicators
Manual shift mode indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift
position indication in the instrument panel
illuminates.
Gear position indication
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.


Manual shift mode indicator
Gear position indicator

NOTE
 
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 If the gears cannot be shifted down
when driving at higher speeds, the gear
position indication will fl ash twice to
signal that the gears cannot be shifted
down (to protect the transaxle).
 
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 If the automatic transaxle fl uid (ATF)
temperature becomes too high, there
is the possibility that the transaxle
will switch to automatic shift mode,
canceling manual shift mode and
turning off the gear position indication
illumination. This is a normal function
to protect the AT. After the ATF
temperature has decreased, the gear
position indication illumination turns
back on and driving in manual shift
mode is restored.

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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
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 The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
 
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 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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