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 d
istance required to
stop will be greater than usual.
WA R N I N G
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 wh en 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
brake pedal. Doing so could result in the
following:
The 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.
When Driving
Brake
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▼Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
The EPB equipment applies the parking
brake using an electric motor. When the
parking brake is applied, the EPB switch
indicator light turns on.
Indicator light
WA R N I N G
Do not drive the vehicle with the parking
brake applied:
If the vehicle is driven with the parking
brake applied, the brake parts may
generate heat and the brake system may
not operate, leading to an accident.
Before driving, release the parking brake
and verify that the brake system warning
light is turned off.
NOTE
•The parking brake cannot be applied or
released while the vehicle battery is
dead.
•If the EPB is repeatedly applied and
released it may stop operating to
prevent overheating of the motor. If this
occurs, wait approx. 1 minute before
operating the EPB switch again.
•An operation sound occurs when applying
or releasing the parking brake, however,
this does not indicate a malfunction.
•If the EPB is not used for long periods,
an automatic inspection of the system is
performed while the vehicle is parked.
An operation sound can be heard,
however, this does not indicate a
problem.
•When the parking brake is applied and
the ignition is switched OFF, an
operation sound can be heard, however,
this does not indicate a problem.
•The brake pedal may move while the
parking brake is being applied or
released, however, this does not indicate
a problem.
•If the EPB switch is continually pulled
while driving the vehicle, the parking
brake will be applied and the EPB
warning beep will be activated. When
the switch is released, the parking brake
is released and the beep stops.
•If the parking brake is applied with the
ignition switched off or in ACC, the
brake system warning light in the
instrument cluster and the indicator
light in the switch may turn on for 15
seconds.
•When running the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, it may be necessary
to switch the ignition off with the
parking brake released depending on
the type of automatic car wash.
When Driving
Brake
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When applying the parking brake
The parking brake can be applied
regardless of the ignition switch position.
Securely depress the brake pedal and pull
up the EPB switch.
The parking brake is applied and the brake
system warning light and the EPB switch
indicator light turn on.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-24.
When releasing the parking brake
The EPB can be released while the
ignition is switched ON or the engine is
running. When the parking brake is
released, the brake system warning light
and the EPB switch indicator light turn
off.
Parking brake manual release
Firmly depress the brake pedal and press
the EPB switch.
If the EPB switch is pressed without
depressing the brake pedal, the indicator
light in the instrument cluster notifies the
driver that the brake is not depressed.
The brake pedal operation demand
indicator light (green) in the instrument
cluster turns on.
(Green)
When Driving
Brake
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Parking brake automatic release
If the accelerator pedal is depressed with
the parking brake applied and all of the
following conditions met, the parking
brake is released automatically.
•The engine is running.
•The driver's door is closed.
•The driver's seat belt is fastened.
(Manual transaxle)
•The change lever is in a position other
than neutral.
•The clutch pedal is depressed halfway
(Automatic transaxle)
•Selector lever is in the D, M, or R
position
NOTE
If something such as the driver's foot
contacts the accelerator pedal with the
engine running and the parking brake
applied, the parking brake may be
released automatically. If you do not
intend to drive immediately, shift the
change lever (manual transaxle) to the
neutral position, or shift the selector lever
(automatic transaxle) to the P or N
position.
▼ War ni ng L i gh t
The warning light
turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-30.
▼ Brake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This caus
es a screeching noise
to warn that the pads should be replaced.
When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
WA R N I N G
Do not drive with worn disc pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is dangerous.
The brakes could fail and cause a serious
accident. As soon as you hear a screeching
noise consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When Driving
Brake
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AUTOHOLD
The AUTOHOLD function automatically holds the vehicle stopped, even if you take your
foot off the brake pedal. This function can be best used while stopped in traffic or at a traffic
light. The brakes are released w hen you resume driving the vehi cle such as by releasing the
clutch pedal with the shift lever shifted to a position other than the neutral position (manual
transaxle vehicle) or depressing the accelerator pedal (automatic transaxle vehicle).
WA R N I N G
Do not rely completely on the AUTOHOLD function:
The AUTOHOLD function is only designed to assist the brake operation while the vehicle is
stopped. Neglecting to operate the brakes and relying only on the AUTOHOLD system is
dangerous and could result in an unexpected accident if the vehicle were to suddenly move.
Operate the brakes appr opriately in accordance with the road and surrounding conditions.
Do not release your foot from the brake pedal while the vehicle is stopped on a steep grade:
Because there is a possibility of the vehicle no t being held in the stopped position by the
AUTOHOLD function, the vehicle may move unexpectedly and result in an accident.
Do not use the AUTOHOLD function on slippery roads such as icy or snow-covered roads, or
unpaved roads:
Even if the vehicle is held in the stopped posi tion by the AUTOHOLD function, the vehicle may
move unexpectedly and result in an accident. Operate the accelerator pedal, brakes, or
steering wheel appropriately as necessary.
Immediately depress the brake pedal in the following cases:
Because the AUTOHOLD function is canceled forcibly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly
and result in an accident.
The brake pedal operation demand warning light (red) flashes and the warning sound is
activated at the same time.
(Red)
When Driving
Brake
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▼AUTOHOLD System is Turned On
Press the AUTOHOLD
switch and when
the AUTOHOLD standby indicator light
turns on, the AUTOHOLD function turns
on.
AUTOHOLD standby
indicator light
NOTE
When all of the following conditions are
met, the AUTOHOLD standby indicator
light turns on when the AUTOHOLD
switch is pressed and the AUTOHOLD
function turns on.
•The ignition is switched ON (engine is
running).
•The driver's seat belt is fastened.
•The driver's door is closed.
•There is no problem with the
AUTOHOLD function.
To operate AUTOHOLD and hold the
brakes
1. Depress the brake pedal and bring the
vehicle to a complete stop.
2. The AUTOHOLD active indicator
light in the instrume nt cluster turns on
and the brakes are held.
3. The vehicle is held in its stopped position even with the brake pedal
released.
NOTE
When all of the following conditions are
met, the AUTOHOLD operates and the
brakes are held.
•The ignition is swit ched ON (engine is
running).
•The vehicle is stopped.
•The brake pedal is being depressed.
•The AUTOHOLD active indicator light
turns on.
•The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
•The driver's seat belt is fastened.
•The driver's door is closed.
•There is no problem with the
AUTOHOLD function.
•The parking brake is released.
•There is no problem with the electric
parking brake (EPB) function.
•(Automatic transaxle vehicle)
The selector lever is in a position other
than R position or the vehicle tilts
forward with the selector lever in the R
position.
When Driving
Brake
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To release AUTOHOLD and start
driving the vehicle
If you do any of the following actions to
resume driving the v ehicle, the brakes
release automatically and the
AUTOHOLD active indi cator light turns
off.
•(Manual transaxle vehicle)
You start to release the clutch pedal with
the shift lever shifted to a position other
than the neutral position
•(Automatic transaxle vehicle)
•The accelerator pedal is depressed.
•The vehicle tilts rearward or the
selector lever is shifted to the R
position on level ground.
NOTE
•If the electric parking brake (EPB)
switch is pulled while the AUTOHOLD
is operating, the parking brake is
applied and the AUTOHOLD is
released. In addition, if the parking
brake is released under this condition,
the AUTOHOLD operates to hold the
brakes.
•Under the following conditions, the
parking brake is automatically applied
and the AUTOHOLD is released. The
AUTOHOLD is re-enabled when the
conditions before the AUTOHOLD is
released are restored.
•The driver’s seat belt is unfastened.
•The driver’s door is opened.
•When about 10 minutes or longer have
passed since the AUTOHOLD operation
started, the parking brake is
automatically applie d. Because the
AUTOHOLD is restored when releasing
the parking brake, the hold on the
brakes by AUTOHOLD function
resumes.
•(Manual transaxle vehicle)
When starting to drive the vehicle
forward or in reverse on a down slope,
depress the clutch pedal and shift the
shift lever to the appropriate position for
driving in the desired direction, and then
depress the accelerator pedal to release
the AUTOHOLD.
▼ AUTOHOLD System is Turned Off
Depress the brake pedal and press the
AUTOHOLD switch. The AUTOHOLD is
turned off and the AUTOHOLD standby
indicator light turns off.
AUTOHOLD standby
indicator light
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NOTE
•When the brakes are not held such as
while driving the vehicle, the
AUTOHOLD can be turned off only by
pressing the AUTOHOLD switch.
•If the AUTOHOLD switch is pressed
without depressing the brake pedal
while the AUTOHOLD is operating
(AUTOHOLD active indicator light is
turned on), the brake pedal operation
demand indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster turns on to notify the
driver that it is necessary to depress the
brake pedal.
(Green)
•If any of the following conditions occurs
while the AUTOHOLD function is
operating (AUTOHOLD active indicator
light is turned on), the parking brake is
applied automatically and the
AUTOHOLD function turns off. For the
electric parking brake (EPB) operation,
refer to the electric parking brake (EPB)
on page 4-57.
•The ignition is switched OFF.
•There is a problem with the
AUTOHOLD function.
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
HLA is a function which assists the driver
in accelerating from a stop while on a
slope. When the driver releases the brake
pedal and depresses the accelerator pedal
while on a slope, the function prevents the
vehicle from rolling. T he braking force is
maintained automatically after the brake
pedal is released on a steep grade.
For vehicles with a manual transaxle,
HLA operates on a downward slope when
the shift lever is in the reverse (R)
position, and on an upward slope when the
shift lever is in a position other than the
reverse (R) position.
For vehicles with an automatic transaxle,
HLA operates on a downward slope when
the selector lever is in the reverse (R)
position, and on an upward slope when the
selector lever is in a forward gear.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely completely on HLA:
HLA is an auxiliary device for accelerating
from a stop on a slope. The system only
operates for about two seconds and
therefore, relying only on the system, when
accelerating from a stop is dangerous
because the vehicle may move (roll)
unexpectedly and cause an accident.
The vehicle could roll depending on the
vehicle's load or if it is towing something. In
addition, for vehicles with a manual
transaxle, the vehicle could still roll
depending on how the clutch pedal or the
accelerator pedal is operated.
Always confirm the safety around the
vehicle before starting to drive the vehicle.
When Driving
Brake
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