Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).
Follow this procedure:
1. If the engine does not start within 5seconds on the first try, wait 10
seconds and try again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and hold it there.
4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual transaxle) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transaxle), then press the
push button start. If the engine starts,
release the accelerator immediately
because the engine will suddenly rev
up.
5. If the engine fails to start, crank it
without depressing the accelerator.
If the engine still does not start using the
previous procedure, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Push-Starting
Do not push-start your Mazda.
WA R N I N G
Never tow a vehicle to start it:
Towing a vehicle to start it is dangerous.
The vehicle being towed could surge
forward when its engine starts, causing the
2 vehicles to collide. The occupants could
be injured.
CAUTION
Do not push-start a vehicle that has a
manual transaxle. It can damage the
emission control system.
NOTE
You cannot start a vehicle with an
automatic transaxle by pushing it.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Starting
7-21
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
Overheating
If the high engine coolant temperature
warning light turns on, the vehicle loses
power, or you hear a loud knocking or
pinging noise, the engine is probably too
hot.
WA R N I N G
Pull over to a safe location, then switch
the ignition off and make sure the fan is
not running before attempting to work
near the cooling fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it is
running is dangerous. The fan could
continue running indefinitely even if the
engine has stopped and the engine
compartment temperature is high. You
could be hit by the fan and seriously
injured.
Do not remove either cooling
system cap when the engine and radiator
are hot:
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
Open the hood ONLY after steam is no
longer escaping from the engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you.
If the high engine coolant temperature
warning light turns on:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and
park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transaxle in park (P), a manual
transaxle in neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Turn off the air conditioner.
5. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from the engine
compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine.
Wait until the steam dissipates, then
open the hood and start the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine
until it cools.
CAUTION
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the engine
temperature will increase. Stop the
engine and call an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating, then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.
7. When cool, check the coolant level.
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
7-22
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle. Particularly
when towing an AWD vehicle, where all
the wheels are connected to the drive train,
proper transporting of the vehicle is
absolutely essential to avoid damaging the
drive system. Government and local laws
must be followed.
Wheel dollies
A towed 2WD vehicle should have its
drive wheels (front wheels) off the ground.
If excessive damage or other conditions
prevent this, use wheel dollies.
When towing a 2WD vehicle with the rear
wheels on the ground, release the parking
brake.
Refer to Electric Parking Brake (EPB) on
page 4-57.
A towed AWD vehicle must have all its
wheels off the ground.
WA R N I N G
Always tow an AWD vehicle with all four
wheels off the ground:
Towing an AWD vehicle with either the
front or rear wheels on the ground is
dangerous as the drive train could be
damaged, or the vehicle could trail away
from the tow truck and cause an accident.
If the drive train has been damaged,
transport the vehicle on a flatbed truck.
CAUTION
Do not tow the vehicle pointed backward
with driving wheels on the ground. This
may cause internal damage to the
transaxle.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
7-24
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or
flatbed equipment.
If the parking brake cannot be released
when towing the vehicle, transport the
vehicle with all front and rear wheels
raised off the ground as shown in the
figure. If the vehicle is towed without
raising the wheels off the ground, the
brake system could be damaged.
Wheel dollies
Tiedown Hooks*
CAUTION
Do not use the front tiedown eyelet for
towing the vehicle.
They have been designed only for securing
the vehicle to a transport vessel during
shipping.
Using the eyelet for any other purpose
could result in the vehicle being damaged.
▼ Tiedown Hook-Front
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug
wrench from the luggage compartment
(page 7-3).
2. Wrap a jack lever or similar tool with a
soft cloth to prevent damage to a
painted bumper, and open the cap
located on the front bumper.
CAUTION
Do not use excessive force as it may
damage the cap or scratch the painted
bumper surface.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
*Some models.7-25
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
SignalWarning
Brake System Warning
Light This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning/Warning light inspection
The light illuminates when the parking brake is applied with th
e ignition switched to
START or ON. It turns off when the parking brake is released.
When the light turns on
If the brake system warning light remains turned on even though the parking brake is
released, the brake fluid may be low or there could be a problem with the brake sys-
tem. Park the vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact a n Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
When the light is flashing
The light flashes if the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) has a mal function.
If the light remains flashing ev en if the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) switch is oper-
ated, consult an Authorized Maz da Dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system warning light illuminated. Contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer to have the brakes inspected as soon as possible:
Driving with the brake system warning light illuminated is dangerous. It indicates that
your brakes may not work at all or that they could completely fail at any time. If this
light remains illuminated, after checking that the parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
CAUTION
In addition, the effectiveness of the brakin g may diminish so you may need to depress
the brake pedal more strongly than normal to stop the vehicle.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution System Wa r n i n g If the electronic brake force di
stribution control unit determines that some compo-
nents are operating incorrectly , the control unit may illuminate the brake system
warning light and the ABS warni ng light simultaneously. The problem is likely to be
the electronic brake force distribution system.
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning light and brake warning light illuminated.
Have the vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the brakes inspected as
soon as possible:
Driving when the brake system warning li ght and ABS warning light are illuminated
simultaneously is dangerous.
When both lights are illuminate d, the rear wheels could lock more quickly in an emer‐
gency stop than under normal circumstances.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
7-28
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
SignalWarning
Power Steering Mal-
function Indicator Light The light illuminates/flashes if the electric power steering ha
s a malfunction.
If the light illuminates/flashes, stop the vehicle in a safe pl ace and do not operate the
steering wheel. There is no problem if the light turns off afte r a while. Contact an Au-
thorized Mazda Dealer if the lig ht illuminates/flashes continuously.
NOTE
•If the indicator light illuminates/flashes, the power steering will not operate normal-
ly. If this happens, the steering wheel can still be oper ated, however, the operation
may feel heavy compar ed to normal, or the steering wheel could vibrate when turn-
ing.
•Repeatedly jerking the steering wheel left and right while the vehicle is stopped or
moving extremely slowly will cause the power steering system to go into protective
mode which will make the steering feel heavy, but this does not indicate a problem. If
this occurs, park the vehicle safely and wait several minutes for the system to return
to normal.
▼ Contact Authorized Mazda Deal
er and Have Vehicle Inspected
If any of the following warning lights o r the indicator light turns on/flashes, the system may
have a malfunction. Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have your vehicle inspected.
SignalWarning
ABS Warning LightIf the ABS warning light stays
on while you're driving, the ABS control unit has detected
a system malfunction. If this occurs, your brakes will function normally as if the vehicle
had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an A uthorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
•When the engine is jump-started to charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light may illuminate. If this occurs, it is the result of the weak battery and does
not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
•The brake assist system does not operate wh ile the ABS warning light is illuminated.
Master Warning
Light (Vehicles with type B audio)
The light turns on when the system has a malfunction.
Operate the center display and verify the content.
Refer to If a Warning Light Turns On or Flashes on page 7-27.
(Vehicles with type A audio)
The light illuminates continuously if any one of the following
occurs. Consult an Author-
ized Mazda Dealer.
•There is a malfunction in the battery management system.•There is a malfunction in the brake switch.
Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) Warn- ing Light The warning light illuminates when
the system has a malfunction. Have your vehicle in-
spected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
7-30
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
SignalWarning
(Red)
Brake Pedal Opera-
tion Demand Warn- ing Light When only flashing
Flashes if there is the possibility of the vehicle not being he
ld in the stopped position by
the AUTOHOLD function, such as on steep slopes. Depress and hol d your foot on the
brake pedal.
When flashing and beep sound is activated at the same time
The warning light flashes and t he beep sound is activated for about five seconds if there is
a problem with the system. If th e warning light flashes and the warning sound is activated,
immediately depress the brake pe dal and stop using the AUTOHOLD function then con-
tact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WA R N I N G
Immediately depress the brake pedal if the warning light flashes and the beep sound is acti‐
vated while using the AUTOHOLD function:
Because the AUTOHOLD function is canceled forcibly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly
and result in an accident.
Check Engine Light If this light illuminates while dr
iving, the vehicle may have a problem. It is important to
note the driving conditions when the light illuminated and cons ult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The check engine light may illumi nate in the following cases:
•The fuel tank level being very low or approaching empty.•The engine's electrical system has a problem.•The emission control system has a problem.•The fuel-filler cap is missing or not tightened securely.
If the check engine light remains on, or it flashes continuously , do not drive at high
speeds and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Automatic Trans-
axle Warning Light*
The light illuminates when the transaxle has a problem.
CAUTION
If the automatic transaxle warning light illumi nates, the transaxle has an electrical prob‐
lem. Continuing to drive your Mazda in this condition could cause damage to your trans‐
axle. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
(Turns on)
TCS/DSC Indicator Light 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 Authori zed Mazda Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
*Some models.7-31
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14
SignalWarning Action to be taken
(Amber)
Smart Brake Support/
Smart City Brake Sup- port (SBS/SCBS)
Warning Light
*
The light turns on if the windshield or the
radar sensor are dirty, or there is a malfunc-
tion in the system. (Vehicles with type B audio)
Verify the reason why the warning light is
illuminated on the center display (page
7-27).
If the reason why the warning light is illu-
minated is due to a dirty windshield, clean
the windshield.
If the warning light is illuminated because
of a dirty radar sensor, clean the front em-
blem.
For any other reasons, have the vehicle in-
spected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
(Vehicles without type B audio)
If the reason why the warning light is illu-
minated is due to a dirty windshield, clean
the windshield. For any other reasons,
have the vehicle inspected at an Author-
ized Mazda Dealer.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Syste
m Warning Light (Turns on)
*
Take the appropriate action and verify that the warning light t urns off.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
*Some models.7-37
CX-3_8GR7-EA-18B_Edition1 2017-12-20 16:18:14