2021 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK transmission

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.
Keep your hands on the steering
wheel rim when using fingers on the
steering shift switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous. If
the driver's air bag were to deploy in a
collision, your hands could be
impacted causing injury.
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 transmission will shift to a
lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed. However, the gears do not
kickdown while the DSC is turned
o ff.
▼ Second Gear Fixed Mode
When the selector lever is moved back
+ while the vehicle speed is about 10
km/h (6.2 mph) or less, the
transmission is set in the second gear
fixed mode. The gear is
fixed in second
while in this mode for easier
acceleration from a stop and driving on
slippery roads such as snow-covered
roads.
If the selector lever is moved back + or
forward – while in the second gear
fixed mode, the mode will be
canceled.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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▼Shift Gear (Shifting) Speed Limit
For each gear position while in the manual
mode, the speed limit is set as follows:
When the selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is
shifted.

1. 1st
2. 2nd
3. 3rd
4. 4th
5. 5th
6. 6th
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the vehi cle speed is lower than the speed limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while th e vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limi t and the gear does not shift down, the
gear position indication flashes 2 times to notify the driver that the gear cannot be
shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is depressed fu lly while driving, the gear shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown while the DSC is turned o ff.
NOTE
The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second gear fixed mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle speed during
deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains
in second.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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▼Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, Mazda recommends these shift points:
(U.S.A. and Canada)
Gear
Vehicle speed*1
M1 to M224 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 40 km/h (25 mph)
M3 to M4 65 km/h (40 mph)
M4 to M5 73 km/h (45 mph)
M5 to M6 81 km/h (50 mph)
*1 Always observe local speed limit regulations.
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy tra ffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift before
the engine starts to overwork. This gives better acceleration when you need more
speed.

On a steep downgrade, downshifting helps ma intain safe speed and prolongs brake
life.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Direct Mode*
▼Direct Mode
Direct mode can be used for
temporarily switching gears by
operating the steering shift switch
while the vehicle is being driven with
the selector lever in the D position.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate and the gear
position in use is illuminated.
1. Direct mode indication
2. Gear position indication

Direct mode is canceled (released)
under the following conditions.
The UP switch (+/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of
time or longer.
The vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time
di ffers depending on the driving
conditions while operating).
The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.

NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct
mode may not be possible depending
on the vehicle speed. In addition,
because direct mode is canceled
(released) depending on the rate of
acceleration or if the accelerator is fully
depressed, use of the manual shift
mode is recommended if you need to
drive the vehicle in a particular gear for
long periods.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Driving Tips
▼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.
Pa s s i n g
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades,
depress the accelerator fully. The
transmission 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 DSC is turned o ff,
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.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Using these garage door openers can
increase the risk of serious injury or
death. For further in formation, contact
HomeLink at www.homelink.com or
www.youtube.com/HomeLinkGentex
or an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Always check the areas surrounding
garage doors and gates for people or
obstructions before programming or
during operation of the HomeLink
system:
Programming or operating the
HomeLink system without verifying the
safety of areas surrounding garage
doors and gates is dangerous and
could result in an unexpected accident
and serious injury if someone were to
be hit.
NOTE
The programming will not be erased
even if the battery is disconnected.
▼ Pre-programming the HomeLink
System
NOTE
It is recommended that a new battery
be placed in the hand-held transmitter
of the device being programmed to
HomeLink for quic
ker training and
accurate transmission of the
radio-frequency signal.
Verify that there is a remote control
transmitter available for the device
you would like to program.
▼ Programming the HomeLink
System
The HomeLink system provides 3
buttons which can be individually
selected and programmed using the
transmitters for current, on-market
devices as follows:
1. Press and release the HomeLink
button you would like to program.
The indicator light flashes slowly in
amber when the button is pressed.
1. Indicator light
2. HomeLink button
2. Hold the hand-held transmitter 2.5
to 7.5 cm (1 to 3 in) away from the
HomeLink button you would like to
program while keeping the
indicator light in view.
NOTE
Depending on the hand-held
transmitter, it may be easier to do
the programming by holding it 15
to 20 cm (6 to 7.8 in) away from
the HomeLink button.
3. Press the hand-held transmitter button continuously until the
indicator light changes from amber
(fl ashing) to green
(on/flashing).
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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▼Gate operator/Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or
quit) after several seconds of
transmission ― which may not be long
enough for HomeLink
to pick up the
signal during programming. Similar to
this Canadian law, some U.S. gate
operators are designed to “time-out”
in the same manner.

If you live in Canada or are having
di fficulties programming a gate
operator by using the programming
procedures (regardless of where you
live), replace Step 3 of Programming
the HomeLink System with the
following:
NOTE
If programming a garage door opener
or gate operator, it is advised to unplug
the device during the “cycling” process
to prevent possible overheating.
While the indicator light is flashing in
amber, press the button on the
hand-held transmitter for 2 seconds
and release it repeatedly until the
indicator light changes from amber to
green.
Go back to Step 4 of Programming the
HomeLink System to complete the
procedure.
▼ Operating the HomeLink System
Press the programmed HomeLink
button to operate a programmed
device.
▼
Reprogramming the HomeLink
system
To program a device to HomeLink
using a HomeLink button previously
trained, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the desired
HomeLink button. DO NOT release
the button.
2. After 20 seconds, the indicator light
fl ashes in amber. After the indicator
light flashes, release the HomeLink
button.
3. Go back to Step 2 of Programming the HomeLink System to complete
the procedure.
NOTE
If the programming has not been
completed, the system returns to the
previous programming.
▼Erasing Programmed HomeLink
Buttons
NOTE
All of the programmed HomeLink
buttons are reset. Individual buttons
cannot be reset, however, individual
buttons can be reprogrammed. For
individual button reprogramming,
refer to Reprogramming the
HomeLink System (page 4-63).
Verify that the programming has
been erased if you resell the vehicle.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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NOTE
To release the parking brake when the
ignition is switched OFF, it is necessary
to cancel the parking brake auto
operation. For details, refer to
Canceling the parking brake automatic
operation.
Releasing the parking brake
automatically
If the accelerator pedal is depressed
with the parking brake applied and all
of the following conditions met, the
parking brake is released automatically.
When the parking brake is released,
the EPB indicator light in the
instrument cluster and the EPB switch
indicator light turn off.
The engine is running.The driver's door is closed.The driver's seat belt is fastened.(Manual transmission vehicle)
The shift lever is in a position other
than neutral.
The clutch pedal is depressed
halfway.
(Automatic transmission vehicle)
The 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 might be
released automatically. If you do not
intend to start driving the vehicle
immediately, shift the shift lever to the
neutral position for a manual
transmission, or shift the selector lever
to the P or N position for an automatic
transmission.
Canceling the parking brake
automatic operation
The parking brake automatic operation
can be canceled by doing any of the
following after switching the ignition
from ON to OFF.
Auto operation cancel method 1
1. Switch the ignition ON.
2. Release the parking brake manually.
3. Turn o ff the AUTOHOLD.
4. Press the EPB switch continuously for 2 seconds or longer (until a
sound is activated).
5. Release the EPB switch and switch the ignition OFF within 5 seconds
after the sound was activated.
After the auto operation is
canceled, a sound is activated one
time, and the EPB switch indicator
light switches from illumination to
flashing, and then turns o ff after 3
seconds.
Auto operation cancel method 2
1. Switch the ignition ON.
2. Release the parking brake manually.
3. Turn off the AUTOHOLD.
4. Switch the ignition OFF with the EPB switch pressed while the brake
pedal is not depressed.
When the auto operation is
canceled, a sound is activated one
time, and the EPB switch indicator
light goes from normal flashing to
faster flashing , and then turns off
after 3 seconds.
When Driving
Brake
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