2021 MAZDA MODEL CX-3 stop start

(amber) illuminates when the ignition is
switched ON and the engine is not
running.)
Some indicator lights/warning lights
should be inspected before the engine is
started (page 4-21).
NOTE
When the push button start is pressed to
ON, the sound of the fuel pump motor
operating near the fuel tank can be heard.
This does not indicate an abnormality.
Starting the Engine
WA R N I N G
Radio waves from the key may affect
medical devices such as pacemakers:
Before using the key near people who use
medical devices, ask the medical device
manufacturer or your physician if radio
waves from the key w ill affect the device.
NOTE
The key must be carried because the key
carries an immobilizer chip that must
communicate with the engine controls at
short range.
The engine can be started when the push
button start is pressed from off, ACC, or
ON.
The push button start system functions
(function which can start the engine by
only carrying the key) can be
deactivated to prevent any possible
adverse effect on a user wearing a
pacemaker or other medical device. If
the system is deactivated, you will be
unable to start the engine by carrying
the key. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for details. If the push button
start system functions have been
deactivated, you can start the engine by
following the procedure indicated when
the key battery goes dead.
Refer to Engine Start Function When
Key Battery is Dead on page 4-8.
After starting a cold engine, the engine
speed increases and a whining sound
from the engine compartment can be
heard.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-5
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

This is for improved exhaust gas
purification and does not indicate any
parts defect.
Engine-starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
1. Make sure you are carrying the key.
2. Occupants should fasten their seat belts.
3. Make sure the parking brake is on.
4. Continue to press the brake pedal firmly until the engine has completely
started.
5. (Manual transaxle)
Continue to press the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
(Automatic transaxle)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the
clutch pedal is not depressed
sufficiently.
(Automatic transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the
selector lever is not in P or N and the
brake pedal is not depressed
sufficiently.
6. Verify that the KEY indicator light (green) in the inst rument cluster and
the push button start indicator light
(green) illuminate.

Indicator light
Push button start
NOTE
If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes, make sure that
the key is being carried.
If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes with the key
being carried, touch the key to the
push button start and start the
engine. Refer to Engine Start
Function When Key Battery is Dead
on page 4-8.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-6
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

CAUTION
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate a problem with the
engine starting system. This may
prevent the engine from starting or
from switching the ignition to ACC or
ON. Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
NOTE
Under the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes after
the push button start is pressed. This
informs the driver that the push
button start will not switch to ACC
even if it is pressed from off.
The key battery is dead.
The key is out of operational
range.
The key is placed in areas where it
is difficult for the system to detect
the signal (page 3-8).
A key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range.
(Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may
not start using the usual starting
method. Have your vehicle inspected
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. If this occurs, the
engine can be force-started. Press
and hold the push button start until
the engine starts. Other procedures
necessary for starting the engine,
such as having the key in the cabin,
and depressing the clutch pedal
(manual transaxle) or the brake
pedal (automatic transaxle) are
required.
When the engine is force-started, the
KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button start
indicator light (amber) remains
flashing.
(Automatic transaxle)
When the selector lever is in the
neutral (N) position, the KEY
indicator light (green) and the push
button start indicator light (green)
do not illuminate.
7. Press the push button start after both
the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.
NOTE
After starting the engine, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to
the ON position.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-7
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

After pressing the push button start
and before the engine starts, the
operation sound of the fuel pump
motor from near the fuel tank can be
heard, however, this does not
indicate a malfunction.
8. After starting the engine, let it idle for about ten seconds.
NOTE
Whether the engine is cold or warm,
it should be started without the use
of the accelerator.
If the engine does not start the first
time, refer to Starting a Flooded
Engine under Emergency Starting. If
the engine still does not start, have
your vehicle inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer (page
7-20).
▼Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead
CAUTION
When starting the engine by holding the
transmitter over the push button start due
to a dead key battery or a malfunctioning
key, be careful not to allow the following,
otherwise the signal from the key will not
be received correctly and the engine may
not start.

Metal parts of other keys or metal objects
touch the key.
Spare keys or keys for other vehicles
equipped with an immobilizer system
touch or come near the key.
 Devices for electronic purchases, or
security passage touch or come near the
key.
If the engine cannot be started due to a
dead key battery, the engine can be started
using the following procedure:
1. Continue to depress the brake pedal firmly until the en gine has completely
started.
2. (Manual transaxle)
Continue to depress the clutch pedal
firmly until the en gine has completely
started.
3. Make sure that the push button start
indication light (green) flashes.
4. Align the center area of the emblem on the transmitter with the center area of
the push button st art while the push
button start indicator light (green)
flashes.

Indicator light
Push button start
Key
Emblem
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-8
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old
2020-5-22 15:31:00

5. Make sure that the push button startindicator light (green) turns on.
6. Press the push button start to start the
engine.
NOTE
The engine cannot be started unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed
(manual transaxle) or the brake
pedal is fully depressed (automatic
transaxle).
If there is a malfunction with the
push button start function, the push
button start indica tor light (amber)
flashes. In this case, the engine may
start, however, have the vehicle
checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
If the push button start indicator
light (green) does not illuminate,
perform the operation from the
beginning again. If it does not
illuminate, have the vehicle checked
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
To switch the ignition position
without starting the engine, perform
the following operations after the
push button start indicator light
(green) turns on.
1. Release the clutch pedal (manual
transaxle) or brake pedal
(automatic transaxle).
2. Press the push button start to
switch the ignition position. The
ignition switches in the order of
ACC, ON, and off each time the
push button start is pressed. To
switch the igni tion position
again, perform the operation
from the beginning.
▼ Emergency Operation for Starting
the Engine
If the KEY warning light (red) illuminates,
or the push button start indicator light
(amber) flashes, this could indicate that
the engine may not start using the usual
starting method. Ha
ve your vehicle
inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible. If this occurs, the
engine can be force-started. Press and hold
the push button start until the engine starts.
Other procedures necessary for starting the
engine such as having the key in the cabin,
and depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transaxle) or the brake pedal (automatic
transaxle) are required.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-9
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

Turning the Engine Off
WA R N I N G
Do not stop the engine while the vehicle is
moving:
Stopping the engine while the vehicle is
moving for any reason other than in an
emergency is dangerous. Stopping the
engine while the vehicle is moving will
result in reduced braking ability due to the
loss of power braking, which could cause
an accident and serious injury.
1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2.(Manual transaxle)
Shift into neutral and set the parking
brake.
(Automatic transaxle)
Shift the selector lever to the P
position and set the parking brake.
3. Press the push button start to turn off
the engine. The ignition position is off.
CAUTION
When leaving the vehicle, make sure the
push button start is off.
NOTE
The cooling fan in the engine
compartment could turn on for a few
minutes after the i gnition is switched
from ON to OFF, whether or not the A/C
is on or off, to cool the engine
compartment quickly.
When the push button start is pressed
from ON to ACC or OFF, the KEY
indicator light (green) may flash for
approximately 30 seconds indicating
that the remaining battery power of the
key is low.
Replace with a new battery before the
key becomes unusable.
Refer to Key Battery Replacement on
page 6-34.
(Automatic transaxle)
If the engine is turned off while the
selector lever is in a position other than
P, the ignition switches to ACC.
▼ Emergency Engine Stop
Continuously pressing the push button
start or quickly pressing it any number of
times while the engine is running or the
vehicle is being driven will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-10
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old
2020-5-22 15:31:00

Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting out
of P unless the brake pedal is depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
the ignition is switched off, the selector
lever cannot be shifted from P position.
The ignition cannot be switched to OFF
if the selector lever is not in P position.
▼ Shift-Lock Override
If the selector lever will not move from P
using the proper shift procedure, continue
to hold down the brake pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
using a cloth-wr apped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
Cover
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer to have the system checked.
Transaxle Ranges
The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-21.
The selector lever must be in P or N
position to operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
WA R N I N G
Always set the selector lever to P position
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
 Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transaxle.
 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 3-42).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-30
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

(Canada)
Ignition PositionACC or OFF ON
Switch Position OFF
*1AUTOOFF*1AUTO
Headlights Off Off Off Off
Auto
*2*4Auto*3*4
On
Daytime running
lights Off Off Off Off
Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off
On
*5OnOn*5On
*1 The light switch returns to the AUTO position automatically.*2 During the daytime, the daytime running lights turn on automatically. During the nighttime, the headlights,
parking lights, taillights, and the license plate lights turn on automatically.
*3 During the daytime, the daytime running lights, parking lights, taillights, and the license plate lights turn on
automatically. During the nighttime, the headlights, park ing lights, taillights, and the license plate lights turn
on automatically.
*4 When the light switch is switched to the OFF position while the vehicle is stopped, all of the lights that are
turned on turn off. When the light switc h is switched from a position other than
to the position
while the vehicle is stopped, the daytime running lights or the headlights turn off. When starting to drive the
vehicle, the lights that are turned off turn on again.
*5 The lights are turned on continuously if the ignition is switched from ON to any other position with the lights
turned on. The lights are turned off when the driver's door is opened or 30 seconds have elapsed since the
lights turned on.
Auto-light control*
(Except Canada)
When the headlight switch is in the AUTO po sition and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the
headlights, other exterior lights on or off (see chart above).
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-42*Some models.
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00