2021 MAZDA MODEL CX-3 towing

The Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) includes a function for detecting a soiled windshield
and informing the driver, however, depending on the conditions, it may not detect plastic
shopping bags, ice or snow on the windshield. In such cases, the system cannot accurately
determine a vehicle ahead and may not be able to operate normally. Always drive carefully
and pay attention to the road ahead.
NOTE
In the following cases, the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) cannot detect target objects
correctly, and each system may be unable to operate normally.
The height of the vehicle ahead is low.
You drive your vehicle at the same speed as the vehicle ahead.
Headlights are not turned on during the night or when going through a tunnel.
In the following cases, the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) may not be able to detect
target objects correctly.
Under bad weather condition, such as rain, fog and snow.
The window washer is being used or the windshield wipers are not used when it's
raining.
Ice, fog, snow, frost, rainfall, dirt, or foreign matter such as a plastic bag is stuck on the
windshield.
Trucks with low loading plat forms and vehicles with an extremely low or high profile.
When driving next to walls with no patterning (including fences and longitudinally
striped walls).
The taillights of the vehicle ahead are turned off.
A vehicle is outside the illumi nation range of the headlights.
The vehicle is making a sharp turn, or ascending or descending a steep slope.
Entering or exiting a tunnel.
Heavy luggage is loaded causing the vehicle to tilt.
Strong light is shone at the front of the vehicle (back light or high-beam light from
on-coming vehicles).
There are many light emitters on the vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead is not equipped with ta illights or the taillights are turned off at
nighttime.
Elongated luggage or cargo is loaded onto installed roof rails and covers the Forward
Sensing Camera (FSC).
Exhaust gas from the vehicle in front, sand, snow, and water vapor rising from
manholes and grating, and water splashed into the air.
When towing a malfunctioning vehicle.
The vehicle is driven with tires having significantly different wear.
The vehicle is driven on down slopes or bumpy roads.
There are water puddles on the road.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-128
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

The surroundings are dark such as during the night, early evening, or early morning, or
in a tunnel or indoor parking lot.
The illumination brightness of the headlights is reduced or the headlight illumination is
weakened due to dirt or a deviated optical axis.
The target object enters the blind spot of the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC).
A person or object bursts onto the road from the shoulder or cuts right in front of you.
You change lanes and approach a vehicle ahead.
When driving extremely close to the target object.
Tire chains or a temporary spare tire is installed.
The vehicle ahead has a special shape. For example, a vehicle towing a trailer house or
a boat, or a vehicle carrier carrying a vehicle with its front pointed rearward.
If the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) cannot operate normally due to backlight or fog,
the system functions related to the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) are temporarily
stopped and the following warning lights turn on. However, this does not indicate a
malfunction.
High Beam Control System (HBC) warning light (amber)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) warning light
Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go function (MRCC with Stop & Go
function) warning light
Smart Brake Support/Smart City Brake Support (SBS/SCBS) warning light (amber)
If the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) cannot operate normally due to high temperatures,
the system functions related to the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) are temporarily
stopped and the following warning lights turn on. However, this does not indicate a
malfunction. Cool down the area around the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) such as by
turning on the air conditioner.
High Beam Control System (HBC) warning light (amber)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) warning light
Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go function (MRCC with Stop & Go
function) warning light
Smart Brake Support/Smart City Brake Support (SBS/SCBS) warning light (amber)
If the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) detects that the windshield is dirty or foggy, the
system functions related to the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) are temporarily stopped
and the following warning lights turn on. However, this does not indicate a problem.
Remove the dirt from the windshield or press the defroster switch and defog the
windshield.
High Beam Control System (HBC) warning light (amber)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) warning light
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-129
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

7If Trouble Arises
Helpful information on what to do if a problem arises with the vehicle.
Parking in an Emergency................. 7-2 Parking in an Emergency..............7-2
Flat Tire.............................................. 7-3 Spare Tire and Tool Storage......... 7-3
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 7-8
Battery Runs Out............................ 7-17 Jump-Starting............................. 7-17
Emergency Starting.........................7-20 Starting a Flooded Engine.......... 7-20
Push-Starting.............................. 7-20
Overheating......................................7-21 Overheating................................ 7-21
Emergency Towing.......................... 7-23 Towing Description.................... 7-23
Tiedown Hooks*......................... 7-24
Warning/Indicator Lights and
Warning Sounds.............................. 7-26 If a Warning Light Turns On or
Flashes........................................ 7-26
Message Indicated on Display
*..........
.................................................... 7-40
Warning Sound is Activated....... 7-42
When Liftgate Cannot be
Opened..............................................7-47 When Liftgate Cannot be
Opened........................................7-47
Active Driving Display Does Not
Operate............................................. 7-48 If the Active Driving Display Does
Not Operate................................ 7-48
*Some models.7-1
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

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
7-20
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

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 FWD 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 FWD vehicle with the rear
wheels on the ground, release the parking
brake.
Refer to Electric Parking Brake (EPB) on
page 4-55.

A towed AWD vehicle must have all its
wheels off the ground.
WARNING
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.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
7-23
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

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
7-24*Some models.
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

NOTE
Remove the cap completely and store it
so as not to lose it.
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet
using the lug wrench.

Lug wrench
Tiedown eyelet
4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown eyelet.
CAUTION
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying the
vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown
eyelet is securely tightened to the
bumper.
▼Tiedown Hook-Rear
The hook positioned under the rear
bumper on the right side is for tying down
the vehicle during transport, and it cannot
be used for towing other vehicles.
It can be used as a towing hook only when
the vehicle must be towed by another
vehicle in an emergency case such as
when the vehicle is stuck in snow,
however, it may damage the bumper.
Tiedown hook
CAUTION
When using the hook in such emergency
cases, observe the following so as not to
damage the tiedown hook or the vehicle
body.

The vehicle must be pulled straight to the
rear so that no load is applied to the
vehicle in the lateral direction.
 The bumper may be damaged if the tie
down hook is used as a towing hook.
 When using a metal chain or wire cable,
wrap a cloth around the attachment
area. If the metal chain or wire cable
contacts the bumper directly, the
bumper could be scratched or damaged.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
7-25
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00

Ve h i c l e L o a d i n g
WA R N I N G
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to tow a
trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will provide
maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms for determin ing your vehicle's weight ratings, from the
vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WA R N I N G
Overloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious consequences
in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's suspension system can cause
spring or shock absorber failure, brake failu re, handling or steering problems, irregular tire
wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive an d control. It also increases the distance
required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail completely, particularly
on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a combination of the size of the tire, its load
range, and corresponding inflation pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe th e vehicle's weight ratings from the vehicle's
Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
8-36
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old
2020-5-22 15:31:00