Manual Transaxle ShiftPattern
Neutral position
The shift pattern of the transaxle is
conventional, as shown.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting ; then release it slowly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a device to
prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake.
Push the shift lever downward and shift to
R.
WARNING
Do not use sudden 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.
Always leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake when
leaving the vehicle unattended:
Otherwise the vehicle could move and
cause an accident.
CAUTION
Keep your foot off the clutch pedal except
when shifting gears. Also, do not use the
clutch to hold the vehicle on an upgrade.
Riding the clutch will cause needless
clutch wear and damage.
Do not apply any excessive lateral force
to the shift lever when changing from
5th to 4th gear. This could lead to the
accidental selection of 2nd gear, which
could result in damage to the transaxle.
Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is still
moving may damage the transaxle.
NOTE
If shifting to R is di fficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
▼ Gear Shift Indicator (GSI)
The GSI supports you to obtain optimum
fuel economy and smooth driving. It
displays the selected gear position in the
instrument cluster as well as notifies the
When Driving
Manual Transaxle Operation
4-27
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
Lighting Control
▼Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to
turn the headlights, other exterior lights on or off.
When the lights are turned on, the lights-on indi cator light in the instrument cluster turns on.
NOTE
If the light switch is left on, the lights will automatically switch off approximately 30
seconds after switching the ignition off.
The time setting can be changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while th e engine is off unless
safety requires them.
Without auto-light control
Switch Position
Ignition Position ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off Off Off On
On
*2
Daytime running lights
On*1OffOn*1Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off Off On
On
*2OnOn*2
*1 The lights are turned on while the vehicle is driven.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-40
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00
(Canada)
When the headlight switch is in a position other than
and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surr ounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the
headlights and other exteri or lights on or off.
CAUTION
Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a st icker or a label on the windshield. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly.
The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the
position and the ignition
is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades could be
damaged when the wipers activa te automatically. If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off completely when it is partic
ularly tempting to leave the
engine running. This is particularly important when clearing ice and snow.
NOTE
The headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination may not turn off
immediately even if th e surrounding area becomes we ll-lit because the light sensor
determines that it is night time if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several
minutes such as inside long tunnels, traffic ja ms inside tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the lights turn off if the light switch is turned to the
position.
(Without auto headlight off function)
When the headlight switch is in the
position and the ignition is switched to ACC or
the ignition is switched off, the headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard
illumination will turn off.
The dashboard illumination can be adjusted by rotating the knob in the instrument cluster.
Also, the day/night mode can be changed by rotating the knob until a beep sound is heard.
To adjust the brightness of the dashboard illumination:
Refer to Dashboard Illumination on page 4-14.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-43
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00
The sensitivity of the AUTO lights may be changed by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
▼Headlight High-Low Beam
The headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward.
High beam
Low beam
When the headlight high-beams are on, the
headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.
▼ Flashing the Headlights
Can be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on).
OFF
Headlight
flashing
The headlight high-beam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The le ver will return to
the normal position when released.
▼ Coming Home Light
The coming home light turns on the
headlights (low beams) when the lever is
operated.
To turn on the lights
When the lever is pu
lled with the ignition
switched to ACC or OFF, the low beam
headlights turn on.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed after all of the
doors are closed.
NOTE
The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-44
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00
Turn and Lane-ChangeSignals
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the turn and lane-change signals.
▼Turn Signals
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually re
turn the lever to its
original position.
Right turn
Left turn
Right lane change
Left lane change OFF
The turn signal indicators in the
instrument cluster flash according to the
operation of the turn
signal lever to show
which signal is working.
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, one
of the turn signal bulbs may be burned
out.
A personalized function is available to
change the turn indicator sound volume.
(page 9-9)
▼ Lane-Change Signals
Move the lever halfway toward the
direction of the lane change―until the
indicator flashes
― and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
▼ Three-Flash Turn Signal
After releasing the turn
signal lever, the
turn signal indicator flashes 3 times. The
operation can be canceled by moving the
lever in the direction opposite to which it
was operated.
NOTE
The three-flash turn signal function can be
switched to operable/inoperable using the
personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-47
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash. The hazard
warning indicator ligh ts in the instrument
cluster flash simultaneously.
NOTE
The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-54
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00
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 auto matic car wash.
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.
When Driving
Brake
4-56
CX-3_8JL1-EA-20G_Edition1_old 2020-5-22 15:31:00