i-ACTIV AWD Operation*
AWD provides excellent drivability on
snow-covered and ice-packed roads, sand
and mud, as well as on steep slopes and
other slippery surfaces.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-29.
WARNING
Never spin a wheel that is off the ground:
Spinning a wheel that is off the ground as a
result of the vehicle being stuck or in a
ditch is dangerous. The drive assembly
could be seriously damaged which could
lead to an accident or could even lead to
overheating, oil leakage, and a fire.
▼ AWD Driving
This vehicle has not been designed for the
purpose of off-road driving or rallies. Do
not attempt to drive over uneven or rocky
surfaces, or across rivers.
Although this vehicle is equipped with
AWD, acceleration, steering and braking
operations should be conducted in the
same manner as with a non-AWD vehicle,
with the emphasis placed on safe driving.
▼Tires and Tire Chains
The condition of the tires plays a large role
in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse effects to the
drive assembly, please
note the following:
Tires
When replacing tires, always replace all
front and rear tires at the same time.
All tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread pattern.
Pay particular attention when equipping
snow or other types of winter tires.
Do not mix tread-worn tires with normal
tires.
Inspect tire inflation pressures at the
specified periods adjust to the specified
pressures.
NOTE
Check the tire inflation pressure label
attached to driver's door frame for the
correct tire inflation pressure.
Make sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine tires of the specified size, on all
wheels. With AWD, the system is
calibrated for all 4 wheels being of the
same dimensions.
Tire chains
Install tire chains to the front tires.
Do not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
Do not drive the vehicle faster than 30
km/h (19 mph) with the tire chains
installed.
Do not drive the vehicle with tire chains
on road conditions other than snow or
ice.
▼ To w i n g
If the vehicle requires towing, have it
towed with all 4 wheels completely off the
ground.
Refer to Towing Description on page
7-23.
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
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Do not use the front bumper to push other vehi cles or obstructions such as when pulling
out of a parking space. Otherwise, the radar sensor (front) could be hit and its position
deviated.
Do not remove, disassemble, or modify the radar sensor (front).
For repairs, replacement or paint work around the radar sensor (front), consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Do not modify the suspension. If the suspensi on are modified, the vehicle's posture could
change and the radar sensor (front) may not be able to correctly detect a vehicle ahead or
an obstruction.
NOTE
Under the following conditions, the radar sensor (front) may not be able to detect vehicles
ahead or obstructions correctly and each system may not operate normally.
The rear surface of a vehicle ahead does not reflect radio waves effectively, such as an
unloaded trailer or an automobile with a loading platform covered by a soft top,
vehicles with a hard plastic tailgate, and round-shaped vehicles.
Vehicles ahead with low vehicle height and thus less area for reflecting radio waves.
Visibility is reduced due to a vehicle ahead ca sting off water, snow, or sand from its tires
and onto your windshield.
The luggage compartment is loaded with heavy objects or the rear passenger seats are
occupied.
Ice, snow, or soiling is on the front surface of the front emblem.
During inclement weather such as rain, snow, or sand storms.
When driving near facilities or objects emitting strong radio waves.
Under the following conditions, the radar sensor (front) may not be able to detect vehicles
ahead or obstructions.
The beginning and end of a curve.
Roads with continuous curves.
Narrow lane roads due to road construction or lane closures.
The vehicle ahead enters the radar sensor's blind spot.
The vehicle ahead is running abnormally due to accident or vehicle damage.
Roads with repeated up and down slopes
Driving on poor roads or unpaved roads.
The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead is extremely short.
A vehicle suddenly comes close such as by cutting into the lane.
To prevent incorrect operation of the system, use tires of the same specified size,
manufacturer, brand, and tread pattern on all four wheels. In addition, do not use tires
with significantly different wear patterns or tire pressures on the same vehicle (Including
the temporary spare tire).
If the battery power is weak, the system may not operate correctly.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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Owner Maintenance Precautions
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these vehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
When Refueling
Brake and clutch fluid level (page 6-27)
Engine coolant level (page 6-25)
Engine oil level (page 6-24)
Washer fluid level (page 6-27)
At Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 6-36)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical ability
and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
Engine coolant (page 6-25)
Engine oil (page 6-22)
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. Th is section gives instructions only
for items that are easy to perform.
As explained in the Introduc tion (page 6-2), several procedures can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affect warranty coverage.
Refer to Introduction (page 6-2) for owner' s responsibility in protecting your investment.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provided with the vehicle. If you
are unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of waste oil and fluids. Please
dispose of your waste properly and with due regard to the environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, andreinsert it fully.
MAX
MIN OK
5. Pull it out again and examine the level.
The level is normal if it is between the
MIN and MAX marks.
If it is near or below MIN, add enough
oil to bring the level to MAX.
CAUTION
Do not overfill the engine oil. This may
cause engine damage.
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
7. Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Engine Coolant
▼ Inspecting Coolant Level
WA R N I N G
Do not use a match or live flame in the
engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT:
A hot engine is dangerous. If the engine has
been running, parts of the engine
compartment can become very hot. You
could be burned. Carefully inspect the
engine coolant in the coolant reservoir, but
do not open it.
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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
WA R N I N G
Dry off brakes that have become wet by
driving slowly, releasing the accelerator
pedal and lightly applying the brakes
several times until the brake performance
returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the vehicle
pulling to one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light braking
will indicate whether the brakes have been
affected.
When using an automatic car wash
Retract the door mirrors.
The automatic car wa sh brushes could
reduce the paint lustre or hasten paint
deterioration.
When using a high water pressure car
wash
High water temperature and high water
pressure car washers are available
depending on the type of car wash
machine. If the car washer nozzle is put
too close to the vehicle, the force of the
spray could damage or deform the
molding, affect the sealability of parts, and
allow water to penetrate the interior. Keep
a sufficient space (30 cm (12 in) or more)
between the nozzle and the vehicle. In
addition, do not spend too much time
spraying the same area of the vehicle, and
be very careful when spraying between
gaps in doors and around windows.
Wa x i n g
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives. Wax containing abrasives will remove
paints and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take off
the wax. Rewax these areas even if the rest
of the vehicle does not need it.
▼ Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts an
d can lead to major
repairs.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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SignalWarning
Charging System Warn‐
ing Light If the warning light illuminates while driving, it indicates a malfunction of the alter
‐
nator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the ro ad and park off the right-of -way. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.CAUTION
Do not continue driving when the charging system warning light is illuminated be‐
cause the engine could stop unexpectedly.
Engine Oil Warning Light This warning light indicates low engine oil pressure.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil pressure is
low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
If the light illuminates or the warning indication is displayed while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and pa rk off the right-of-way on level ground.
2. Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes fo r the oil to drain back into the oil pan.
3. Inspect the engine oil level (page 6-24). If it's low, add the appropriate amount of
engine oil while being careful not to overfill.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil level is low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
4. Start the engine and check the warning light.
If the light remains illuminated even though th e oil level is normal or after adding oil,
stop the engine immediately and have your vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
(Red)
High Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light The light flashes when the engine coolant temperature is extremely high, and illumi
‐
nates when the engine coolant temperature increases further.
Handling Procedure
Flashing light
Drive slowly to reduce engine load until you can find a safe place to stop the vehicle
and wait for the engine to cool down.
Illuminated light
This indicates the possibility of overheati ng. Park the vehicle in a safe place immedi ‐
ately and stop the engine.
Refer to Overheating on page 7-21.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle with the high engine coolant temperature warning light illumi‐
nated. Otherwise, it could resu lt in damage to the engine.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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SignalWarning
Air Bag/Front Seat
Belt Pretensioner
System Warning
Light A system malfunction is indicated
if the warning light constantly flashes, constantly illu‐
minates or does not illuminate at all when the ignition is switched ON. If any of these oc ‐
cur, consult an Authorized M azda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not operate
in an accident.WA R N I N G
Never tamper with the air bag/pretensioner systems and always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer perform all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the systems is dangerous. An air bag/pretensioner could
accidentally activate or become disabled causing serious injury or death.
AW D Wa r n i n g
Light*
When the light is turned on
The light turns on under the following conditions. The system may have a malfunction.
Have the vehicle checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When there is a malfunction in the AWD system.When there is a large difference between th e tire size of the front and rear wheels.
When the light is flashing
Park the vehicle in a safe place. After a few moments, if the warning light stops flashing,
you can resume driving. If the light does not stop flashing, contact an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
When the differential oil temperature is excessively high.When there is a large difference between the front and rear wheel rotation, such as
when trying to remove the vehicle from mud.
(Flashing)
Tire Pressure Moni ‐
toring System
Warning Light
*
If the tire pressure monitoring system has a malfunction, the tire pressure warning light
flashes. Have your vehicle checked by an Au thorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
WA R N I N G
If the tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminates or
flashes, or the tire pres‐
sure warning beep sound is heard, decrease vehicle speed immediately and avoid sudden
maneuvering and braking:
If the tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminates or flashes, or the tire pres‐
sure warning beep sound is heard, it is dangerous to drive the vehicle at high speeds, or
perform sudden maneuvering or braking. Vehicle drivability could worsen and result in an
accident.
To determine if you have a slow leak or a flat, pull over to a safe position where you can
check the visual condition of the tire and determine if you have enough air to proceed to a
place where air may be added and the system monitored again by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or a tire repair station.
Do not ignore the TPMS Warning Light:
Ignoring the TPMS warning light is dangerous, even if you know why it is illuminated. Have
the problem taken care of as soon as possible before it develops into a more serious situa‐
tion that could lead to tire failure and a dangerous accident.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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