2021 MAZDA MODEL CX-5 trailer

Leave enough slack to allow full turns. Consult literature published by your trailer or hitch
manufacturer for more details.
WA R N I N G
Make sure the safety chain is securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle prior to
departure:
Towing a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer and the
vehicle is dangerous. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, the trailer could
wander into another lane and cause a collision.
▼ Trailer Lights
Trailer lights must comply with all federal, st
ate, and local regulations. Equip your trailer as
required before towing it day or night.
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directl y to the lighting system of your Mazda. This
may damage your vehicle's electrical system an d lighting systems. Have a recreational vehicle
dealer or trailer rental agency connect the system, and inspect the brake lights and turn
signals yourself before each trip.
▼ Trailer Brakes
If the total trailer weight exceeds 450 kg (1,000
lb), trailer brakes are required. If your trailer
has brakes, make sure they comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.
WA R N I N G
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system:
Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system direc tly to the vehicle brake system is dangerous
and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.
▼ Trailer Towing Tips
Verify that your Mazda maintains a near-normal attitude when a loaded or unloaded trailer
is connected. Do not drive if it has an abnor
mal front-up or front-down position. Inspect
for incorrect tongue load, worn suspension parts, and trailer overloading.
Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and th e cargo is secure to prevent it from shifting.
Make sure the mirrors conform to all government regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
Before Driving
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The three main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed, and
improper trailer loading.
Before driving
Have your cooling and braking system checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Before starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and trailer lights and all
vehicle-to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspec t all lights and connections after driving
a short distance.
Driving
Your Mazda will handle differently with a traile r in tow, so practice turning, backing, and
stopping in a traffic-free area.
Take time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.
Allow more room between your vehicle and the one in front because braking distance
increases with a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow at least one vehicle
and trailer length between your Mazda and the vehicle ahead.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
Avoid sudden braking. It may cause loss of co ntrol and result in jackknifing, especially so
on wet or slippery roads.
Shift the selector lever to the D position wh en towing a trailer in hilly terrain or when
heavily loaded.
The D position will allow operating th e vehicle without frequent shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, sudden turns, and tight turns. Slow down before turning to avoid
the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tighter arc than th e tow vehicle. Compensate with turns that are
larger than normal.
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads will
affect handling.
If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is made, the
combination of less speed and firm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
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To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to redu ce the possibility of overloading or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
WA R N I N G
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too f requently is dangerous as it could cause the
brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a serious accident. Use
lower gears to help reduce speed. Pull off th e road and allow brakes to cool down whenever
braking performance feels reduced.
Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely to
the side of the road, park of f the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating on page 7-18.
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an inc line, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
If it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
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To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also the foot brake) and pull away from the wheel blocks.Stop; apply the parking brake and shift into P.
4. Have a helper retrieve the wheel blocks.
Fuel consumption
Trailer towing causes higher fuel consumption.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer frequently, have your vehicle serviced as shown in Scheduled
Maintenance (page 6-4).
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When there is a difference in the height between your driving lane and the adjacent
lane.
Directly after the BSM system becomes operable by changing the setting.
If the road width is extremely narrow, vehicles two lanes over may be detected. The
detection area of the radar sensors (rear) is set according to the road width of
expressways.
The BSM warning indicator light may turn on and the vehicle detection screen may be
displayed in the display in reaction to stationary objects (guardrails, tunnels, sidewalls,
and parked vehicles) on the road or the roadside.
Objects such as guardrails and concrete walls
running alongside the vehicle. Places where the width between guardrails or
walls on each side of the vehicle narrows.
The walls at the entrance and exits of tunnels
and turnouts.
A BSM warning indicator light may flash or the warning beep may be activated several
times when making a turn at a city intersection.
Turn off the BSM while pulling a trailer or while an accessory such as a bicycle carrier is
installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwis
e, the radar’s radio waves will be blocked
causing the system to not operate normally.
In the following cases, it may be difficult to view the illumination/flashing of the BSM
warning indicator lights equipped on the door mirrors.
Snow or ice is adhering to the door mirrors.
The front door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt.
The radar sensors (rear) of the BSM may be regulated under the radio wave related laws
of the country where the vehicle is driven. The sensors in this system are approved for use
in the U.S.A. (including territories), Canada, and Mexico. If a vehicle with a BSM is
driven in a country other than the U.S.A., Canada, or Mexico, the system has to be turned
off by changing the setting on the center display.
The system switches to the Rear Cross Traf fic Alert (RCTA) function when the selector
lever is shifted to th e reverse (R) position.
Refer to Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) on page 4-143.
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Turn off the RCTA system while pulling a trailer or while an accessory such as a bicycle
carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radio waves emitted by the
radar will be blocked causing the system to not operate normally.
When Driving
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Driving on roads with tight curves.
 Driving under bad weather conditions (rain, fog, and snow).
 Slippery roads such as ice or snow-bound roads.
 Roads with heavy traffic and insufficient distance between vehicles.
 Roads with no white (yellow) lane lines.
 Narrow roads resulting from road construction or lane closures.
 The vehicle is driven on a temporary lane or section with a closed lane resulting from road
construction where there may be multiple white (yellow) lane lines or they are interrupted.
 Vehicle is driven on roads oth er than expressways and highways.
 The tire pressures are not adjusted to the
specified pressure.
 The vehicle is being used to tow a camper or boat trailer.
 Tires of a
different
specified size are used, such as an emergency spare tire.
CAUTION
Heed the following cautions so that the LAS & LDWS can operate normally.

Do not modify the suspensions.
 Always use wheels of the specified type and size for the front and rear wheels. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer for tire replacement.
NOTE
When the turn signal lever is operated for a lane change, the LAS & LDWS is
automatically disabled. The LAS & LDWS becomes operational again when the turn
signal lever is returned and the system detects white (yellow) lane lines while the vehicle
is being driven normally within its vehicle lane.
If the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal is operated abruptly and the
vehicle moves close to a white (yellow) line, the system de termines that the driver is
making a lane change and the LAS & LDWS operation is temporarily canceled. The LAS
& LDWS becomes operational again when the system detects white (yellow) lane lines
while the vehicle is being driven normally within its vehicle lane.
If the vehicle deviates from its lane repeatedly within a short period of time, the LAS &
LDWS may not operate.
When white (yellow) lane lines are not detected, the LAS & LDWS does not operate.
Under the following conditions, the LAS & LDWS may not be able to detect white (yellow)
lane lines correctly and it may not operate normally.
If an object placed on the dashboard is reflected in the windshield and picked up by the
camera.
Heavy luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment or on the rear seat and the
vehicle is tilted.
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The obstruction is small.
The obstruction is thin such as a signpost.
The obstruction is positioned away from the center of the vehicle.
The surface of the obstruction is not pointed vertically relative to the vehicle.
The obstruction is soft such as a hanging curtain or snow stuck to a vehicle.
The obstruction is shaped irregularly.
The obstruction is extremely close.
In the following cases, the ultrasonic sensors (rear) cannot detect obstructions correctly
and the SCBS R may not operate.
Something is stuck on the bumper near an ultrasonic sensor (rear).
The steering wheel is turned sharply, or the brake or accelerator pedal is operated.
There is another obstruction near one obstruction.
During inclement weather such as rain, fog and snow.
High or low humidity.
High or low temperatures
Strong winds.
The path of travel is not flat.
Heavy luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment or on the rear seat.
Objects such as a wireless antenna, fog light, or illuminated license plate is installed
near an ultrasonic sensor (rear).
The orientation of an ultrasonic sensor (rear) has deviated for reasons such as a
collision.
The vehicle is affected by other sound waves such as the horn, engine noise, ultrasonic
sensor of another vehicle.
In the following cases, an ultrasonic sensor (rear) may detect something as a target
obstruction which could cause the SCBS R system to operate.
Driving on a steep slope.
Wheel blocks.
Hanging curtains, gate poles such as at toll gates and railroad crossing.
When traveling near objects such as foliage, barriers, vehicles, walls, and fences along
a road.
When driving off-road in areas where there is grass and forage.
When passing through low gates, narrow gates, car washing machines, and tunnels.
A towing bar is installed or a trailer is connected.
When the system operates, the user is no tified by the multi-information display.
The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) warning indication (amber) turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Taking Action on page 7-33.
When Driving
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