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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.
Before Driving
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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.
Before Driving
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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).
Before Driving
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Recreational Towing
An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
"Towing Description" (page 7-20) and
"Tiedown Hooks" (page 7-21) and
carefully follow the instructions.
Before Driving
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4When Driving
Information concerning safe driving and stopping.
Start/Stop Engine.............................. 4-4 Ignition Switch........ ..................... 4-4
Starting the Engine....................... 4-5
Turning the Engine Off...............4-10
Instrument Cluster and Display ............
........................................................... 4-12 Instrument Cluster and
Display........................................4-12
Instrument Cluster (Type A)....... 4-13
Instrument Cluster (Type B)....... 4-31
Instrument Cluster (Type C)....... 4-48
Active Driving Display
*............. 4-60
Automatic Transaxle....................... 4-63 Automatic Transaxle
Controls...................................... 4-63
Shift-Lock System...................... 4-64
Transaxle Ranges........................4-64
Manual Shift Mode..................... 4-66
Direct Mode
*.............................. 4-72
Driving Tips................................4-73
Switches and Controls..................... 4-74 Lighting Control......................... 4-74
Fog Lights
*................................. 4-81
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals........................................ 4-81
Windshield Wipers and
Washer........................................ 4-82
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer........................................ 4-86
Rear Window Defogg er.............. 4-86
Horn............................................ 4-89
Hazard Warning Flasher............. 4-89
HomeLink Wireless Control System
(Type A)
*.................................... 4-90
HomeLink Wireless Control System
(Type B)
*.................................... 4-93
Brake................................................ 4-98 Brake System.............................. 4-98
AUTOHOLD............................ 4-102
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)........ 4-106
ABS/TCS/DSC/Off-Road Traction
Assist............................................... 4-108 Antilock Brake System
(ABS)........................................4-108
Traction Control System
(TCS)........................................ 4-109
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)........................................ 4-111
Off-Road Traction Assist
*........ 4-112
Drive Selection............................... 4-114 Drive Selection
*........................4-114
i-ACTIV AWD............................... 4-116 i-ACTIV AWD Operation
*....... 4-116
Power Steering............................... 4-118 Power Steering..........................4-118
i-ACTIVSENSE............................. 4-119 i-ACTIVSENSE
*...................... 4-119
*Some models.4-1
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Adaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)
*...................................... 4-122
High Beam Control System
(HBC)
*......................................4-123
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
*.........
.................................................. 4-126
Traffic Sign Recognition System
(TSR)
*...................................... 4-131
Distance Recognition Support
System (DRSS)
*....................... 4-137
Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
*..........
.................................................. 4-141
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
*.....
.................................................. 4-143
Mazda Radar Cruise Control with
Stop & Go function (MRCC with
Stop & Go function)
*............... 4-147
Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) &
Lane Departure Warning System
(LDWS)
*.................................. 4-162
Advanced Smart City Brake Support
(Advanced SCBS)
*...................4-173
Smart City Brake Support [Forward]
(SCBS F)
*.................................4-176
Smart City Brake Support [Reverse]
(SCBS R)
*................................ 4-179
Smart Brake Support (SBS)
*.... 4-183
360
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MEMO
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