Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if snow or
ice adheres to the brake
components. If this situation occurs,
drive the vehicle slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the
brake performance returns to
normal.
▼ Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all 4 wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75
mph) while driving with snow tires.
Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2,
4.3 psi) more than recommended on
the tire pressure label (driver's door
frame), but never more than the
maximum cold-tire pressure shown on
the tires.
The vehicle is orig inally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used
all year around. In some extreme
climates you may find it necessary to
replace them with snow tires during
the winter months to further improve
traction on snow and ice covered
roads.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all 4
wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system
may not function correctly when using
tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls (page 4-203).
▼ Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using
tire chains.
CAUTION
Chains may affect handling.
Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
Avoid locked-wheel braking.
Do not use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage to
the vehicle and to the tire.
Do not use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system
may not function correctly when
using tire chains.
Install the chains on the front tires only.
Do not use chains on the rear tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible.
Always follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2 ―1 km (1/4 ―1/2 mile).
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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Driving In Flooded Area
▼Driving In Flooded Area
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle on flooded
roads as it could cause short circuiting
of electrical/electronic parts, or engine
damage or stalling from water
absorption. If the vehicle has been
immersed in water, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Overloading
▼Overloading
WARNING
Be careful not to overload your
vehicle:
The gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
and the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of the vehicle are on the
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label
on the driver's door frame. Exceeding
these ratings can cause an accident or
vehicle damage. You can estimate the
weight of the load by weighing the
items (or people) before putting them
in the vehicle.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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▼Safety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a precautionary measure should the trailer become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to
the hitch. Leave enough slack to allow full
turns. Consult literature published by your
trailer or hitch manufacturer for more details.
WARNING
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.
▼ Tra i l e r L i g h t s
Trailer lights must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations. Equip your
trailer as required before towing it day or night.
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system dire
ctly to the lighting system of your Mazda.
This may damage your vehicle's electrical system and 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.
▼ Tra i l e r B ra ke s
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.
WARNING
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system:
Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system directly to the vehicle brake system is
dangerous and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.
Before Driving
Towing
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▼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 abnormal front-up or
front-down position. Inspect for incorrec
t tongue load, worn suspension parts,
and trailer overloading.
Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and the cargo is secure to prevent it from
shifting.
Make sure the mirrors conform to all govern ment regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
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-inspect all lights and connections after
driving a short distance.
Driving
Your Mazda will handle differently with a trailer 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 control and result in jackknifing ,
especially so on wet or slippery roads.
Shift the selector lever to the D position when towing a trailer in hilly terrain or
when heavily loaded.
The D position will allow operating the vehicle without frequent shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, su dden turns, and tight turns. Slow down before turning
to avoid the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tighter arc than the tow vehicle. Compensate with turns
that are larger than normal.
Pa s s i n g
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.
Before Driving
To w i n g
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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 trai ler to reduce the risk of an accident.
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 reduce 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.
WARNING
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently 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 the 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 off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool.
Refer to Overheating on page 7-15.
Pa r k i n g
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while
parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transmission in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, 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.
Before Driving
Towing
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4When Driving
Information concerning safer driving and stopping.
Start/Stop Engine..................... 4-4 Ignition Switch.......................4-4
Starting the Engine................. 4-5
Turning the Engine Off............ 4-9
Cylinder Deact ivat ion
*..........4-10
i-stop
*................................. 4-11
Instrument Cluster and
Display.................................. 4-18 Instrument Cluster and
Display................................4-18
Instrument Cluster............... 4-18
Active Driving Display
*......... 4-35
Automatic Transmission........... 4-37 Automatic Transmission
Controls.............................. 4-37
Shift-Lock System................. 4-38
Transmission Ranges............ 4-39
Manual Shift Mode.............. 4-41
Direct Mode
*.......................4-47
Driving Tips......................... 4-48
Switches and Controls............. 4-49 Lighting Control................... 4-49
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals................................ 4-54
Windshield Wipers and
Washer............................... 4-55
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer............................... 4-58
Rear Window Defogger........ 4-59
Horn................................... 4-61
Hazard Warning Flasher....... 4-61
HomeLink Wireless Control
System
*............................... 4-62
Brake.....................................4-67 Brake System....................... 4-67
AUTOHOLD........................ 4-73
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)........4-77
ABS/TCS/DSC....................... 4-78 Antilock Brake System
(ABS).................................. 4-78
Tra c t i o n C o n t r o l Sy s t e m
(TCS).................................. 4-79
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)................................. 4-81
Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-
Drive).................................... 4-82 Mazda intelligent Drive Select
(Mi-Drive) (FWD)
*............... 4-82
Mazda intelligent Drive Select
(Mi-Drive) (AWD)
*...............4-83
i-ACTIV AWD......................... 4-86 i-ACTIV AWD Operation
*..... 4-86
Power Steering....................... 4-88 Power Steering.....................4-88
i-ACTIVSENSE......................... 4-89 i-ACTIVSENSE
*..................... 4-89
Adaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)
*................................. 4-93
*Some models.4-1
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Ignition Switch
▼Push Button Start Positions
The system operates only when the key
is within operational range.
Each time the push button start is
pressed, the ignition switches in the
order of
off, ACC, and ON. Pressing
the push button start again from ON
switches the ignition off.
1. Indicator light
2. Push button start
NOTE
The engine starts by pressing the
push button start while depressing
the brake pedal. To switch the
ignition position, press the push
button start without depressing the
pedal.
Do not leave the ignition switched
ON while the engine is not running.
Doing so could result in the battery
going dead. If the selector lever is in
the P position, and the ignition is in
ACC, the ignition switches off
automatically after about 25
minutes.
Off
The power supply to electrical devices
turns off and the indicator light
(amber) also turns off.
WARNING
Before leaving the driver's seat,
always switch the ignition off, set the
parking brake, and make sure the
selector lever is in P position:
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition off, setting the
parking brake, and shifting the selector
lever to P position is dangerous.
Unexpected vehicle movement could
occur which could result in an
accident.
In addition, if your intention is to leave
the vehicle for even a short period, it is
important to switch the ignition off, as
leaving it in another position will
disable some of the vehicle's security
systems and run the battery down.
ACC (Accessory)
Some electrical accessories will
operate and the indicator light (amber)
illuminates.
NOTE
The keyless entry system does not
function while the push button start
has been pressed to ACC, and the
doors will not lock/unlock even if they
have been locked manually.
ON
This is the normal running position
after the engine is started. The
indicator light (amber) turns off. (The
indicator light (amber) illuminates
when the ignition is switched ON and
the engine is not running.)
Some indicator lights/warning lights
should be inspected before the engine
is started.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-29.
Refer to Indication/Indicator Lights on
page 4-31.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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This is for improved exhaust gaspurification and does not indicate
any parts defect.
Engine-starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of
radio noise.
1. Make sure you are carrying the key.
2. Occupants should fasten their seat belts.
3. Make sure the parking brake is on.
4. Continue to depress the brake pedal firmly until the engine has
completely started.
5. Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must restart the engine while the
vehicle is moving, shift into neutral
(N).
NOTE
The starter will not operate if the
selector lever is not in P or N
position and the brake pedal is not
depressed sufficiently.
6. Make sure that the KEY indicator light (green) in the instrument
cluster and push button start
indicator light (green) turns on.
1. Indicator light
2. Push button start
NOTE
If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes, make sure
that the key is being carried.
If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes with the key
being carried, touch the key to
the push button start and start
the engine.
Refer to Engine Start Function
When Key Battery is Dead on
page 4-7.
CAUTION
If the KEY warning indication (red)
is displayed, or the push button
start indicator light (amber) flashes,
this could indicate a problem with
the engine starting system. This may
prevent the engine from starting or
from switching the ignition to ACC
or ON.
Refer to KEY Warning Indication/
Warning Light (Red) on page
7-26.
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon
as possible.
NOTE
Under the following conditions,
the KEY warning indication (red)
is displayed after the push button
start is pressed. This informs the
driver that the push button start
will not switch to ACC, even if it
is pressed from off (page 7-26).
The key battery is dead.The key is out of operational
range.
The key is placed in areas where
it is difficult for the system to
detect the signal (page 3-7).
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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