Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Hazardous Driving
| WARNING Be extremely careful if it is necessary to downshift on slippery surfaces: Downshifting into lower gear while driving on slippery surfaces 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. |
When driving on ice or in water, snow, mud, sand, or similar hazards:
- Be cautious and allow extra distance for braking.
- Avoid sudden braking and sudden maneuvering.
- Do not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS) on .
- If you get stuck, select a lower gear and accelerate slowly. Do not spin the front wheels.
- For more traction in starting on slippery surfaces such as ice or packed snow, use sand, rock salt, chains, carpeting, or other nonslip material under the front wheels.
NOTE Use snow chains only on the front wheels.
Saving Fuel and Protection of the
Environment
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save fuel and
reduce CO2.
Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, beg ...
Floor Mat
WARNING
Make sure the fl oor mats are hooked on
the retention pins to prevent them from
bunching up under the foot pedals:
Using a fl oor mat that is not secured is
dangerous as ...
Other materials:
Brake Pedal Removal/Installation
CAUTION:
The clearance between the brake switch and the brake pedal is automatically
adjusted to the correct amount when the brake switch is inserted into the installation
hole on the brake pedal and rotated to fix in place. If the brake switch is
not properly installed, the clearan ...
Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).
Follow this procedure:
If the engine does not start within
five seconds on the first try, wait ten
seconds and try again.
Make sure the parking brake is on.
Depress the accelerator all the way and
hold ...
Direct Mode
Direct mode can be used for temporarily
switching gears by operating the steering
shift switch while the vehicle is being
driven with the selector lever in the D
range.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate and the gear position
in use is illuminated.
Direct mode is can ...
