Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Shift Position Indication

Mazda 3 Owners Manual / When Driving / Transaxle / Automatic Transaxle Controls / Shift Position Indication

The selector position is indicated when the ignition is switched ON.

Gear position indication

In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift position indication illuminates and the numeral for the selected gear is displayed.

Warning Light

The warning light turns on when the system has a malfunction.

Refer to Warning Lights on

Transaxle Ranges

The shift position indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates. Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on .
The selector lever must be in P or N to operate the starter.

P (Park)

P locks the transaxle and prevents the front wheels from rotating.

WARNING Always set the selector lever to P and set the parking brake: Only setting the selector lever to the P position without using the parking brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous.

If P fails to hold, the vehicle could move and cause an accident.

CAUTION

Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is moving can damage your transaxle.
Shifting into a driving gear or reverse when the engine is running faster than idle can damage the transaxle.

R (Reverse)

In position R, the vehicle moves only backward. You must be at a complete stop before shifting to or from R, except under rare circumstances as explained in Rocking the Vehicle .

N (Neutral)

In N, the wheels and transaxle are not locked. The vehicle will roll freely even on the slightest incline unless the parking brake or brakes are on.

WARNING If the engine is running faster than idle, do not shift from N or P into a driving gear: It's dangerous to shift from N or P into a driving gear when the engine is running faster than idle. If this is done, the vehicle could move suddenly, causing an accident or serious injury.

Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle: Shifting into N while driving is dangerous. Engine braking cannot be applied when decelerating which could lead to an accident or serious injury.

CAUTION Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle damage.

NOTE Apply the parking brake or depress the brake pedal before moving the selector lever from N to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

D (Drive)

D is the normal driving position. From a stop, the transaxle will automatically shift through a 6-gear sequence.

M (Manual)

M is the manual shift mode position. Gears can be shifted up or down by operating the selector lever. Refer to Manual Shift Mode on .

Automatic Transaxle Controls

Various Lockouts: Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal and hold in the lock-release button to shift (The ignition must be switched ON). Indicates the shift lever can be shifted ...

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS) automatically controls the transaxle shift points to best suit the road conditions and driver input. This improves driving feel. The transaxle may switch to AAS mode w ...

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