MAZDA MODEL MILLENIA 2002 (in English) Manual Online

5-7
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

ABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you’re driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function
normally as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes a screeching noise
to warn that the pads should be replaced.
When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
ABS Warning Light and Brake
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
Don’t drive with both lights on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
WARNING
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to
charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs
and the ABS warning light comes on.
This is due to a weak battery, not a
malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
Driving with Worn Disc Pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is
dangerous. The brakes could fail and
cause a serious accident. As soon as
you hear a screeching noise consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 7 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-8
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Various Lockouts:

Transaxle Ranges
The shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except as
explained under Rocking the Vehicle
(page 4-7) .
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.
Automatic Transaxle
Controls
Indicates that you must depress the
brake pedal and hold in the lock-
release button to shift (The ignition
switch must be in the ON position).
Indicates the shift lever can be
shifted freely into any position.
Indicates that you must hold in the
lock-release button to shift.
Lock-release button
To prevent unsafe
shifting
Shift pattern
indicator
Shows shift lever
position Hold button
Pushing this button
activates the hold
mode.
Pushing this again
deactivates this mode.
Holding the Vehicle with P:
Setting the shift 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. To hold the
vehicle, set the shift lever to P AND
set the parking brake.
•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.
WARNING
CAUTION
J76Y.book Page 8 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-9
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically shift
through a 4-gear sequence.
S (Second)
The S position is helpful when driving in
slow-moving traffic and when climbing a
hill.
L (Low)
Use the L position when pulling heavy
loads and climbing steep grades.
Shift patterns without hold mode:

Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting
out of P unless the brake pedal is
depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Push and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the shift lever.
Shifting from N or P:
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. If the engine is
running faster than idle, don’t shift
from N or P into a driving gear.
Shifting into N while Driving:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury. Do not shift into N when
driving the vehicle.
D 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
S 1st, 2nd, 3rd
L 1st, 2nd
WARNING
Sudden Engine-Braking:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or driving at
high speeds causes sudden engine
braking, which 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. Do not cause sudden engine
braking on slippery road surfaces or
at high speeds.
NOTE
•When the ignition switch is in the
ACC or LOCK position, the
transaxle cannot be shifted from P.
•If the brake is pumped with the shift
lever in P, a chattering near the shift
lever may be heard. Don’t worry,
this is a normal sound.
•To be sure the vehicle is in park, the
ignition key cannot be removed
unless the shift lever is in P.
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 9 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-10
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

Shift-Lock Override
If the shift lever won’t move from P with
the brake pedal depressed, continue to
hold down the pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
with a screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
3. Push and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the shift lever.
5. Take the vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer to have the system
checked.

Hold Mode
The hold mode stops the automatic speed-
change operation and has three positions:
third (D), second (S), and first (L).
Hold operation
Use the hold mode when starting from a
stop on slippery surfaces, when driving up
steep inclines, and for braking assistance
on downgrades.
Push the hold button to activate the hold
mode. Push it again to deactivate it.When the hold mode is on
D (Drive)
The transaxle is held in third. It
automatically downshifts to a lower gear
at a stop, however, and returns to third for
smoother acceleration.
S (Second)
The transaxle is held in second. Don’t
drive faster than 102km/h (63mph).
L (Low)
The transaxle is held in first. Don’t drive
faster than the speeds indicated in the
following:
Shift-up patterns with hold mode on
2.5 liter V6 DOHC46km/h
(28mph)
Miller Cycle Engine V6
DOHC56km/h
(34mph)
D-Hold3rd (temporarily lowers gears
for standing start)
S-Hold 2nd (fixed)
L-Hold 1st (fixed)
Hold button
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5-11
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Hold indicator
This light comes on when the hold mode
is selected.

Driving Tips
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D, S, or L, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release all brakes while gradually
accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to S,
or L, depending on load weight and grade
steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
NOTE
The hold mode is automatically
canceled when the ignition is switched
off.
If the hold indicator light flashes, the
transaxle has an electrical problem.
Continuing to drive your Mazda in this
condition could cause damage to your
transaxle. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
CAUTION
J76Y.book Page 11 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-12
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or if
the power steering system is inoperable,
you can still steer, but it requires more
physical effort.
If the steering feels rigid during normal
driving, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 40 km/h (25 mph).

Cruise Set Indicator Light
This light comes on when a cruising speed
is set.
Power Steering
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than five
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power steering
system.
CAUTION
Cruise Control
Cruise Control Use:
Using cruise control in the following
conditions could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle:
•Heavy or unsteady traffic
•Slippery or winding roads
•Similar restrictions that require
inconsistent speed
Don’t use cruise control in these
situations.
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 12 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-13
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

Activation/Deactivation
To activate the system, push the CRUISE
MAIN switch.
To deactivate the system, push the OFF
switch.

To Set Speed
1. Turn on the CRUISE MAIN switch.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which
must be more than 40 km/h (25 mph).
3. Press the SET/COAST button and
release it at the speed you want.
Release the accelerator at the same
time.
Don’t continue to hold in the button. Until
you release it, speed will continue to drop
(unless you continue to accelerate) and
you’ll miss the desired speed.
Cruise Main Switch:
Leaving the CRUISE MAIN switch
on when not using the cruise control
is dangerous as it may be switched on
accidentally. This could result in loss
of vehicle control. Keep the CRUISE
MAIN switch off when cruise control
is not in use.
WARNING
NOTE
•The SET function can’t be activated
until about 2 seconds after the
CRUISE MAIN switch has been
engaged.
•On a steep grade, the vehicle may
momentarily slow down going up or
speed up while going down.
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5-14
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

To Increase Cruising Speed
Follow either of these procedures.
•Press the RESUME/ACCEL button
and hold it. Your vehicle will
accelerate.
Release the button at the speed you
want.
Your vehicle has a tap-up feature that
allows you to increase your current speed
in increments of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the RESUME/ACCEL
button. Multiple taps will increase your
vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each
tap.
•Accelerate to the desired speed.
Press the SET/COAST button and
release it immediately.

To Decrease Cruising Speed
Press the SET/COAST button and hold it.
The vehicle will gradually slow.
Release the button at the speed you want.
Your vehicle has a tap-down feature that
allows you to decrease your current speed
in decrements of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the SET/COAST
button. Multiple taps will decrease your
vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each
tap.
NOTE
Accelerate if you want to speed up
temporarily when the cruise control is
on. Greater speed will not interfere
with it or change the set speed.
Take your foot off the accelerator to
return to the set speed.
J76Y.book Page 14 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-15
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

To Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 40 km/h (25 mph)
If some other method besides the CRUISE
MAIN was used to cancel cruising speed
and the system is still activated, the most
recent set speed will automatically resume
when the RESUME/ACCEL button is
pressed.
If vehicle speed is below 40 km/h (25
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 40
km/h (25 mph) and press the RESUME/
ACCEL button.

To Cancel
To turn off the system, use one
of these
methods:
•Press the CRUISE MAIN switch.
•Slightly depress the brake pedal.
•Press the CANCEL button.
The system is off when the ignition is off.
NOTE
With an automatic transaxle vehicle,
the gear is automatically selected when
going uphill.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15
km/h (9 mph) below the preset speed
or below 40 km/h (25 mph).
J76Y.book Page 15 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

5-16
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by regulating
engine torque. When the TCS detects
driving wheel slippage, it lowers engine
torque to prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels
without causing them to spin and lose
traction.

TCS Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. If the TCS is
operating, the indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS may have a
malfunction and it may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Traction Control System
(TCS)
TCS and Unsafe Driving:
The traction control system (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an
accident. So don’t rely on the traction
control system as a substitute for safe
driving.
TCS and Snow and Ice:
Driving without proper traction
devices on snow and ice-covered
roads is dangerous. The traction
control system (TCS) alone cannot
provide adequate traction and you
could still have an accident. Use snow
tires or tires chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and snow.
WARNING
NOTE
•In addition to the indicator light
flashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This
indicates that the TCS is operating
properly.
•On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to
achieve high rpm when the TCS is
on.
J76Y.book Page 16 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM