snow chains MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR 2004 Owners Manual

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
•Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
• Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
• If your vehicle is not equipped with
ABS, brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don
’t hold the
pedal down constantly.
If your vehicle is equipped with ABS,
don ’t pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
• If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Don
’t 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.
Hazardous Driving
Downshifting 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. If it is
necessary to downshift on slippery
surfaces, be very careful.
WARNING
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front
wheels.
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4-9
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from 1 (D) to R.•
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
• Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
• Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
• Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
• Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don
’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-21).
• Don
’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transaxle and to 1 or R with
a manual transaxle. Block the rear
wheels.
Rocking the Vehicle
Spinning the Wheels:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries. Don ’t spin the wheels at
more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and
don ’t allow anyone to stand behind a
wheel when pushing the vehicle.
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transaxle failure, and tire
damage.
WARNING
CAUTION
Winter Driving
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4-11
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the front tires.
Don
’t use chains on the rear tires.
Use only SAE Class "S" chains, and make
sure they fit. Installing the chains1. 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).
•Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels. Install tire chains
on steel wheels only.
• Chains may affect handling.
• Don
’t 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.
• Don
’t use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage to
the vehicle and to the tire.
• Don
’t use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the
system may not function correctly
when using tire chains.
CAUTION
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5-24
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Warning light flashes
When the warning light flashes, there may
be a system malfunction. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

System Error Activation
When the warning light flashes, there may
be a system malfunction. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
A system error activation may occur in the
following cases:
• When there is equipment or a device
near the vehicle using the same radio
frequency as that of the tire pressure
sensors.
• When a large metallic object (e.g. a
large electric household appliance or a
desk-top computer) is placed on the
right side of the rear seat, which may
block radio signals from the tire
pressure sensor to the receiver unit.
• When using the following devices in
the vehicle that may cause radio
interference with the receiver unit.

A digital device such as a personal
computer.
 A current converter device such as a
DC-AC converter.
• When excess snow or ice adheres to the
vehicle, especially around the wheels.
• When the tire pressure sensor batteries
are exhausted. •
When using a wheel with no tire
pressure sensor installed.
• When using tires with steel wire
reinforcement in the side walls.
• When using tire chains


Tires and Wheels
Changing tires and wheels
The following procedure allows the
TPMS to recognize a tire pressure
sensor
’s unique ID signal code whenever
tires or wheels are changed, such as
changing to and from winter tires.
When having tires changed at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer
Tire pressure sensor ID signal code
registration is completed when an
Authorized Mazda Dealer changes your
vehicle ’s tires.
When changing tires yourself
If you or someone else changes tires, you
or someone else can also undertake the
steps for the TPMS to complete the ID
signal code registration.
1. After tires have been changed, turn the ignition switch to the ON position, then
turn it back to the ACC or LOCK
position.
NOTE
A tire pressure sensor is not installed
to the temporary spare tire. The
warning light will flash continuously
while the temporary spare tire is being
used.
NOTE
Each tire pressure sensor has a unique
ID signal code. The signal code must
be registered with the TPMS before it
can work. The easiest way to do it is to
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
change your tire and complete ID
signal code registration.
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11-6
Index
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
T
Tire Pressure Monitoring System .... 5-22
System error activation
............. 5-24
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light
............................. 5-23
Tires and wheels
....................... 5-24
Tires Flat Tire
...................................... 7-3
Inflation pressure
...................... 8-31
Replacement
............................. 8-33
Rotation
.................................... 8-32
Snow tires
................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage
.......... 7-3
Specifications
........................... 10-8
Tire chains
................................ 4-11
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS)
.................................. 9-16
Tool
.................................................... 7-3
Towing Description
............................... 7-20
Emergency towing
.................... 7-20
Recreational towing
.................. 7-23
Towing caravan and trailers
(Europe)
.................................... 4-13
Trailer towing
........................... 4-13
Trailer Towing
................................. 4-13
Trip Meter
........................................ 5-27
Trunk Lid
......................................... 3-13
Trunk Light
...................................... 3-15
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
....... 5-47
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................. 6-35
Vehicle Information Labels
............. 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................ 5-31
ABS
........................................... 5-35
Air bag system
.......................... 5-36
Automatic transaxle
.................. 5-38
Brake system
............................. 5-33
Charging system
....................... 5-34
Check engine
............................. 5-35
Door-ajar
................................... 5-38
Engine oil pressure
.................... 5-34
Front seat belt pretensioner
system
....................................... 5-36
Low fuel
.................................... 5-36
Low washer fluid level
............. 5-38
seat belt
..................................... 5-37
Tire pressure monitoring
system
....................................... 5-38
Warranty
............................................. 9-9
Washer Fluid
.................................... 8-21
Weights
............................................ 10-6
Wheel Replacement
......................... 8-34
Windows Power windows
......................... 3-16
Windshield Washer
.......................... 5-51
Windshield Wipers
........................... 5-49
Blades replacement
................... 8-24
Winter Driving
................................... 4-9
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