MAZDA MODEL 6 2003 Owners Manual (in English)

5-17
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 40 km/h (25 mph).

Cruise Main Indicator Light
This light comes on when the ON/OFF
switch is pressed and the cruise control
system is activated.

Cruise Set Indicator Light
This light comes on when a cruising speed
is set.

Activation/Deactivation
To activate the system, press the ON/OFF
switch.
The cruise main indicator light
illuminates.
To deactivate the system, press the switch
again.
The cruise main indicator light turns off.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
Cruise Main Switch:Leaving the ON/OFF 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 ON/OFF
switch off when cruise control is not
in use.
WARNING
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

To Set Speed
1. Activate the cruise control system.
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.

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.
NOTE
•
The SET function can’t be activated
until about 2 seconds after the ON/
OFF 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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5-19
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

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.

To Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 40 km/h (25 mph)
If some other method besides the ON/
OFF switch 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.
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.
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5-20
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

To C a n c e l
To turn off the system, use one
of these
methods:
•
Press the ON/OFF switch.
•
Slightly depress the brake pedal.
•
Press the CANCEL button.
•(Manual transaxle)

Depress the clutch pedal.
The system is off when the ignition is off.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.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15
km/h (9 mph) below the preset speed
or below 40 km/h (25 mph).
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 tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and snow.
WARNING
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5-21
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

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.

TCS OFF Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
It also comes on when the TCS OFF
switch is pressed and TCS is switched off.
If the light stays on when the TCS is not
switched off, take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer. The TCS may
have a malfunction.
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.
NOTE
After starting the engine when the
coolant temperature is extremely low,
the TCS is automatically turned off. At
this time, the TCS OFF indicator light
will remain on, but this does not
indicate an abnormality. After the
engine has warmed, TCS will resume
normal operation and the indicator
light will go out.
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

TCS OFF Switch
Press the TCS OFF switch to turn off the
TCS. The TCS OFF indicator light will
illuminate.
Press the switch again to turn the TCS
back on. The TCS OFF indicator light
will go out.
NOTE
•
When TCS is on and you attempt to
free the vehicle when it is stuck, or
drive it out of freshly fallen snow,
the TCS will activate. Depressing
the accelerator will not increase
engine power and freeing the
vehicle may be difficult. When this
happens, turn off the TCS.
•
If the TCS is off when the engine is
turned off, it automatically activates
when the ignition switch is turned
on.
•
Leaving the TCS on will provide the
best traction.
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5-23
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
(Black-out meter)

When the ignition switch is in the ON position, the dashboard gauges illuminate.
1 Speedometer ..............................................................................................................5-24
2 Odometer and Trip Meter ..........................................................................................5-24
3 Tachometer ................................................................................................................5-25
4 Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge..........................................................................5-25
5 Fuel Gauge................................................................................................................ 5-26
6 Instrument Cluster Dimmer Select Button (Black-out meter)...................................5-26
Meters and Gauges
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Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

Speedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.

Odometer and Trip Meter
The display mode can be changed
between trip meter A and trip meter B by
pressing the selector while they are
displayed. The selected mode will be
displayed.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Tr i p m e t e r
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
trip meter A, and the other is recorded in
trip meter B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and trip
meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
Selector
Odometer
Trip meter
Odometer
Odometer Trip meter A
Press the selector
Press the selector Trip meter B
NOTE
(Standard meter)

The odometer and trip meter can be
displayed as follows even when the
ignition switch is in the ACC or LOCK
position.
The headlight switch must be in the
or position to see the display.
•
Displays for 10 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned to the ACC
or LOCK position from the ON
position.
•
Displays for 10 minutes after any
door is opened.
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5-25
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter is
again reset. Return it to "0.0" by holding
the selector depressed for more than 1
second. Use this meter to measure trip
distances and to compute fuel
consumption.

Tachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).

Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge
shows the temperature of the engine
coolant.
If the needle exceeds normal range toward
H, it indicates overheating.
NOTE
•
Only the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
•
The trip record will be erased when;
The power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
The vehicle is driven over 999.9
km (mile).
Don’t run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
Red zone
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine can
cause serious engine damage (page 7-
12).
CAUTION
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Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately how
much fuel is in the tank. We recommend
keeping the tank over 1/4 full. When the low
fuel warning light illuminates or when the
needle is near E, refuel as soon as possible.

Dashboard Illumination
When the headlight switch is in the or
position, rotate the thumb-wheel to
adjust the brightness of the dashboard lights.

Instrument Cluster Dimmer
Select Button (Black-out meter)
The instrument cluster dimmer select
button is operable when the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
Adjusting the instrument cluster
illumination intensity (With exterior lights off)*
When the exterior lights are off (headlight
switch is in the OFF position), the
instrument cluster illumination can be
adjusted to one of five levels by
successively pressing the instrument
cluster dimmer select button.
* This function applies only to some
black-out meter equipped vehicles.
Canceling the instrument cluster
illumination dimmer (With exterior lights on)
When the exterior lights are on (headlight
switch is in the or position), the
instrument cluster illumination dims.
When driving on snowy or foggy roads, or
in other situations when the instrument
cluster's visibility is reduced due to glare
from surrounding brightness, the
instrument cluster dimmer select button
increases the illumination intensity.
Press the button to increase the intensity
of the instrument cluster illumination.
Press the button again to return to the
previous illumination intensity.
NOTE
Black-out meter
When the instrument cluster dimmer is
canceled, the instrument cluster
illumination intensity will not change
by rotating the thumb wheel.
Low fuel
warning light
Bright
Dim
Instrument cluster
dimmer select button
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