MAZDA MODEL CX-9 2012 Owners Manual (in English)
Manufacturer: MAZDA, Model Year: 2012, Model line: MODEL CX-9, Model: MAZDA MODEL CX-9 2012Pages: 604, PDF Size: 13.45 MB
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qActive 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
comfort.
If the driver accelerates rapidly, or
accelerates and decelerates rapidly by
operating the accelerator and brake pedal
for a certain period of time while the shift
lever is in the D position, AAS mode
could activate.
When cornering the vehicle, AAS mode
will hold the transaxle in the gear the
vehicle was in before entering the curve,
allowing the vehicle to be accelerated
from the same gear after exiting the curve.
AAS mode will maintain the transaxle in
the optimum gear and the driver may
sense that the transaxle is not shifting,
however this does not indicate an
abnormality.
qShift-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. Move the shift lever.
NOTE
lWhen the ignition is switched off, the shift
lever cannot be shifted from P.
lTo be sure the vehicle is in park,the
ignition key cannot be removed unless the
shift lever is in P.
l(With Advanced Key)
The ignition cannot be switched from ACC
to OFF when the shift lever is not in P.
qManual Shift Mode
This mode gives you the feel of driving a
manual transaxle vehicle by operating the
shift lever and allows you to control
engine rpm and torque to the drive wheels
much like a manual transaxle when more
control is desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift the
lever from D to M.
NOTE
Changing to manual shift mode while driving
will not damage the transaxle.
To return to automatic shift mode, shift
the lever from M to D.
NOTE
lIf you change to manual shift mode when
the vehicle is stopped, the gear will shift to
M1.
lIf you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 5th gear, the gear will
shift to M4.
lIf you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 6th gear, the gear will
shift to M5.
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Indicators
Manual shift mode indicator
In manual shift mode, the“M”of the shift
position indicator in the instrument panel
illuminates.
Gear position indicator
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
Shift position indicator
Gear position indicator
NOTE
If the gears cannot be shifted down when
driving at higher speeds, the gear position
indicator will flash twice to signal that the
gears cannot be shifted down (to protect the
transaxle).
Shifting
Manually Shifting up
(M1→M2→M3→M4→M5→M6)
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the shift
lever back (
) once.
NOTElWhen driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
lIn manual shift mode, gears do not shift up
automatically. Do not run the engine with
the tachometer needle in the RED ZONE. If
the tachometer needle enters the RED
ZONE, you may feel engine-braking
because the fuel delivery will be stopped to
protect the engine. However, this does not
indicate an abnormality.
lWhen depressing the accelerator fully, the
transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed.
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Manually Shifting down
(M6→M5→M4→M3→M2→
M1)
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the shift
lever forward (
) once.
WARNING
Do not use engine braking on slippery
road surfaces or at high speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
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.
NOTE
lWhen driving at high speeds, the gear may
not shift down.
lDuring deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.
lWhen depressing the accelerator fully, the
transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed.
Second gear fixed mode
When the shift lever is tapped back (
)
while the vehicle is stopped or driven at
about 15 km/h (9.3 mph) or less, the
transaxle is set in the second gear fixed
mode. The gear is fixed in second while in
this mode for easier starting and driving
on slippery roads. If the shift lever is
tapped back (
) or forward () while in
the second gear fixed mode, the mode will
be canceled.
Shifting specification
Shifting up
If the vehicle speed is lower than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted up to a higher gear.
Gear Vehicle speed
M1→M2You can shift up to M2 whether the
vehicle is stopped or moving.
M2→M3 15 km/h (10 mph)
M3→M4 29 km/h (19 mph)
M4→M5 40 km/h (25 mph)
M5→M6 50 km/h (32 mph)
Shifting down
If the vehicle speed is higher than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted to a lower gear so as to
protect the transaxle.
Gear Vehicle speed
M6→M5 230 km/h (142 mph)
M5→M4 201 km/h (124 mph)
M4→M3 150 km/h (93 mph)
M3→M2 96 km/h (59 mph)
M2→M1 49 km/h (30 mph)
NOTE
Regarding the vehicle speed at the highest
gear indicated above, achieving this speed
may not actually be possible depending on
various driving conditions such as the wind,
upslope, and road surface.
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During deceleration, the gears shift down
automatically when speed is reduced to
the following:
Gear Vehicle speed
M6→M5 47 km/h (29 mph)
M5→M4 37 km/h (22 mph)
M4→M3 26 km/h (16 mph)
M3 or M2→M1 7 km/h (4 mph)
NOTE
The gear does not shift down to M1
automatically while in the second gear fixed
mode.
If the vehicle is kicked down at the
following speeds or lower, the gears shift
down automatically:
Gear Vehicle speed
M6→M5 230 km/h (142 mph)
M5→M4 90 km/h (55 mph)
M4→M3 65 km/h (40 mph)
M3→M2 40 km/h (24 mph)
Recommendations for shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, we
recommend these shift points.
Gear Vehicle speed
M1 to M2 24 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 40 km/h (25 mph)
M3 to M4 65 km/h (40 mph)
M4 to M5 73 km/h (45 mph)
M5 to M6 80 km/h (50 mph)
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steepupgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
gives better acceleration when you need
more speed.On a steepdowngrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
qDriving Tips
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position.
Otherwise, the engine will stop,
causing the loss of the power brake
and power steering functions, and
make it difficult to control the vehicle
which could result in an accident.
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 or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while
gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.
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Power Steering
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 stiffer than usual
during normal driving, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than 5
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power
steering system.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Operation
í
AWD provides excellent driveability on
snow-covered and ice-packed roads, sand
and mud, as well as on steep slopes and
other slippery surfaces.
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qAWD Driving
WARNING
Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and
abrupt maneuvers when driving this
vehicle:
Sharp turns, excessive speed and
abrupt maneuvering of this vehicle is
dangerous as it could result in the
increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle roll-over, personal
injury or death.
This vehicle has a higher center of
gravity. Vehicles with a higher center
of gravity such as utility and AWD
vehicles handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of
gravity.
Utility and AWD vehicles are not
designed for cornering at high speeds
any more than low profile sports cars
are designed to perform satisfactorily
under off-road conditions. In
addition, utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
RSC might help if you get into
trouble, but then it might not be able
to allow you to fully recover, always
drive carefully with the vehicle's
height in mind.
Drive carefully when the vehicle is
loaded by lowering vehicle speed and
applying the brakes earlier:
Abrupt maneuvering and sudden
braking when driving a loaded
vehicle is dangerous as the driving
behavior of a vehicle with a high
center of gravity is different when it is
loaded compared to when it is not,
and could result in the loss of vehicle
control and an accident.
qAWD Warning Light
This warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
Thereafter, the warning light will
illuminate or flash under the following
conditions:
lIlluminates when there is an
abnormality with the AWD system.
lFlashes when the differential oil
temperature is abnormally high.
lFlashes when there are continually
large differences between front and rear
wheel rotation, such as when trying to
pull away from an icy surface, or when
trying to extricate the vehicle from
mud, sand or similar conditions.
If the AWD warning light illuminates:
If the AWD warning light illuminates,
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If the AWD warning light flashes:
Park the vehicle in a safe place. After a
few moments, if the warning light stops
flashing, you can resume driving. If the
light does not stop flashing, contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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WARNING
Never spin a wheel that is off the
ground:
Spinning a wheel that is off the
ground as a result of the vehicle
being stuck or in a ditch is
dangerous. The drive assembly could
be seriously damaged which could
lead to an accident or could even
lead to overheating, oil leakage, and
a fire.
qTires and Tire Chains
The condition of the tires plays a large
role in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse effects to
the drive assembly, please note the
following:
Tires
lWhen replacing tires, always replace
all front and rear tires at the same time.
lAll tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread pattern.
Pay particular attention when
equipping snow or other types of
winter tires.
lDo not mix tread-worn tires with
normal tires.
lInspect tire inflation pressures at the
specified periods and adjust to the
specified pressures.
NOTE
Check the tire inflation pressure label attached
to driver's door frame for the correct tire
inflation pressure.
lMake sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine wheels of the specified size,
on all wheels. With AWD, the system
is calibrated for all four wheels being
of the same dimensions.
Tire chains
lInstall tire chains to the front tires.lDo not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
lDo not drive the vehicle faster than 30
km/h (19 mph) with the tire chains
installed.
lDo not drive the vehicle with tire
chains on road conditions other than
snow or ice.
qTowing
If the vehicle requires towing, have it
towed with all four wheels completely off
the ground(page 7-21).
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Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 30 km/h (19 mph).
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control under the
following conditions:
Using the cruise control under the
following conditions is dangerous
and could result in loss of vehicle
control.
ØHilly terrain
ØSteep inclines
ØHeavy or unsteady traffic
ØSlippery or winding roads
ØSimilar restrictions that require
inconsistent speed
qCruise Main Indicator Light
(Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator
Light (Green)
The indicator light has two colors.
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)
The indicator light illuminates amber
when the ON switch is pressed and the
cruise control system is activated.
Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green)
The indicator light illuminates green when
a cruising speed has been set.
qActivation/Deactivation
To activate the system, press the ON
switch.
The cruise main indicator light
illuminates.
To deactivate the system, press the OFF
switch.
The cruise main indicator light turns off.
WARNING
Always turn off the cruise control
system when it is not in use:
Leaving the cruise control system in
an activation-ready state while the
cruise control is not in use is
dangerous as the cruise control could
unexpectedly activate if the
activation button is accidentally
pressed, and result in loss of vehicle
control and an accident.
qTo Set Speed
1. Activate the cruise control system by
pressing the ON switch.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which
must be more than 30 km/h (19 mph).
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3. Set the cruise control by pressing the
cruise control SET
/SET - switch up
or down at the desired speed. The
cruise control is set at the moment the
cruise control SET
/SET - switch is
pressed up or down. Release the
accelerator pedal simultaneously.
Cruise control
switch
NOTElRelease the cruise control switch at the
desired speed, otherwise the speed will
continue increasing while the switch is
pressed up, and continue decreasing while
it is pressed down (except when the
accelerator pedal is depressed).
lOn a steep grade, the vehicle may
momentarily slow down while ascending,
or speed up while descending.
lCruise control will turn off if the vehicle
speed decreases below 30 km/h (19 mph)
when cruise is activated, such as when
climbing a steep grade.
qTo Increase Cruising Speed
Follow either of these procedures.
To increase speed using cruise control
switch
Press up the cruise control SET
switch
and hold it. Your vehicle will accelerate.
Release the switch at the speed you want.
Cruise control
switch
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 cruise control SET
switch. Multiple taps will increase
your vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for
each tap.
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To increase speed using accelerator
pedal
Depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate
to the desired speed.
Press down or press up on the cruise
control SET
/SET - switch and release
it immediately.
Cruise control
switch
NOTE
Accelerate if you want to speed up temporarily
when the cruise control is on. Greater speed
will not interfere with or change the set speed.
Take your foot off the accelerator to return to
the set speed.
qTo Decrease Cruising Speed
Press down the cruise control SET -
switch and hold it. The vehicle will
gradually slow.
Release the switch at the speed you want.
Cruise control
switch
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 cruise control SET -
switch. Multiple taps will decrease your
vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each
tap.
qTo Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 30 km/h (19 mph)
If some other method besides the OFF
switch was used to cancel cruising speed
(such as applying the brake pedal) and the
system is still activated, the most recent
set speed will automatically resume when
the RES switch is pressed.
If vehicle speed is below 30 km/h (19
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 30
km/h (19 mph) or more and press the RES
switch.
qTo Cancel
To cancel the system, useoneof these
methods:
lPress the OFF switch.lSlightly depress the brake pedal.
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