ECO mode MAZDA MODEL MAZDASPEED 3 2012 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (3,1)
Thank you for choosing a Mazda. We at Mazda design and build vehicles with complete
customer satisfaction in mind.
To help ensure enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your Mazda, read this manual
carefully and follow its recommendations.
An Authorized Mazda Dealer knows your vehicle best. So when maintenance or service is
necessary, that's the place to go.
Our nationwide network of Mazda professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best
possible service.
We assure you that all of us at Mazda have an ongoing interest in your motoring pleasure
and in your full satisfaction with your Mazda product.
Mazda Motor Corporation
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
Important Notes About This Manual
Keep this manual in the glove box as a handy reference for the safe and enjoyable use of your Mazda. Should you
resell the vehicle, leave this manual with it for the next owner.
All specifications and descriptions are accurate at the time of printing. Because improvement is a constant goal at
Mazda, we reserve the right to make changes in specifications at any time without notice and without obligation.
Event Data Recorder
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder. In the event of a crash, this device records data related to
vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time. These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur and lead to the designing of safer
vehicles.
Air Conditioning and the Environment
Your Mazda's genuine air conditioner is filled with HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that has been found not to
damage the earth's ozone layer. If the air conditioner does not operate properly, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Perchlorate
Certain components of this vehicle such as [air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners, lithium batteries, ...] may
contain Perchlorate Material–Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Please be aware that this manual applies to all models, equipment and options. As a result, you may find
some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.
©2009 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed in Japan Sep. 2010(Print2)
A Word to Mazda Owners
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page3
Monday, July 26 2010 1:51 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (28,1)
Seat Belt Precautions
Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and all passengers always wear seat belts.
All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way
when not in use.
The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an
emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a
collision.
However, the front passenger's seat and all rear lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in two
modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode.
While we recommend you put all children in the rear seats, if you must use the front
passenger seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible and make
sure any child-restraint system is secured properly.
2-14
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page28
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (30,1)
CAUTION
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep
them clean. For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to“Cleaning the
Lap/Shoulder Belt Webbing”(page 8-67).
qPregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific
recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the
stomach area.
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your
doctor for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.
qEmergency Locking Mode
In the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the
retractor will lock in position during a collision. When the seat belt is fastened, it will
always be in the emergency locking mode until it is switched to automatic locking mode by
pulling it all the way out to its full length. If the belt feels tight and hinders comfortable
movement while the vehicle is stopped or in motion, it may be in the automatic locking
mode because the belt has been pulled too far out. To return the belt to the more
comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until the vehicle has stopped in a safe, level
area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking mode and then extend it
around you again.
If the belt is locked and cannot be pulled out, retract the belt once, and then try pulling it
out slowly. If this fails, pull the belt strongly one time and loosen, then pull it out again
slowly.
2-16
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page30
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (34,1)
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner
and Load Limiting Systems
For optimum protection, the driver and
front passenger seat belts are equipped
with pretensioner and load limiting
systems. For both these systems to work
properly you must wear the seat belt
properly.
Pretensioners:
In moderate or severe frontal or near-
frontal accidents, the front air bag and
pretensioner systems deploy
simultaneously. The front seat belt
retractors remove slack quickly as the air
bags are expanding. Any time the air bags
and front seat belt pretensioners have fired
they must be replaced.
(With Driver and Front Passenger
Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the pretensioner system for
the front passenger, like the front
passenger air bag, is designed to only
deploy in accordance with the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat.
For details, refer to the front passenger
seat weight sensors (page 2-56).
Load limiter:
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce
belt force on the occupant's chest. While
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs
in frontal collisions, the load limiter has
an automatic mechanical function and can
activate in any accident mode with
sufficient occupant movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting function must be
checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer
after any collision.
WARNING
Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this owner's manual:
Incorrect positioning of the driver and
front passenger seat belts is
dangerous. Without proper
positioning, the pretensioner and
load limiting systems cannot provide
adequate protection in an accident
and this could result in serious injury.
For more details about wearing seat
belts, refer to“Fastening the seat
belts”(page 2-18).
Have your seat belts changed
immediately if the pretensioner or load
limiter has been expended:
Always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer immediately inspect the front
seat belt pretensioners and air bags
after any collision. Like the air bags,
the front seat belt pretensioners and
load limiters will only function once
and must be replaced after any
collision that caused them to deploy.
A seat belt with an expended
pretensioner or load limiter is still
better than wearing no seat belt at
all; however, if the front seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters are
not replaced, the risk of injury in a
collision will increase.
2-20
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page34
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (45,1)
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front passenger's
seat is clearly the worst choice for any
child under 12, and with rear-facing child-
restraint systems it is clearly unsafe due to
air bags.
NOTE
Even if your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-56),
which automatically deactivates the front
passenger air bag, a rear seat is the safest
place for a child of any age or size.
Some child-restraint systems now come
with tethers and therefore must be
installed on the seats that take tethers to
be effective. In your Mazda, tethered
child-restraint systems can only be
accommodated in the three positions on
the rear seat.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems”(page 2-38).
WARNING
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems Work
Only on Tether-Equipped Rear Seats:
Installation of a tether equipped
child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury
if the child-restraint system goes
forward without benefit of being
tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
qRear Seat Child-Restraint System
Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the rear LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to“LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems”(page 2-38).
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully. If you
are not sure whether you have a LATCH
system or tether, check in the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions and follow
them accordingly. Depending on the type of
child-restraint system, it may use LATCH
system instead of seat belts or if the belt goes
across the child's chest, may recommend
against using automatic locking mode.
1. Make sure the seatback is securely
latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-31
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page45
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (103,1)
Key extend/retract method (Retractable
type key)
To extend the key, press the release
button.
To retract the key, rotate it into the holder
while pressing the release button.
Keyless Entry Systemí
This system remotely locks and unlocks
the doors and the liftgate, and opens the
trunk lid.
It can also help you signal for attention.
Operating the theft-deterrent system with
the keyless entry system transmitter is
also possible on theft-deterrent system-
equipped vehicles.
Press the buttons slowly and carefully.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to the transmitter,
do not:
ØDrop the transmitter.
ØGet the transmitter wet.
ØDisassemble the transmitter.
ØExpose the transmitter to any kind
of magnetic field.
ØExpose the transmitter to high
temperatures on places such as
the dashboard or hood, under
direct sunlight.
NOTE
lThe keyless entry system is designed to
operate up to about 2.5 m (8 ft) from the
center of the vehicle, but this may vary due
to local conditions.
lThe system does not operate when the key is
in the ignition switch.
lIf the transmitter does not operate when
pressing a button or the operation range
becomes too small, the battery may be
dead. To install a new battery, refer to
Maintenance (page 3-31).
lAdditional transmitters can be obtained at
an Authorized Mazda Dealer. Up to 3
transmitters can be used with the keyless
entry system per vehicle. Bring all
transmitters to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer when additional transmitters are
required.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-27íSome models. Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page103
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (137,1)
Theft-Deterrent Systemí
If the theft deterrent system detects an
inappropriate entry into the vehicle, which
could result in the vehicle or its contents
being stolen, the alarm alerts the
surrounding area of an abnormality by
sounding the horn and flashing the hazard
warning lights.
Refer to Operation on page 3-61.
NOTE
lThe theft-deterrent system operates with the
key or the keyless entry system transmitter.
l(With advanced key)
The theft-deterrent system can also be
operated using the advanced keyless
function.
The system operates only when the driver is
in the vehicle or within operational range
while the advanced key is being carried.
lThe system will not function unless it is
properly armed. To properly secure the
vehicle, always make sure all windows are
completely closed and all doors and the
trunk lid/liftgate are locked before leaving
the vehicle. Remember to take your key and
transmitter.
qOperation
System triggering conditions
The horn sounds intermittently and the
hazard warning lights flash for about 30
seconds when the system is triggered by
any one of the following:
lForcing open a door, the hood or the
trunk lid/liftgate.
lUnlocking a door with the inside door-
lock knob.
lUnlocking a door with the door lock
switch.
lOpening the hood by operating the
hood release handle.
l(Without advanced key)
Switching the ignition ON without the
key.
(With advanced key)
Switching the ignition ON without
using the push button start.
lOpening the trunk lid by operating the
trunk lid release lever.
If the system is triggered again, the lights
and horn will activate until a door or the
liftgate is unlocked or the trunk lid is
opened with the key or with the
transmitter.
(With advanced key)
The lights and horn can also be
deactivated by pressing the request switch
on a door.
NOTE
If the battery goes dead while the theft-
deterrent system is armed, the horn will
activate and the hazard warning lights will
flash when the battery is charged or replaced.
qHow to Arm the System
1. Close the windows and the moonroofí
securely.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
(With advanced key)
Press the push button start to off
position, if the auxiliary key is inserted
in the key slot, remove it.
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
3-61íSome models. Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page137
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (138,1)
3. Make sure all windows, the
moonroofí, the hood and the trunk lid
are closed. Close and lock all doors and
the liftgate from the outside using the
key. If you have the keyless entry
system, press the lock button on the
transmitter.
The hazard warning lights will flash
once.
The following method will also arm the
theft-deterrent system:
(With advanced key)
Press a request switch on the doors or
the lock button on the transmitter.
(Without advanced key)
Close the hood and the liftgate/trunk
lid. Press the area on the door-lock
switch marked“
”once. Close all
doors.
The security indicator light in the
instrument panel flashes twice per
second for 20 seconds.
The theft deterrent system can also be
armed by activating the auto re-lock
function with all the doors, the liftgate/
trunk lid and the hood closed.
NOTE
Locking the doors with the inside door-lock
knob will not arm the system.
4. After 20 seconds, the system is fully
armed.NOTE
lAuto re-lock function
After unlocking with the transmitter or the
request switch, all doors and the liftgate
will automatically lock if any of the
following operations are not performed
within about 30 seconds.
lA door or the liftgate/trunk lid is opened.lThe auxiliary key inserted into the key
slot (with advanced key).
lThe key is inserted in the ignition switch.lThe push button start is in any position
except off (with advanced key).
lThe ignition is switched ON.lThe system will disarm if one of the
following operations takes place within 20
seconds after closing the trunk lid/hood and
locking all the doors and the liftgate:
lPressing the unlock button on the
transmitter.
lAny door or the liftgate/trunk lid is
opened.
lUnlocking a door with the inside door-
lock knob.
lUnlocking a door with the door lock
switch.
lUnlocking the driver's door with the key.lThe hood is opened.lThe key is inserted in the ignition switch.lThe auxiliary key inserted into the key
slot (With advanced key).
lThe push button start is pressed or a
door is unlocked using a request switch
on the front doors (With advanced key).
lThe ignition is switched ON.
To rearm the system, do the arming
procedure again.
lWhen the doors are locked by pressing the
lock button on the transmitter or request
switch on the front doors or using the key
while the theft-deterrent system is armed,
the hazard warning lights will flash once to
indicate that the system is armed.
3-62
Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Security System
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page138
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (158,1)
Turbocharger Informationí
The turbocharger greatly enhances engine power. Its advanced design provides improved
operation and requires minimum additional maintenance. To get maximum performance
from your turbocharged engine, take note of the following tips:
lThe turbocharged engine is designed for optimal operation with premium unleaded
gasoline (page 4-2). Do not use fuel with a lower octane rating. Extra fuel additives are
NOT recommended.
lChange the engine oil and filter using the turbo engine interval outlined in the
maintenance schedule (for your driving condition).
lUse only the recommended engine oil (page 8-18). Extra oil additives are NOT
recommended.
lAfter driving at freeway speeds or up a long hill, idle the engine at least 30 seconds to
cool the turbo before turning off the engine. Avoid simply shutting the engine off
abruptly after a hard or long drive. Damage to the turbocharger may result.
lDo not race or over-rev the engine when starting. This should not be done with ANY
engine, especially not with one that's turbocharged.
lDo not add any aftermarket devices to alter the engine's ignition timing, fuel delivery, or
turbo boost pressure. This may lead to serious engine damage and may void your
warranty.
4-14
Before Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Driving Tips
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page158
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F

Black plate (176,1)
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 front 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.
Indicators
Shift position 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
D range/gear position indicator
NOTElIf 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).
lIf the automatic transaxle fluid (ATF)
temperature becomes too high, there is the
possibility that the transaxle will switch to
automatic shift mode, canceling manual
shift mode and turning off the gear position
indicator illumination. This is a normal
function to protect the AT. After the ATF
temperature has decreased, the gear
position indicator illumination turns back
on and driving in manual shift mode is
restored.
5-16
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Mazda3_8BM5-EA-10F_Edition2 Page176
Monday, July 26 2010 1:52 PM
Form No.8BM5-EA-10F