engine MAZDA MODEL MILLENIA 2002 (in English) Owner's Manual

5-5
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Releasing the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal, then pull the
handle up and press the button. Lower the
handle to the release position while
holding in the button.

Brake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning/
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-15).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again.
If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes off, have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible.
NOTE
The drum-in disc parking brake system
in your vehicle needs to be bedded by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer whenever
the parking brake shoes or drums are
changed, or there is a reduction in
parking brake performance.
J76Y.book Page 5 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM

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
J76Y.book Page 10 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

5-16
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.
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5-17
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

TCS OFF Indicator Light
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position.
It goes off when the engine is started. It
also comes on when you switch off the
traction control system or when the
system has a malfunction.

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
After starting the engine on very cold
days, the TCS OFF indicator will
remain on and TCS will not operate
until the engine is warm.
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
happen, 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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5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
When the engine switch is in the ON position, the dashboard gauges illuminate.
1 Speedometer ............................................................................................................. 5-19
2 Odometer and Trip Meter ......................................................................................... 5-19
3 Tachometer ............................................................................................................... 5-20
4 Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge ........................................................................ 5-20
5 Fuel Gauge ............................................................................................................... 5-20
Meters and Gauges
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5-20
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F

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.

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.
Don’t run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
2.5 liter V6 DOHC
Miller Cycle Engine V6 DOHC
Red zone
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine can
cause serious engine damage (page 7-
10).
CAUTION
Low fuel
warning light
J76Y.book Page 20 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM