Mazda 3 Hatchback (2018 year). Manual — part 8

Driving on Uneven Road

Your vehicle's suspension and underbody can be damaged if driven on rough/uneven roads
or over speed bumps at excessive speeds. Use care and reduce speed when traveling on
rough/uneven roads or over speed bumps.

Use care not to damage the vehicle's underbody, bumpers or muffler(s) when driving under
the following conditions:



Ascending or descending a slope with a sharp transition angle



Ascending or descending a driveway or trailer ramp with a sharp transition angle

This vehicle is equipped with low profile tires allowing class-leading performance and
handling. As a result, the sidewall of the tires are very thin and the tires and wheels can be
damaged if driven through potholes or on rough/uneven roads at excessive speeds. Use care
and reduce speed when traveling on rough/uneven roads or through potholes.

Before Driving

Driving Tips

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Trailer Towing

Your Mazda is not designed for towing.
Never tow a trailer with your Mazda.

Recreational Towing

An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
"Towing Description" (page 7-22) and
"Tiedown Hooks" (page 7-23) and
carefully follow the instructions.

Before Driving

Towing

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4

When Driving

Information concerning safe driving and stopping.

Start/Stop Engine. . . . . . . .. 4-4

Ignition Switch. . . . . . . . 4-4
Starting the Engine. . . . . ... 4-5
Turning the Engine Off. . .... 4-10

Instrument Cluster and Display. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...4-12

Meters and Gauges. . . . . . 4-12
Active Driving Display

*

. . . .4-20

Warning/Indicator Lights. . . 4-23

Manual Transaxle Operation. . . 4-29

Manual Transaxle Shift
Pattern. . . . . . . . . . .4-29

Automatic Transaxle. . . . . ... 4-32

Automatic Transaxle
Controls. . . . . . . . . .. 4-32
Shift-Lock System. . . . . .. 4-33
Transaxle Ranges. . . . . . 4-33
Manual Shift Mode. . . . . .4-35
Direct Mode

*

. . . . . . . .. 4-41

Driving Tips. . . . . . . ....4-42

Switches and Controls. . . . . .4-43

Lighting Control. . . . . . . 4-43
Fog Lights

*

. . . . . . . . . 4-48

Turn and Lane-Change
Signals. . . . . . . . . . 4-48
Windshield Wipers and
Washer. . . . . . . . . . 4-49
Rear Window Wiper and Washer

*

. .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
Rear Window Defogger. . . ..4-53
Horn. . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
Hazard Warning Flasher. . . . 4-56
HomeLink Wireless Control
System

*

. . . . . . . . . ...4-56

Brake. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60

Brake System. . . . . . . ..4-60
Hill Launch Assist (HLA). . .. 4-64

ABS/TCS/DSC. . . . . . . . . 4-66

Antilock Brake System
(ABS). . . . . . . . . . ..4-66
Traction Control System
(TCS). . . . . . . . . . .. 4-67
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC). . . . . . . . . . ..4-68

i-ELOOP. . . . . . . . . . .. 4-70

i-ELOOP

*

. . . . . . . . ... 4-70

Fuel Economy Monitor. . . . ... 4-72

Fuel Economy Monitor

*

. . . .4-72

*Some models.

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Drive Selection. . . . . . . . . 4-74

Drive Selection

*

. . . . . . ..4-74

Power Steering. . . . . . . . .4-76

Power Steering. . . . . . . 4-76

i-ACTIVSENSE. . . . . . . ...4-77

i-ACTIVSENSE. . . . . . . 4-77
Adaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)

*

. . . . . . . . . . 4-80

High Beam Control System
(HBC)

*

. . . . . . . . . . 4-81

Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)

*

. . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-84
Traffic Sign Recognition System
(TSR)

*

. . . . . . . . . . 4-90

Distance Recognition Support
System (DRSS)

*

. . . . . . . 4-96

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

*

. .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-98
Mazda Radar Cruise Control
(MRCC)

*

. . . . . . . . .. 4-102

Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) &
Lane Departure Warning System
(LDWS)

*

. . . . . . . . ...4-113

Smart City Brake Support
(SCBS)

*

. . . . . . . . . 4-124

Smart Brake Support (SBS)

*

. 4-128

Forward Sensing Camera
(FSC). . . . . . . . . . 4-131
Radar Sensor (Front). . . . 4-136
Radar Sensors (Rear). . . ... 4-139

Cruise Control. . . . . . . ... 4-141

Cruise Control

*

. . . . . . .4-141

Tire Pressure Monitoring
System. . . . . . . . . . . .4-146

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

*

. .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4-146

Rear View Monitor. . . . . ... 4-150

Rear View Monitor

*

. . . . . 4-150

4-2

*Some models.

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MEMO

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Ignition Switch

▼ Push Button Start Positions

The system operates only when the key is
within operational range.
Each time the push button start is pressed,
the ignition switches in the order of off,
ACC, and ON. Pressing the push button
start again from ON switches the ignition
off.

Indicator light

Push button start

NOTE



The engine starts by pressing the push
button start while depressing the clutch
pedal (manual transaxle) or the brake
pedal (automatic transaxle). To switch
the ignition position, press the push
button start without depressing the
pedal.



Do not leave the ignition switched ON
while the engine is not running. Doing
so could result in the battery going
dead. If the ignition is left in ACC (For
automatic transaxle, the selector lever is
in the P position, and the ignition is in
ACC), the ignition switches off
automatically after about 25 minutes.

Off

The power supply to electrical devices
turns off and the push button start
indicator light (amber) also turns off.

WARNING

Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition off, set the parking
brake, and make sure the selector lever is in
P (automatic transaxle) or in 1st gear or R
(manual transaxle):
Leaving the driver's seat without switching
the ignition off, setting the parking brake,
and shifting the selector lever to P
(automatic transaxle) or to 1st gear or R
(manual transaxle) is dangerous.
Unexpected vehicle movement could occur
which could result in an accident.
In addition, if your intention is to leave the
vehicle for even a short period, it is
important to switch the ignition off, as
leaving it in another position will disable
some of the vehicle's security systems and
run the battery down.

ACC (Accessory)

Some electrical accessories will operate
and the indicator light (amber) illuminates.

NOTE
The keyless entry system does not function
while the push button start has been
pressed to ACC, and the doors will not
lock/unlock even if they have been locked
manually.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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ON

This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The indicator light
(amber) turns off. (The indicator light
(amber) illuminates when the ignition is
switched ON and the engine is not
running.)
Some indicator lights/warning lights
should be inspected before the engine is
started (page 4-23).

NOTE
When the push button start is pressed to
ON, the sound of the fuel pump motor
operating near the fuel tank can be heard.
This does not indicate an abnormality.

Starting the Engine

WARNING

Radio waves from the key may affect
medical devices such as pacemakers:
Before using the key near people who use
medical devices, ask the medical device
manufacturer or your physician if radio
waves from the key will affect the device.

NOTE



The key must be carried because the key
carries an immobilizer chip that must
communicate with the engine controls at
short range.



The engine can be started when the push
button start is pressed from off, ACC, or
ON.



The push button start system functions
(function which can start the engine by
only carrying the key) can be
deactivated to prevent any possible
adverse effect on a user wearing a
pacemaker or other medical device. If
the system is deactivated, you will be
unable to start the engine by carrying
the key. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for details. If the push button
start system functions have been
deactivated, you can start the engine by
following the procedure indicated when
the key battery goes dead.
Refer to Engine Start Function When
Key Battery is Dead on page 4-8.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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

After starting a cold engine, the engine
speed increases and a whining sound
from the engine compartment can be
heard.
This is for improved exhaust gas
purification and does not indicate any
parts defect.



1. Make sure you are carrying the key.
2. Occupants should fasten their seat

belts.

3. Make sure the parking brake is on.
4. Continue to press the brake pedal

firmly until the engine has completely
started.

5. (Manual transaxle)

Continue to press the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
(Automatic transaxle)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).

NOTE



(Manual transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the
clutch pedal is not depressed
sufficiently.



(Automatic transaxle)
The starter will not operate if the
selector lever is not in P or N and
the brake pedal is not depressed
sufficiently.

6. Verify that the KEY indicator light

(green) in the instrument cluster and
the push button start indicator light
(green) illuminate.

Indicator light

Push button start

KEY indicator light
(green)/ KEY
warning light (red)

NOTE



If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes, make sure that
the key is being carried.



If the push button start indicator
light (green) flashes with the key
being carried, touch the key to the
push button start and start the
engine. Refer to Engine Start
Function When Key Battery is Dead
on page 4-8.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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CAUTION

If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate a problem with the
engine starting system. This may
prevent the engine from starting or
from switching the ignition to ACC or
ON. Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.

NOTE



Under the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes after
the push button start is pressed. This
informs the driver that the push
button start will not switch to ACC,
even if it is pressed from off.



The key battery is dead.



The key is out of operational
range.



The key is placed in areas where it
is difficult for the system to detect
the signal (page 3-7).



A key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range.



(Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may
not start using the usual starting
method. Have your vehicle inspected
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. If this occurs, the
engine can be force-started. Press
and hold the push button start until
the engine starts. Other procedures
necessary for starting the engine,
such as having the key in the cabin,
and depressing the clutch pedal
(manual transaxle) or the brake
pedal (automatic transaxle) are
required.



When the engine is force-started, the
KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button start
indicator light (amber) remains
flashing.



(Automatic transaxle)
When the selector lever is in the
neutral (N) position, the KEY
indicator light (green) and the push
button start indicator light (green)
do not illuminate.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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7. Press the push button start after both

the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.

NOTE



After starting the engine, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to
the ON position.



After pressing the push button start
and before the engine starts, the
operation sound of the fuel pump
motor from near the fuel tank can be
heard, however, this does not
indicate a malfunction.

8. After starting the engine, let it idle for

about ten seconds.

NOTE



Whether the engine is cold or warm,
it should be started without the use
of the accelerator.



If the engine does not start the first
time, refer to Starting a Flooded
Engine under Emergency Starting. If
the engine still does not start, have
your vehicle inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer (page 7-
19).

▼ Engine Start Function When Key

Battery is Dead

CAUTION

When starting the engine by holding the
transmitter over the push button start due
to a dead key battery or a malfunctioning
key, be careful not to allow the following,
otherwise the signal from the key will not
be received correctly and the engine may
not start.

Metal parts of other keys or metal objects

touch the key.

Spare keys or keys for other vehicles

equipped with an immobilizer system
touch or come near the key.

Devices for electronic purchases, or

security passage touch or come near the
key.

If the engine cannot be started due to a
dead key battery, the engine can be started
using the following procedure:
1. Continue to depress the brake pedal

firmly until the engine has completely
started.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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2. (Manual transaxle)

Continue to depress the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.

3. Verify that the push button start

indication light (green) flashes.

4. Touch the push button start using the

backside of the key (as shown) while
the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes.

Push button start

Transmitter

Indicator light

NOTE
When touching the push button start
using the backside of the key as shown
in the illustration, touch the push
button start with the lock switch side of
the key facing up.

5. Verify that the push button start

indicator light (green) turns on.

6. Press the push button start to start the

engine.

NOTE



The engine cannot be started unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed
(manual transaxle) or the brake
pedal is fully depressed (automatic
transaxle).



If there is a malfunction with the
push button start function, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
flashes. In this case, the engine may
start, however, have the vehicle
checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.



If the push button start indicator
light (green) does not illuminate,
perform the operation from the
beginning again. If it does not
illuminate, have the vehicle checked
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.



To switch the ignition position
without starting the engine, perform
the following operations after the
push button start indicator light
(green) turns on.
1. Release the clutch pedal (manual

transaxle) or brake pedal
(automatic transaxle).

2. Press the push button start to

switch the ignition position. The
ignition switches in the order of
ACC, ON, and off each time the
push button start is pressed. To
switch the ignition position
again, perform the operation
from the beginning.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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▼ Emergency Operation for Starting

the Engine

If the KEY warning light (red) illuminates,
or the push button start indicator light
(amber) flashes, this could indicate that
the engine may not start using the usual
starting method. Have your vehicle
inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible. If this occurs, the
engine can be force-started. Press and hold
the push button start until the engine starts.
Other procedures necessary for starting the
engine such as having the key in the cabin,
and depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transaxle) or the brake pedal (automatic
transaxle) are required.

Turning the Engine Off

WARNING

Do not stop the engine while the vehicle is
moving:
Stopping the engine while the vehicle is
moving for any reason other than in an
emergency is dangerous. Stopping the
engine while the vehicle is moving will
result in reduced braking ability due to the
loss of power braking, which could cause
an accident and serious injury.

1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2. (Manual transaxle)

Shift into neutral and set the parking
brake.
(Automatic transaxle)
Shift the selector lever to the P
position and set the parking brake.

3. Press the push button start to turn off

the engine. The ignition position is off.

CAUTION

When leaving the vehicle, make sure the
push button start is off.

NOTE



The cooling fan in the engine
compartment could turn on for a few
minutes after the ignition is switched
from ON to OFF, whether or not the A/C
is on or off, to cool the engine
compartment quickly.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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

When the push button start is pressed
from ON to ACC or OFF, the KEY
indicator light (green) may flash for
approximately 30 seconds indicating
that the remaining battery power of the
key is low.
Replace with a new battery before the
key becomes unusable.
Refer to Key Battery Replacement on
page 6-35.



(Automatic transaxle)
If the engine is turned off while the
selector lever is in a position other than
P, the ignition switches to ACC.

▼ Emergency Engine Stop

Continuously pressing the push button
start or quickly pressing it any number of
times while the engine is running or the
vehicle is being driven will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.

When Driving

Start/Stop Engine

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Meters and Gauges

Type A

Type B

Type C

Steering Switch

(Digital Speed Meter Type)

(Analog Speed Meter Type (With Tachometer))

(Analog Speed Meter Type (Without Tachometer))

Some models.

Instrument Cluster

①

Speedometer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..page 4-13

②

Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip Meter Selector. . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4-13

③

Tachometer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4-15

④

Fuel Gauge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4-15

⑤

Dashboard Illumination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 4-16

⑥

Outside Temperature Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4-17

⑦

Cruise Control Set Vehicle Speed Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4-17

⑧

Active Driving Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4-20

When Driving

Instrument Cluster and Display

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⑨

Trip Computer and INFO Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..page 4-18

⑩

Speed Unit Selector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...page 4-13

▼ Speedometer

The speedometer indicates the speed of the
vehicle.

▼ Speed Unit Selector (Type A

Instrument Cluster)

In some countries, you may have to
change the speed units between km/h and
mph.
Press the speed unit selector for 1.5
seconds or more.
The speed units for the speedometer will
change between km/h and mph.

Speedometer

Speed unit selector

▼ Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip

Meter Selector

The display mode can be changed from
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter B
and then back to odometer by pressing the
selector while one of them is displayed.
The selected mode will be displayed.
Type A/Type B

Press the selector

Press the selector

Press the selector

Odometer

Trip meter A

Trip meter B

Selector

When Driving

Instrument Cluster and Display

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Type C

Selector

Press the selector

Press the selector

Press the selector

Odometer

Trip meter A

Trip meter B

NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
off, the odometer or trip meters cannot be
displayed, however, pressing the selector
can inadvertently switch the trip meters or
reset them during an approximate
ten-minute period in the following cases:



After the ignition is switched to off from
ON.



After the driver's door is opened.

Odometer

The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.

Trip meter

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.

The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter is
again reset. Return it to “0.0” by
depressing and holding the selector for one
second or more. Use this meter to measure
trip distances and to compute fuel
consumption.

NOTE



(Vehicles with type B audio)
If the fuel economy data is reset using
the fuel economy monitor, or trip A is
reset using the trip meter when the
function which synchronizes the fuel
economy monitor and the trip meter is
on, the fuel economy data and trip A are
reset simultaneously.
Refer to Fuel Economy Monitor on page
4-72.



Only the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).

When Driving

Instrument Cluster and Display

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