Mazda 3 Manual page 173

Mazda3_8BY6-EA-11F_Edition1 Page173
Wednesday, June 15 2011 2:1 PM
(6-speed transaxle)
Vehicles with 6-speed transaxle are
equipped with a device to prevent shifting
to R (reverse) by mistake. Push the shift
lever downward and shift to R.
WARNING
Do not use sudden 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.
Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended:
Otherwise the vehicle could move
and cause an accident.
Form No.8BY6-EA-11F
Black plate (173,1)
Starting and Driving
CAUTION
Ø Keep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also,
do not use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.
Ø Do not apply any excessive lateral
force to the gear lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear.
This could lead to the accidental
selection of 2nd gear, which can
result in damage to the transaxle.
Ø Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
still moving may damage the
transaxle.
NOTE
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
qRecommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend
these shift points.
(MZR 2.0)
Gear Vehicle speed
M1 to M2 21 km/h (13 mph)
M2 to M3 39 km/h (24 mph)
M3 to M4 55 km/h (34 mph)
M4 to M5 79 km/h (49 mph)
(SKYACTIV-G 2.0)
Gear Vehicle speed
M1 to M2 24 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 42 km/h (26 mph)
M3 to M4 60 km/h (37 mph)
M4 to M5 75 km/h (46 mph)
M5 to M6 79 km/h (49 mph)
Driving Your Mazda
5-11