Mazda 2008 Mazda3 4-Door Owner's Manual page 134

Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Manually Shifting down
→M4→M3→M2→M1)
*
(M5
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the shift
lever forward ( ) once.
* 2.3-liter engine model
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.
5-16
NOTE
When driving at high speeds, the gear may
l
not shift down depending on vehicle speed.
During deceleration, the gear may
l
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.
When depressing the accelerator fully, the
l
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
the following speeds, the transaxle is set
in the second gear fixed mode.
2.0-liter engine model:
14 km/h (8 mph) or less
2.3-liter engine model:
20 km/h (12 mph) or less
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 (2.0-liter engine
model)
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
You can shift up to M2 whether
M1→M2
the vehicle is stopped or moving.
M2→M3 20 km/h (12 mph)
M3→M4 40 km/h (24 mph)
)
Vehicle speed