2007 Mazda MAZDA3 Owner's Manual - Page 138

Mazda3_8V66-EA-06F_Edition2 Page137 Friday, May 26 2006 10:54 AM Black plate (137,1) Driving Your Mazda Starting and Driving NOTE l 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. NOTE l When driving slowly, the gears may not shift up depending on vehicle speed. In manual shift mode, gears do not shift up automatically. Don't run the engine with the tachometer needle in the RED ZONE. If the tachometer needle enters the RED ZONE, you may feel engine-braking because the fuel delivery will be stopped to protect the engine. However, this does not indicate an abnormality. When depressing the accelerator fully, the transaxle will shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle speed. l l Manually Shifting down (M5*→M4→M3→M2→M1) To shift down to a lower gear, tap the shift lever forward ( ) once. * 2.3-liter engine model l When driving at high speeds, the gear may not shift down depending on vehicle speed. During deceleration, the gear may automatically shift down depending on vehicle speed. When depressing the accelerator fully, the transaxle will shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle speed. l 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 5-15 Form No.8V66-EA-06F