Starting the engine

WARNING

Radio waves emitted by the key may interfere with the operation of medical electronic devices, such as cardiac pacemakers:

Before using the key near persons using medical electronic devices, consult your doctor or the device manufacturer to determine whether the radio waves emitted by the key may affect their operation.

NOTE

• The driver must have the key, as it contains an immobilizer chip that must communicate with the engine controls over a short distance.
• The engine can be started when the engine start button is pressed from the OFF, ACC or ON position.
• The engine start button system functions (the function that can start the engine with only the key being carried) can be deactivated to prevent possible adverse effects on a user with a pacemaker or other medical device. If the system is deactivated, you will not be able to start the engine with the key. Contact an authorized Mazda dealer for details. If the engine start button system functions have been deactivated, you can still start the engine by following the procedure described when the key battery is depleted. Refer to Engine Start Function When Key Battery Is Depleted on page 4-7.
• After starting a cold engine, the engine speed increases and engine compartment noise can be heard. This helps improve exhaust gas purification and does not indicate a malfunction of any parts.
• Engine starting is controlled by the spark ignition system. This system complies with all regulations of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Standard regarding radio interference electric field pulse power.

1. 1
   Make sure you have the key with you.
2. 2
   All occupants must fasten their seat belts.
3. 3
   Make sure the parking brake is applied.
4. 4
   Keep firmly depressing the brake pedal until the engine is fully started.
5. 5
   (Manual transmission) Keep firmly depressing the clutch pedal until the engine is fully started.

   (Automatic transmission) Move the shift lever to the P position. If you must restart the engine while the vehicle is moving, move the shift lever to the N position.

NOTE

(Manual transmission) The starter will only operate if the clutch pedal is depressed sufficiently.

(Automatic transmission) The starter will not operate if the shift lever is not in the P or N position and/or if the brake pedal is not depressed sufficiently.

6. Check that the KEY (green) indicator (if equipped) on the instrument cluster and the engine start button indicator (green) are on. See Indicator and Warning Lights on page 4-24. If the engine start button indicator (green) flashes, make sure you have the key (on vehicles with a Type A gauge cluster, messages are shown on the multi-information display). If the engine start button indicator (green) flashes while the driver has the key, hold the key against the engine start button and start the engine (on vehicles with a Type A gauge cluster, messages are shown on the multi-information display). See Engine Start Function When Key Battery Is Depleted on page 4-7.

WARNING

If the KEY (red) indicator comes on and the engine start button indicator (amber) flashes, this may indicate a problem with the engine start system, and the engine cannot be started or the start button cannot be set to ACC or ON (on vehicles with a Type A gauge cluster, messages are shown on the multi-information display). Have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Mazda dealer as soon as possible.

NOTE

• Under the following conditions, the KEY (red) indicator flashes once after the engine start button is pressed to inform the driver that the engine start button will not be set to ACC, even if it is pressed from the off position (on vehicles with a Type A gauge cluster, messages are shown on the multi-information display).

• The key battery is completely discharged.
• The key is outside the operating range.
• The key is in an area where the system has difficulty detecting the signal (page 3-7).
• A key from another manufacturer that is similar to the key is within the operating range.

• (Forced engine start method) If the KEY (red) indicator comes on or the engine start button indicator (amber) flashes, this may indicate a problem with the engine start system during normal starting operation (on vehicles with a Type A gauge cluster, messages are shown on the multi-information display). Have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Mazda dealer as soon as possible. The engine can then be started by force. Hold the engine start button until the engine starts. Other engine starting conditions, such as the key being inside the cabin and the clutch pedal (manual transmission) or brake pedal (automatic transmission) being depressed, must still be met.
• When the engine is started by force, the KEY (red) indicator (if equipped) stays on and the engine start button indicator (amber) continues to flash.
• (Automatic transmission) When the selector lever is in the neutral (N) position, the KEY indicator (green) (if equipped) and the engine start button indicator (green) do not illuminate.

7. Press the engine start button once the KEY indicator (green) (if equipped) on the instrument cluster and the engine start button indicator (green) are both illuminated.

NOTE

• Once the engine has started, the engine start button indicator (amber) goes off and the ignition switch is in the ON position.
• After the engine start button is pressed and before the engine starts, a fuel pump sound can be heard from the fuel tank area. This does not indicate a malfunction.

8. After the engine starts, let it idle for approximately ten seconds.

NOTE

• Whether the engine is cold or warm, it should start without pressing the accelerator pedal.
• If the engine does not start the first time, refer to Starting a Flooded Engine in Emergency Starting. If the engine still does not start, have the vehicle checked by an authorized Mazda dealer (page 7-24).

Engine starting function when the key battery is dead

WARNING

When starting the engine while holding the remote over the engine start button because of a dead key battery or a malfunctioning key, make sure the following does not occur.

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 are very close to the key.

• Electronic payment or secure access devices touch the key or are very close to it.

If the engine cannot be started because the key battery is dead, it can be started by following the procedure below:

1. 1
   Press the brake pedal (automatic transmission) or fully press the clutch pedal (manual transmission).
2. 2
   Check that the engine start button indicator (green) is flashing.

NOTE

The engine start button indicator (green) flashes even if the button is pressed before the brake pedal (automatic transmission) or the clutch pedal (manual transmission) is pressed. If the clutch pedal (manual transmission) or the brake pedal (automatic transmission) is pressed in this condition, the engine can be started by repeating the procedure below.

3. Touch the engine start button with the back of the key (as illustrated) while the engine start button indicator (green) is flashing.

4. Once the engine start button indicator (green) illuminates continuously, press the engine start button.

NOTE

• The engine cannot be started unless the clutch pedal (manual transmission) or the brake pedal (automatic transmission) is fully pressed.
• If there is a malfunction with the engine start button function, the engine start button indicator (amber) flashes. In this case, the engine may start, but have it inspected by an authorized Mazda dealer as soon as possible.
• If the engine start button indicator (green) does not illuminate, repeat the operation from the beginning. If it still does not illuminate, have the vehicle checked by an authorized Mazda dealer.
• If you only want to change the ignition switch position (with a dead key battery), once the engine start button indicator (green) illuminates, release the clutch pedal (manual transmission) or the brake pedal (automatic transmission) and press the engine start button. The ignition switch cycles through the ACC, ON and OFF positions each time the button is pressed. Once the ignition switch is turned OFF, its position cannot be changed. Therefore, if the engine starts, repeat the operation from the beginning.