2001 MAZDA MODEL 626 Owners Manual

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda
4-7
WARNING
!
Snow Blocking the Exhaust Gas:Running the engine when a
vehicle is stopped in deep snow is
dangerous. The exhaust pipe
could be blocked by the snow,
allowing exhaust gas to enter the
cabin. Because exhaust gas
contains poisonous carbon
monoxide, anyone in the cabin
could be injured or killed. Clear
the snow from underneath and
around your vehicle before
starting the engine.
034-1AE
Before DrivingBefore Getting In
• Be sure the windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights are
clean.
• Inspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
• Look under the vehicle for any sign
of a leak.
• If you plan to back up, make sure
nothing will be in your way.
034-2AE
NOTEEngine oil, engine coolant,
brake/clutch fluid, washer fluid,
and other fluid levels should be
inspected daily, weekly, or at
refueling, depending on the fluid.
See Maintenance, Section 8.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-8
Q034-3BE
After Getting In
• Are all doors closed and locked?
• Are the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
• Is everyone’ s seat belt fastened?
• Do all the lights work?
• Check all gauges.
• Check all warning lights when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. •
Release the parking brake and
make sure the brake warning light
goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with
your Mazda.

035-1AE
Break-In PeriodNo special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the first 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the
performance, economy, and life of
your Mazda.
• Don’ t race the engine.
• Don’ t maintain one constant speed
for long periods.
• Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
• Avoid full-throttle starts.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda
4-9
036-1AE
Money-Saving SuggestionsHow you operate your Mazda
determines how far it will travel on a
tank of fuel. Use these suggestions to
help save money on fuel and repairs.
•Avoid long warm-ups. Once the
engine runs smoothly, begin
driving.
• Avoid fast starts.
• Keep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3)
and have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer perform inspections and
servicing.
• Use the air conditioner only when
necessary. •
Slow down on rough roads.
• Keep the tires properly inflated.
• Don’ t carry unnecessary weight.
• Don’ t rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
• Keep the wheels in correct
alignment.
• Keep windows closed at high
speeds.
• Slow down when driving in
crosswinds and headwinds.

036-2AE
WARNING
!
Coasting:Turning off the engine to coast
down a hill can be dangerous.
This causes the loss of power
steering and power brake control.
Any loss of steering or braking
control could cause an accident.
Never turn off the engine and
coast down a hill.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-10

037-1CE
Special Driving Conditions Hazardous Driving
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
• Be cautious and allow extra
distance for braking.
• Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
• Brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don’ t hold
the pedal down constantly.
• If you get stuck, shift to 1 or 2 and
accelerate slowly. Don’ t spin the
front wheels. •
For more traction in starting, use
sand, rock salt, chains, carpeting, or
other nonslip material under the
front wheels.
037-3A1E
WARNING
!
Downshifting on SlipperySurfaces:Downshifting into first gear with
a manual transaxle or into low
with an automatic transaxle while
driving on slippery surfaces could
be dangerous. The sudden change
in tire speed could cause the tires
to skid. This could lead to loss of
vehicle control and an accident. If
it is necessary to downshift on
slippery surfaces, be very careful.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda
4-11

037-4A1E
 Rocking the Vehicle
If you must rock the vehicle to free it
from snow, sand, or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and...
(Automatic transaxle)
Slowly move the shift lever back and
forth from D to R.
(Manual transaxle)
Slowly move the shift lever back and
forth from 1 to R.
037-6A1E
WARNING
!
Spinning the Wheels:When the vehicle is stuck,
spinning the wheels at high speed
could be dangerous. The
spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries. Don’ t spin the wheels at
more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and
don’ t allow anyone to stand
behind a wheel when pushing the
vehicle.
CAUTION
!
Too much rocking may cause
engine overheating, transaxle
failure, and tire damage.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-12

Q037-7IE
 Winter Driving
• Carry emergency gear, including
tire chains, window scraper, flares,
a small shovel, jumper cables, and
a small bag of sand or salt.
• Have the proper ratio of antifreeze
in the radiator (page 8-22).
• Inspect the battery and its cables.
Cold reduces battery capacity.
• Use only cold-weather engine oil
(page 8-16).
• Inspect the ignition system for
damage and loose connections. •
Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’ t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-33).
• Don’ t use the parking brake if it
might freeze. Instead, shift to P
with an automatic transaxle and to
1 or R with a manual. Block the
rear wheels.

037-8H1E
 Snow tires
Your vehicle is originally equipped
with all season radials designed to be
used all year around. In some extreme
climates you may find it necessary to
replace them with snow tires during
the winter months to further improve
traction on snow and ice covered roads.
Use snow tires on all four wheels.
Don’ t go faster than 120 km/h (75
mph). Inflate snow tires 28 kPa (0.3
kgf/cm
2, 4 psi) more than
recommended on the tire pressure
label (driver ’s door), but never more
than the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tires.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda
4-13
WARNING
!
Mixing Tire Types:Using tires different in size or type
is dangerous. Your vehicle’s
handling could be greatly affected
and result in an accident. Use
only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on
all four wheels.NOTECheck local regulations before
using studded tires.

037-9A5E
 Tire chains
Check local regulations before using
tire chains.
Install the chains on the front tires.
Don’ t use chains on the rear tires.
Use only SAE Class “S” chains, and
make sure they fit.
To install the chains:
1. Remove the wheel covers, or the chain bands will scratch them.
2. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible. Always
follow the chain manufacturer ’s
instructions. 3. Retighten the chains after driving
1/2-1 km (1/4-1/2 mile).

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Protecting Your Mazda4-14
CAUTION
!
•Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels. Install tire
chains on steel wheels only.
• Chains may affect handling.
• Don’ t go faster than 50 km/h
(30 mph) or the chain
manufacturer ’s recommended
limit, whichever is lower.
• Drive carefully and avoid
bumps, holes, and sharp turns.
• Avoid locked-wheel braking.
(Continued)
•Don’ t use chains on the
temporary tire; it may result in
damage to the vehicle and to
the tire.
• Don’ t use chains on roads that
are free of snow or ice. The
tires and chains could be
damaged.

037-10AE
 Driving in Flooded Areas
CAUTION
!
Make sure water does not enter the
vehicle interior or the engine area.
The vehicle interior could become
wet or the engine could be
damaged.