2001 MAZDA MODEL 626 Owners Manual

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care7-6
078-1AE
Exterior CareFollow all label and container
directions when using a chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warnings
and cautions.
078-2C2E

Maintaining the Finish
 Washing
To help protect the finish from rust
and deterioration, wash your Mazda
thoroughly and frequently, at least
once a month, with lukewarm or cold
water.
If the vehicle is washed improperly,
the paint surface could be scratched.
Here are some examples of how
scratching could occur. Scratches occur on the paint surface
when:
•
The vehicle is washed without first
rinsing off dirt and other foreign
matter.
• The vehicle is washed with a
rough, dry, or dirty cloth.
• The vehicle is washed at a car wash
that uses brushes that are dirty or
too stiff.
• Cleansers or wax containing
abrasives are used.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care
7-7
NOTE•Mazda is not responsible for
scratches caused by automatic
car washes or improper
washing.
• Scratches are more noticeable
on vehicles with darker paint
finishes.To minimize scratches on the vehicle’ s
paint finish:
• Rinse off any dirt or other foreign
matter using lukewarm or cold
water before washing. •
Use plenty of lukewarm or cold
water and a soft cloth when
washing the vehicle. Do not use a
nylon cloth.
• Rub gently when washing or drying
the vehicle.
• Take your vehicle only to a car
wash that keeps its brushes well
maintained.
• Don’ t use abrasive cleansers or wax
that contain abrasives.
CAUTION
!
• Don’ t use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or
caustic agents on chrome-plated
or anodized aluminum parts.
This may damage the protective
coating; also, cleaners and
detergents may discolor or
deteriorate the paint.
• To prevent damaging the
antenna, retract it before
entering a car wash facility or
passing beneath a low overhead
clearance.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care7-8Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material
from the underside of the wings, and
make sure the drain holes in the lower
edges of the doors and rocker panels
are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits
can damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing
with plain water is ineffective, use a
mild soap made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Don’t allow
soap to dry on the finish. After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots
from forming.
WARNING
!
Driving with Wet Brakes:Driving with wet brakes is
dangerous. Increased stopping
distance or the vehicle pulling to
one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light
braking will indicate whether the
brakes have been affected. Dry
the brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly
until brake performance is
normal.

Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle
before waxing it. In addition to the
vehicle body, wax the metal trim to
maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives. Waxes containing
abrasive will remove paint and
could damage bright metal parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care
7-9
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.NOTEA spot remover to remove oil, tar,
and similar materials will usually
also take off the wax. Rewax these
areas even if the rest of the vehicle
doesn’t need it.
078-3AE

Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to
major repairs.
CAUTION
!
If your Mazda is damaged and
needs metal parts repaired or
replaced, make sure the body shop
applies anticorrosion materials to
all parts, both repaired and new.
This will prevent them from
rusting.
078-4AE

Bright-Metal Maintenance
• Use tar remover to remove road tar
and insects. Never do this with a
knife or similar tool.
• To prevent corrosion on
bright-metal surfaces, apply wax or
chrome preservative and rub it to a
high luster.
• During cold weather or in coastal
areas, cover bright-metal parts with
a coating of wax or preservative
heavier than usual. It would also
help to coat them with
noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care7-10
078-5A1E

Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice
and snow removal and solvents used
for dust control may collect on the
underbody. If not removed, they will
speed up rusting and deterioration of
such underbody parts as fuel lines,
frame, floor pan, and exhaust system,
even though these parts may be coated
with anticorrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try
also to do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It will do more harm than good to
wet down the road grime without
removing it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker
panels, and frame members have drain
holes that should not be clogged.
Water trapped there will cause rusting.
WARNING
!
Driving with Wet Brakes:Driving with wet brakes is
dangerous. Increased stopping
distance or the vehicle pulling to
one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light
braking will indicate whether the
brakes have been affected. Dry
the brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly
until brake performance is
normal.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care
7-11
078-6A2E

Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over
the aluminum wheels. Special care is
needed to protect this coating.
NOTE• Don’ t use a wire brush or any
abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, or solvent on
aluminum wheels. They may
damage the coating.
• Only use a mild soap or neutral
detergent and always use a
sponge or soft cloth to clean the
wheels. Rinse thoroughly with
lukewarm or cold water. Also,
be sure to clean the wheels after
driving on dusty or salted
roads. This helps prevent
corrosion.
(Continued)
•Avoid washing your vehicle in
an automatic car wash that uses
high-speed or hard brushes.
• If your aluminum wheels lose
luster, wax the wheels.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care7-12
079-1A1E
Interior Care
Dashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as
perfume and cosmetic oils from
contacting the dashboard. They’ll
damage and discolor it. If these
solutions get on the dashboard, wipe
them off immediately.
079-2AE

Cleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
 Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum
cleaner. Clean vinyl with a
leather-and-vinyl cleaner.
 Leather
Real leather isn’ t uniform and may
have scars, scratches, and wrinkles.
Clean it with a leather cleaner or mild
soap.
Wipe it with a damp soft cloth; then
dry and buff it with a dry soft cloth.
Fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt from
fabric with a whisk broom or vacuum
cleaner. Clean it with a mild soap
solution good for upholstery and
carpets. Remove fresh spots
immediately with a fabric spot cleaner.
To keep the fabric looking clean and
fresh, take care of it. Otherwise its
color will be affected, it can be stained
easily, and its fire-resistance may be
reduced.

Form No. 8P95-EA-00G
Appearance Care
7-13
CAUTION
!
Use only recommended cleaners
and procedures. Others may affect
appearance and fire-resistance.
079-3A3E

Cleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt
Webbing
Clean the webbing with a mild soap
solution recommended for upholstery
or carpets. Follow instructions. Don’ t
bleach or dye the webbing; this may
weaken it.
WARNING
!
Damaged Seat Belt:Using damaged seat belts is
dangerous. In a collision,
damaged belts cannot provide
adequate protection. Have your
Authorized Mazda Dealer replace
damaged belts immediately.
079-4AE

Cleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with
an oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean
them with glass cleaner. Follow the
directions on the container.
CAUTION
!
Don’ t scrape or scratch the inside
of the rear window. You may
damage the rear window defroster
grid.