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
Driving Your Mazda
5-23
NOTEBraking distances may be longer
on loose surfaces (snow or gravel,
for example) which usually have a
hard foundation. A vehicle with a
normal braking system may
require less distance to stop under
these conditions because the tires
will build up a wedge of surface
layer when the wheels skid.
WARNING
!
ABS:The ABS cannot compensate for
unsafe and reckless driving,
excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too
closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the
road surface). You can still have
an accident. So don’t rely on ABS
as a substitute for safe driving.
NOTEWhen the engine is jump-started,
an unevenness of rpm occurs and
the ABS warning light comes on.
This is due to a lack of battery
capacity and doesn’ t indicate a
malfunction.
Have the battery recharged as soon
as possible.