
Changing the wiper blades
To replace the wiper blades:1. Pull the wiper arm away from the windshield and lock into the
service position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from the wiper arm. Push the lock
pin manually to release the
blade and pull the wiper blade
down toward the windshield to
remove it from the arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the wiper arm and press it into
place until a click is heard.
REAR WINDOW WIPER BLADES
Refer to Windshield wiper blades in this section for more information
on rear wiper blades.
INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have a rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades. The Quality
grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
² Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United
States Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger
cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
Maintenance and care
184

U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades:The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Mazda to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
NOTE: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Maintenance and care
185

WARNING: The temperature grade for this tire is established
for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
² Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
² Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after the vehicle has been
parked for at least one hour or has been driven less than 5 km
(3 miles).
² Adjust tire pressure to recommended specifications found on the
Certification Label or the Tire Label.
WARNING: Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, possibly resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle's tires perform different jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly and last longer, rotate
them as indicated in the service maintenance section. If you notice that
the tires wear unevenly, have them checked.
Maintenance and care
186

Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.WARNING: When replacing full size tires, never mix radial
bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that are
listed on the Certification Label. Make sure that all tires are
the same size, speed rating, and load-carrying capacity. Use only
the tire combinations recommended on the label. If you do not
follow these precautions, your vehicle may not drive properly
and safely and an accident can occur.
WARNING: Make sure that all replacement tires are of the
same size, type, load=carrying capacity and tread (e.g., ªAll
Terrainº, etc.), as originally offered by Mazda. Failure to do so
can result in tire failure and a serious accident.
WARNING: Do not replace your tires with ªhigh performanceº
tires or larger size tires.
WARNING: Failure to follow these precautions may adversely
affect the handling of the vehicle, damage parts of the tire and
make it easier for the driver to lose control and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's original tires may also
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
USING SNOW TIRES AND TRACTION DEVICES
NOTE: Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
Maintenance and care
188

The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, using snow tires and traction
devices may be necessary. See your authorized Mazda dealer for more
information on tire cables and other traction devices for your vehicle.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and traction devices:
²Install cables securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If this does not work, remove
the cables to prevent vehicle damage.
² Avoid overloading your vehicle.
² Remove the tire cables when they are no longer needed.
² Do not use cables on dry roads.
² The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from the vehicle when
using snow tires and traction devices.
² Do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mph) with tire cables on your vehicle.
Consult your dealer for information on other Mazda approved methods of
traction control.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions
WARNING: Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an
overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and
fire.
WARNING: The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel
filler cap is venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait
until it stops before completely removing the fuel filler cap.
Otherwise, fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
Maintenance and care
189

²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
² Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
² Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
² Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
² Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
² Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
² Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
² Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
² Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
² Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
Maintenance and care
197

* Denotes a 4x4 vehicle with optional 16º tires
3
2
1
5
4
Capacities and specifications
215

T
Tachometer .................................16
Tires ...........................142, 184±186changing ..........................142±143
checking the pressure ............186
replacing ..................................188
rotating ....................................186
snow tires and chains ............188
tire grades ...............................185
treadwear ................................185
Towing .......................................127 recreational towing .................131
trailer towing ..........................127
wrecker ....................................153
Transaxle automatic operation ...............111
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................179
manual operation ....................116
Transmission fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................177
fluid, refill capacities ..............212
Turn signal ............................11, 50
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................214
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................216 Vehicle loading ..........................124
Ventilating your vehicle ...........106
W
Warning chimes ...........................14
Warning lights (see Lights) .........8
Washer fluid ..............................170
Water, Driving through .............126
Windows
power .........................................51
rear wiper/washer .....................45
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers checking and adding fluid .....170
checking and cleaning ....183±184
liftgate reservoir .....................171
operation ...................................44
replacing wiper blades ...........184
Wrecker towing .........................153
Index
230