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8-8
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This section gives instructions
only for items easy to perform.
As explained in the Introduction (page 8-2), several procedure can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affect warranty coverage.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provided with the vehicle. If
you’re unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of waste oil and fluids. Please
dispose of your waste carefully and with due regard to the environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Owner Maintenance Precautions
Maintenance Procedures:Performing maintenance work on a vehicle is dangerous if not done properly. You can
be seriously injured while performing some maintenance procedure. If you lack
sufficient knowledge and experience or the proper tools and equipment to do the
work, have it done by a qualified technician.
Running the Engine:
Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It becomes even more
dangerous when you wear jewelry or loose clothing.
Either can become entangled in moving parts and result in injury.
Therefore, if you must run the engine while working under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (especially rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces) and
all neckties, scarves, and similar loose clothing before getting near the engine or
cooling fan.
Electrical Fan and Engine Inspection:
Inspecting the engine with the ignition switch in the ON position is dangerous. The
cooling fan could come on unexpectedly even when the engine isn ’t running. You
could be seriously injured by the fan. Turn the ignition switch off and remove the key
from the ignition switch when you inspect the engine.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 8 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
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8-9
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Engine Compartment Overview
2.0-liter engineAutomatic transaxle fluid-level
dipstick (only for automatic
transaxle)
Brake/Clutch fluid reservoir
Battery Fuse block
Engine coolant
reservoirAir filter
Cooling system cap Engine oil-filler cap
Power steering fluid
reservoir
Windshield washer
fluid reservoir Engine oil dipstick
2.5-liter engine
Air filter
Cooling system cap
Engine coolant reservoir
Power steering fluid
reservoir
Battery
Fuse block
Automatic transaxle fluid-level
dipstick (only for automatic
transaxle)
Brake/Clutch fluid reservoir
Engine oil-filler cap
Windshield washer
fluid reservoir Engine oil dipstick
J94S.book Page 9 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 189 of 250

8-13
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Inspecting Coolant Level
Inspect the antifreeze protection and
coolant level in the coolant reservoir at
least once a year —at the beginning of the
winter season—and before traveling
where temperatures may drop below
freezing.
Inspect the condition and connections of
all cooling system and heater hoses.
Replace any that are swollen or
deteriorated.
The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the F and L marks
on the coolant reservoir when the engine
is cool. If it
’s at or near L, add enough coolant to
the coolant reservoir to provide freezing
and corrosion protection and to bring the
level to F.
Do not overfill.
If new coolant is required frequently,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Changing Coolant
Change coolant according to Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).
Engine Coolant
Hot Engine:A hot engine is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, parts of the
engine compartment can become very
hot. You could be burned. Don ’t
inspect the coolant system or add
coolant when the engine is hot.
WARNING
2.0-liter engine
2.5-liter engine
Radiator coolant will damage paint.
Rinse it off quickly.
• Use only soft (demineralized) water
in the coolant mixture. Water that
contains minerals will cut down on
the coolant ’s effectiveness.
• Don ’t add only water. Always add a
proper coolant mixture.
• The engine has aluminum parts and
must be protected by an ethylene-
glycol-based coolant to prevent
corrosion and freezing.
• DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol
antifreeze. DO NOT MIX alcohol
or methanol with the coolant. This
could damage the cooling system.
• Don ’t use a solution that contains
more than 60 % antifreeze.
This would reduce effectiveness.
CAUTION
CAUTION
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8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
For mixture percentage:
To change coolant1. Remove the cooling system cap.
2. Only when the engine is cool, loosen the radiator drain plug and drain the
coolant into a suitable container.
3. With the drain plug loose but not fully removed, flush out the system with
running water.
4. Drain the system completely and retighten the plug.
Protection Volume
Antifreeze solution Wa t e r
Above −16 °C
(3 °F) 35% 65%
Above −26 °C
( − 15 °F) 45 55
Above −40 °C
( − 40 °F) 55 45
Removing the Cooling System Cap:Removing the cooling system cap or
drain plug while the engine is
running or hot is dangerous. This
might lead to cooling system and
engine damage and could result in
serious injury from escaping hot
coolant or steam. Turn off the engine
and wait until it
’s cool. Even then, be
very careful when removing the cap
or drain plug. Wrap a thick cloth
around it and slowly turn it
counterclockwise to the first stop.
Step back while the pressure escapes.
When you ’re sure all the pressure is
gone, press down on the cap — still
using a cloth — turn the cap, and
remove it.
WARNING
2.0-liter engine Cooling system cap
Loosen
Tighten
Drain plug
Loosen
Tighten
LoosenTighten
Cooling system cap
Drain plug
2.5-
liter engine
Loosen Tighten
J94S.book Page 14 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
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8-15
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
5. Fill the radiator (to the top of the filler neck) and then the coolant reservoir (to
F) with as much ethylene-glycol-based
coolant and water as necessary to
provide protection from freezing and
corrosion.
In extremely cold climates, add the
amount recommended by the coolant
manufacturer.
6. Reinstall the cooling system cap.
7. Run the engine at idle for about 10 minutes.
8. Then do this: •Run the engine at 2,500 rpm for
about 5 minutes.
• Increase the engine speed to 3,000
rpm for about 5 seconds and then
release the accelerator.
• Do this 4 or 5 times.
• Make sure the engine temperature
gauge does not reach the HOT zone.
After turning off the engine, inspect the
drain plug and the water hoses for leaks.
9. After the engine has cooled, remove the cooling system cap and inspect the
coolant level. If it ’s low, repeat steps 5
to 8.
Because this procedure requires technical
expertise, we recommend that it be done
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Inspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid
Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
Mixing green coolant with orange
coolant could decrease the service life
expectancy of the coolant. Use only
genuine Mazda orange colored or
equivalent coolant.
Brake/Clutch Fluid
J94S.book Page 15 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 213 of 250
8-37
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Fuse Panel Description
Fuse block (Engine compartment)
DESCRIPTION FUSE
RATING PROTECTED
COMPONENT
1EGI INJ 30A Fuel injection
system
2 DEFOG 40A Rear window
defroster
3 —— —
4 MAIN 100A For protection of
all circuits
5 IG KEY 30A RADIO,
SUNROOF,
TURN, METER, ENGINE,
POWER
WINDOW,
WIPER fuses,
Ignition system
6 HEATER 40A Heater, Air
conditionerDESCRIPTION FUSE
RATING PROTECTED
COMPONENT
7 BTN 40A TAIL, STOP,
ROOM, DOOR LOCK,
HAZARD,
POWER SEAT fuses
8 COOLING
FA N 30A Cooling fan
9 AD FAN 30A Additional fan
10 (ABS) 60A Antilock brake
system
11 TAIL 15A Taillights,
Parking lights, Dashboard
illumination,
License plate
lights, Switches illumination
12 HORN 15A Horn
J94S.book Page 37 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM