4-5
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Before Starting the Engine
•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.•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.
Before Getting In
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid,
washer fluid, and other fluid levels
should be inspected daily, weekly, or at
refueling, depending on the fluid. See
Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
J76Y.book Page 5 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
•Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a Mazda dealer to perform the
following precautions:
•Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
•Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•Use only cold-weather engine oil (page
8-10).
•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 8-19).
•Don’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P and block the
rear wheels.
Snow Tires
l
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/cm2, 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.
Winter Driving
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.
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
WARNING
CAUTION
J76Y.book Page 8 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
7-9
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
4. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
and lower the vehicle. Use the lug
wrench to tighten the nuts in the order
shown.
If you’re unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at a
service station.
Nut tightening torque:
5. Store the damaged tire in the trunk.
Have the damaged tire repaired as
soon as possible.
N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf) 88—117 (9—12, 65—87)
Loose Lug Nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result
in loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident. Always securely and
correctly tighten the lug nuts.
Metric Studs and Lug Nuts:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip
off and cause an accident. Be sure to
reinstall the same nuts you removed
or replace them with metric nuts of
the same configuration.
Incorrect Tire Air Pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident.
Don’t drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure. When you
check the regular tires’ air pressure,
check the spare tire, too.
NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from
rattling, store them properly.
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 9 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
8-5
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Schedule 2
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
(Oil-permeated air filter cannot be cleaned using the air-blow method.)
R
: Replace
L
:Lubricate
*1: According to state and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not void your
emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at the
recommended time or kilometrage (mileage) period to ensure long-term reliability.
*2: If the vehicle is operated in cold districts { below -18 degrees C (0 degrees F) }, replace the timing belt at
96,000km (60,000miles).
Maintenance
Interval
Maintenance
ItemNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
×1000 Km 8 1624324048566472808896
(×1000 Miles) (5) (10) (15) (20) (25) (30) (35) (40) (45) (50) (55) (60)
Engine valve clearanceMiller Cycle Engine
V6 DOHCI
Drive belts (tension)2.5 liter V6 DOHCII
Miller Cycle Engine
V6 DOHCReplace every 168,000km (105,000miles)
Engine timing belt2.5 liter V6 DOHC
*2Inspect at 96,000km (60,000miles)
Replace every 168,000km (105,000miles)
Miller Cycle Engine
V6 DOHCReplace every 96,000km (60,000miles)
Engine oilPuerto RicoReplace every 5,000km (3,000miles) or 3 months
othersRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRRRRRR
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantReplace at first 72,000km (45,000 miles) or 36 months ;
after that, every 48,000km (30,000miles) or 24 months
Engine coolant levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Idle speedI I
Fuel lines and hoses
*1I I
Hoses and tubes for emission*1I
Air filter
I *1R
I *1R
Spark plugs 2.5 liter V6 DOHCReplace every 48,000km (30,000miles)
Miller Cycle Engine
V6 DOHCReplace every 96,000km (60,000miles)
Function of all lightsIIIIIIIIIIII
Brake lines, hoses and connectionsII
Brake fluid levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Disc brakesIIII
Automatic transaxle fluid levelII
Tire inflation pressure and tire wearIIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkagesII
J76Y.book Page 5 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
8-7
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Owner Maintenance
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these vehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
When Refueling
•Brake fluid level (page 8-15)
•Engine coolant level (page 8-12)
•Engine oil level (page 8-10)
•Washer fluid level (page 8-19)
At Least Monthly
•Tire inflation pressures (page 8-25)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transaxle fluid level (page 8-17)
•Power steering fluid level (page 8-16)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
•Air filter (page 8-20)
•Engine coolant (page 8-12)
•Engine oil (page 8-11)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
J76Y.book Page 7 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
8-24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Battery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
•Keep it securely mounted.
•Keep the top clean and dry.
•Keep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
•Rinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
•If the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
Tires
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Except when using the temporary
spare tire, use only the same type tires
(radial, bias-belted, bias-type) on all
four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-6)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
WARNING
J76Y.book Page 24 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
8-25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Tire Inflation Pressure
Inspect all tire pressures monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, top handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page 10-
6).
Incorrect Tire Inflation:
Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling
or unexpected tire failure could result
in a serious accident. Always inflate
the tires to the correct pressure (page
10-6).
WARNING
NOTE
•Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don’t
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
•Underinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy and poor sealing of
the tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.
•Overinflation can produce a harsh
ride and a greater possibility of
damage from road hazards.
Keep your tire pressure at the
correct levels. If one frequently
needs inflating, have it inspected.
J76Y.book Page 25 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM
8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q47-EA-01F
Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 6,000 km (3,750 miles)/12,000 km*
(7,500 miles) or sooner if irregular wear
develops. During rotation, inspect them
for correct balance.
*Canada
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
•Incorrect tire pressure
•Improper wheel alignment
•Out-of-balance wheel
•Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
Replacing a Tire
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
You may need to replace it before the
band is across the entire tread.
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial
tires that have an asymmetrical tread
pattern or studs only from front to rear,
not from side to side. Tire performance
will be weakened if rotated from side
to side.
Front
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire) in rotation.
CAUTION
Worn Tires:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
Always use tires that are in good
condition.
WARNING
New tread Worn treadTread wear indicator
J76Y.book Page 26 Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:04 PM