4-7
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Driving Tips
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
•Don’t race the engine.
•Don’t maintain one constant speed for
long.
•Don’t drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods
of time.
•Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
•Avoid full-throttle starts.
•Don’t tow a trailer.How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
•Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
•Avoid fast starts.
•Keep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
•Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
•Slow down on rough roads.
•Keep the tires properly inflated.
•Don’t carry unnecessary weight.
•Don’t rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
•Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
•Keep windows closed at high speeds.
•Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
Break-In PeriodMoney-Saving Suggestions
Coasting:
Turning off the engine to coast down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control. Any loss of steering or
braking control could cause an
accident. Never turn off the engine
and coast down a hill.
WARNING
J16L_EA.book Page 7 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
4-19
Before Driving Your Mazda
To w i n g
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
If it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also the foot brake) and pull away from the wheel blocks.
Stop; apply the parking brake and shift into P.
4. Have a helper retrieve the wheel blocks.
Fuel consumption
Trailer towing causes higher fuel consumption.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer frequently, have your vehicle serviced as shown in Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).
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6-2
Interior Comfort
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Climate Control System
Operating the Climate Control
System
Operate the climate control system with
the engine running.
Clearing the Air Inlet
Clear all obstructions like leaves, snow
and ice from the hood and the air inlet in
the cowling grille to improve the system
efficiency.
Foggy Windows
The windows may fog up easily in humid
weather. Use the climate control system to
defog the windows.
To help defog the windows, operate the air
conditioner to dehumidify the air.
Outside/Recirculated Air
Position
Use the outside air position in normal
conditions. The recirculated air position
can be used temporarily when driving on
dusty roads or for quick cooling of the
interior.
Parking in Direct Sunlight
If the vehicle has been parked in direct
sunlight during hot weather, open the
windows to let warm air escape, then run
the climate control system.
Not Using for a Long Period
Run the air conditioner at least once a
month to keep internal parts lubricated.
Check the Refrigerant before
Weather Gets Hot
Have the air conditioner checked before
the weather gets hot. Lack of refrigerant
may make the air conditioner less
efficient. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for refrigerant inspection.
The optional air conditioner is filled with
R134a, a refrigerant that will not damage
the ozone layer.
If the air conditioner is low on refrigerant
or has a malfunction, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Replacement of the Cabin Air
Filter
If your vehicle is equipped with an air
filter for the air conditioner, it is necessary
to change the filter periodically as
indicated in scheduled maintenance (page
8-3). Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for replacement of the cabin air
filter.
Operating Tips
J16L_EA.book Page 2 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
8-1
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
8Maintenance and Care
How to keep your Mazda in top condition.
Introduction
................................................................................. 8- 2
Introduction ............................................................................. 8- 2
Scheduled Maintenance
.............................................................. 8- 3
Scheduled Maintenance ........................................................... 8- 3
Owner Maintenance
.................................................................... 8- 6
Owner Maintenance Schedule ................................................. 8- 6
Owner Maintenance Precautions ............................................. 8- 7
Engine Compartment Overview .............................................. 8- 8
Engine Oil ................................................................................ 8- 9
Engine Coolant ........................................................................ 8-11
Brake Fluid .............................................................................. 8-13
Power Steering Fluid ............................................................... 8-14
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (ATF) ........................................... 8-15
Washer Fluid ............................................................................ 8-16
Body Lubrication ..................................................................... 8-17
Air Filter .................................................................................. 8-17
Wiper Blades ........................................................................... 8-18
Battery ..................................................................................... 8-22
Tires ......................................................................................... 8-23
Light Bulbs .............................................................................. 8-27
Fuses ........................................................................................ 8-33
Appearance Care
......................................................................... 8-38
How to Minimize Environmental Paint Damage ..................... 8-38
Exterior Care ........................................................................... 8-40
Interior Care ............................................................................ 8-43
J16L_EA.book Page 1 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
8-3
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Scheduled Maintenance
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions
apply.
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2 (Canada and Puerto Rico residents follow Schedule 2).
•Repeated short-distance driving
•Driving in dusty conditions
•Driving with extended use of brakes
•Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used
•Driving on rough or muddy roads
•Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
•Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climates
•Towing a trailer
Scheduled Maintenance
NOTE
After the described period, continue to follow the described maintenance at the
recommended intervals.
J16L_EA.book Page 3 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Schedule 1
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
(Oil-permeated air cleaner elements cannot be cleaned using the air-blow method.)
R
: Replace
L
:Lubricate
*
1According 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. Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or
kilometers (miles),
whichever comes first)Months 6 12182430364248
×1000 km 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
×1000 miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
Engine oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRR
Drive belts II
PCV valve*
1I
Spark plugs (Platinum tipped type)Replace every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
Air filterIR I
Fuel lines and hoses*
1II
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantReplace at first 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 36 months ;
after that, every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 24 months
Brake lines, hoses and connectionsII
Brake fluidRR
Disc brakesII
Drum brakesII
Steering operation and linkagesII
Front suspension ball jointsII
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts and nuts on chassis and bodyII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLL
Refrigerant amountIIII
Compressor operationIIII
Cabin air filter (if equipped)Replace once a year or every 20,000 km (12,000 miles)
J16L_EA.book Page 4 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
8-5
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Schedule 2
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
(Oil-permeated air cleaner elements cannot be cleaned using the air-blow method.)
R
: Replace L
: Lubricate
*
1According 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.
*
2If the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions, change the spark plugs every 96,000
km(60,000 miles) or shorter.
a) Repeated short-distance driving
b) Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
c) Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climates
d) Towing a trailer Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or
kilometers (miles),
whichever comes first)Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Engine oilPuerto RicoReplace every 5,000 km (3,000 miles) or 3 months
OthersRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRRRRRR
Drive belts II
PCV valve*
1I
Hoses and tubes for emission (Puerto Rico)I
Spark plugs (Platinum
tipped type)USAReplace every 96,000 km (60,000 miles)
Others*
2Replace every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
Air filterPuerto RicoI R I R
OthersIR I
Fuel lines and hoses*
1I I
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantReplace at first 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 36 months ;
after that, every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 24 months
Engine coolant levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Function of all lightsIIIIIIIIIIII
Brake lines, hoses and connectionsII
Brake fluidRR
Brake fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Disc brakesIIII
Drum brakes I I
Tire inflation pressure and tire wearIIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkagesII
Power steering fluid levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Front suspension ball jointsII
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts and nuts on chassis and bodyIIII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Refrigerant amountIIII
Compressor operationIIII
Cabin air filter (if equipped)Replace once a year or every 20,000 km (12,000 miles)
J16L_EA.book Page 5 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
8-6
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
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 8-13)
•Engine coolant level (page 8-11)
•Engine oil level (page 8-9)
•Washer fluid level (page 8-16)
At Least Monthly
•Tire inflation pressures (page 8-23)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transaxle fluid level (page 8-15)
•Power steering fluid level (page 8-14)
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 8-17)
•Engine coolant (page 8-11)
•Engine oil (page 8-10)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
J16L_EA.book Page 6 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM