Page 102 of 248

5-26
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Check Engine Light
If this light comes on while driving, the
vehicle may have a problem. It is
important to note the driving conditions
when the light came on and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The check engine light may come on in
the following cases:
• The fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty.
• The engine
’s electrical system has a
problem.
• The emission control system has a
problem.
• The fuel-filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
If the check engine light flashes
continuously, decrease your speed and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.
ABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you
’re driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function
normally as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Don
’t drive with a loose or broken
alternator belt. The engine could
overheat because this belt also drives
the water pump.
CAUTION
ABS Warning Light and Brake
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
Don ’t drive with both lights on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
WARNING
J07L(02MY).book Page 26 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM
Page 109 of 248
5-33
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
The rear defroster clears frost, fog, and
thin ice from the rear window.
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Push the switch to turn on the rear
window defroster; the indicator light will
come on.
Push the switch again to turn it off.To sound the horn, press around the
mark of the steering wheel.
Rear Window Defroster
Don
’t use sharp instruments or
window cleaners with abrasives to
clean the inside of the rear window
surface. They may damage the
defroster grid inside the window.
NOTE
This defroster is not designed for
melting snow. If there is an
accumulation of snow on the rear
window, brush it off before using the
defroster.
CAUTION
Horn
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Page 156 of 248

7-4
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Jack
To remove the jack
Turn the wing bolt counterclockwise.
To secure the jack
Perform the removal procedure in reverse.
Spare Tire
Your Mazda has a temporary spare tire.
It
’s lighter and smaller than a
conventional tire, and is designed only for
emergency use and should be used only
for VERY short periods. Temporary
spares should NEVER be used for long
drives or extended periods.
Driving with a Temporary Spare Tire
on Ice or Snow:
Driving with a spare tire on the rear
(driving) wheels on ice or snow is
dangerous. Handling will be affected.
You could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident. Put the spare
tire on the front axle and move a
regular tire to the rear.
Jack
Wing bolt
WARNING
To avoid damage to the temporary
spare or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
•
Don
’t exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
• Avoid driving over obstacles.
Also, don
’t drive through an
automatic car wash. This tire ’s
diameter is smaller than a
conventional tire ’s, so the ground
clearance is reduced about 25 mm
(1 in).
• Don
’t use a tire chain on this tire
because it won ’t fit properly.
• Don
’t use your temporary spare on
any other vehicle; it has been
designed only for your Mazda.
• Use only one temporary spare tire
on your vehicle at the same time.
(With limited slip differential)
When using the temporary spare tire
on the rear axle, replace it with a
standard tire as soon as possible. The
size difference between the spare and
the standard tire will cause the limited
slip differential to malfunction.
CAUTION
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7-6
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in reverse (R), and turn
off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire (page 7-3).
6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire. When blocking a front
wheel, place the block in front of the
tire. When blocking a rear wheel, place
the block behind the tire.
Removing a Flat Tire
1. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise one turn each, but
don ’t remove any until the tire has been
raised off the ground.
2. Place the jack under the jacking position closest to the tire being
changed.
NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.
Jacking position
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7-7
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
3. Insert the jack handle into the jack.4. Turn the jack handle clockwise until
the tire just clears the ground, less than
25 mm (1 in). Before removing the lug
nuts, make sure your Mazda is firmly
in position and that it cannot slip or
move.
5. Remove the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise; then remove the
wheel.
Incorrect Jacking Position:
Attempting to jack the vehicle in
positions other than those
recommended in this manual is
dangerous. The vehicle could slip off
the jack and seriously injure or even
kill someone. Use only the front and
rear jacking positions recommended
in this manual.
Improper Jack:
Using a jack that isn ’t designed for
your Mazda is dangerous. The vehicle
could slip off the jack and seriously
injure someone. Use only the jack
provided with your Mazda.
Placing Objects Under the Jack:
Jacking the vehicle with an object
under the jack is dangerous. The jack
could slip and someone could be
seriously injured by the jack or the
falling vehicle. Never place objects
under the jack.
WARNING
25mm
(1 in)
Jack handle
J07L(02MY).book Page 7 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM
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7-8
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Locking Lug Nuts
If your vehicle has optional antitheft
wheel lug nuts, one on each wheel will
lock and you must use a special key to
unlock them. This key is attached to the
lug wrench and is stored with the spare
tire. Register them with the lock
manufacturer by filling out the card
provided in the glove box and mailing it in
the accompanying envelope. If you lose
your key, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or use the lock manufacturer
’s
order form, which is with the registration
card.
To remove an antitheft lug nut
1. Get the key for the locking lug nut.
2. Place it on top of the nut, and be sure to hold the key square to it. If you hold
the key at an angle, you may damage
both key and nut. Don ’t use a power
impact wrench.
3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.
To replace the nut
1. Place the key on top of the nut.
2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key, apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.
Mounting the Spare Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
2. Mount the spare tire.
Antitheft lug nut Special key
Removing Dirt and Grime from
Wheels, Hubs and Hub Bolts:
When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grim from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident. Make sure the mounting
surfaces of the wheel, hub and lug
nuts are clean before changing or
replacing tires.
WARNING
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7-10
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
5. Store the damaged tire in the trunk. Have the damaged tire repaired as
soon as possible.
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
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Page 168 of 248
7-16
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Emergency Towing
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
rear wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
Towing Description
Wheel dollies
Don’t tow the vehicle pointed forward
with driving wheels on the ground.
This may cause internal damage to the
transmission.
Don ’t tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
CAUTION
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 16 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM