Page 73 of 270

3-17
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Fuel-Filler Lid
To open, pull up the remote fuel-filler lid
release.
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
Fuel Spray:
Fuel spray is dangerous. Fuel can
burn skin and eyes and cause illness
when ingested. Fuel spray is released
when there is pressure in the fuel
tank and the fuel cap is removed too
quickly. When removing the fuel cap,
loosen the cap slightly and wait for
any hissing to stop. Then remove it.
Fuel Vapor:
Fuel vapor is dangerous. It could be
ignited by sparks or flames causing
serious burns and injuries. Before
refueling, stop the engine,
and always
keep sparks and flames away from the
filler neck.
Always use only a genuine Mazda fuel
cap or an approved equivalent,
available at Authorized Mazda
Dealers. The wrong cap can result in a
serious malfunction of the fuel and
emission control systems. It may also
cause the check engine light in the
instrument cluster to illuminate.
WARNING
CAUTION
Remote fuel-filler
lid relese
Sedan
Remote fuel-filler
lid relese
Hatchback
J39L(02MY).book Page 17 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 87 of 270
4-5
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q36-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 parking brake warning light
goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Getting In
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake/
clutch 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
J39L(02MY).book Page 5 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 118 of 270
5-24
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Warning/Indicator Lights
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-26
Charging System Warning Light 5-27
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light 5-28
Check Engine Light 5-28
ABS Warning Light 5-29
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light 5-29
Low Fuel Warning Light 5-30
Warning/Indicator lights will appear in any of the highlighted areas
J39L(02MY).book Page 24 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 122 of 270

5-28
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q36-EA-01F
Engine Oil Pressure Warning
Light
This warning light indicates low engine
oil pressure.
If the light comes on while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park
off the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the
engine oil level (page 8-11). If it’s low,
add oil.
3. Check the light.
If the light remains on even after you add
oil, have your vehicle towed to the nearest
service station or to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
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. Don’t run the engine if oil pressure is
low. It could result in extensive engine
damage.
CAUTION
J39L(02MY).book Page 28 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 197 of 270

8-5
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8Q36-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
96,000 km (60,000 miles).
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 clearanceI
Engine timing belt
*2Inspect at 96,000 km (60,000 miles)
Replace every 168,000 km (105,000 miles)
Drive belts (tension) II
Engine oilExcept Puerto RicoRRRRRRRRRRRR
Puerto RicoReplace every 5,000 km (3,000 miles) (or 3 months)
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRRRRRR
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
Idle speedII
Air filter
I
*1R
I *1R
Fuel lines & hoses*1II
Hoses & tubes for emission*1I
Spark plugsRR
Function of all lightsIIIIIIIIIIII
Brake lines, hoses & connectionsII
Brake & clutch fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Disc brakesIIII
Drum brakesII
Tire inflation pressure and tire wearIIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation & linkagesII
Power steering fluid levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Front suspension ball jointsII
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts & nuts on chassis & bodyIIII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks & hingesLLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Refrigerant amount (if installed) IIII
Compressor operation (if installed) IIII
J39L(02MY).book Page 5 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 200 of 270

8-8
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8Q36-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 and clutch fluid level (page 8-16)
•Engine coolant level (page 8-14)
•Engine oil level (page 8-11)
•Washer fluid level (page 8-20)
At Least Monthly
•Tire inflation pressures (page 8-27)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transaxle fluid level (page 8-18)
•Power steering fluid level (page 8-18)
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 8-21)
•Engine coolant (page 8-14)
•Engine oil (page 8-12)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
J39L(02MY).book Page 8 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 218 of 270

8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q36-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 10-7)
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
J39L(02MY).book Page 26 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM
Page 219 of 270

8-27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q36-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-
7).
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
10-7).
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.
J39L(02MY).book Page 27 Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:49 AM