Page 177 of 245

REPAIRING PAINT CHIPS
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris may be repaired with
Genuine Mazda Touch-Up Paint. Observe the application instructions on
the products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect remains, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout immediately.
CLEANING THE WHEELS
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based or alcohol-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong
detergents. Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of special
wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove grease and tar.
The brushes used in some automatic car washes may damage the
finish on your wheels. Before going to a car wash, find out if the
brushes are abrasive.
ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
²Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The
high-pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause
damage.
²Never spray the engine or other engine components with water. Water
will damage the engine or other engine components.
²Spray Engine Shampoo and Degreaser, available at your authorized
Mazda dealer, on all parts that require cleaning and pressure rinse
clean.
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.
Cleaning
177
Page 178 of 245
²2.3L Engine
²3.0L Engine
Cleaning
178
Page 179 of 245

²4.0L Engine
²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is running; water in the
running engine may cause internal damage.
CLEANING NON-PAINTED PLASTIC EXTERIOR PARTS
Use vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning. Clean with a tar remover if
necessary. Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents or
petroleum-based cleaners.
CLEANING MIRRORS
Do not clean your mirrors with a dry cloth or abrasive materials. Use a
soft cloth and mild detergent and water. Be careful when removing ice
from outside mirrors because you may damage the reflective surface.
CLEANING THE EXTERIOR LAMPS
Wash with the same detergent as the exterior of your vehicle. If
necessary, use a tar remover.
To avoid scratching the lamps, do not use a dry paper towel, chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners.
CLEANING THE WIPER BLADES, WINDSHIELD AND REAR
WINDOW
If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean the wiper blade rubber
element with undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild detergent.
To avoid damaging the blades, do not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner or
other solvents.
Cleaning
179
Page 180 of 245

If the wiper still does not wipe properly, this could be caused by
substances on the windshield or rear window such as tree sap and some
hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes. Clean the outside of
the windshield or rear window with a non-abrasive cleaner.Do notuse
abrasive cleansers on glass as they may cause scratches. The windshield
or rear window is clean if beads do not form when you rinse it with
water. The windshield, rear window and wiper blades should be cleaned
on a regular basis, and blades or rubber elements replaced when worn.
CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
Clean the instrument panel with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
Avoid cleaners or polish that increase the gloss of the upper portion of
the instrument panel. The dull finish in this area helps protect the driver
from undesirable windshield reflection.
Your vehicle is designed with painted controls and features which
are particularly sensitive to certain products such as insect
repellent and suntan lotion. When operating the various features
on your vehicle, be certain to wash or wipe your hands clean if
you have been in contact with any of these types of products in
order to avoid possible damage to the painted surfaces.
WARNING: Do not use chemical solvents or strong detergents
when cleaning the steering wheel or instrument panel to avoid
contamination of the air bag system.
CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LENS
Clean with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
Do not use household or glass cleaners as these may damage the lens.
INTERIOR
For fabric, carpets, cloth seats, and safety belts:
²Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
²Remove light stains and soil with Extra Strength Upholstery Cleaner,
available at your authorized Mazda dealer.
²If grease or tar is present on the material, spot-clean the area first
with Spot and Stain Remover, available at your authorized Mazda
dealer.
²Never saturate the seat covers with cleaning solution.
Cleaning
180
Page 181 of 245

²Do not use household cleaning products or glass cleaners, which can
stain and discolor the fabric and affect the flame retardant abilities of
the seat materials.
INSIDE WINDOWS
Use glass cleaner for the inside windows if they become fogged.
Leather seats (if equipped)
Your leather seating surfaces have a clear, protective coating over the
leather.
²To clean, use a soft cloth with Deluxe Leather and Vinyl Cleaner. Dry
the area with a soft cloth.
²To help maintain its resiliency and color, use the Deluxe Leather Care
Kit, available at your authorized Mazda dealer.
²Do not use household cleaning products, alcohol solutions, solvents or
cleaners intended for rubber, vinyl and plastics, or oil/petroleum-based
leather conditioners. These products may cause premature wearing of
the clear, protective coating.
UNDERBODY
Flush the complete underside of vehicle frequently. Keep body drain
holes unplugged. Inspect for road damage.
MAZDA CAR CARE PRODUCTS
Your Mazda dealer has many quality products available to clean your
vehicle and protect its finishes. These quality products have been
specifically engineered to fulfill your automotive needs; they are custom
designed to complement the style and appearance of your vehicle. Each
product is made from high quality materials that meet or exceed rigid
specifications. For best results, use these products or products of
equivalent quality. These products are available at your authorized Mazda
dealer.
Cleaning
181
Page 182 of 245

INTRODUCTION
Be extremely careful to prevent injury to yourself and others and
damage to your vehicle when using this manual for inspection and
maintenance.
If you're unsure about any procedure it describes, we strongly urge you
to have a reliable and qualified service shop perform the work, preferably
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Factory-trained Mazda technicians and genuine Mazda parts are best for
your vehicle. Without this expertise and the parts that have been
designed and made especially for your Mazda, inadequate, incomplete,
and insufficient servicing may result in problems. This could lead to
vehicle damage or an accident and injuries.
For expert advice and quality service, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The owner should retain evidence that proper maintenance has been
performed as prescribed.
A claim against a warranty will not qualify if it results from lack of
maintenance and not from defective material or authorized Mazda
workmanship.
Any auto repair shop using parts equivalent to your Mazda's original
equipment may perform maintenance.But we recommend that it
always be done by an Authorized Mazda Dealer using genuine
Mazda parts.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Schedule I ± Normal Driving Conditions/Emission Control
Systems
Follow Schedule I if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the
following conditions apply. If any do apply follow Schedule II.
²Repeated short-distance driving.
²Driving in dusty conditions.
²Towing a trailer.
²Operating in hot weather in stop-and-go ªrush hourº traffic.
²Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation.
²High-speed operation with a fully loaded vehicle.
²Off-road operation.
NOTE:After the described period, continue to follow the described
maintenance at the recommended intervals.
Maintenance and Specifications
182
Page 183 of 245

Chart symbols
I: Inspect, and if necessary correct, clean or replace
A: Adjust
R: Replace
L: Lubricate
Normal driving service intervals ± perform at the months or distances
shown, whichever occurs first.
Maintenance ItemMaintenance Interval (Number of months or km (miles),
whichever comes first)
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
x 1000 Miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
(x 1000 km) (8) (16) (24) (32) (40) (48) (56) (64) (72) (80) (88) (96)
ENGINE
Engine oil Ðevery 6 months RRRRRRRRRRR R
Oil filterÐevery 6 months RRRRRRRRRRR R
PCV valve
AIR CLEANER
Air cleaner filter R R
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs *4
COOLING SYSTEM
Engine Coolant (green) Replace at first 45,000 miles (72,000 km) or 36
months, after that, every 30,000 miles (48,000 km)
or 24 months
Engine Coolant (yellow) Replace at first 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 60
months, after that, every 50,000 miles (80,000 km)
or 36 months
Coolant condition and protection,
hoses and clamps Ð annually Ðprior
to cold weather every 12 monthsIII I
CHASSIS AND BODY
Wheel lug nut torque *1 IIIIIIIIIII I
Inspect tires for wear and rotate (X =
recommended interval for optimal
tire life)IXIXXIXXIXX I
Clutch reservoir fluid level IIIIII
Front wheel bearings (4x2) L
Disc brake system I I I I
Maintenance and Specifications
183
Page 184 of 245

Maintenance ItemMaintenance Interval (Number of months or km (miles),
whichever comes first)
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
x 1000 Miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
(x 1000 km) (8) (16) (24) (32) (40) (48) (56) (64) (72) (80) (88) (96)
Caliper slide rails L L L L
Drum brake system, lines and hoses I I I I
Exhaust system for leaks, damage,
loosenessII
Manual transmission fluid R
Automatic
transmission fluid*2 I I
Exhaust system shielding (for
trapped material)II
Propeller shaft U-joints (if equipped
with grease fittings)LLLLLL
Parking brake system (for damage
and operation)III I
Ball joints (4x2) I/L I/L I/L I/L
Transfer case fluid (4x4) Replace every 150,000 miles (240,000 km)
Rear axle lubricant Does not require replacement unless rear axle
submerged in water
Accessory drive belts
Fuel filter *5 R R
Steering linkage, ball joints,
suspension and driveshaftIII I
Remarks:For * marked items in this maintenance chart, please pay
attention to the following points:
1. The wheel lug nuts must be retightened to the proper specifications
at 800 km (500 miles) of new vehicle operation, at any wheel
change, or at any other time the wheel lug nuts have been loosened.
2. Replace every 150,000 miles (240,000 km) unless submerged in
water.
3. At 60,000 miles (96,000 km), the dealer will replace the PCV valve at
no cost, except Canada and California vehicles.
4. Refer to vehicle emission control information label for spark plug and
gap specifications.
Maintenance and Specifications
184