2003 MAZDA MODEL B-SERIES towing

Stowing the flat/spare tire
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing up.
2. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the wire and
retainer through the center of the wheel.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you
to overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort,
take the vehicle to your dealer for assistance at your earliest
convenience.
4. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against
the tire to make sure it is tightly sealed under the vehicle. Loosen
and retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire
may result in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.
5. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months, per service maintenance section), or at
any time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of other
components.
6. Install the spare tire lock (if equipped) into the access hole above
the rear bumper with the spare tire lock key (if equipped) and jack
handle.
JUMP STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING: The gases around the battery can explode if
exposed to flames, sparks, or lit cigarettes. An explosion could
result in injury or vehicle damage.
WARNING: Batteries contain sulfuric acid which can burn skin,
eyes and clothing, if contacted.
Do not attempt to push-start your vehicle. Automatic
transmissions do not have push-start capability; also, the
catalytic converter may become damaged.
Roadside Emergencies
158

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance center.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Mazda Motor Corporation has
not approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
On 4x2 vehicles, it is acceptable to tow the vehicle with the front wheels
on the ground and the rear wheels off the ground.
On 4x4 vehicles, it is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a
wheel lift and dollies or flatbed equipment with all the wheels off the
ground.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Mazda Motor Corporation produces a towing manual for all authorized
tow truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual
for proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Roadside Emergencies
164

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

4. Refer to vehicle emission control information label for spark plug and
gap specifications.
5. The California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure
to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission
warranty nor limit recall liability prior to completion of the vehicle's
useful life.
SCHEDULE II ± SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS
If your driving habitsFREQUENTLYinclude one or more of the
following conditions:
²Short trips oflessthan 16 km (10 miles) when outside temperatures
remain below freezing.
²Towing a trailer, or carrying maximum loads.
²Operating in severe dust conditions.
²Operating duringhot weatherin stop-and-go ªrush-hourº traffic.
²Extensive idling, such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery service.
²High speed operation with a fully loaded vehicle (max. GVW).
²Off-road operation.
Change ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER every 3 months or 4,800 km
(3,000 miles) whichever occurs first.
NOTE:Idling the engine for extended periods will accumulate more
hours of use on your vehicle than is actually indicated by the mileage
odometer. Consequently, the odometer reading can be often misleading
when determining the right time to change your engine oil and filter. If
you are using your vehicle in a manner which allows it to remain
stationary while the engine is running for long periods (door-to-door
delivery, taxi, police, power/utility company trucks, or similar duty), then
Mazda recommends you increase the frequency of oil and filter changes
to an interval equivalent to 200 ENGINE HOURS of use. Since most
vehicles are not equipped with hour-meters, it may be necessary for you
to approximate your idle time and plan oil/filter changes accordingly.
Maintenance and Specifications
187

Special Operating
Conditions
Replace Engine Oil and Filter
Inspect Brake System
Replace Fuel Filter
Change Automatic Transmission Fluid
Replace Spark Plugs
Replace Engine Air Filter
Change Manual Transmission Fluid
Inspect and Lubricate U-Joints
Lubricate Front Wheel Bearing (4x2)
Change Transfer Case Fluid (4x4)
Suggested Maintenance
Interval3,000
miles or
3 months5,000
miles15,000
miles30,000
miles60,000
milesAs
requiredAs
requiredAs
required30,000
miles60,000
miles
Towing a trailer or
using a camper or
car top carrierXX XX
Extensive idling or
low-speed driving
for long distances
as in heavy
commercial use
such as delivery,
taxi or patrol carX XXXX XX
Operating in dusty
conditions such as
unpaved or dusty
roadsXXX X
Off road operation X X X
For specific recommendations see your authorized Mazda dealer or
qualified service professional.
OWNER MAINTENANCE
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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.
Maintenance and Specifications
188

²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
Maintenance and Specifications
217

Jump-starting your vehicle ......158
K
Keys
positions of the ignition .........110
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................40
cargo lamps ...............................39
daytime running light ...............38
fog lamps ...................................38
headlamps .................................38
headlamps, flash to pass ..........39
instrument panel, dimming .....39
interior lamps .....................40±41
replacing
bulbs .................. 40±41, 43, 45±46
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................40
LATCH anchors .........................106
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........116
Load limits .................................129
GAWR ......................................129
GVWR ......................................129
trailer towing ..........................129
Loading instructions .................129
Lubricant specifications ...235±236
Lumbar support, seats ...............68
M
Manual transmission .................122
fluid capacities ........................232
lubricant specifications ..........236
reverse .....................................123Mirrors
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................50
cleaning ...................................179
side view mirrors (power) .......53
Motorcraft parts ........................214
O
Octane rating ............................213
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................196
Overdrive .....................................56
Overheating ...............................151
P
Parking brake ............................116
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................145
Power door locks ........................59
Power point .................................49
Power steering ..........................117
fluid, checking and adding ....220
fluid, refill capacity ................232
fluid, specifications .........235±236
Power Windows ...........................49
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................118
R
Radio ..........................19, 21, 23, 27
Relays ........................................141
Remote entry system ...........59±60
illuminated entry ......................63
locking/unlocking doors ...........59
Index
243

S
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) .........69±73
Safety defects, reporting ..........175
Safety restraints ....................69±73
belt minder ...............................77
cleaning the safety belts ..........80
extension assembly ..................76
for adults .............................70±72
for children .........................93±94
lap belt ......................................74
warning light and chime ..........76
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................106
Safety restraints - tether
anchors ......................................102
Safety seats for children ............97
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............69
Seats ............................................67
child safety seats ......................97
Servicing your vehicle ..............190
Snowplowing .................................7
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........152
Spark plugs, specifications .......236
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................235±236
Speed control ..............................53
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......113
Starting your
vehicle ........................110±111, 113
jump starting ..........................158Steering wheel
tilting .........................................48
T
Tether anchors ..........................102
Tires ...........................152, 227±228
changing ..........................152, 155
checking the pressure ............228
replacing ..................................230
rotating ....................................229
snow tires and chains ............231
tire grades ...............................228
treadwear ................................227
Towing .......................................131
recreational towing .................138
trailer towing ..........................131
wrecker ....................................164
Traction-lok rear axle ...............118
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................226
Transmission
automatic operation ...............119
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................223
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................225
fluid, refill capacities ..............232
lubricant specifications ..235±236
manual operation ....................122
Turn signal ..................................40
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................236
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................238
Vehicle loading ..........................129
camper bodies ........................139
Ventilating your vehicle ...........115
Index
244