
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.
Claims against the warranty resulting from lack of maintenance, as
opposed to defective materials or authorized Mazda workmanship, will
not be honored.
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.
• Repeated short-distance driving.
• Driving in dusty conditions.
• Towing a trailer.
• Operating in hot weather in stop-and-go “rush hour” traffic.
• Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation.
• High-speed operation with a fully loaded vehicle.
• Off-road operation.
NOTE: After the described period, continue to follow the described
maintenance at the recommended intervals.
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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 Miles (km),
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 — every 6 months R RRRRRRRRRR R
Oil filter — every 6 months R RRRRRRRRRR 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 — annually —prior
to cold weather every 12 months III I
CHASSIS AND BODY
Wheel lug nut torque *1 I IIIIIIIIII I
Inspect tires for wear and rotate
(X = recommended interval for
optimal tire life) IXIXXIXXIXX I
Clutch reservoir fluid level I IIIII
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*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 I continued
Maintenance ItemMaintenance Interval (Number of months or Miles (km),
whichever comes first)
Months 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96
x 1000 miles 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 (x 1000 km)
(104) (112) (121) (128) (136) (144) (152) (160) (168) (176) (184) (192)
ENGINE
Engine oil — every 6 months R RRRRRRRRRR R
Oil filter — every 6 months R RRRRRRRRRR R
PCV valve R
AIR CLEANER
Air cleaner filter R R
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs *4 R
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 — annually —prior
to cold weather every 12 months III I
CHASSIS AND BODY
Wheel lug nut torque *1 I IIIIIIIIII I
Inspect tires for wear and rotate
(X = recommended interval for
optimal tire life) XXIXXIXXIXX I
Clutch reservoir fluid level I IIIII
Front wheel bearings (4x2) L
Disc brake system I I I I
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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 months 5,000
miles 15,000
miles 30,000
miles 60,000
miles As
required As
required As
required 30,000
miles 60,000
miles
Towing a trailer or
using a camper or
car top carrier XXXX
Extensive idling or
low-speed driving
for long distances
as in heavy
commercial use
such as delivery,
taxi or patrol car X XXXX XX
Operating in dusty
conditions such as
unpaved or dusty
roads XXX 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.
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188

•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
• Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
• You 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.
• Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
• Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
• Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
• Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
• Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Lubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
• Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
• Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
• Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
2003 Mazda B Series (mbs)
New Owners Guide own2002 (own2002)
USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
217

WARNING: Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and
potentially lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not
permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent
it from working. Information about your vehicle’s emission system is on
the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your “Warranty Information” for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If your “Check Engine/Service Engine
Soon” light is on, refer to the description in the Warning lights and
chimes section of the Instrument cluster chapter. Your vehicle may not
pass the I/M test with the “Check Engine/Service Engine Soon” light on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a “not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
• First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
• Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
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USA English (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
219

recommendations ...................200
refill capacities ........................231
specifications ..................235–236
Exhaust fumes ..........................114
F
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....208
Fluid capacities .........................231
Foglamps .....................................38
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......124 driving off road .......................126
electronic shift ........................125
indicator light .........................124
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................118
Fuel ............................................208 calculating fuel economy .......215
cap ...........................................211
capacity ...................................231
choosing the right fuel ...........212
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................218
detergent in fuel .....................214
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................208, 211, 215
filter, specifications ................214
fuel pump shut-off switch .....139
improving fuel economy ........215
octane rating ...................213, 236
quality ......................................213
running out of fuel .................214
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................208
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................208, 212–213
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......139
Fuses ..................................140–141
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............211 Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................215
Gauges .........................................16
GAWR (Gross Axle
Weight Rating) ..........................129
calculating ...............................130
definition .................................129
driving with a heavy load ......129
location ....................................129
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating) ..........................129 calculating .......................129–130
definition .................................129
driving with a heavy load ......129
location ....................................129
H
Hazard flashers .........................139
Headlamps ...................................38 aiming ........................................39
bulb specifications ....................40
daytime running lights .............38
flash to pass ..............................39
high beam .................................39
replacing bulbs .........................41
turning on and off ....................38
Heating heating and air
conditioning system ...........35–36
Hood ..........................................191
I
Ignition ...............................110, 236
Infant seats (see Safety seats) ..97
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................219
2003 Mazda B Series (mbs)
New Owners Guide own2002 (own2002)
USA English (fus)
Index
242