8-16
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Fully insert the dipstick. When adding
fluid, inspect with the dipstick to make
sure it doesn’t pass full.
Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir; add fluid if necessary.
The top of the float should be between
FULL and LOW.
Use plain water if washer fluid is
unavailable.
But use only washer fluid in cold weather
to prevent it from freezing. •Use the cold scale only as a
reference.
•If outside temperature is lower than
about 20°C (70°F), start the engine
and inspect the fluid level after the
engine reaches operating
temperature.
•If the vehicle has been driven for an
extended period at high speeds or in
city traffic in hot weather, inspect
the level only after stopping the
engine and allowing the fluid to
cool for 30 minutes.
NOTE
Inspect both sides of the dipstick for
accurate reading.
CAUTIONWasher Fluid
Substitute Washer Fluid:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the
windshield, affect your visibility, and
could result in an accident. Use only
windshield washer fluid or plain
water in the reservoir.
WARNING
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 16 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-22
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
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.
Battery
Battery-Related Lead Materials:
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer
and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Spilled Battery Fluid:
Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC
ACID which could cause serious
injuries, if it gets in your eyes or on
your skin. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with
water for 15 minutes or wash your
skin thoroughly and get medical
attention. Be careful not to get battery
fluid on yourself.
Battery-Related Explosion:
Flames and sparks near open battery
cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas,
produced during normal battery
operation, could ignite and cause the
battery to explode. An exploding
battery can cause serious burns and
injuries. Keep all flames, including
cigarettes, and sparks away from
open battery cells.
Children and Batteries:
Allowing children to play near
batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid
could cause serious injuries if it gets
in the eyes or on the skin. Always
keep batteries out of the reach of
children.
WARNING
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 22 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-23
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
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.
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 10-6).
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 for the limited use of 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 10-6)
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
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
10-6).
WARNING
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 23 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Replacing a Tire
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
You may need to replace it before the
band is across the entire tread.
Temporary Spare Tire
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least
monthly to make sure it’s properly
inflated and stored.
The temporary spare tire is easier to
handle because of its construction. It is
lighter and smaller than a conventional
tire and should be used only for an
emergency and only for a short distance.
Use the temporary only until the
conventional tire is repaired, which should
be as soon as possible.
Maintain its pressure at 420 kPa
(4.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 60 psi).
Worn Tires:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
Always use tires that are in good
condition.
WARNING
New tread Worn treadTread wear indicator
•Don’t use your temporary spare tire
rim with a snow tire or a
conventional tire. Neither will
properly fit and could damage both
tire and rim.
•The temporary spare tire has a tread
life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles),
depending on road conditions and
driving habits.
•The temporary spare tire is for
limited use, however, if the tread
wear solid-band indicator appears,
replace the tire with the same type
of temporary spare (page 8-25).
CAUTION
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 25 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Replacing a Wheel
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident. Always use
wheels of the correct size on your
vehicle.
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect
•Tire fit
•Wheel and bearing life
•Ground clearance
•Snow-chain clearance
•Speedometer calibration
•Headlight aim
•Bumper height
WARNING
CAUTION
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 26 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Your Mazda's headlights have replaceable
halogen bulbs.Replacing a Headlight Bulb
1. Make sure the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood and find the bulb in the
rear of the headlight body.
3. Detach the electrical connector from
the bulb by squeezing the tabs and
pulling it to the rear.
4. Pull off the sealing cover.
5. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.
6. Swing the retaining spring out and
away to free the headlight bulb.
7. Carefully remove the headlight bulb
from the socket by pulling it straight
back.
8. Replace the bulb.
Handling Halogen Bulbs:
When a halogen bulb breaks, it is
dangerous. These bulbs contain
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it
will explode and serious injuries
could be caused by the flying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with
bare hands, body oil could cause the
bulb to overheat and explode when lit.
Never touch the glass portion of the
bulb with your bare hands and always
wear eye protection when handling or
working around halogen bulbs.
Children and Halogen Bulbs:
Playing with a halogen bulb is
dangerous. Serious injuries could be
caused by dropping a halogen bulb or
breaking it some other way.
Always keep halogen bulbs out of the
reach of children.
WARNING
Do not touch the glass surfaceSealing cover
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 28 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-36
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Fuse block (Driver’s side)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATINGPROTECTED
COMPONENT
1
P. W I N D30APower windows,
For protection of
various circuits
2
WIPER20AWi n ds h i e l d
wipers and washer
3SUN ROOF15ASunroof,
For protection of
various circuits
4
R.WIP10ARear window
wiper and washer
5
SEAT20AFor protection of
various circuits
6
M.DEF10AMirror defroster,
For protection of
various circuits
7
A/C10AAir conditioner,
For protection of
various circuits
8
DRL10AFor protection of
various circuits
9
———
10
H/CLEAN20AFor protection of
various circuits
11—— —
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATINGPROTECTED
COMPONENT
12 HAZARD 10AHazard warning
flashers
13 ROOM 15AOverhead lights,
Map lights,
Luggage
compartment light
14
AU X
POWER25A Accessory socket
15
CLOSER
LH20AFor protection of
various circuits
16
AUDIO10AAudio system, For
protection of
various circuits
17
D.LOCK30APower door locks,
For protection of
various circuits
18
P/SEAT30A Power seat
19
ENGINE10AEngine control
system
20
METER10A Instrument cluster
21
STOP15A Brake lights
22
CLOSER
RH20AFor protection of
various circuits
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 36 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-40
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Follow all
label and container directions
when using a chemical cleaner or polish.
Read all warnings and cautions.
Maintaining the Finish
Wa s h i n g
To help protect the finish from rust and
deterioration, wash your Mazda
thoroughly and frequently, at least once a
month, with lukewarm or cold water.
If the vehicle is washed improperly, the
paint surface could be scratched. Here are
some examples of how scratching could
occur.
Scratches occur on the paint surface
when:
•The vehicle is washed without first
rinsing off dirt and other foreign
matter.
•The vehicle is washed with a rough,
dry, or dirty cloth.
•The vehicle is washed at a car wash
that uses brushes that are dirty or too
stiff.
•Cleansers or wax containing abrasives
are used.To minimize scratches on the vehicle’s
paint finish:
•Rinse off any dirt or other foreign
matter using lukewarm or cold water
before washing.
•Use plenty of lukewarm or cold water
and a soft cloth when washing the
vehicle. Do not use a nylon cloth.
•Rub gently when washing or drying the
vehicle.
•Take your vehicle only to a car wash
that keeps its brushes well maintained.
•Don’t use abrasive cleansers or wax
that contain abrasives.
Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material from
the underside of the wings, and make sure
the drain holes in the lower edges of the
doors and rocker panels are clean.
Exterior Care
NOTE
•Mazda is not responsible for
scratches caused by automatic car
washes or improper washing.
•Scratches are more noticeable on
vehicles with darker paint finishes.
•Don’t use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or
anodized aluminum parts. This may
damage the protective coating; also,
cleaners and detergents may
discolor or deteriorate the paint.
•To prevent damaging the antenna,
remove it before entering a car wash
facility or passing beneath a low
overhead clearance.
CAUTION
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 40 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM