4-9
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
•Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a Mazda dealer to perform the
following precautions:
•Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
•Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•Use only cold-weather engine oil
(page 8-9).
•Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
•Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-16).
•Don’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P and block the
rear wheels.
Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find it necessary to replace them
with snow tires during the winter months
to further improve traction on snow and
ice covered roads.
Don’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
Inflate snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3
psi) more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver’s door), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.
Winter Driving
Mixing Tire Types:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle’s handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident. Use only the same size
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
WARNING
CAUTION
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 9 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
8-11
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Check the oil level and fill to the MAX
mark if necessary.
Oil capacity (General reference only,
refer to Specifications section for
capacities.)
Changing oil filter
Because you need a special tool to
retighten the filter, an Authorized Mazda
Dealer should do the work.
Inspecting Coolant Level
Inspect the antifreeze protection and
coolant level in the coolant reservoir at
least once a year—at the beginning of the
winter season—and before traveling
where temperatures may drop below
freezing.
Inspect the condition and connections of
all cooling system and heater hoses.
Replace any that are swollen or
deteriorated.
The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the F and L marks
on the coolant reservoir when the engine
is cool.
NOTE
•The indicated engine oil capacities
are for general reference purposes
only. When adding or changing oil,
verify the engine oil level with the
oil dipstick.
•Use only specified engine oil (page
10-4).
Engine Coolant
Hot Engine:
A hot engine is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, parts of the
engine compartment can become very
hot. You could be burned. Don’t
inspect the coolant system or add
coolant when the engine is hot.
WARNING
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 11 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
11-3
Index
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
D
Dashboard Illumination ................... 5-22
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-33
Defroster
Rear window
............................. 5-36
Dimensions
...................................... 10-5
Door Locks
......................................... 3-8
Driving In Flooded Area
.................. 4-10
Driving Tips
....................................... 4-7
Automatic transaxle
.................. 5-11
Break-in period
........................... 4-7
Driving in flooded area
............. 4-10
Hazardous driving
....................... 4-8
Money-saving suggestions
.......... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle
.................... 4-8
Winter driving
............................. 4-9
E
Easy Closure .................................... 3-12
Emergency Starting
.......................... 7-17
Flooded engine
.......................... 7-17
Jump-starting
............................ 7-17
Push-starting
............................. 7-19
Emergency Towing
.......................... 7-20
Emission Control System
................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant
...................................... 8-11
Exhaust gas
................................. 4-5
Hood release
............................. 3-24
Oil
............................................... 8-9
Overheating
............................... 7-15
Starting
........................................ 5-3
Engine Compartment Overview
........ 8-8
Engine Coolant
Overheating
............................... 7-15
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
............................................... 5-21
Exhaust Gas
....................................... 4-5
E
Exterior Care ....................................8-40
Eyeglass Holder
................................6-48
F
Flasher
Hazard warning
.........................5-37
Headlights
.................................5-32
Flat Tire
..............................................7-3
Changing
.....................................7-8
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Fluids
Classification
.............................10-4
Owner maintenance
.....................8-6
Fog Lights
........................................5-34
Foot Brake
..........................................5-4
Front Console
...................................6-49
Front seats
..........................................2-3
Fuel
Filler lid and cap
.......................3-22
Gauge
........................................5-22
Requirements
..............................4-2
Tank capacity
............................10-5
Fuses
.................................................8-33
Panel description
.......................8-35
Replacement
..............................8-33
G
Gauges ..............................................5-19
Glove Box
........................................6-49
J16L_8R21-EA-02G.book Page 3 Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:16 AM
