2003 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA warning

8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

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).

Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or sooner
if irregular wear develops. During
rotation, inspect them for correct balance.
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
NOTE
• Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don
’t
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
• Underinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy and poor sealing of
the tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.
• Overinflation can produce a harsh
ride and a greater possibility of
damage from road hazards.
Keep your tire pressure at the
correct levels. If one frequently
needs inflating, have it inspected.
Front
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 28 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
•Incorrect tire pressure
• Improper wheel alignment
• Out-of-balance wheel
• Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
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 should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial
tires that have an asymmetrical tread
pattern or studs only from front to rear,
not from side to side. Tire performance
will be weakened if rotated from side
to side.
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don
’t use the following:
• Tires not of the designated size
• Tires of different sizes or types at
the same time
• Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren ’t followed,
the rotation of the left and right wheels
will be different and will thus apply a
constant load on the limited-slip
differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
CAUTION
CAUTION
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 tread
Tread wear indicator
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 29 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-30
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

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
2or bar, 60 psi).

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.
• 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 8-29).
CAUTION
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
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 30 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-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 high and low
beam bulbs in the rear of the headlight
body.
The outboard bulb is the LOW beam,
and the inboard one is the HIGH beam.
3. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it while
holding the rubber socket cover in
place. Carefully remove the headlight
bulb from its socket in the reflector by
gently pulling it straight backward out
of the socket.
4. Disconnect the bulb from the electrical connector by pressing the tab on the
connector with your finger and pulling
the bulb upward.
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 surfaceTa b
Low beam bulb
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 32 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-40
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Fuse panel (Driver’s side)
DESCRIPTION FUSE
RATING PROTECTED
COMPONENT
1 AD FAN 20A Add fan motor,
Magnet clutch
2 HEAD.LH 15A Headlights (LH)
3 HEAD.RH 15A Headlights (RH)
4 —— —
5ST.SIG 7.5A Instrument
cluster, Cruise
control
6 —— —
7 CIGAR 20A Cigar lighter
8 RADIO 10A Audio
9 F.FOG 15A Fog lights
10 TAIL 15A Taillights, Front
parking lights,
Side-marker
lights
11 ENGINE 15A Engine control
system
12 METER 15A Instrument
clusterDESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATING PROTECTED
COMPONENT
13 TURN 7.5A Turn signal
lights
14 A/B 10A Supplemental
restraint system,
Antilock brake
system
15 WIPER 20A Windshield
wipers and
washer
16 P.WIND 30A Power windows
17 A/C 7.5A Air conditioner
18 HAZARD 10A Turn signal
lights
19 D.LOCK 10A Power door lock
20 AUDIO 20A Audio amp
21 DEFOG 15A Rear defroster
22 ROOM 10A Interior light,
Auto antenna,
Warning buzzers
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 40 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-43
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R09-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.
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,
retract it before entering a car wash
facility or passing beneath a low
overhead clearance.
CAUTION
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 43 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-44
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material from
the underside of the fenders, and make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges of
the doors and rocker panels are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Don’t allow soap
to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming. Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.

Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance is
normal.
WARNING
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle doesn
’t need it.
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced, make
sure the body shop applies anti-
corrosion materials to all parts, both
repaired and new. This will prevent
them from rusting.
CAUTION
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8-45
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Bright-Metal Maintenance
• Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
• To prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
• During cold weather or in coastal
areas, cover bright-metal parts with a
coating of wax or preservative heavier
than usual. It would also help to coat
them with noncorrosive petroleum jelly
or some other protective compound.


Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also to
do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped
there will cause rusting.
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 result in
damage to the protective coating and
cause discoloration or paint
deterioration.
CAUTION
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance is
normal.
WARNING
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 45 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM