2003 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA check engine

7-11
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, the vehicle loses power, or
you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.
If this happens:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
Apply the parking brake.
3. Turn off the air conditioner. 4. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Don ’t go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine. Then turn the ignition
switch to the ON position without
starting the engine.
The radiator cooling fans will start to
cool the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools. If this doesn ’t lower the
temperature, stop the engine and let it
cool.
5. Visually inspect the alternator/water pump drive belt for looseness and
breakage and all cooling hose
connections for leaks. If the belt is
broken or coolant is leaking, call an
Authorized Mazda Dealer for
assistance.
6. If the drive belt is OK, the engine is cool, and no coolant leaks are obvious,
inspect the coolant level. Carefully add
coolant as required (page 8-15).
Overheating
Steam from Overheated Engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you. Open the hood
ONLY after steam is no longer
escaping from the engine.
WARNING
Cooling system cap
Engine coolant
reservoir
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8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
5. Pull it out again and examine the level.It’s OK between L and F.
But if it ’s near or below L, add enough
oil to bring the level to F.
6. Make sure the O-ring is positioned properly before reinserting the
dipstick.
The distance between L and F on the
dipstick represents the following:

Changing Engine Oil and Filter
Change engine oil and filter according to
Scheduled Maintenance (page 8-3).
Please act responsibly
—protect the
environment and take used oil to a
recycling facility. Ask your dealer or a
service station for information. Changing engine oil
1. Warm up the engine for a few minutes
and turn it off. Remove the oil-filler
cap.
2. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil into a suitable container.
3. Replace the plug tightly after the oil has thoroughly drained.
4. Fill the engine with new oil to the F mark on the dipstick.
5. Securely replace the oil-filler cap.
6. Start the engine and inspect around the drain plug for leaks.
7. Turn it off and wait 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
Don
’t add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
L (US qt, Imp qt) 0.8 (0.85, 0.70)
Handling Used Engine Oil:
Continuous contact with used engine
oil is dangerous. It could cause skin
cancer. Always wash with soap and
water immediately after changing oil
and filter.
CAUTION
WARNING
Checking or Changing Engine Oil:
Hot engine oil is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, the engine
oil becomes very hot. You could be
seriously burned. Don ’t check or
change the engine oil when the
engine is hot.
WARNING
Tighten
Loosen
Drain plug
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8-15
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Check the oil level and fill to the F 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 FULL and LOW
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
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8-21
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
4. With the engine still idling, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean.
5. Put the dipstick back into the filler tube and make sure it is fully seated.
6. Pull the dipstick out and read the fluid level.
The proper fluid level is marked on the
dipstick as follows.
Fluid hot scale
When checking the fluid level at normal
operating temperature, the fluid level
should be within the FULL and LOW
marks on the dipstick. Fluid cold scale
When the vehicle has not been driven but
the engine is idling, and the outside
temperature is above 20
°C (70 °F), the
fluid level should be close to, but not
above, the bottom notch on the dipstick.
Fully insert the dipstick. When adding
fluid, inspect with the dipstick to make
sure it doesn ’t pass full.
Sudden Vehicle Movement:
Shifting the shift lever without first
depressing the brake pedal is
dangerous. The vehicle could move
suddenly and cause an accident.
Make sure the brake pedal is applied
before shifting the shift lever.
WARNING
FULL
LOW
Fluid
cold
scale
NOTE
Use the cold scale as a reference.
NOTE
Inspect the fluid on both sides of the
dipstick in a well lit area for an
accurate reading.
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 21 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

10-5
Specifications
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Capacities
(Approximate Quantities)
Check oil and fluid levels with dipsticks or reservoir gauges.

Dimensions
*With license plate holder

We i g h t s

Air Conditioner
Item Unit
L US qt Imp qt
Engine oil With oil filter
3.84.0 3.3
Without oil filter 3.63.8 3.2
Coolant 6.06.3 5.3
Manual transmission oil 5-Speed transmission 2.0
2.11.8
6-Speed transmission 1.8 1.91.6
Automatic transmission fluid 6.77.1 5.9
Rear differential oil 1.01.1 0.9
Fuel tank 48 12.7 (US gal) 10.6 (Imp gal)
Item mm (in)
Overall length 3,945 (155.3), 3,963 (156.0)
*
Overall width 1,678 (66.1)
Overall height 1,228 (48.4)
Front tread 1,415 (55.7)
Rear tread 1,440 (56.7)
Wheelbase 2,265 (89.2)
Item Weight
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 1,335 kg (2,943 lb)
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) Front
685 kg (1,510 lb)
Rear 670 kg (1,477 lb)
Gas complies with SAE J639 Maximum operating charge
HFC134a (R134a) 0.4 kg (14.1 oz)
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11-6
Index
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
W
Warning Lights ................................ 5-22
ABS
.......................................... 5-26
Air bag system
.......................... 5-27
Brake system
............................ 5-24
Charging system
....................... 5-25
Check engine
............................ 5-26
Immobilizer system
.................. 5-28
Low fuel
.................................... 5-27
Seat belt
.................................... 5-27
Seat belt pretensioner system
... 5-27
Warranty
............................................ 9-8
Washer Fluid
.................................... 8-22
Weights
............................................ 10-5
Wheel Replacement
......................... 8-30
Windblocker
.................................... 6-41
Windows Power windows
........................ 3-13
Windshield Washer
.......................... 5-33
Windshield Wipers
.......................... 5-33
Blades replacement
................... 8-24
Winter Driving
................................... 4-8
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 6 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM