2003 MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ flat tire

8-6
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
Owner Maintenance
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.

When Refueling
•Brake and clutch fluid level (page 8-14)
•Engine coolant level (page 8-12)
•Engine oil level (page 8-9)
•Washer fluid level (page 8-18)

At Least Monthly
•Tire inflation pressures (page 8-25)

At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transaxle fluid level (page 8-16)
•Power steering fluid level (page 8-16)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
•Air filter (page 8-19)
•Engine coolant (page 8-12)
•Engine oil (page 8-10)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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8-24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q94-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.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.
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 when using 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 10-8)
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
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8-25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q94-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-
8).
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
10-8).
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.
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8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

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.
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 10-8) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.

Replacing a Tire
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.
Front
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.
CAUTION
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.
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.
CAUTION
WARNING
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8-27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
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).

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.
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.
•When the tread wear solid-band
indicator appears, replace the tire
with the same type of temporary
spare (page 8-26).
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.
CAUTION
WARNING
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9-13
Customer Information
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
These grades will be added to the sidewalls of passenger vehicle tires over the next several
years according to a schedule established by the NHTSA and the tire manufacturers.
The grade of tires available as standard or optional equipment on Mazda vehicle may vary
with respect to grade.
ALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST CONFORM TO THESE GRADES AND
TO ALL OTHER FEDERAL TIRE-SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
WARNING
UTQGS MARK (example)
TREADWEAR 200 TRACTION AA
TEMPERATURE A
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10-8
Specifications
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G

Tires
Check the tire pressure label for tire size and inflation pressure. Refer to Tire Inflation
Pressure on page 8-25.
Standard tire
*Only for MAZDASPEED Protegé
Temporary spare tire
*Only for MAZDASPEED Protegé

Fuses
Refer to the fuse rating on page 8-38.
Tire sizeInflation pressure
Front Rear
P185/65R14 85S
220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2, 32 psi or lb/po2) 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2, 32 psi or lb/po2)
185/65R14 86T
210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2, 30 psi or lb/po2) 210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2, 30 psi or lb/po2)
P195/55R15 84V
220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2, 32 psi or lb/po2) 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2, 32 psi or lb/po2)
195/55R15 85V
210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2, 30 psi or lb/po2) 210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2, 30 psi or lb/po2)
P195/50R16 83V
220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2, 32 psi or lb/po2) 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2, 32 psi or lb/po2)
215/45ZR17 88W*
Tire size Inflation pressure
T125/70 D14 420 kPa (60 psi)
T115/70 D15 420 kPa (60 psi)
T135/70 D15
*420 kPa (60 psi)
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11-3
Index
Form No. 8Q94-EA-02G
D
Dashboard Illumination ................... 5-26
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-38
Defroster
Rear window
............................. 5-40
Dimensions
...................................... 10-5
Door Locks
......................................... 3-6
Driving In Flooded Area
.................. 4-10
Driving Tips
....................................... 4-6
Automatic transaxle
.................. 5-12
Automatic transaxle
(Sport AT)
................................. 5-18
Break-in period
........................... 4-6
Driving in flooded area
............. 4-10
Hazardous driving
....................... 4-7
Money-saving suggestions
.......... 4-6
Rocking the vehicle
.................... 4-7
Trailer towing
........................... 4-11
Winter driving
............................. 4-8
E
Emergency Starting .......................... 7-15
Flooded engine
.......................... 7-15
Jump-starting
............................ 7-15
Push-starting
............................. 7-17
Emergency Towing
.......................... 7-18
Emission Control System
................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant
...................................... 8-12
Exhaust gas
................................. 4-4
Hood release
............................. 3-18
Oil
............................................... 8-9
Overheating
............................... 7-13
Starting
........................................ 5-3
Engine Compartment Overview
........ 8-8
Engine Coolant
Overheating
............................... 7-13
E
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
...............................................5-25
Exhaust Gas
........................................4-4
Exterior Care
....................................8-44
F
Flasher
Hazard warning
.........................5-41
Headlights
.................................5-36
Flat Tire
..............................................7-3
Changing
.....................................7-7
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Fluids
Classification
.............................10-4
Owner maintenance
.....................8-6
Fog Lights
........................................5-37
Foot Brake
..........................................5-4
Front Seats
..........................................2-2
Fuel
Filler lid and cap
.......................3-16
Gauge
........................................5-26
Requirements
..............................4-2
Tank capacity
............................10-5
Fuses
.................................................8-38
Panel description
.......................8-40
Replacement
..............................8-38
G
Gauges ..............................................5-23
Glove Box
........................................6-39
J39L_EA.book Page 3 Saturday, June 8, 2002 5:35 PM