2004 MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR Owners Manual

8-19
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Inspecting Power Steering Fluid
Level
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir at
each engine oil change with the engine off
and cold. Add fluid if necessary; it does
not require periodic changing.
The level must be kept between MIN and
MAX.
Visually examine the lines and hoses for
leaks and damage.
If new fluid is required frequently, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
•
Brake and clutch fluid will damage
painted surfaces. If brake or clutch
fluid does get on a painted surface,
wipe it off immediately.
• Using nonspecified brake and clutch
fluids (page 10-4) will damage the
systems. Mixing different fluids
will also damage them.
If the brake/clutch system
frequently requires new fluid,
consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
CAUTIONPower Steering Fluid
To avoid damage to the power steering
pump, don
’t operate the vehicle for
long periods when the power steering
fluid level is low.
NOTE
Use specified power steering fluid
(page 10-4).
CAUTION
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8-20
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Inspecting Automatic Transaxle
Fluid Level
The automatic transaxle fluid level should
be inspected regularly. Measure it as
described below.
The volume of fluid changes with the
temperature. Fluid must be checked at idle
without driving at normal operating
temperature.
1. Park on a level surface and set the
parking brake firmly.
2. Idle the engine about two minutes. Push down on the brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever through all ranges and set it at P. 4. With the engine still idling, pull out the
dipstick, wipe it clean, and put it back.
5. Pull it out again. The proper fluid level is marked on the
dipstick as follows.
Fluid hot scale A
When the vehicle has been driven and the
fluid is at normal operating temperature,
about 65 °C (150
°F), the level must be
between Full and Low.
Fluid cold scale B
When the engine has not been running
and the outside temperature is about 20 °C
(70 °F), the level must be between Full and
Low.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(ATF)
• Low fluid level causes transaxle
slippage. Overfilling can cause
foaming, loss of fluid, and transaxle
malfunction.
• Use specified fluid (page 10-4). A
nonspecified fluid could result in
transaxle malfunction and failure.
CAUTION
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
A
Low Full
B
Low
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8-21
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Fully insert the dipstick. When adding
fluid, inspect with the dipstick to make
sure it doesn’t pass full.

Inspecting Washer Fluid Level• 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 the fluid on both sides of the
dipstick in a well lit area for an
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.
Using Washer Fluid Without Anti-
freeze Protection in Cold Weather:
Operating your vehicle in
temperatures below 4 degrees C (40
degrees F) using washer fluid without
anti-freeze protection is dangerous as
it could cause impaired windshield
vision and result in an accident. In
cold weather, always use washer fluid
with anti-freeze protection.
NOTE
State or local regulations may restrict
the use of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), which are commonly used as
anti-freeze agents in washer fluid. A
washer fluid with limited VOC content
should be used only if it provides
adequate freeze resistance for all
regions and climates in which the
vehicle will be operated.
WARNING
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8-22
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir; add fluid if necessary.
To inspect the washer fluid level in the
front reservoir, pull off the cap. Then,
holding your thumb over the hole in the
center of the cap, lift it straight up. The
fluid level can be seen from the fluid
column in the pipe. Add fluid if necessary.
Use plain water if washer fluid is
unavailable. But use only washer fluid in
cold weather to prevent it from freezing.All moving points of the body, such as
door and hood hinges and locks, should
be lubricated each time the engine oil is
changed. Use a nonfreezing lubricant on
locks during cold weather.
Make sure the hood
’s secondary latch
keeps the hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
NOTE
Front and rear washer fluid is supplied
from the same reservoir.
Body Lubrication
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8-23
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
This air filter may be cleaned with
compressed air and reused, or replaced,
depending on its condition. Unless it is
very dirty, simply shake it to remove
foreign particles. Each time you inspect it,
wipe inside the air cleaner housing with a
damp cloth.

Replacing the Air Filter
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned
off.
2. Remove the battery cover and battery duct. 3. Unfasten the clamps.
4. Lift off the air filter cover and remove
the filter.
5. Wipe inside the air cleaner housing with a damp cloth.
6. Clean or replace the filter.
7. Install in the reverse order of removal.
Replace the filter according to the
Scheduled Maintenance (page 8-3).
Air Filter
Don ’t drive without an air filter. This
could result in excessive engine wear.
NOTE
If the vehicle is operated in very dusty
or sandy areas, replace the filter more
often than the recommended intervals.
Use a Mazda genuine air filter. Use of
other filters could damage the airflow
sensor.
CAUTION
CAUTION
Battery duct
Battery cover
Clamp
Air filter cover
Air filter
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8-24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Contamination of either the windshield or
the blades with foreign matter can reduce
wiper effectiveness. Common sources are
insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments
used by some commercial car washes.
If the blades are not wiping properly,
clean the window and blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if
necessary.

Replacing Windshield Wiper
Blades
When the wipers no longer clean well, the
blades are probably worn or cracked.
Replace them.
1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the blade
assembly to expose the plastic locking
clip.
Slide the assembly downward; then lift
it off the arm.
Wiper Blades
•Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washers have been known to affect
the wiper ’s ability to clean windows.
• To prevent damage to the wiper
blades, don
’t use gasoline,
kerosene, paint thinner, or other
solvents on or near them.
• When the wiper lever is in the
AUTO position and the ignition
switch is in the ON position, the
wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:

If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched.
 If the windshield above the rain
sensor is wiped with a cloth.
 If the windshield is given a
shock.
 If the rain sensor is given a shock
from inside the vehicle.
Be careful not to pinch hands or
fingers as it may cause injury, or
damage the wipers. When washing or
servicing your Mazda, make sure the
wiper lever is in the OFF position.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiper arms
and other components, don ’t move the
wipers by hand.
To prevent damage to the windshield,
don’ t let the wiper arm fall on it.
CAUTION
Push
Plastic locking clip
CAUTION
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8-25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
2. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it out of blade holder.
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from the blade rubber and install them in new
blades. 4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
Pull out
Stiffener
•Don
’t bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
• If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade’
s wiping efficiency could
be reduced.
So don ’t use the driver ’s side metal
stiffeners on the passenger’ s side, or
vice versa.
• Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was
in the old blade rubber.
CAUTION
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8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Replacing Rear Window Wiper
Blade (5 Door)
When the wiper no longer cleans well, the
blade is probably worn or cracked.
Replace it.
1. Raise the wiper arm and rotate the
wiper blade to the right until it unlocks,
then remove the blade. 2. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it
out of the blade holder.
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from the blade rubber and install them in new
blades.
To prevent damage to the wiper arm
and other components, don
’t move the
wiper by hand.
To prevent damage to the rear window,
don ’t let the wiper arm fall on it.
CAUTION
CAUTION
Don ’t bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
Pull out
Stiffener
CAUTION
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