2004 MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR warning

8-11
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This section gives instructions
only for items that are easy to perform.
As explained in the Introduction (page 8-2), several procedures can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affect warranty coverage.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provided with the vehicle. If
you’re unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of waste oil and fluids. Please
dispose of your waste properly and with due regard to the environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Owner Maintenance Precautions
Maintenance Procedures:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle is dangerous if not done properly. You can
be seriously injured while performing some maintenance procedures. If you lack
sufficient knowledge and experience or the proper tools and equipment to do the
work, have it done by a qualified technician.
Running the Engine:
Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It becomes even more
dangerous when you wear jewelry or loose clothing.
Either can become entangled in moving parts and result in injury.
Therefore, if you must run the engine while working under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (especially rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces) and
all neckties, scarves, and similar loose clothing before getting near the engine or
cooling fan which may turn on unexpectedly.
Electrical Fan and Engine Inspection:
Inspecting the engine with the ignition switch in the ON position is dangerous. The
cooling fan could come on unexpectedly even when the engine isn’ t running. You
could be seriously injured by the fan. Turn the ignition switch off and remove the key
from the ignition switch when you inspect the engine.
WARNING
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8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

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 drain plug washer after the oil has thoroughly drained.
4. Reinstall the plug tightly.
5. Fill the engine with new oil to the MAX mark on the dipstick.
6. Securely reinstall the oil-filler cap.
7. Start the engine and inspect around the drain plug for leaks.
8. Turn it off and wait 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
Check the oil level and fill to the MAX
mark if necessary.
Oil capacity (General reference only,
refer to Specifications section for
capacities.)
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.
Remove any oil splatter from the
exhaust manifold, the exhaust pipe and
the shield. Oil left on these areas will
smoke when the engine is running.
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
CAUTION
WARNING
Front Loosen
Drain plugTighten
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8-15
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Changing oil filter
Because you need a special tool to
retighten the filter, an Authorized Mazda
Dealer should do the work.

Inspecting Coolant Level
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. Carefully
inspect the engine coolant in the
coolant reservoir, but do not open it.
Do not use a match or live flame in
the engine compartment. DO NOT
ADD COOLANT WHEN THE
ENGINE IS HOT.
Cooling Fan and Engine
Inspection:
Inspecting the engine with the
ignition switch in the ON position is
dangerous. The cooling fan could
turn on unexpectedly even when the
engine isn ’t running. You could be
seriously injured by the fan. Turn the
ignition switch off and remove the key
from the ignition switch when you
inspect the engine.
Cooling System Cap:
When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury. Don’ t remove the
cooling system cap when the engine
and radiator are hot.
WARNING
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8-17
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
To change coolant1. Remove the cooling system cap.
2. Only when the engine is cool, remove the radiator drain plug and drain the
coolant into a suitable container.
Properly dispose of the used coolant.
3. Flush out the system with running water.
4. Drain the system completely. Insert and tighten the plug. Add as much
ethylene-glycol-based coolant mixture
and water as necessary to provide
freezing and corrosion protection.
5. In extremely cold climates, add the mixture percentage recommended in
the coolant mixture percentage table.
6. Run the engine at idle with the cooling system cap off. Slowly add additional
coolant if necessary.
7. At this point, wait until the engine reaches normal operating temperature;
then depress the accelerator two or
three times. Add more coolant, if
necessary, until the system is full.
8. Install the cooling system cap. Inspect all connections for leaks. Inspect the
level in the coolant reservoir one more
time.
Removing the Cooling System Cap:
Removing the cooling system cap
while the engine is running or hot is
dangerous. This might lead to cooling
system and engine damage and could
result in serious injury from escaping
hot coolant or steam. Turn off the
engine and wait until it ’s cool. Even
then, be very careful when removing
the cap.
Wrap a thick cloth around the cap
and slowly turn it counterclockwise
about two and a half rotations.
Step back while the pressure escapes.
When you ’re sure all the pressure has
escaped, turn the cap
counterclockwise — still using a cloth
— and remove the cap.
WARNINGLoosen
Loosen
Tighten
Tighten
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8-18
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Inspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid
Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Adding Brake/Clutch Fluid
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
Brake/Clutch Fluid
Spilled Brake Fluid:
Spilled brake fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with
water and get medical attention.
Brake fluid spilled on a hot engine
could cause a fire. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on yourself or on the
engine.
Low Brake/Clutch Fluid Levels:
Low brake/clutch fluid levels are
dangerous. Low levels could signal
brake lining wear or a brake system
leak. Your brakes could fail and cause
an accident. If you find a low fluid
level, have the brakes and clutch
inspected.
WARNING
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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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8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Battery
Battery-Related Lead Materials:
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.Follow These Precautions Carefully:
To ensure safe and correct handling of the battery, read the following precautions
carefully before using the battery or inspecting it.Eye Protection:
Working without eye protection is dangerous. Battery fluid contains SULFURIC
ACID which could cause blindness if splashed into in your eyes. Also, hydrogen gas
produced during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to
explode. Always wear eye protection when working near the battery.Spilled Battery Fluid:
Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC ACID which could cause serious injuries if it gets
in eyes, skin or clothing. If this happens, immediately flush your eyes with water for
15 minutes or wash your skin thoroughly and get medical attention. Wear eye
protection and protective gloves to prevent contact with battery fluid.Children and Batteries:
Allowing children to play near batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid could cause
serious injuries if it gets in the eyes or on the skin. Always keep batteries out of the
reach of children.
WARNING
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