8-29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.
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). 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.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
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.
•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
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 29 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
8-30
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.
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
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 30 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Your Mazda’s headlights and fog lights
have replaceable halogen bulbs.Replacing Exterior Light Bulbs
Replacing a headlight bulb
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned
off and the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood and find the bulb in the
rear of the headlight unit.
3. Detach the electrical connector from
the bulb by squeezing the tabs and
pulling it to the rear.
4. Pull off the sealing cover.
5. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.
6. Swing the retaining spring out and
away to free the headlight bulb.
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
Sealing cover
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 32 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
8-41
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Fuse block (Driver’s side)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATINGPROTECTED
COMPONENT
1
P. W I N D30APower windows*,
For protection of
various circuits
2
WIPER20AWindshield
wipers and
washer
3 SUN ROOF 15AMoonroof*, For
protection of
various circuits
4
R.WIP10ARear window
wiper and washer
5
SEAT20AFor protection of
various circuits
6
M.DEF10AMirror defroster*,
For protection of
various circuits
7
A/C10AAir conditioner,
For protection of
various circuits
8
DRL10AFor protection of
various circuits
9
———
10
H/CLEAN20AFor protection of
various circuits
11—— —
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATINGPROTECTED
COMPONENT
12 HAZARD 10AHazard warning
flashers
13 ROOM 15AOverhead lights,
Map lights,
Luggage
compartment light
14
AUX
POWER25A Accessory socket
15
CLOSER
LH20AFor protection of
various circuits
16
AUDIO10AAudio system, For
protection of
various circuits
17
D.LOCK30APower door
locks*, For
protection of
various circuits
18
P/SEAT30A
Power seat*
19ENGINE10AEngine control
system
20
METER10A Instrument cluster
21
STOP15A Brake lights
22
CLOSER
RH20AFor protection of
various circuits
*Some models.
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 41 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
8-46
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.
Wa x i n g
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.
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.
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
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 46 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
8-47
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
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.
Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating. 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.
NOTE
•Don’t use a wire brush or any
abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, or solvent on aluminum
wheels. They may damage the
coating.
•Only use a mild soap or neutral
detergent and always use a sponge
or soft cloth to clean the wheels.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or
cold water. Also, be sure to clean
the wheels after driving on dusty or
salted roads. This helps prevent
corrosion.
•Avoid washing your vehicle in an
automatic car wash that uses high-
speed or hard brushes.
•If your aluminum wheels lose
luster, wax the wheels.
WARNING
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 47 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
11-2
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Index
A
Accessory Socket ............................. 6-52
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories
...................................... 9-13
Air Bag Systems
.............................. 2-56
Air Filter
.......................................... 8-19
Antenna
............................................ 6-14
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
........ 5-7
Warning light
.............................. 5-8
Appearance Care
.............................. 8-43
Ashtray
............................................. 6-45
Audio System
................................... 6-14
Audio control switch
................ 6-38
Audio set
................................... 6-21
Operating tips for
audio system
............................. 6-14
Safety certification
.................... 6-40
Automatic Transaxle
Driving tips
............................... 5-13
Fluid
.......................................... 8-16
Overdrive
.................................. 5-12
Shift-lock override
.................... 5-12
Shift-lock system
...................... 5-11
Transaxle ranges
....................... 5-10
B
Battery
Emergency starting
................... 7-17
Maintenance
............................. 8-24
Specifications
........................... 10-4
Beep Sounds
Ignition key reminder
............... 5-33
Lights-on reminder
................... 5-33
Power sliding door beep
........... 5-33
Seat belt warning beep
.............. 5-33
Before Starting the Engine
................. 4-6
After getting in
........................... 4-6
Before getting in
......................... 4-6
B
Body Lubrication ............................. 8-19
Bottle Holder
.................................... 6-48
Brake
Fluid
.......................................... 8-15
Brakes
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
....5-7
Foot brake
................................... 5-4
Pad wear indicator
...................... 5-8
Parking brake
.............................. 5-5
Warning light
.............................. 5-6
Break-In Period
.................................. 4-7
Bulb Replacement
............................ 8-31
C
Capacities ......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide
.............................. 4-5
Cargo Securing Loops
...................... 6-51
Catalytic Converter
............................ 4-3
Cell Phones
...................................... 9-14
Child Restraint
Child restraint precautions
........ 2-41
Installing child-restraint
systems
...................................... 2-45
LATCH child-restraint
systems
...................................... 2-53
Child Safety Locks for Rear
Doors
................................................ 3-12
Cigarette Lighter
.............................. 6-44
Climate Control System
.....................6-2
Gas specifications
..................... 10-5
Courtesy Lights
................................ 6-44
Cruise Control
.................................. 5-14
Cup Holder
....................................... 6-46
Customer Assistance
.......................... 9-2
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 2 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM
11-3
Index
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
D
Dashboard Illumination ................... 5-23
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-35
Defroster
Rear window
............................. 5-38
Dimensions
...................................... 10-5
Door Locks
......................................... 3-8
Driving In Flooded Area
.................. 4-11
Driving Tips
....................................... 4-7
Automatic transaxle
.................. 5-13
Break-in period
........................... 4-7
Driving in flooded area
............. 4-11
Hazardous driving
....................... 4-8
Money-saving suggestions
.......... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle
.................... 4-9
Winter driving
............................. 4-9
E
Easy Closure .................................... 3-12
Emergency Starting
.......................... 7-17
Flooded engine
.......................... 7-17
Jump-starting
............................ 7-18
Push-starting
............................. 7-21
Emergency Towing
.......................... 7-22
Emission Control System
................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant
...................................... 8-12
Exhaust gas
................................. 4-5
Hood release
............................. 3-24
Oil
............................................. 8-10
Overheating
............................... 7-15
Starting
........................................ 5-3
Engine Compartment Overview
........ 8-9
Engine Coolant
Overheating
............................... 7-15
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
............................................... 5-22
Exhaust Gas
....................................... 4-5
E
Exterior Care ....................................8-45
Eyeglass Holder
................................6-49
F
Flasher
Hazard warning
.........................5-39
Headlights
.................................5-34
Flat Tire
..............................................7-3
Changing
.....................................7-8
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Fluids
Classification
.............................10-4
Owner maintenance
.....................8-7
Fog Lights
........................................5-36
Foot Brake
..........................................5-4
Front Console
...................................6-50
Front Seats
(Electrically Operated Seats)
..............2-8
Front Seats
(Manually Operated Seats)
.................2-3
Fuel
Filler lid and cap
.......................3-23
Gauge
........................................5-23
Requirements
..............................4-2
Tank capacity
............................10-5
Fuses
.................................................8-38
Panel description
.......................8-40
Replacement
..............................8-38
G
Gauges ..............................................5-20
Glove Box
........................................6-50
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 3 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM