7-17
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Tiedown Hooks-Front
Tiedown Hooks-Rear
An example of
“ recreational towing ” is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to “
Towing Description ” (page 7-16) and “
Tiedown Hooks ” (page 7-17) and
carefully follow the instructions.
Tiedown Hooks
Don't use the tiedown hooks under the
front and rear for towing.
They are designed ONLY for tying
down the vehicle when it's being
transported. Using them for towing
will damage the bumper.
CAUTION
Recreational Towing
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 17 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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.
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
10-6).
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 for the limited use of 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 10-6)
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
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
10-6).
WARNING
Tire pressure label
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 28 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
8-29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)/8,000 km*
(5,000 miles) or sooner if irregular wear
develops. During rotation, inspect them
for correct balance.
*Unique driving conditions for USA,
Canada and Puerto Rico 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 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
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.
Front
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.
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.
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.
CAUTION
CAUTION
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 29 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
8-31
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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
• Limited-Slip Differential System
WARNING
CAUTION
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 31 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
8-44
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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.
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.
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.
WARNING
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 44 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
8-45
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
Convertible Top Maintenance
The convertible top is made of a special
high-grade material, but if it
’s not taken
good care of, hardening, staining, and loss
of luster will result. Maintain it under
these guidelines.
Wa s h i n g
Don ’t wait until the top gets really dirty
before cleaning it. Dirt that ’s there too
long will cause deterioration.
1. Before washing, remove dust and coarse particulate with a soft brush.
2. Gently clean the top with a synthetic neutral detergent, lots of water, and a
soft brush.
3. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove all the soap.
4. Wipe it as dry as you can before the water dries on it.
5. Then allow it to dry completely before lowering it.
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.
•Automatic and high-pressure car
washes are harmful to a convertible
top. Avoid them.
• Don
’t spray water directly on the
area where the window glass and
the top meet. This would probably
cause water to enter the cabin.
CAUTION
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 45 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
9-14
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
This information relates to the tire grading system developed by the U.S. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration for grading tires by tread wear, traction, and
temperature performance.
Tr e a d We a r
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one-and-a-half times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm because of variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction-AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. These grades represent
the tire
’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Te m p e r a t u r e - A , B , C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, represent the tire
’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction
tests and does not include acceleration cornering (turning), hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
WARNING
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 14 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM
10-5
Specifications
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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) 1,337 kg (2,948 lb)
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) Front
685 kg (1,510 lb)
Rear 675 kg (1,488 lb)
Gas complies with SAE J639 Maximum operating charge
HFC134a (R134a) 0.4 kg (14.1 oz)
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 5 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM