2004 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA brake

8-20
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

Inspecting Power Steering Fluid
Level
Inspect the fluid level at each engine oil
change. Add fluid if necessary; it does not
require periodic changing.
The level must be kept between the H and
L marks.
Visually examine the lines and hoses for
leaks and damage.
1. Park on a level surface, well off the
right-of-way, and set the parking brake
firmly.
2. Turn off the engine and allow it to cool. 3. Remove the filler cap and attached
dipstick.
4. Wipe them clean and put them back.
5. Remove again and inspect the level.
6. It must be between H and L. Add fluid if necessary.
Don ’t overfill.
If new fluid is required frequently, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Power 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
Full
Low
OK
Loosen
Tighten
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 20 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

8-21
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

Inspecting Automatic
Transmission Fluid Level
The automatic transmission fluid level
should be inspected regularly. Measure it
as described below.
The volume of fluid changes with the
temperature. For that reason, it is best to
examine the level after having driven the
vehicle for 15 minutes. If necessary,
however, it can also be inspected without
driving when the outside temperature is
above 20
°C (70 °F).
1. Park on a level surface and set the parking brake firmly.
2. Idle the engine. 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.
5. Put the dipstick back into the filler tube and make sure it is fully seated.
6. Pull the dipstick out and read the fluid level.
The proper fluid level is marked on the
dipstick as follows.
Fluid hot scale
When checking the fluid level at normal
operating temperature, the fluid level
should be within the FULL and LOW
marks on the dipstick.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (ATF)
• Low fluid level causes transmission
slippage. Overfilling can cause
foaming, loss of fluid, and
transmission malfunction.
• Use specified fluid (page 10-4). A
nonspecified fluid could result in
transmission malfunction and
failure.
• The vehicle should not be driven if
the fluid level is below the bottom
of the dipstick and the outside
temperature is above 20
°C (70° F),
or if evident automatic transmission
fluid leaks are found.
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
LOW Fluid
cold
scale
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 21 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Light Bulbs
Front turn signal lights/
Parking lights
Side-marker lights Overhead light
License plate lights/
Trunk lights
High-mount brake light
Rear turn signal lights Brake lights/Taillights Reverse lights
Headlights
Fog lights*
*Some models.
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8-35
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Brake lights/Taillights, Rear turn signal
lights, Reverse lights
1. Pull the center section of the plastic retainer and remove the retainers and
remove the trunk end trim.
2. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of removal. High-mount brake light
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
2. Remove the bulb by pushing it in slightly and turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of removal.
License plate lights/Trunk lights
1. Slide the unit as shown in the figure to remove it.
2. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
Trunk end trim
Removal
Installation
Rear turn signal lights
Brake lights/Taillights
Reverse lights
Socket
Socket
Socket
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 35 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

8-38
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

Fuse Panel Description
Fuse block (Engine compartment)
DESCRIPTION FUSE RATING
PROTECTED COMPONENT
1 HEAD 40A Headlights, Rear defroster, Auto antenna
2 FUEL INJ 30A Fuel injection
3 MAIN 100A For protection of all circuits
4 IG KEY 60A All ignition related circuits
5 BLOWER 30A Blower motor
6 FAN 30A Cooling fan, Additional fan (air conditioner)
7 BTN 1 30A Taillights, Dashboard illumination
8BTN 2 20A Audio amp
*, Turn signal lights
9 ABS 20A Antilock brake system*
10 STOP15A Brake lights, Horn, Shift lock
*Some models.
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 38 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

8-39
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Fuse panel (Driver’s side)
DESCRIPTION FUSE
RATING PROTECTED
COMPONENT
1 AD FAN 20A Add fan motor,
Magnet clutch
2 HEAD.LH 15A Headlights (LH)
3 HEAD.RH 15A Headlights (RH)
4 —— —
5ST.SIG 7.5A Instrument
cluster, Cruise
control
*
6
—— —
7 CIGAR 20A Cigar lighter
8 RADIO 10A Audio
*
9 F.FOG 15AFog lights*
10 TAIL 15A Taillights, Front
parking lights,
Side-marker
lights
11 ENGINE 15A Engine control
system
12 METER 15A Instrument
cluster
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATING PROTECTED
COMPONENT
13 TURN 7.5A Tu r n s ig n a l
lights
14 A/B 10A Supplemental
restraint system,
Antilock brake
system
*
15 WIPER 20A
Windshield
wipers and
washer
16 P.WIND 30A Power windows
17 A/C 7.5A Air conditioner
*
18 HAZARD 10ATu r n s ig n a l
lights
19 D.LOCK 10A Power door
lock
*
20 AUDIO 20A
Audio amp*
21 DEFOG 15A Rear defroster
22 ROOM 10AInterior light,
Auto antenna,
Warning buzzers
*Some models.
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 39 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

8-43
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material from
the underside of the fenders, and make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges of
the doors and rocker panels are clean.
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.
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
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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