2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 Owners Manual (in English)

8-40
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Water Marks
Occurrence
Rain, fog, dew, and even tap water can
contain harmful minerals such as salt and
lime. If moisture containing these
minerals settles on the vehicle and
evaporates, the minerals will concentrate
and harden to form white rings. The rings
can damage your vehicle’s finish.
Prevention
It is necessary to wash and wax your
vehicle to preserve its finish according to
the instructions in this section. These
steps should be taken immediately after
you find water marks on your vehicle’s
finish.

Paint Chipping
Occurrence
Paint chipping occurs when gravel thrown
in the air by another vehicle’s tires hits
your vehicle.
How to avoid paint chipping
Keeping a safe distance between you and
the vehicle ahead reduces the chances of
having your paint chipped by flying
gravel.
NOTE
•The paint chipping zone varies with
the speed of the vehicle. For
example, when traveling at 90 km/h
(56 mph), the paint chipping zone is
50 m (164 ft).
•In low temperatures a vehicle’s
finish hardens. This increases the
chance of paint chipping.
•Chipped paint can lead to rust
forming on your Mazda. Before this
happens, repair the damage by using
Mazda touch-up paint according to
the instructions in this section.
Failure to repair the affected area
could lead to serious rusting and
expensive repairs.
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8-41
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Follow all
label and container directions
when using a chemical cleaner or polish.
Read all warnings and cautions.

Maintaining the Finish
Wa s h i n g
To help protect the finish from rust and
deterioration, wash your Mazda
thoroughly and frequently, at least once a
month, with lukewarm or cold water.
If the vehicle is washed improperly, the
paint surface could be scratched. Here are
some examples of how scratching could
occur.
Scratches occur on the paint surface
when:
•The vehicle is washed without first
rinsing off dirt and other foreign
matter.
•The vehicle is washed with a rough,
dry, or dirty cloth.
•The vehicle is washed at a car wash
that uses brushes that are dirty or too
stiff.
•Cleansers or wax containing abrasives
are used.To minimize scratches on the vehicle’s
paint finish:
•Rinse off any dirt or other foreign
matter using lukewarm or cold water
before washing.
•Use plenty of lukewarm or cold water
and a soft cloth when washing the
vehicle. Do not use a nylon cloth.
•Rub gently when washing or drying the
vehicle.
•Take your vehicle only to a car wash
that keeps its brushes well maintained.
•Don’t use abrasive cleansers or wax
that contain abrasives.
Exterior Care
NOTE
•Mazda is not responsible for
scratches caused by automatic car
washes or improper washing.
•Scratches are more noticeable on
vehicles with darker paint finishes.
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 damage the
protective coating; also, cleaners and
detergents may discolor or deteriorate
the paint.
CAUTION
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8-42
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
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.Waxing
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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8-43
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

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
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8-44
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.

Dashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They’ll damage and discolor
it. If these solutions get on the dashboard,
wipe them off immediately.

Cleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl with a leather-and-vinyl
cleaner.
Leather*
Real leather isn’t uniform and may have
scars, scratches, and wrinkles. Clean it
with a leather cleaner or mild soap.
If the leather gets wet from rain, remove
the moisture as soon as possible and dry
in a shaded area.
If the seats get wet, promptly remove
moisture with a dry cloth and allow it to
further dry in a shaded area.
If moisture is not removed, it will cause
hardening and shrinkage of the leather.
Do not leave vinyl products on the seats
for long periods as they may affect the
leather quality and coloring.
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.
Interior Care
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
CAUTION
*Some models.
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8-45
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Fabric*
Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean it with a mild soap solution good
for upholstery and carpets. Remove fresh
spots immediately with a fabric spot
cleaner.
To keep the fabric looking clean and
fresh, take care of it. Otherwise its color
will be affected, it can be stained easily,
and its fire-resistance may be reduced.
Suede-like material*
Stains which are not treated immediately
will be difficult to remove later, and may
cause fading or discoloration.
Remove stains as soon as possible.
To clean,
wipe with a soft, damp cloth.
Then buff with a soft, dry cloth.
If stains cannot be removed, using plain
water, try wiping with soapy water or a
mild detergent.To dry away any water,
wipe with a soft,
dry cloth.
Piano black panel
The center panel and door switch panels
have been treated with a special coating
that resists scratching.
When the panel needs to be cleaned, use a
soft cloth to wipe off dirt from the surface.
Use only recommended cleaners and
procedures. Others may affect
appearance and fire-resistance.
Don’t clean the suede with leather
cleaner, a detergent, or soap. It will
cause discoloration.
CAUTION
CAUTION
Sharp or pointed metal objects can
damage the suede beyond repair.
NOTE
Scratches or nicks on the center and
door switch panels resulting from the
use of a hard brush or cloth may not be
repairable.
CAUTION
*Some models.
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8-46
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Cleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt
We b b i n g
Clean the webbing with a mild soap
solution recommended for upholstery or
carpets. Follow instructions. Don’t bleach
or dye the webbing; this may weaken it.
After cleaning the belts, thoroughly dry
the belt webbing and make sure there is
no remaining moisture before retracting
them.

Cleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with an
oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean them with
glass cleaner. Follow the directions on the
container.
Damaged Seat Belt:
Using damaged seat belts is
dangerous. In a collision, damaged
belts cannot provide adequate
protection. Have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer replace damaged belts
immediately.
•Don’t scrape or scratch the inside of
the rear window. You may damage
the rear window defroster grid.
•When washing the inside rear
window, use a soft cloth dampened
in lukewarm water, gently wiping
the antenna lines.
Use of glass cleaning products
could damage the antenna.
WARNING
CAUTION
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9-1
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
9
Customer Information and Reporting
Safety Defects
Important consumer information including warranties and add-on
equipment.
Customer Assistance
..................................................................... 9-2
Customer Assistance (U.S.A.) ................................................... 9-2
Customer Assistance (Canada) .................................................. 9-3
Customer Assistance (Puerto Rico) ........................................... 9-6
Mazda Importer/Distributors
...................................................... 9-7
Importer/Distributor .................................................................. 9-7
Distributor in Each Area ............................................................ 9-7
Warranty
........................................................................................ 9-8
Warranties for Your Mazda ........................................................ 9-8
Outside the United States .......................................................... 9-9
Outside Canada ........................................................................ 9-10
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign Country (Except United
States and Canada) .................................................................. 9-11
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and Accessories ......................... 9-12
Cell Phones
................................................................................... 9-13
Cell Phones Warning ............................................................... 9-13
Type Approval of Equipment
..................................................... 9-14
Type Approval of Equipment .................................................. 9-14
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
.................... 9-15
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) ................... 9-15
Reporting Safety Defects
............................................................ 9-17
Reporting Safety Defects ......................................................... 9-17
Service Publications
.................................................................... 9-18
Service Publications ................................................................ 9-18
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