8-10
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
Owner Maintenance
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these vehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
When Refueling
• Brake and clutch fluid level (page 8-18)
• Engine coolant level (page 8-15)
• Engine oil level (page 8-13)
• Washer fluid level (page 8-22)
At Least Monthly
• Tire inflation pressures (page 8-28)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
• Automatic transmission fluid level (page 8-21)
• Power steering fluid level (page 8-20)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
• Air filter (page 8-24)
• Engine coolant (page 8-15)
• Engine oil (page 8-14)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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8-13
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
Recommended Oil
Oil container labels provide important
information.
The quality designation SG, SH, SJ,
SL,
or ILSAC
must be on the label.
Engine oil viscosity, or thickness, has an
effect on fuel economy and cold-weather
operation (starting and oil flow).
Low-viscosity engine oils can provide
improved fuel economy and cold-weather
performance.
But high-temperature weather conditions
require higher-viscosity engine oils for
satisfactory lubrication. When choosing an oil, consider the
temperature range your vehicle will
operate in before the next oil change.
Then select the recommended viscosity
from this chart.
Energy conserving oils are recommended.
A chief contribution they make to fuel
economy is reducing the amount of fuel
necessary to overcome engine friction.
Inspecting Engine Oil Level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on a level
surface.
2. Warm up the engine to normal operating temperature.
3. Turn it off and wait at least 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully.
Engine Oil
SAEFORGASOLINEENGINES10W-30
(ILSAC)
–30 –20–100 1020304050
–20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
5W-30
10W-30
Using oils of viscosity besides those
recommended for specific temperature
ranges could result in engine damage.
CAUTION
Full
Low OK
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8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
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
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8-29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
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
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8-38
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
Fuse Panel Description
Fuse block (Engine compartment)
*1 MX-5/miata*2 MAZDASPEED MX-5
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
6F AN 30A
*1Cooling fan, Additional fan (air conditioner)
40A*2
7 BTN 1 30A Taillights, Dashboard illumination
8BTN 2 20A Audio amp*, Turn signal lights
9 ABS 20A
Antilock brake system*
10 STOP 15A Brake lights, Horn, Shift lock
*Some models.
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8-44
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
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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9-10
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Wa r r a n t y
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
Government regulations in the United States require that automobiles meet specific
emission regulations and safety standards. Therefore, vehicles built for use in the United
States may differ from those sold in other countries.
The differences may make it difficult or even impossible for your vehicle to receive
satisfactory servicing in other countries. We strongly recommend that you NOT take your
Mazda outside the United States. However, in the event that you are moving to Canada
permanently, Mazda vehicles built for use in the United States could be eligible for
exportation to Canada with specific vehicle modifications to comply with the Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety requirements (CMVSS).
You may have the following problems if you do take your vehicle outside of the United
States:
•Recommended fuel may be unavailable. Any kind of leaded fuel or low-octane fuel will
affect vehicle performance and damage the emission controls and engine.
• Proper repair facilities, tools, testing equipment, and replacement parts may not be
available.
Please refer to your Manufacturer’ s Warranty Booklet for more information.
Outside the United States
NOTE
The above is applicable for a permanent import/export situation and not related to
travelers on vacation.
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9-11
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Wa r r a n t y
Form No. 8T02-EA-03L
Government regulations in Canada require that automobiles meet specific emission
regulations and safety regulations. Therefore, vehicles built for use in Canada may differ
from those sold in other countries.
The differences may make it difficult or even impossible for your vehicle to receive
satisfactory servicing in other countries. We strongly recommend that you NOT take your
Mazda outside Canada. However, in the event that you are moving to the United States
permanently, Mazda vehicles built for use in Canada could be eligible for exportation to the
United States with specific vehicle modifications to comply with the United States Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
You may have the following problems if you do take your vehicle outside of Canada:
•Recommended fuel may be unavailable. Any kind of leaded fuel or low-octane fuel will
affect vehicle performance and damage the emission controls and engine.
• Proper repair facilities, tools, testing equipment, and replacement parts may not be
available.
Please refer to your Manufacturer’ s Warranty Booklet for more information.
Outside Canada
NOTE
The above is applicable for a permanent import/export situation and not related to
travelers on vacation.
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