2005 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA maintenance

Black plate (246,1)
The battery is in the trunk.
qBattery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
lKeep it securely mounted.
lKeep the top clean and dry.
lKeep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
lRinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
lIf the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.
Tires
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.
WARNING
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.
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Owner Maintenance
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Black plate (247,1)
qTire Inflation Pressure
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).
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).
NOTE
lAlways check tire pressure when
tires are cold.
lWarm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don't
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
lUnderinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy and poor sealing of the
tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.
lOverinflation 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.
q 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 U.S.A.,
Canada and Puerto Rico
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Black plate (248,1)
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressure
lImproper wheel alignment
lOut-of-balance wheel
lSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
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.
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
lTires not of the designated size
lTires of different sizes or types at the
same time
lTires 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.
q Replacing a Tire
WARNING
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.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
qTemporary 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.
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Owner Maintenance
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Black plate (249,1)
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
2or bar, 60 psi).
CAUTION
lDon'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.
lThe temporary spare tire has a tread
life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles),
depending on road conditions and
driving habits.
lThe 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 8-32).
qReplacing a Wheel
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
lTire fit
lWheel and bearing life
lGround clearance
lSnow-chain clearance
lSpeedometer calibration
lHeadlight aim
lBumper height
lLimited-Slip Differential System
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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Black plate (250,1)
Light Bulbs
Overhead light
High-mount brake light
Rear turn signal lights Brake lights/Taillights
Reverse lights
Headlights
Some models.
License plate
lights/Trunk lights
Side-marker lights
Fog lights
Front turn signal
lights/Parking lights
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Black plate (251,1)
Your Mazda's headlights and fog lights
have replaceable halogen bulbs.
WARNING
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.
qReplacing 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 high and low beam bulbs in the rear of the headlight
unit.
The outboard bulb is the LOW beam,
and the inboard one is the HIGH beam.
Refer to Light Bulbs (page 8-34). 3. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it while
holding the rubber socket cover in
place. Carefully remove the headlight
bulb from its socket in the reflector by
gently pulling it straight backward out
of the socket.
4. Disconnect the bulb from the electrical connector by pressing the tab on the
connector with your finger and pulling
the bulb upward.
High beam bulb
Low beam bulb
5. Install the new bulb in the reverse orderof removal.
NOTE
Use the protective cover and carton for
the replacement bulb to dispose of the
old bulb promptly and out of the reach
of children.
Replacing a fog light bulbí
Due to the complexity and difficulty of
the procedure, the bulbs should be
replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Front turn signal lights/Parking lights
1. Turn the socket and bulb assemblycounterclockwise and remove it.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-35íSome models.
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2. Remove the bulb by pushing it inslightly and turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse orderof removal.
Side-marker lights
1. Remove the bolts with a Phillips
screwdriver and remove the side-
marker light unit.
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.
Brake lights/Taillights, Rear turn signal
lights, Reverse lights
1. Pull the center section of the plasticretainer and remove the retainers and
remove the trunk end trim.
Removal
Installation
2. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
Reverse lightsBrake lights/Taillights Rear turn signal lights
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of removal.
High-mount brake light
1. Turn the socket and bulb assemblycounterclockwise and remove it.
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2. Remove the bulb by pushing it inslightly and turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse orderof 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.
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of removal.
qReplacing Interior Light Bulbs
Overhead light
1. Wrap a flathead screwdriver with a soft
cloth to prevent damage to the trim and
gently insert it in the overhead light as
shown in the figure, and then remove
the cover.
2. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.
Edge
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of removal.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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