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Changing a Flat Tire
NOTE
If the following occurs while driving, it
could indicate a flat tire.
lSteering becomes difficult.
lThe vehicle begins to vibrate
excessively.
lThe vehicle pulls in one direction.
If you have a flat tire, drive slowly to a
level spot that is well off the road and out
of the way of traffic to change the tire.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder of a
busy road is dangerous.
WARNING
Be sure to follow the directions forchanging a tire, and never get under avehicle that is supported only by ajack:
Changing a tire is dangerous if not
done properly. The vehicle can slip off
the jack and seriously injure someone.
Never allow anyone inside a vehiclesupported by a jack:
Allowing someone to remain in a
vehicle supported by a jack is
dangerous. The occupant could cause
the vehicle to fall resulting in serious
injury.
NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it. 1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transaxle in Park (P), a manual
transaxle in Reverse (R) or 1, and turn
off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire (page 7-3).
6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire. When blocking a wheel,
place a tire block both in front and
behind the tire.
NOTE
When blocking a tire, use rocks or
wood blocks of sufficient size to hold
the tire in place.
7-8
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
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qRemoving a Flat Tire
1. If your vehicle is equipped with a
wheel cover, pry off the wheel cover
with the beveled end of the lug wrench.
NOTE
Force the end of the lug wrench firmly
between wheel and cover, or removal
will be difficult.
CAUTION
Align the notch on the wheel cover
with the valve stem when installing it.
Notch
Tire valve
Damage could occur during installation
if the wheel cover is not properly
aligned. 2. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise one turn each, but
don't remove any lug nuts until the tire
has been raised off the ground.
3. Place the jack under the jackingposition closest to the tire being
changed.
Jacking position
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-9
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WARNING
Use only the front and rear jackingpositions recommended in thismanual:
Attempting to jack the vehicle in
positions other than those
recommended in this manual is
dangerous. The vehicle could slip off
the jack and seriously injure or even
kill someone. Use only the front and
rear jacking positions recommended
in this manual.
Use only the jack provided with yourMazda:
Using a jack that is not designed for
your Mazda is dangerous. The vehicle
could slip off the jack and seriously
injure someone.
Never place objects under the jack:
Jacking the vehicle with an object
under the jack is dangerous. The jack
could slip and someone could be
seriously injured by the jack or the
falling vehicle.
4. Insert the lug wrench into the jack. 5. Turn the lug wrench clockwise and
raise the vehicle high enough so that
the spare tire can be installed. Before
removing the lug nuts, make sure your
Mazda is firmly in position and that it
cannot slip or move.
6. Remove the lug nuts by turning themcounterclockwise; then remove the
wheel.
7-10
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
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qLocking Lug Nutsí
If your vehicle has optional antitheft
wheel lug nuts, one on each wheel will
lock the tires and you must use a special
key to unlock them. This key is attached
to the lug wrench and is stored with the
spare tire. Register them with the lock
manufacturer by filling out the card
provided in the glove box and mailing it
in the accompanying envelope. If you lose
this key, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or use the lock manufacturer's
order form, which is with the registration
card.
Special key
Antitheft lug nut
To remove an antitheft lug nut
1. Obtain the key for the antitheft lug nut.
2. Place the key on top of the nut, and be
sure to hold the key square to it. If you
hold the key at an angle, you may
damage both key and nut. Don't use a
power impact wrench.
3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.
To install the nut
1. Place the key on top of the nut, and besure to hold the key square to it. If you
hold the key at an angle, you may
damage both key and nut. Don't use a
power impact wrench.
2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key, apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.
qMounting the Spare Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
WARNING
Make sure the mounting surfaces ofthe wheel, hub and lug nuts are cleanbefore changing or replacing tires:
When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident.
2. Mount the spare tire.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-11íSome models.
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WARNING
Always securely and correctly tightenthe lug nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result
in loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident.
Be sure to reinstall the same nuts youremoved or replace them with metricnuts of the same configuration:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip off
and cause an accident.
5. Store the damaged tire, using the tire hold-down bolt to hold it in place.
Without sub-woofer
Tire hold-down bolt
Tire clamp
With sub-woofer
Lock washer Tire hold-down
bolt (Gold)
Sub-woofer
6. Check the inflation pressure. Refer to the specification charts on page 10-8.
7. Have the flat tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with any tires that haveincorrect air pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident.
When you check the regular tires' air
pressure, check the spare tire, too.
NOTE
(5-Door with sub-woofer)
When storing a damaged conventional
tire in the luggage compartment, the
sub-woofer can be stored in its original
position, however, the sub-woofer
connector on the trunk board cannot be
connected.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-13
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Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
front wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Don't tow the vehicle pointed backward
with driving wheels on the ground. This
may cause internal damage to the
transaxle.
CAUTION
Don't tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-21
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CAUTION
Do not use the hooks under the rear
bumper for towing and tying down, as
they cannot hold the load and it will
damage the bumper.
Hooks
Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing ”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“ Towing Description ”(page 7-21) and
carefully follow the instructions.
7-22
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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qSchedule 1
Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
×1000 km 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
×1000 miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
ENGINE
Drive belts (tension) 2.3-liter engine I
3.0-liter engine I I
Engine valve clearance (for 2.3-liter engine) Audible inspect every 120,000 km (75,000 miles),
if noisy, adjust
Engine oil RRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter RRRRRRRR
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system I I
Engine coolant FL22 type
*1Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years
Others Replace at first 168,000 km (105,000 miles) or 5 years; after
that, every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 2 years
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter R
Fuel lines and hoses
*2II
Hoses and tubes for emission*2I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs Replace every 120,000 km (75,000 miles)
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I
Disc brakes IIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)
Steering operation and linkages I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play II
Driveshaft dust boots I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLL
8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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