•Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
•Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to yourscheduled maintenance
informationfor more information.
Trailer towing tips
•Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
•The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
•If you will be towing a trailer frequently in hot weather, hilly
conditions, at GCWR, or any combination of these factors, consider
refilling your rear axle with synthetic gear lube if not already so
equipped. Refer to theMaintenance and specificationschapter for
the lubricant specification. Remember that regardless of the rear axle
lube used, do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 km) of a
new vehicle, and that the first 500 miles (800 km) of towing be done
at no faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) with no full throttle starts.
•After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
•To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or N (Neutral) (manual transmissions).
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer
into the water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the
trailer is removed from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:
•do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper.
•do not allow waves to break higher than 6 inches (15 cm) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
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INTRODUCTION
Be extremely careful to prevent injury to yourself and others or damage
to your vehicle when using this manual for inspection and maintenance.
If you’re unsure about any procedure it describes, we strongly urge you
to have a reliable and qualified service shop perform the work, preferably
an authorized Mazda Dealer.
Factory-trained Mazda technicians and genuine Mazda parts are best for
your vehicle. Without this expertise and the parts that have been
designed and made especially for your Mazda, inadequate, incomplete,
and insufficient servicing may result in problems. This could lead to
vehicle damage or an accident and injuries.
For expert advice and quality service, consult an authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The owner should retain evidence that proper maintenance has been
performed as prescribed.
Claims against the warranty resulting from lack of maintenance, as
opposed to defective materials or authorized Mazda workmanship, will
not be honored.
Any auto repair shop using parts equivalent to your Mazda’s original
equipment may perform maintenance.But we recommend that it
always be done by an authorized Mazda Dealer using genuine
Mazda parts.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Schedule 1 — Normal Driving Conditions/Emission Control
Systems
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the
following conditions apply. If any do apply, follow Schedule 2.
•Repeated short-distance driving.
•Driving in dusty conditions.
•Towing a trailer.
•Operating in hot weather in stop-and-go “rush hour” traffic.
•Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation.
•High-speed operation with a fully loaded vehicle.
•Off-road operation.
NOTE:After the described period, continue to follow the described
maintenance at the recommended intervals.
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CHART SYMBOLS
I: Inspect and if necessary, correct, clean or replace
AAdjust
R: Replace
L: Lubricate
Normal driving service intervals — perform at the months or distances
shown, whichever occurs first.
Maintenance ItemMaintenance Interval (Number of months or Miles (km),
whichever comes first)
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
x 1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
(x 1000 km) (8) (16) (24) (32) (40) (48) (56) (64) (72) (80) (88) (96)
ENGINE
Engine oil RRRRRRRRRRR R
Oil filter RRRRRRRRRRR R
PCV valve *3
AIR CLEANER
Air cleaner filter R R
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs *4
COOLING SYSTEM
Engine Coolant (yellow) Replace at first 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or
72 months; after that, every 50,000 miles
(80,000 km) or 36 months
Coolant condition and protection,
hoses and clamps — annually —
prior to cold weather every 12
monthsIII I
CHASSIS AND BODY
Wheel lug nut torque *1 IIIIIIIIIII I
Inspect tires for wear and rotate
(X = recommended interval for
optimal tire life)IX I XX I XX I XX I
Clutch reservoir fluid level I IIIII
Front wheel bearings (4x2) L
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*5 The California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to
perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty nor
limit recall liability prior to completion of the vehicle’s useful life.
SCHEDULE 2 — SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS
If your driving habitsFREQUENTLYinclude one or more of the
following conditions:
•Short trips of less than 10 miles (16 km) when outside temperatures
remain below freezing.
•Towing a trailer, or carrying maximum loads.
•Operating in severe dust conditions.
•Operating duringhot weatherin stop-and-go “rush hour” traffic.
•Extensive idling, such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery service.
•High speed operation with a fully loaded vehicle (max. GVW).
•Off-road operation
Change ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER every 3 months or 3,000 miles
(4,800 km) whichever occurs first.
NOTE:Idling the engine for extended periods will accumulate more
hours of use on your vehicle than is actually indicated by the mileage
odometer. Consequently, the odometer reading can be often misleading
when determining the right time to change your engine oil and filter. If
you are using your vehicle in a manner which allows it to remain
stationary while the engine is running for long periods (door-to-door
delivery, taxi, police, power/utility company trucks, or similar duty), then
Mazda recommends you increase the frequency of oil and filter changes
to an interval equivalent to 200 ENGINE HOURS or use. Since most
vehicles are not equipped with hour-meters, it may be necessary for you
to approximate your idle time and plan oil/filter changes accordingly.
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Special Operating
Conditions
Replace Engine Oil and Filter
Inspect Brake System
Replace Fuel Filter
Change Automatic Transmission Fluid
Replace Spark Plugs
Replace Engine Air Filter
Change Manual Transmission Fluid
Inspect and Lubricate U-Joints
Lubricate Front Wheel Bearing (4x2)
Change Transfer Case Fluid (4x4)
Suggested Maintenance
Interval3,000
miles or
3 months5,000
miles15,000
miles30,000
miles60,000
milesAs
requiredAs
requiredAs
required30,000
miles60,000
miles
Towing a trailer or
using a camper or
car top carrierXXXX
Extensive idling or
low-speed driving
for long distances
as in heavy
commercial use
such as delivery,
taxi or patrol carXXXXX XX
Operating in dusty
conditions such as
unpaved or dusty
roadsXXX X
Off road operation X X X
For specific recommendations see your authorized Mazda dealer or
qualified service professional.
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OWNER MAINTENANCE
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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.
While operating your vehicle
•Note any changes in the sound of the exhaust or any smell or exhaust
fumes in the vehicle.
•Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased
steering effort or looseness in the steering wheel, or change in the
straight ahead position.
•Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling on a smooth, level road.
•When stopping, listen and check for strange sounds, pulling to one
side, increased brake pedal travel or “hard to push” brake pedal.
•If any slipping or changes in the operation of your transmission occur,
check the transmission fluid level.
•Check automatic transmission Park function.
•Check parking brake.
At least monthly
•Check function of all interior and exterior lights.
•Check tires for wear and proper air pressure.
•Check engine oil level.
•Check coolant level in the coolant reservoir.
•Check washer fluid level.
At least twice a year (for example, every spring and fall)
•Check power steering fluid level.
•Check clutch fluid level (if equipped).
•Check and clean body and door drain holes.
•Check and lubricate all hinges, latches, and outside locks.
•Check and lubricate door rubber weather strips.
•Check parking brake for proper operation.
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•3.0L & 4.0L engines
When the engine is cold, check the level of the engine coolant in the
reservoir.
•The engine coolant should be at the “cold fill level” or within the “cold
fill range” as listed on the engine coolant reservoir (depending upon
application).
•Confirm the color and type of engine coolant before adding, to avoid
mixing incompatible products.
•Refer toscheduled maintenancefor service interval schedules.
•Be sure to read and understandPrecautions when servicing your
vehiclein this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the recommended interval,
the engine coolant reservoir may become low or empty. If the reservoir is
low or empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer toAdding
engine coolantin this chapter.
WARNING: Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do not
use engine coolant, antifreeze or windshield washer fluid
outside of its specified function and vehicle location.
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POWER STEERING FLUID
•2.3L I4 engine
•3.0L V6 engine
•4.0L V6 engine
Check the power steering fluid. Refer to the service maintenance section
for the service interval schedules.
1. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
DONOTOVERFILLPOWERSTEERINGFLUID
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