2008 MAZDA MODEL CX-7 maintenance

Black plate (346,1)
qCavity Protection
Cavities are treated for protection at the
factory, but additional protective treatment
after the vehicle has been put into use will
extend the life of the body.
We recommend that you consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer concerning this
additional precaution.
qBright-Metal Maintenance
lUse tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
lTo prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
lDuring 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.
CAUTION
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.
qUnderbody 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.
WARNING
Dry wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal: 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.
8-54
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8X59-EA-07E

Black plate (347,1)
qUndercoating
This special coating is applied to the
critical parts of the underside to protect
vehicles from damage caused by
chemicals or stones. This coating is liable
to be damaged with time. Check this
coating periodically.
An Authorized Mazda Dealer are well
informed on how repairs should be made.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qAluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
NOTE
lDon't use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent on
aluminum wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lOnly 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.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an automatic
car wash that uses high-speed or hard
brushes.
lIf your aluminum wheels lose luster, wax
the wheels.
Interior Care
qDashboard 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.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
qCleaning 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.
Leatherí
Real leather isn't uniform and may have
scars, scratches, and wrinkles. Clean it
with a leather cleaner or mild soap.
Wipe it with a dampsoft cloth; then dry
and buff it with a drysoft cloth.
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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
8-55íSome models.
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Form No.8X59-EA-07E

Black plate (348,1)
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.
CAUTION
Use only recommended cleaners and
procedures. Others may affect
appearance and fire-resistance.
Piano black panelí
The following parts are fitted with panels
that have been treated with a special
coating that resists scratching.
Steering wheel (partial)
When the panel needs to be cleaned, use a
soft cloth to wipe off dirt from the surface.
NOTE
Scratches or nicks on the panels resulting from
the use of a hard brush or cloth may not be
repairable.
qCleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt
Webbing
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.
WARNING
Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
replace damaged seat belts
immediately:
Using damaged seat belts is
dangerous. In a collision, damaged
belts cannot provide adequate
protection.
qCleaning 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.
CAUTION
Don't scrape or scratch the inside of
the rear window. You may damage
the rear window defroster grid.
8-56
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
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Form No.8X59-EA-07E

Black plate (349,1)
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) ........... 9-5
Customer Assistance (Puerto Rico) .... 9-8
Customer Assistance (Mexico) ........... 9-9
Mazda Importer/Distributors ............... 9-11 Importer/Distributor .......................... 9-11
Distributor in Each Area ................... 9-11
Warranty ................................................ 9-13 Warranties for Your Mazda ............... 9-13
Outside the United States and
Canada .............................................. 9-14
Outside the United States .................. 9-15
Outside Canada ................................. 9-16
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country (Except United States and
Canada) ............................................. 9-17
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories ....................................... 9-18
Cell Phones ............................................. 9-19 Cell Phones Warning ......................... 9-19
Type Approval of Equipment ............... 9-20 Type Approval of Equipment
(Mexico) ............................................ 9-20
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
(UTQGS) ................................................ 9-21 Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
(UTQGS) .......................................... 9-21 Tire Information (except Canada) ....... 9-23
Tire Labeling ..................................... 9-23
Location of the Tire Label
(Placard) ............................................ 9-29
Tire Maintenance .............................. 9-32
Vehicle Loading ................................ 9-35
Steps for Determining the Correct Load
Limit: ................................................ 9-42
Reporting Safety Defects ....................... 9-43 Reporting Safety Defects (U.S.A.) .... 9-43
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada) ... 9-44
Service Publications .............................. 9-45 Service Publications .......................... 9-45
9-1
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Black plate (380,1)
Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear abnormally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
qTire Inflation Pressure
Inspect all tire pressure monthly (including the spare) when the tires are cold. Maintain
recommended pressures for the best ride, top handling, and minimum tire wear. Use the
pressures specified on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum service.
qTire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or sooner if irregular
wear develops. During rotation, inspect them for correct balance.
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Inspect the tires for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by one or a
combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressurelImproper wheel alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to specification (page 10-6) and inspect the lug nuts
for tightness.
9-32
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (except Canada)
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Form No.8X59-EA-07E

Black plate (393,1)
Service Publications
Factory-authorized Mazda service publications are available for owners who wish to do
some of their own maintenance and repair.
When requesting any of our publications through an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to the
chart below.
If they don't have what you need in stock, they can order it for you.
PUBLICATION ORDER NUMBERPUBLICATION DESCRIPTION
9999-95-034B-08 2008 WORKSHOP MANUAL (English)
9999-MX-034B-08 2008 WORKSHOP MANUAL (Spanish)
9999-95-068G-08 2008 WIRING DIAGRAM (English)
9999-MX-068G-08 2008 WIRING DIAGRAM (Spanish)
9999-95-080C-08 (U.S.A. only) 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-EC-080C-08 (Canada only) 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-PR-080C-08 (Puerto Rico, Mexico only) 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-95-MODL-08 2008 SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
9999-95-011C-08NAV (U.S.A. only) 2008 NAVIGATION SYSTEM OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-EC-011C-08NAV (Canada only) 2008 NAVIGATION SYSTEM OWNER'S MANUAL
qWORKSHOP MANUAL:
Covers recommended maintenance and repair procedures of the drive train, body and
chassis.
qWIRING DIAGRAM:
Provides electrical schematics as well as component location for the entire electrical
system.
qOWNER'S MANUAL:
This booklet contains information regarding the proper care and operation of your vehicle.
This is not a technician's manual.
qSERVICE HIGHLIGHTS:
Provides description and operation of the many systems of your Mazda.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Service Publications
9-45
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Form No.8X59-EA-07E

Black plate (404,1)
A
Accessory Socket .............................. 6-54
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories ....................................... 9-18
Advanced Key ..................................... 3-2Advanced key maintenance ......... 3-5
Advanced key suspend
function ...................................... 3-15
Service ......................................... 3-6
Warning and Beep Sounds ......... 3-16
Air Bag Systems ............................... 2-47
All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) Operation ............................. 5-16 AWD Warning light ................... 5-17
Ambient Temperature Display .......... 6-50
Antenna ............................................. 6-15
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ......... 5-7 Warning light ............................... 5-7
Appearance Care ............................... 8-50
Audio System ................................... 6-15 Audio control switch .................. 6-42
Audio set .................................... 6-25
Operating tips for audio
system ........................................ 6-15
Safety certification ..................... 6-45
Automatic Transaxle Driving tips ................................ 5-15
Fluid ........................................... 8-25
Manual shift mode ..................... 5-12
Shift-lock system ....................... 5-12
Transaxle ranges ......................... 5-11
B
BatteryEmergency starting .................... 7-13
Maintenance ............................... 8-32
Specifications ............................. 10-4
B
BeepsIgnition key reminder ................. 5-52
Lights-on reminder ..................... 5-52
Parking brake reminder .............. 5-52
Seat belt warning beep Sounds ... 5-52
Tire inflation pressure warning
beep ............................................ 5-52
Before Starting the Engine .................. 4-5 After getting in ............................. 4-5
Before getting in .......................... 4-5
Body Lubrication .............................. 8-28
Bottle Holder ..................................... 6-52
Brake Fluid ........................................... 8-23
Brakes
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ..... 5-7
Brakes assist ................................. 5-8
Foot brake .................................... 5-5
Pad wear indicator ........................ 5-9
Parking brake ............................... 5-5
Warning light ............................... 5-6
Break-In Period ................................... 4-6
Bulb Replacement ............................. 8-39
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-4
Cargo Securing Loops ...................... 6-53
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-3
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-19
Center Console .................................. 6-53
Child Restraint Child restraint precautions ......... 2-28
Installing child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-32
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-41
11-2
Index
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Black plate (405,1)
C
Child Safety Locks for Rear Doors ... 3-27
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2Gas specifications ...................... 10-5
Clock ................................................. 6-50
Cruise Control ................................... 5-19
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-51
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-36
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-55
Defroster Rear window .............................. 5-59
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ....................................... 3-24
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-10
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-6 Automatic transaxle ................... 5-15
Break-in period ............................ 4-6
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-10
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-7
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-6
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-8
Turbocharged vehicles ............... 4-11
Winter driving .............................. 4-8
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-25 TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-26
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-13Flooded engine ........................... 7-13
Jump-starting .............................. 7-14
Push-starting .............................. 7-17
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-18
Emission Control System .................... 4-3
E
Engine Coolant ....................................... 8-21
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-4
Hood release .............................. 3-39
Oil .............................................. 8-19
Overheating ................................ 7-11
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-18
Engine Coolant Overheating ................................ 7-11
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-35
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-4
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-52
F
Flasher Hazard warning .......................... 5-60
Headlights .................................. 5-53
Flat Tire ............................................... 7-3 Changing ...................................... 7-6
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Fluids Classification .............................. 10-4
Owner maintenance ................... 8-16
Fog Lights ......................................... 5-56 Front ........................................... 5-56
Foot Brake .......................................... 5-5
Front Seats
(Electrically Operated Seats) ............... 2-5
Front Seats
(Manually Operated Seats) ................. 2-2
Fuel Filler lid and cap ........................ 3-38
Gauge ......................................... 5-36
Requirements ............................... 4-2
Tank capacity ............................. 10-5
Index
11-3
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