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Black plate (434,1)
Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material from
the underside of the fenders, and make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges of
the doors and rocker panels are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
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. When using a high water pressure car
wash
High water temperature and high water
pressure car washers are available
depending on the type of car wash
machine. If the car washer nozzle is put
too close to the vehicle, the force of the
spray could damage or deform the
molding, affect the sealability of parts,
and allow water to penetrate the interior.
Keep a sufficient space (30 cm or more)
between the nozzle and the vehicle. In
addition, do not spend too much time
spraying the same area of the vehicle, and
be very careful when spraying between
gaps in doors and around windows.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar
materials will usually also take off the wax.
Rewax these areas even if the rest of the
vehicle does not need it.
8-62
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Mazda3_8BG3-EA-09J_Edition2 Page434
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Form No.8BG3-EA-09J
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Black plate (436,1)
qAluminum Wheel Maintenanceí
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
NOTE
lDo not 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.
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Check special requirements for Tire Pressure
Monitoring System.
Refer to Tires and Wheels on page 5-34.
q Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use gasoline, kerosene,
rectified spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a significant loss in
functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately.
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 is not 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.
8-64
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
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Form No.8BG3-EA-09J
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Black plate (503,1)
T
TiresFlat Tire ........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-35
Replacement ............................... 8-37
Rotation ...................................... 8-36
Snow tires .................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ............................. 10-9
Tire chains .................................. 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-21
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
Towing Description ................................. 7-23
Emergency towing ..................... 7-23
Recreational towing ................... 7-27
Trailer towing ............................. 4-15
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-26 TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-27
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-15
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-37
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-42 Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-44
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-43
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-62
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-93
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-41 ABS ............................................ 5-44
Air bag system ........................... 5-46
Automatic transaxle ................... 5-49
Brake system .............................. 5-43
Charging system ......................... 5-45
Check engine .............................. 5-45
Check fuel cap ........................... 5-47
Door-ajar .................................... 5-49
Electronic steering lock .............. 5-53
Engine oil pressure ..................... 5-45
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-46
High engine coolant
temperature ................................ 5-46
KEY ............................................ 5-51
Low fuel ..................................... 5-47
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-49
Seat belt ...................................... 5-47
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-49
Warranty ............................................ 9-15
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-26
Weights ............................................. 10-6
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-38
Windows Power windows .......................... 3-45
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-67
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-64 Blades replacement .................... 8-27
Winter Driving .................................... 4-9
Index
11-7
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Form No.8BG3-EA-09J