Black plate (379,1)
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.
qWhen Refueling
lBrake and clutch fluid level (page 8-22)lEngine coolant level (page 8-20)lEngine oil level (page 8-19)lWasher fluid level (page 8-25)
qAt Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 8-33)
qAt Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
lAutomatic transaxle fluid level (page 8-23)lPower steering fluid level (page 8-23)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
lEngine coolant (page 8-20)lEngine oil (page 8-18)
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8AD6-EC-09A
Black plate (397,1)
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 10-8)
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.
qTire Inflation Pressure
WARNING
Always inflate the tires to the correct
pressure:
Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling
or unexpected tire failure could result
in a serious accident.
Refer to specification charts on page
10-8.The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
í
does not alleviate the need to check the
tire condition every day, including
whether the tires all look inflated properly.
Inspect all tire pressure monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, handling, and minimum
tire wear.
When checking the tire pressures, use of a
digital tire pressure gauge is
recommended.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-8).
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-33íSome models. Mazda3_8AD6-EC-09A_Edition1 Page397
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Form No.8AD6-EC-09A
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NOTElAlways 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, uneven and accelerated tire wear,
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,
uneven and accelerated tire wear, 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.
qTire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires if
irregular wear develops. According to the
scheduled maintenance charts.Refer to
Scheduled Maintenance on page 8-3.
During rotation, inspect them for correct
balance.
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
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 alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-8) 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 reduced if
rotated from side to side.
qReplacing a Tire
WARNING
Always use tires that are in good
condition:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
CAUTION
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
When replacing/repairing the tires or
wheels or both, have the work done
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer, or
the tire pressure sensors may be
damaged.
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8AD6-EC-09A
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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.
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 5-32.
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Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
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Form No.8AD6-EC-09A
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T
Tires
Flat Tire ........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-33
Replacement ............................... 8-34
Rotation ...................................... 8-34
Snow tires .................................... 4-9
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ............................. 10-8
Tire chains .................................... 4-9
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-21
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description ................................. 7-22
Emergency towing ..................... 7-22
Recreational towing ................... 7-25
Trailer towing ............................. 4-12
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-25
TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-25
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-12
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-35
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-42
Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-44
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-43
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-60
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-93
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-39
ABS ............................................ 5-42
Air bag system ........................... 5-44
Automatic transaxle ................... 5-47
Brake system .............................. 5-41
Charging system ......................... 5-43
Check engine .............................. 5-43
Check fuel cap ........................... 5-45
Door-ajar .................................... 5-46
Electronic Steering Lock ............ 5-50
Engine oil pressure ..................... 5-43
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-44
High Engine Coolant
Temperature ............................... 5-44
KEY Warning Light
(Red)/KEY Indicator Light
(Green) ....................................... 5-49
Low fuel ..................................... 5-45
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-46
Seat belt ...................................... 5-45
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-47
Warranty ............................................ 9-15
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-25
Weights ............................................. 10-6
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-36
Windows
Power windows .......................... 3-45
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-65
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-62
Blades replacement .................... 8-26
Winter Driving .................................... 4-8
Index
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