Black plate (379,1)
If you are unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Nut tightening torque
N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf) 88―118 (9―12, 65―87)
WARNING
Always securely and correctly tighten
the 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 you
removed or replace them with metric
nuts 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. Remove the center cap by tapping it
with the lug wrench.
6. Store the damaged tire, using the wing
bolt to hold it in place.
Tire clamp
Spare tire cover
Wing bolt
NOTE
Always use the wing bolt to secure the
damaged tire. Store the tire hold-down bolt
used to tighten down the spare tire in the same
place as where the wing bolt had been stored.
7. Remove the tire blocks and store the
tools, jack, and damaged tire.
8. Check the inflation pressure. Refer to
the specification charts on page 10-7.
9. Have the flat tire repaired or replaced
as soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with any tires that have
incorrect 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
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
A tire pressure sensor is not installed to the
temporary spare tire. The warning light will
flash continuously while the temporary spare
tire is being used (page 5-31).
NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from rattling, store
them properly.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-11
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (428,1)
NOTE
Remove the battery cover before performing
battery maintenance.
qBattery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:lKeep it securely mounted.lKeep the top clean and dry.lKeep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
lRinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
lIf the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.
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 10-7)
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.
8-36
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CX-7_8BM8-EA-10I_Edition1 Page428
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (430,1)
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
WARNING
Rotate tires periodically:
Irregular tire wear is dangerous. To
equalize tread wear for maintaining
good performance in handling and
braking, rotate the tires 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 pressurelImproper wheel alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-7) 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.
8-38
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CX-7_8BM8-EA-10I_Edition1 Page430
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (431,1)
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
ØTires not of the designated size
ØTires of different sizes or types at
the same time
ØTires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren't followed,
the rotation of the left and right
wheels will be different and will thus
apply a constant load on the limited-
slip differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
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.
Replace all four tires at the same time:
Replacing just one tire is dangerous.
It could cause poor handling and
poor braking resulting in loss of
vehicle control. Mazda strongly
recommends that you replace all four
tires at the same time.
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.NOTE
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)lWhen tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls are used, the system may not
function correctly even with a genuine
wheel.
Refer to System Error Activation on page
5-33.
lBe sure to install the tire pressure sensors
whenever tires or wheels are replaced.
Refer to Tires and Wheels on page 5-33.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New treadTread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace the tire before the
band crosses the entire tread.
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they are
not being used on the road. It is recommended
that tires generally be replaced when they are
6 years or older. Heat caused by hot climates
or frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process. You should
replace the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the spare
tire. The period in which the tire was
manufactured (both week and year) is
indicated by a 4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 9-24.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-39
CX-7_8BM8-EA-10I_Edition1 Page431
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (432,1)
qTemporary Spare Tire
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least
monthly to make sure it's properly inflated
and stored.
NOTE
The temporary spare tire condition gradually
deteriorates even if it has not been used.
The temporary spare tire is easier to
handle because of its construction which
is lighter and smaller than a conventional
tire. This tire should be used only for an
emergency and only for a short distance.
Use the temporary spare tire only until the
conventional tire is repaired, which should
be as soon as possible.
(Except Mexico)
Maintain its pressure at 420 kPa (4.2 bar,
60 psi).
(Mexico)
Maintain its pressure at 250 kPa (2.5 bar,
36 psi).
CAUTION
ØDo not use your temporary spare
tire rim with a snow tire or a
conventional tire. Neither will
properly fit and could damage
both tire and rim.
ØThe temporary spare tire has a
tread life of less than 5,000 km
(3,000 miles). The tread life may
be shorter depending on driving
conditions.
ØThe temporary spare tire is for
limited use, however, if the tread
wear solid-band indicator
appears, replace the tire with the
same type of temporary spare
(page 8-39).NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they are
not being used on the road. It is recommended
that tires generally be replaced when they are
6 years or older. Heat caused by hot climates
or frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process. You should
replace the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the spare
tire. The period in which the tire was
manufactured (both week and year) is
indicated by a 4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 9-24.
qReplacing a Wheel
WARNING
Always use wheels of the correct size
on your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident.
8-40
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CX-7_8BM8-EA-10I_Edition1 Page432
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (489,1)
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 10-7) and inspect the lug nuts
for tightness.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (except Canada)
9-33
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (518,1)
R
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-73
Rear Window Washer ....................... 5-73
Rear Window Wiper .......................... 5-73
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-56
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-23
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-19
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-9
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................. 9-44
Seat Belt System
Automatic locking ...................... 2-18
Belt reminder .............................. 2-28
Center-rear position .................... 2-23
Emergency locking .................... 2-17
Except center-rear position ......... 2-19
Extender ..................................... 2-26
Pregnant women ........................ 2-17
Pretensioner and load limiting .... 2-21
Seat belt precautions .................. 2-15
Warning light/beep ..................... 2-28
Seats
Front seat
(Electrically operated seats) ......... 2-4
Front seat
(Manually operated seats) ............ 2-2
Rear seat ....................................... 2-9
Seat warmer ................................ 2-13
Security System
Immobilizer system
(with advanced key) ................... 3-44
Immobilizer system
(without advanced key) .............. 3-48
Theft-deterrent system ............... 3-52
Service Publications .......................... 9-46
Side Extension Sunvisors ................ 6-105
S
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ................ 7-3
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speedometer ...................................... 5-41
SRS Air Bags
Driver and front passenger occupant
classification system .................. 2-59
How the SRS air bags work ....... 2-51
Limitations to SRS air bag ......... 2-57
Monitoring and maintenance ..... 2-64
SRS air bag deployment
criteria ........................................ 2-56
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) precautions ...................... 2-45
Supplemental restraint system
components ................................ 2-50
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-4
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-55
Horn ........................................... 5-74
Storage Compartments .................... 6-128
Cargo securing loops ................ 6-129
Center console .......................... 6-129
Glove compartment .................. 6-128
Rear coat hooks ........................ 6-130
Sunshade ........................................... 3-43
Sunvisors ........................................ 6-105
T
Tachometer ........................................ 5-42
Temporary Spare Tire ....................... 8-40
Theft-Deterrent System ..................... 3-52
Tiedown
Hook .......................................... 7-20
Tire Information ................................ 9-24
11-6
Index
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I
Black plate (519,1)
T
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 5-29
System error activation .............. 5-33
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light .............................. 5-31
Tires and wheels ......................... 5-33
Tires
Flat Tire ........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-37
Replacement ............................... 8-39
Rotation ...................................... 8-38
Snow tires .................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ............................. 10-7
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-22
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description ................................. 7-19
Emergency towing ..................... 7-19
Recreational towing ................... 7-23
Trailer towing ............................. 4-15
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-25
TCS OFF indicator light ............ 5-26
TCS OFF switch ........................ 5-27
TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-25
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-15
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-41
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-68
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................. 6-105
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-45
ABS ............................................ 5-48
Air bag system ........................... 5-50
Automatic transaxle ................... 5-53
AWD .......................................... 5-53
Brake system .............................. 5-47
Charging system ......................... 5-49
Check engine .............................. 5-50
Check fuel cap ........................... 5-51
Door-ajar .................................... 5-53
Engine oil pressure ..................... 5-49
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-50
KEY Warning Light
(Red)/KEY Indicator Light
(Green) ....................................... 5-56
Low fuel ..................................... 5-51
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-53
Seat belt ...................................... 5-51
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-54
Warranty ............................................ 9-15
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-29
Weights ............................................. 10-5
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-40
Windows
Power windows .......................... 3-34
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-72
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-69
Blades replacement .................... 8-30
Winter Driving .................................. 4-10
Index
11-7
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Form No.8BM8-EA-10I