If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Emergency towing
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer, or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle (regardless of transmission powertrain configuration) can be flat
towed (all wheels on the ground) under the following conditions:
•Vehicle is facing forward so that it is being towed in a forward
direction.
•Place the transmission in N (Neutral). Refer toBrake-shift interlock
in theDrivingchapter for specific instructions if you cannot move the
gear shift lever into N (Neutral).
•Maximum speed is not to exceed 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 miles (80 km).
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WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
pH shampoo.
•Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
•Never wash a vehicle that is “hot to the touch” or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
•Always use a clean sponge or car wash mitt with plenty of water for
best results.
•Dry the vehicle with a chamois or soft terry cloth towel in order to
eliminate water spotting.
•It is especially important to wash the vehicle regularly during the
winter months, as dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and cause
damage to the vehicle.
•Immediately remove items such as gasoline, diesel fuel, bird droppings
and insect deposits because they can cause damage to the vehicle’s
paintwork and trim over time.
•Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a
car wash.
•Suntan lotions and insect repellents can damage any painted
surface; if these substances come in contact with your vehicle,
wash off as soon as possible.
WAXING
Applying a premium paint sealant to your vehicle every six months will
assist in reducing minor scratches and paint damage.
•Wash the vehicle first. Refer toWashing the exteriorfor more
detailed information.
•Do not use waxes that contain abrasives; use a premium liquid wax.
•Do not allow paint sealant to come in contact with any non-body
(low-gloss black) colored trim, such as grained door handles, roof
racks, bumpers, side moldings, mirror housings or the windshield cowl
area. The paint sealant will “gray” or stain the parts over time.
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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
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the
following conditions apply:
•Repeated short-distance driving
•Driving in dusty conditions
•Driving with an extended use of brakes
•Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used
•Driving on rough or muddy roads
•Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
•Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid
climates
•Towing a trailer or using a car-top carrier
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2 (Canada and Puerto Rico residents
follow Schedule 2).
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4The wheel lug nuts must be retightened to the proper specifications at
500 miles (800 km) of new vehicle operation, at any wheel change, or at
any other time the wheel lug nuts have been loosened. Refer toWheel
lug nut torque specificationsin theTires, Wheels and Loading
chapter for the proper lug nut torque specification.
SCHEDULE 2
I:Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary
(Oil-permeated air filter cannot be cleaned using the air-blow method)
R:Replace
L:Lubricate
Maintenance ItemMaintenance Interval (Months or miles [km], whichever
comes first)
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
Milesx1,000 5 1015202530354045505560
(Km x 1,000) (8) (16) (24) (32) (40) (48) (56) (64) (72) (80) (88) (96)
ENGINE
Engine oil and filter (except Puerto
Rico)
1RRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil and filter (Puerto Rico)
1Replace every 3,000 miles (5,000 km) or 3 months
Engine valve clearance (2.5L) Audible inspection every 75,000 miles
(120,000 km); adjust as necessary
Drive belt tension 2.5L I
3.0L I I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs 2.5L US engine Replace every 60,000 miles (96,000 km)
3.0L US engine Replace every 75,000 miles (120,000 km)
All others
2Replace every 75,000 miles (120,000 km)
FUEL SYSTEM
Air cleaner filter Puerto Rico R R
All others R
Fuel tank Fill with a full tank of regular unleaded fuel every
3,000 miles (5,000 km) when use of E85 is 50%
of the time or greater
Fuel lines and hoses
3II
Emission tubes and hoses3I
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1Change engine oil and replace oil filter every 3,000 miles (5,000 km) or
three months when use of E85 is 50% of the time or greater.
2If the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions, change
the spark plugs every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or shorter:
a) Repeated short-distance driving.
b) Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation.
c) Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid
climates.
3According to state and federal regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on these items will not void your emissions warranties.
However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed
at the recommended time or miles (kilometers) period to ensure
long-term reliability.
4If this component has been submerged in water, the oil should be
changed.
5The wheel lug nuts must be retightened to the proper specifications at
500 miles (800 km) of new vehicle operation, at any wheel change, or at
any other time the wheel lug nuts have been loosened. Refer toWheel
lug nut torque specificationsin theTires, Wheels and Loading
chapter for the proper lug nut torque specification.
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.
When refueling
•Brake and clutch fluid level
•Engine coolant level
•Engine oil level
•Washer fluid level
At least monthly
•Tire inflation pressures
At least twice a year (for example, every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transmission fluid level
•Power steering fluid level
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Retightening lug nuts
•Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 500 miles (800 km)
after any wheel disturbance (tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel
removal, etc.).
•Refer toWheel lug nut torque specificationsin theTires, Wheels
and Loadingchapter for the proper lug nut torque specification.
SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
To help you service your vehicle, we providescheduled maintenance
informationwhich makes tracking routine service easy.
If your vehicle requires professional service, your authorized dealer can
provide necessary parts and service. Check your Warranty Information to
find out which parts and services are covered.
Use only recommended fuels, lubricants, fluids and service parts
conforming to specifications. Genuine Mazda parts are designed and built
to provide the best performance in your vehicle.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN SERVICING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING:A hot engine is dangerous. If the engine has been
running, parts of the engine compartment can become very hot.
You could be burned. Don’t inspect the coolant system or add coolant
when the engine is hot.
•Do not work on a hot engine.
•Make sure that nothing gets caught in moving parts.
•Do not work on a vehicle with the engine running in an enclosed
space, unless you are sure you have enough ventilation.
•Keep all open flames and other lit material away from the battery and
all fuel related parts.
Working with the engine off
1. For vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, set the
parking brake and shift to P (Park). For vehicles equipped with a
manual transmission, set the parking brake, press and hold the
clutch pedal, place the gearshift in 1 (First), and release the clutch
pedal.
2. Turn off the engine and remove the key.
3. Block the wheels.
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CHANGING THE WIPER BLADES
1. Pull the wiper blade and arm
away from the glass.
2. Squeeze the locking tabs to
release the blade from the arm
and pull the blade away from
the arm to remove it.
3. Attach the new blade to the arm and snap it into place.
Replace wiper blades at least once per year for optimum performance.
Poor wiper quality can be improved by cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield. Refer toWindows and wiper bladesin theCleaning
chapter.
To prolong the life of the wiper blades, it is highly recommended to
scrape off the ice on the windshield before turning on the wipers. The
layer of ice has many sharp edges and can damage the micro edge of the
wiper rubber element.
Changing rear window wiper blade
The rear wiper arm is designed without a service position. This reduces
the risk of damage to the blade in an automatic car wash.
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rating. These products have not been approved for your engine and
could cause damage to the fuel system. Repairs to correct the effects of
using an aftermarket product in your fuel may not be covered by your
warranty.
Many of the world’s automakers approved the World-Wide Fuel Charter
that recommends gasoline specifications to provide improved
performance and emission control system protection for your vehicle.
Gasolines that meet the World-Wide Fuel Charter should be used when
available. Ask your fuel supplier about gasolines that meet the
World-Wide Fuel Charter.
Cleaner air
Mazda endorses the use of reformulated “cleaner-burning” gasolines to
improve air quality, per the recommendations in theChoosing the right
fuelsection.
Running out of fuel
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse
effect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
•You may need to cycle the ignition from off to on several times after
refueling to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to
the engine. On restarting, cranking time will take a few seconds longer
than normal.
•Normally, adding 1 gallon (3.8L) of fuel is enough to restart the
engine. If the vehicle is out of fuel and on a steep grade, more than
1 gallon (3.8L) may be required.
•The service engine soon
indicator may come on. For more
information on the service engine soon indicator, refer toWarning
lights and chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
Refilling with a portable fuel container
With the Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system, use the following directions
when filling from a portable fuel container:
WARNING:Do not insert the nozzle of portable fuel containers
or aftermarket funnels into the Easy Fuel™ system. This could
damage the fuel system and its seal, and may cause fuel to run onto
the ground instead of filling the tank, which could result in serious
personal injury.
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