Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side, vibrate or shake when you’re driving,
the wheels may be out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a
Mazda dealer check the wheel alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician
at a Mazda dealer. Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension require alignment of all four wheels.
The tire should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
NOTE:When it is time to replace front tires with new ones, this is an
ideal time to perform an alignment. New tires should be balanced at the
time they are installed.
Tire rotation
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
Scheduled maintenancesection of theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter) will help your tires wear more evenly, providing
better tire performance and longer tire life.
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TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with your vehicle may require the use of a trailer tow
option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. For your safety and to
maximize vehicle performance, be sure to use the proper equipment
while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least
1,000 miles (1,600 km).
•Consult your local motor vehicle laws for towing a trailer.
•Refer to the instructions included with towing accessories for the
proper installation and adjustment specifications.
•Be sure to locate all the warnings supplied by the trailer rental or
sales company and study the unique requirements of each trailer you
intend to tow.
•Thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing. Refer toPreparing to
towin this chapter.
•Stay within your vehicle’s load limits.
•Use extra caution when driving while trailer towing. Refer toDriving
while you towin this chapter.
•Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer to the
Scheduled maintenancesection of theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter.
For load specification terms found on the label and instructions on
calculating your vehicle’s load, refer toVehicle loading - with and
without a trailerin this chapter. Remember to figure in the tongue load
of your loaded vehicle when figuring the total weight.
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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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NOTE:After the described period, continue to follow the described
maintenance at the recommended intervals.
SCHEDULE 1
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 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
Miles x 1,000 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75 82.5 90
(Km x 1,000) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96) (108) (120) (132) (144)
ENGINE
Engine oil and filter1RRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine valve clearance (2.5L) Audible inspection every 75,000 miles (120,000 km);
adjust as necessary
Drive belt tension 2.5L I I
3.0L I I I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs 2.5L Replace every 75,000 miles (120,000 km)
3.0L Replace every 90,000 miles (144,000 km)
FUEL SYSTEM
Air cleaner filter R 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
2II I
Emission tubes and hoses2I
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Engine coolant level I I I I I I I IIIII
Engine cooling system and hosesII I
Engine coolant Replace at 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or 72 months;
every 50,000 miles (80,000 km) or 36 months
thereafter
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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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To replace the wiper blade:
1. Grab the wiper arm with one
hand close to the arm/blade
joint and pull it as far away
from the glass as possible. Do
not use excessive force because
it can break the wiper arm at
the heel. Hold it there until the
next step.
2. Grab the primary structure of
the blade with the other hand
close to the arm/blade joint.
3. Grip tightly and press on the arm/blade joint from beneath and
separate the blade from the arm.
4. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into
place until a click is heard.
If you find this procedure too
difficult, please see your dealer.
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil
Refer toscheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in
P (Park) (automatic transmissions) or 1 (First) (manual
transmissions).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil level dipstick.
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