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Front
Hood .................................................................................................................. page 3-49
Windshield wiper blades .................................................................................... page 8-26
Moonroof ........................................................................................................... page 3-51
Door lock ........................................................................................................... page 3-28
Fuel-filler lid ...................................................................................................... page 3-47
Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-32
Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-38
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Exterior Overview
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Rear
Liftgate .............................................................................................................. page 3-33
Rear wiper blade ................................................................................................ page 8-28
Child safety lock ................................................................................................ page 3-32
Outside mirror .................................................................................................... page 3-65
Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-32
Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-38
Rear view monitor ........................................................................................... page 6-177
1-6
Your Vehicle at a Glance
The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
Exterior Overview
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Form No.8CA8-EA-11G
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Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags
have inflated:
Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags
have inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation, they are very hot. You could
get burned.
Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar,
bull bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The
air bag crash sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate
unexpectedly, or it could prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident.
Front occupants could be seriously injured.
Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the
suspension is modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the
possibility of serious injuries.
To prevent false detection by the air bag sensor system, heed the following:
ØDo not use tires or wheels other than those specified for your Mazda:
Use of any tire or wheel other than those specified for your Mazda (page 10-6) is
dangerous. Use of such wheels will prevent the vehicle's accident detections
system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
ØDo not overload your vehicle:
Overloading your vehicle is dangerous as it could prevent the air bag crash sensor
system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
The gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
for your vehicle are on the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label on the driver's
door frame. Do not exceed these ratings.
ØDo not drive the vehicle off-road:
Driving your Mazda off-road is dangerous because the vehicle has not been
designed to do so. Driving the vehicle off-road could prevent the air bag crash
sensor system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting
in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Before Getting In
lBe sure the windows, outside mirrors,
and outside lights are clean.
lInspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
lLook under the vehicle for any sign of
fluid leaks.
lIf you plan to back up, make sure
nothing is in your way.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, washer
fluid, and other fluid levels should be
inspected. See Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
lAre all doors closed and locked?lIs the seat adjusted properly?lAre the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
lIs the steering wheel adjusted properly?lIs everyone's seat belt fastened?lCheck all gauges.lCheck all warning lights when the
ignition is switched ON.
lRelease the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Before Starting the Engine
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Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
lDo not race the engine.lDo not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
lDo not drive constantly at full-throttle
or high engine rpm for extended
periods of time.
lAvoid unnecessary hard stops.lAvoid full-throttle starts.lDo not tow a trailer.
Money-Saving Suggestions
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
lAvoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
lAvoid fast starts.lKeep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
lUse the air conditioner only when
necessary.
lSlow down on rough roads.lKeep the tires properly inflated.lDo not carry unnecessary weight.lDo not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
lKeep the wheels in correct alignment.lKeep windows closed at high speeds.lSlow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:
Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause
damage to the drivetrain. Any loss of
steering or braking control could
cause an accident.
4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Hazardous Driving
qDriving on Slippery Surface
WARNING
Be extremely careful if it is necessary to
downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident.
Do not rely on ABS or RSC as a
substitute for safe driving:
The ABS and RSC cannot compensate
for unsafe and reckless driving,
excessive speed, tailgating (following
another vehicle too closely), driving
on ice and snow, and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an
accident.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
lBe cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
lAvoid sudden braking and sudden
maneuvering.
lDo not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
lIf you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the front
wheels.
lDo not perform abrupt maneuvers
when the road surface changes (such as
from a paved road to gravel) because
the reaction of the vehicle against the
driving operation changes.
lFor more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or packed
snow, use sand, rock salt, chains,
carpeting, or other nonslip material
under the front wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front wheels.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Winter Driving
lCarry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, a small shovel,
jumper cables, and a small bag of sand
or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-21.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-24).
lDo not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P and block the rear
wheels.
lDo not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
lNever use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
lBraking performance can be adversely
affected if snow or ice adheres to the
brake equipment. If this situation
occurs, drive the vehicle slowly,
releasing the accelerator pedal and
lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
qSnow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi)
more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver's door frame), but
never more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.
Except 18-inch tires
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find it necessary to replace them
with snow tires during the winter months
to further improve traction on snow and
ice covered roads.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result
in an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system may
not function correctly when using tires with
steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls (page
5-32).
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Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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qTire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
ØChains may affect handling.
ØDo not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
ØDrive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
ØAvoid locked-wheel braking.
ØDo not use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage
to the vehicle and to the tire.
ØDo not use chains on roads that
are free of snow or ice. The tires
and chains could be damaged.
ØChains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
lUse of tire chains on a vehicle equipped
with P245/50R20 specification tires could
cause interference with the vehicle body
and scratching. If tire chains are to be used,
replace both front and rear tires with P
245/60R18 tires. Please consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
lIf your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system may
not function correctly when using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the front tires.
Do not use chains on the rear tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. Secure the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Always follow the
chain manufacturer's instructions.
2. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2
―1 km (1/4―1/2 mile).
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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