2014 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK wheel

6–42
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
NOTE
 


y Always check tire pressure when tires
are cold.
 


y Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Do not release
air from warm tires to adjust the
pressure.
 


y Underinfl ation 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.
 


y Overinfl ation 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 infl ating,
have it inspected.
Tire 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 every 12,000
km (7,500 miles). However Mazda
recommends to rotate every 8,000 km
(5,000 miles) to help increase tire life
and distribute wear more evenly.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4 .
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:
 


y Incorrect tire pressure



y Improper wheel alignment



y Out-of-balance wheel



y Severe braking
After rotation, infl ate all tire pressures to
specifi cation (page 9-10 ) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
After adjusting the tire pressure,
initialization of the tire pressure
monitoring system is necessary to make
the system operates normally.
Refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Initialization on page 4-107 .
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.
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*Some models.6–44
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CAUTION
 


¾ Do not use your temporary spare tire
rim with a snow tire or a conventional
tire. Neither will properly fi t and could
damage both tire and rim.
 


¾ The 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.
 


¾ The 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 6-44 ).
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 8-23 .
Replacing 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 aff ected, leading to loss of
control and an accident.
CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
aff ect:




¾ Tire fi t



¾ Wheel and bearing life



¾ Ground clearance



¾ Snow-chain clearance



¾ Speedometer calibration



¾ Headlight aim



¾ Bumper height



¾ Tire Pressure Monitoring System *
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset
(inset/outset).
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and fl at spots.
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6–46
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
WARNING
Do not replace the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself:
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself is dangerous. Because the
xenon fusion bulbs require high
voltage, you could receive an electric
shock if the bulbs are handled
incorrectly. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer when the replacement is
necessary.

Never touch the glass portion of a
halogen bulb with your bare hands
and always wear eye protection when
handling or working around the bulbs:
When a halogen bulb breaks, it is
dangerous. These bulbs contain
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it will
explode and serious injuries could be
caused by the fl ying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with
bare hands, body oil could cause the
bulb to overheat and explode when lit.

Always keep halogen bulbs out of the
reach of children:
Playing with a halogen bulb is
dangerous. Serious injuries could be
caused by dropping a halogen bulb or
breaking it some other way.
NOTE
 


y To replace the bulb, contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
 


y If the halogen bulb is accidentally
touched, it should be cleaned with
rubbing alcohol before being used.
 


y Use the protective cover and carton for
the replacement bulb to dispose of the
old bulb promptly and out of the reach
of children.
Replacing Exterior Light Bulbs
Headlights (With xenon fusion
headlights)
Low/High beam bulbs
You cannot replace the low/high beam
bulbs by yourself. The bulbs must be
replaced at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Headlights (With halogen headlights)
Low-beam bulbs
1. If you are changing the right bulb, start
the engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the left, and turn off engine.
If you are changing the left bulb, turn
the steering wheel to the right, and turn
off engine.
2. Make sure the headlight switch is off.
3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer
and remove the retainers.
Removal
Installation
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6–48
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
4. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
to remove it. Carefully remove the
bulb from its socket in the refl ector by
gently pulling it straight backward out
of the socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of the removal procedure.
Daytime running lights/Parking lights
(With xenon fusion headlights)
Due to the complexity and diffi culty of
the procedure, the LED bulbs must be
replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
LED bulb replacement is not possible
because it is built into the unit. Replace
the unit.
Front turn signal lights, Parking lights/
Front side-marker lights (With halogen
headlights), Front side-marker lights
(With xenon fusion headlights)
1. If you are changing the right bulb, start
the engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the left, and turn off engine.
If you are changing the left bulb, turn
the steering wheel to the right, and turn
off engine.
2. Make sure the headlight switch is off. 3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer
and remove the retainers.
Removal
Installation
4. Turn the screw counterclockwise and
remove it, and then partially peel back
the mudguard.
5. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
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*Some models.6–49
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
Front turn signal lights
Parking lights/Front side-marker
lights (With halogen headlights),
Front side-marker lights (With
xenon fusion headlights)
7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of the removal procedure.
Fog lights
*
1. If you are changing the right bulb, start
the engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the left, and turn off engine.
If you are changing the left bulb, turn
the steering wheel to the right, and turn
off engine.
2. Make sure the fog light switch is off. 3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer
and remove the retainers.
Removal
Installation
4. Turn the screw counterclockwise and
remove it, and then partially peel back
the mudguard.
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6–67
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the fi nish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced,
make sure the body shop applies anti-
corrosion materials to all parts, both
repaired and new. This will prevent
them from rusting.
Bright-Metal Maintenance
 












y Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
 


y To prevent corrosion on bright-
metal surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
 


y During cold weather or in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Do not 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.
Underbody 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, fl oor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly fl ush 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 off brakes that have become
wet by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the brake
performance returns to 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 aff ected.
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*Some models.6–68
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheel Maintenance *
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
CAUTION
Do not use any detergent other than
mild detergent. Before using any
detergent, verify the ingredients.
Otherwise, the product could discolor
or stain the aluminum wheels.
NOTE
 


y Do not use a wire brush or any
abrasive cleaner, polishing compound,
or solvent on aluminum wheels. They
may damage the coating.
 


y Always use a sponge or soft cloth to
clean the wheels.
  Rinse the wheels thoroughly with
lukewarm or cold water. Also, be sure
to clean the wheels after driving on
dusty or salted roads to help prevent
corrosion.
 


y Avoid washing your vehicle in an
automatic car wash that uses high-
speed or hard brushes.
 


y If your aluminum wheels lose luster,
wax the wheels.
Plastic Part Maintenance
 












y When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use gasoline, kerosene,
rectifi ed spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a signifi cant loss
in functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, fl ush with water
immediately.
 


y If plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fl uids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery
fl uid, it could cause discoloration,
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any
such chemical agents or fl uids using a
soft cloth immediately.
 


y High water temperature and high water
pressure car washers are available
depending on the type of high pressure
car washer device. If the car washer
nozzle is put too close to the vehicle or
aimed at one area for an extended period
of time, it could deform plastic parts or
damage the paint.
 


y Do not use wax containing compounds
(polish). Otherwise, it could result in
paint damage.
 


y In addition, do not use an electrical or
air tool to apply wax. Otherwise, the
frictional heat generated could result
in deformation of plastic parts or paint
damage.
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7–5
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
NOTE
Verify that the cover is securely installed.
Maintenance
 




y Always keep the jack clean.



y Make sure the moving parts are kept
free from dirt or rust.
 


y Make sure the screw thread is
adequately lubricated.
Spare Tire
Your Mazda has a temporary spare tire.
The temporary spare tire is lighter and
smaller than a conventional tire, and is
designed only for emergency use and
should be used only for VERY short
periods. Temporary spare tires should
NEVER be used for long drives or
extended periods.
WARNING
Do not install the temporary spare tire
on the front wheels (driving wheels):
Driving with the temporary spare tire
on one of the front driving wheels is
dangerous. Handling will be aff ected.
You could lose control of the vehicle,
especially on ice or snow bound roads,
and have an accident. Move a regular
tire to the front wheel and install the
temporary spare tire to the rear.
CAUTION
 


¾ When using the temporary spare tire,
driving stability may decrease compared
to when using only the conventional
tire. Drive carefully.
 


¾ To avoid damage to the temporary
spare tire or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
 


¾ Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).



¾ Avoid driving over obstacles. Also, do
not drive through an automatic car
wash. This tire's diameter is smaller
than a conventional tire, so the
ground clearance is reduced about 10
mm (0.4 in).
 


¾ Do not use a tire chain on this tire
because it will not fi t properly.
 


¾ Do not use your temporary spare
tire on any other vehicle, it has been
designed only for your Mazda.
 


¾ Use only one temporary spare tire on
your vehicle at the same time.
To remove the spare tire
1. Lift the trunk/luggage compartment
mat.
Trunk/Luggage compartment mat
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