Black plate (486,1)
lDuring 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.
qUnderbody 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, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush 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 affected.
qAluminum 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
lDo not use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent on
aluminum wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lAlways 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.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an automatic
car wash that uses high-speed or hard
brushes.
6-66
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Mazda6_8EA2-EA-14K_Edition2 Page486
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Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (490,1)
qCleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with an
oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean them
with glass cleaner. Follow the directions
on the container.
CAUTION
ØDo not scrape or scratch the inside
of the window glass. It could
damage the thermal filaments
and the antenna lines.
ØWhen washing the inside of the
window glass, use a soft cloth
dampened in lukewarm water,
gently wiping the thermal
filaments and the antenna lines.
Use of glass cleaning products
could damage the thermal
filaments and the antenna lines.
qCleaning the Floor Mats
Rubber floor mats should be cleaned with
mild soap and water only.
WARNING
Do not use rubber cleaners, such as tire
cleaner or tire shine, when cleaning
rubber floor mats:
Cleaning the rubber floor mats with
rubber cleaning products makes the
floor mats slippery.
This may cause an accident when
depressing the accelerator, brake, or
clutch (Manual transaxle) pedal or
when getting in or out of the vehicle.
After removing the floor mats for
cleaning, always reinstall them
securely.Refer to Floor Mat on page 3-44.
6-70
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (496,1)
2. Turn the spare tire hold-down bolt
counterclockwise.
Spare tire hold-down bolt
To secure the spare tire
Store the spare tire in the reverse order of
removal. After storing, verify that the
spare tire is stored securely.
Changing a Flat Tire
NOTE
If the following occurs while driving, it could
indicate a flat tire.
lSteering becomes difficult.lThe vehicle begins to vibrate excessively.lThe vehicle pulls in one direction.
If you have a flat tire, drive slowly to a
level spot that is well off the road and out
of the way of traffic to change the tire.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder of a
busy road is dangerous.
WARNING
Be sure to follow the directions for
changing a tire:
Changing a tire is dangerous if not
done properly. The vehicle can slip off
the jack and seriously injure
someone.
No person should place any portion
of their body under a vehicle that is
supported by a jack.
Never allow anyone inside a vehicle
supported by a jack:
Allowing someone to remain in a
vehicle supported by a jack is
dangerous. The occupant could cause
the vehicle to fall resulting in serious
injury.
NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated before
using it.
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transaxle in Park (P), a manual
transaxle in Reverse (R) or 1, and turn
off the engine.
7-6
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
Mazda6_8EA2-EA-14K_Edition2 Page496
Saturday, January 10 2015 3:27 PM
Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (507,1)
Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).
Follow this procedure:
1. If the engine does not start within five
seconds on the first try, wait ten
seconds and try again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and
hold it there.
4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual
transaxle) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transaxle), then press the
push button start. If the engine starts,
release the accelerator immediately
because the engine will suddenly rev
up.
5. If the engine fails to start, crank it
without depressing the accelerator.
If the engine still does not start using the
above procedure, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Push-Starting
Do not push-start your Mazda.
WARNING
Never tow a vehicle to start it:
Towing a vehicle to start it is
dangerous. The vehicle being towed
could surge forward when its engine
starts, causing the two vehicles to
collide. The occupants could be
injured.
CAUTION
Do not push-start a vehicle that has
a manual transaxle. It can damage
the emission control system.
NOTE
You cannot start a vehicle with an automatic
transaxle by pushing it.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Starting
7-17
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Saturday, January 10 2015 3:27 PM
Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (508,1)
Overheating
If the High engine coolant temperature
warning light illuminates, the vehicle
loses power, or you hear a loud knocking
or pinging noise, the engine is probably
too hot.
WARNING
Switch the ignition to off and
make sure the fan is not running before
attempting to work near the cooling
fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it
is running is dangerous. The fan
could continue running indefinitely
even if the engine has stopped and
the engine compartment temperature
is high. You could be hit by the fan
and seriously injured.
Do not remove either
cooling system cap when the engine
and radiator are hot:
When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury.
Open the hood ONLY after steam is no
longer escaping from the engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you.
If the High engine coolant temperature
warning light illuminates:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and
park off the right-of-way.2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transaxle in park (P), a manual
transaxle in neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Turn off the air conditioner.
5. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine.
Wait until the steam dissipates, then
open the hood and start the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools.
CAUTION
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the
engine temperature will increase.
Stop the engine and call an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating,
then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.
7. When cool, check the coolant level.
If it is low, look for coolant leaks from
the radiator and hoses.
7-18
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
Mazda6_8EA2-EA-14K_Edition2 Page508
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Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (510,1)
Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (front wheels) off the
ground. If excessive damage or other
conditions prevent this, use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
ØDo not tow the vehicle pointed
backward with driving wheels on
the ground. This may cause
internal damage to the transaxle.
ØDo not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage
your vehicle. Use wheel-lift or
flatbed equipment.
7-20
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
Mazda6_8EA2-EA-14K_Edition2 Page510
Saturday, January 10 2015 3:27 PM
Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (513,1)
When Warning/Indicator
Lights Illuminate/Flash
If any warning light turns on/flashes, take
appropriate action for each light. There is
no problem if the light turns off, however
if the light does not turn off or turns on/
flashes again, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
(Vehicles with type B audio)
The warning contents can be verified on
the audio.
1. Select the
icon on the home screen
to display the applications screen.
2. Select the“Warning Guidance”.
qIf the master warning light
illuminates
Type A
Displays when notification of the system
malfunctions is required.
Check the message indicated in the
display and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.(Display example)
Displays as follows:
Master
warning
light
Indication in display and master
warning light in instrument cluster are
illuminated at same time
This indicates a malfunction with the
vehicle system. Check the message
indicated in the display and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer. For details,
refer to the explanations for the warning/
indicator lights, in the warning/indicator
lights section, which match the symbol in
the upper part of the display. If a message
is not indicated in the display, operate the
INFO switch to display the“Warning”
screen.
Type B
The light illuminates continuously if any
one of the following occurs. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
lThere is a malfunction in the battery
management system.
lThere is a malfunction in the brake
switch.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
7-23
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Saturday, January 10 2015 3:27 PM
Form No.8EA2-EA-14K
Black plate (514,1)
qIf the brake system warning light
illuminates
When the light turns on
If the brake system warning light remains
turned on even though the electric parking
brake is released, the brake fluid may be
low or there could be a problem with the
brake system. Park the vehicle in a safe
place immediately and contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When the light is flashing
The light flashes if the electric parking
brake has a malfunction.
If the light remains flashing even if the
electric parking brake switch is operated,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system
warning light illuminated. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible:
Driving with the brake system
warning light illuminated is
dangerous. It indicates that your
brakes may not work at all or that
they could completely fail at any
time. If this light remains
illuminated, after checking that the
parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
CAUTION
In addition, the effectiveness of the
braking may diminish so you may
need to depress the brake pedal more
strongly than normal to stop the
vehicle.
qIf the ABS warning light illuminates
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you're driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function normally
as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
lWhen the engine is jump-started to charge
the battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light may illuminate. If this occurs,
it is the result of the weak battery and does
not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
lThe brake assist system does not operate
while the ABS warning light is illuminated.
7-24
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
Mazda6_8EA2-EA-14K_Edition2 Page514
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Form No.8EA2-EA-14K