2016 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 engine coolant

6–26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Engine Compartment Overview
Windshield washer fluid reservoir Brake/Clutch fluid reserv
oir
Engine oil dipstick
Battery
Fuse blockCooling system cap
Engine coolant reserv oir
Engine oil-f
iller cap
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6–29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is
positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
7. Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Engine Coolant
Inspecting Coolant Level
WARNING
Do not use a match or live flame in the
engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT:
A hot engine is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, parts of the
engine compartment can become very
hot. You could be burned. Carefully
inspect the engine coolant in the
coolant reservoir, but do not open it.
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.
NOTE
Changing the coolant should be done by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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6–30
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Inspect the antifreeze protection and
coolant level in the coolant reservoir at
least once a year—at the beginning of the
winter season—and before traveling where
temperatures may drop below freezing.
Inspect the condition and connections of
all cooling system and heater hoses.
Replace any that are swollen or
deteriorated.
The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the FULL and LOW
marks on the coolant reservoir when the
engine is cool.
Coolant reservoir
Cooling fan
Cooling system cap
If it is at or near LOW, add enough coolant
to the coolant reservoir to provide freezing
and corrosion protection and to bring the
level to FULL.
Securely tighten the coolant reservoir tank
cap after adding coolant.
CAUTION
 Radiator coolant will damage paint.
Rinse it off quickly if spilled.
 Use only soft (demineralized) water in
the coolant mixture. Water that contains
minerals will cut down on the coolant's
effectiveness. Do not add only water. Always add a
proper coolant mixture. The engine has aluminum parts and
must be protected by an ethylene-glycol-
based coolant to prevent corrosion and
freezing. DO NOT USE coolants Containing
Alcohol, methanol, Borate or Silicate.
These coolants could damage the
cooling system. DO NOT MIX alcohol or methanol with
the coolant. This could damage the
cooling system. Do not use a solution that contains more
than 60% antifreeze.
This would reduce effectiveness.
 If the “FL22” mark is shown on or near
the cooling system cap, use of FL-22 is
recommended when replacing engine
coolant. Using engine coolant other
than FL-22 may cause serious damage to
the engine and cooling system.
If the coolant reservoir is empty or new
coolant is required frequently, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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6–64
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Plastic Part Maintenance
 When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use gasoline, kerosene,
rectified spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a significant loss
in functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately. If plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fluids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery
fluid, it could cause discoloration,
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any
such chemical agents or fluids using a
soft cloth immediately. 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. Do not use wax containing compounds
(polish). Otherwise, it could result in
paint damage. 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.
Interior Care
WARNING
Do not spray water in the cabin:
Splashing water on electrical parts
such as the audio unit and switches
is dangerous as it could cause a
malfunction or a fire.
Dashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They will damage and discolor
the dashboard. If these solutions get on the
dashboard, wipe them off immediately.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
Instrument panel top
 When cleaning, it is recommended that
you use a clean towel dampened in a
mild detergent to remove soiling. If the surface is rubbed harshly, it could
result in the surface being damaged
leaving white scratch marks.
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7–27
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
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
transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission 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.
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7–28
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
If you find a leak or other damage, or if
coolant is still leaking:
Stop the engine and call an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Coolant reservoir
Cooling fan
Cooling system cap
If you find no problems, the engine is
cool, and no leaks are obvious:
Carefully add coolant as required (page
6-29).
CAUTION
If the engine continues to overheat or
frequently overheats, have the cooling
system inspected. The engine could be
seriously damaged unless repairs are
made. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
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7–35
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
SignalWarning
(Red)High Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
The light flashes when the engine coolant temperature is extremely high, and illuminates when the engine coolant temperature increases further.
Handling Procedure
Flashing lightDrive slowly to reduce engine load until you can find a safe place to stop the vehicle and wait for the engine to cool down.Illuminated lightThis indicates the possibility of overheating. Park the vehicle in a saf\
e place immediately and stop the engine.Refer to Overheating 7-27.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle with the high engine coolant temperature warning light illuminated. Otherwise, it could result in damage to the engine.
Power Steering Malfunction Indicator Light
The light illuminates if the electric power steering has a malfunction.If the light illuminates, stop the vehicle in a safe place and do not op\
erate the steering wheel. There is no problem if the light turns off after a while. Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer if the light illuminates continuously.
NOTE
If the indicator light illuminates, the power steering will not operate \
normally. If this happens, the steering wheel can still be operated, however, the operation may feel heavy compared to normal, or the steering wheel could vibrate when turning.Repeatedly jerking the steering wheel left and right while the vehicle i\
s stopped or moving extremely slowly will cause the power steering system to go into protective mode which will make the steering feel heavy, but this does not indicate a problem. If this occurs, park the vehicle safely and wait several minutes for the sy\
stem to return to normal.
Contact Authorized Mazda Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected
If any of the following warning lights turns on/flashes, the system may have a malfunction.
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have your vehicle inspected.
SignalWarning
Master Warning Light
(Vehicles with type B audio)The light turns on when the system has a malfunction.Operate the center display and verify the content.Refer to If a Warning Light Turns On or Flashes on page 7-33.(Vehicles without type B audio)The light illuminates continuously if any one of the following occurs. C\
onsult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
There is a malfunction in the battery management system.There is a malfunction in the brake switch.
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7–43
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
Message Indicated on Display
If a message is displayed in the center display (type B audio), take appropriate action (in a
calm manner) according to the displayed message.
(Display example)
Stop Vehicle in Safe Place Immediately
If the following messages are displayed in the center display (Type B audio), a vehicle
system may be malfunctioning. Stop the vehicle in a safe place and conta\
ct an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
DisplayIndicated Condition
Displays if the engine coolant temperature has increased excessively.
Displays if the charging system has a malfunction.
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