2016 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 wheel

6–61
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
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
 Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool. To prevent corrosion on bright-
metal surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster. 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, 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.
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6–62
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
 Do not use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent
on aluminum wheels. They may damage
the coating. 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.
Convertible Top Maintenance
The convertible top is made of a special
high-grade material, but if it's not taken
good care of, hardening, staining, and
loss of luster will result. Maintain it under
these guidelines.
Washing
Do not wait until the convertible top gets
really dirty before cleaning it. Dirt that's
there too long will cause deterioration.
1. Before washing, remove dust and
coarse particulate with a soft brush.
2. Gently clean the convertible top with
a synthetic neutral detergent, lots of
water, and a soft brush.
3. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water to
remove all the soap.
4. Wipe it as dry as you can before the
water dries on it.
5. Then allow it to dry completely before
lowering it.
CAUTION
 Automatic and high-pressure car washes
are harmful to a convertible top. Avoid
them. Do not spray water directly on the
area where the window glass and
the convertible top meet. This would
probably cause water to enter the cabin. Do not spray water directly on the seam
area of the body and the convertible top
as it could result in water penetrating the
cabin and trunk.
 Some leather treatment products can
ruin the convertible top's gloss. Be careful
of the one you choose. Test on an inconspicuous, small corner of
the convertible top if you are not sure. Do not wipe the convertible top using
alcohol, chlorine bleach, or organic
solvents such as thinner, benzene, or
gasoline. Otherwise, they may cause
discoloration or stains.
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7–6
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
WARNING
Do not allow children to touch the tire
sealant:
 Ingestion of tire sealant is
dangerous. In the event tire
sealant is accidentally swallowed,
drink large amounts of water
immediately and seek medical
assistance. Tire sealant that comes into contact
with the eyes and skin is dangerous.
If tire sealant enters the eyes or
contacts the skin, flush immediately
with large amounts of water and
seek medical assistance.
NOTE
 The tire sealant cannot be reused.
Purchase new tire sealant at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer. The emergency flat tire repair kit cannot
be used in the following cases.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
 The period of effective use for the
tire sealant has expired. (The period
of effectiveness is indicated on the
bottle label.) The tear or puncture exceeds about 4
mm (0.16 in). The damage has occurred to an area
of the tire other than the tread. The vehicle has been driven with
nearly no air remaining in the tire. The tire has come off the wheel rim. Damage to the wheel rim has
occurred. The tire has two or more punctures.
Using the Emergency Flat Tire
Repair Kit
U.S.A. and Canada
1. Move the vehicle off the right-of-way
to a safe place on a level and hard
surface where the vehicle does not
obstruct traffic.
2. Shift the shift lever to the 1 or Reverse
(R) position for a manual transmission,
and shift the selector lever to the P
position for an automatic transmission.
3. Apply the parking brake with the brake
pedal depressed and turn off the engine.
4. If necessary, flash the hazard warning
lights and set up the roadside
emergency triangle.
5. Unload passengers and cargo and
remove the emergency flat tire repair
kit.
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7–9
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
NOTE
 Check the tire inflation pressure label
driver's door frame for the correct tire
inflation pressure. Do not operate the air compressor
for a continuous 10 minutes or longer
because using it for long periods could
cause a malfunction. If the tire inflation pressure does
not increase, repair of the tire is not
possible. If the tire does not reach the
specified tire inflation pressure within
10 minutes, it may have received
extensive damage. In this case, the
repair using the emergency flat tire
repair kit was not successful. Contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
13. Adhere the speed restriction sticker to
an area where it can be viewed easily
by the driver.
14. Adhere the repaired tire sticker to the
wheel of the flat tire.
WARNING
Do not adhere the speed restriction
sticker to the padded area on the
steering wheel:
Adhering the speed restriction sticker
to the padded area on the steering
wheel is dangerous because the
air bag may not operate (deploy)
normally resulting in serious injury.
In addition, do not adhere the sticker
to areas where warning lights or the
speedometer cannot be viewed.
15. When the tire inflates to the specified
tire inflation pressure, turn the air
compressor switch off, turn the sleeve
of the injection hose to the left, and pull
it out of the tire valve.
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7–11
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
NOTE
 If an emergency flat tire repair has been
performed using the emergency flat tire
repair kit, Mazda recommends that the
tire be replaced with a new one as soon
as possible. If the tire is to be repaired
or reused, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer. The wheel can be reused if the sealant
adhering to it is removed. However,
replace the valve with a new one.
Mexico
1. Move the vehicle off the right-of-way
to a safe place on a level and hard
surface where the vehicle does not
obstruct traffic.
2. Shift the shift lever to the 1 or Reverse
(R) position for a manual transmission,
and shift the selector lever to the P
position for an automatic transmission.
3. Apply the parking brake with the brake
pedal depressed and turn off the engine.
4. If necessary, flash the hazard warning
lights and set up the roadside
emergency triangle.
5. Unload passengers and cargo and
remove the emergency flat tire repair
kit.
6. Shake the tire sealant well.
CAUTION
If the bottle is shaken after the
injection hose is screwed on, tire
sealant could spray out from the
injection hose. Tire sealant contacting
clothing or other objects may be
impossible to remove. Shake the bottle
before screwing on the injection hose.
NOTE
The sealant hardens easily and injecting
it will be difficult under cold weather
conditions (0 °C (32 °F) or below). Warm
the sealant inside the vehicle to facilitate
injection.
7. Remove the cap from the bottle. Screw
on the injection hose with the bottle's
inner cap left on to break the inner cap.
Cap
Injection hose
Tire sealant
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7–13
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
13. Reinsert the valve core into the valve
and turn it clockwise to install it.
Injection hose
Valve core
tool
Valve
Valve core
NOTE
Do not throw away the empty tire sealant
bottle after use. Return the empty tire
sealant bottle to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer when replacing the tire. The empty
tire sealant bottle will need to be used to
extract and dispose of the used sealant
from the tire.
14.
After that, install the injection hose to
the tab of the bottle to prevent leakage
of any remaining sealant.
Tab
15. Adhere the speed restriction sticker to
an area where it can be viewed easily
by the driver.
WARNING
Do not adhere the speed restriction
sticker to the padded area on the
steering wheel:
Adhering the speed restriction sticker
to the padded area on the steering
wheel is dangerous because the
air bag may not operate (deploy)
normally resulting in serious injury.
In addition, do not adhere the sticker
to areas where warning lights or the
speedometer cannot be viewed.
16. Pull out the air compressor hose and
the air compressor plug from the air
compressor.
Compressor hose
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7–15
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
24. After driving the vehicle for about 10
minutes or 5 km (3 miles), connect the
air compressor to the tire using Step
17 of the procedure, and check the tire
inflation pressure using the tire pressure
gauge on the air compressor. If the
tire inflation pressure is lower than the
specified tire inflation pressure, turn
the air compressor on and wait until
it reaches the specified tire inflation
pressure.
WARNING
If the tire inflation pressure has
decreased below 130 kPa (1.3 kgf/cm2 or
bar, 18.9 psi), stop driving and contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer:
The repair using the emergency flat tire
repair kit was not successful.
If you see a decrease in the tire inflation
pressure, even if Steps 17 to 24 of the
procedure are performed repeatedly,
stop driving:
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Before checking the tire inflation
pressure using the tire pressure gauge,
turn the air compressor switch off.
25. The emergency flat tire repair is
completed successfully if the tire
inflation pressure does not decrease.
Carefully drive the vehicle to the
nearest Authorized Mazda Dealer
immediately and have the flat tire
replaced. Replacement with a new
tire is recommended. If the tire is
to be repaired or reused, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
 If an emergency flat tire repair has been
performed using the emergency flat tire
repair kit, Mazda recommends that the
tire be replaced with a new one as soon
as possible. If the tire is to be repaired
or reused, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer. The wheel can be reused if the sealant
adhering to it is removed. However,
replace the valve with a new one.
Inspecting the Emergency Flat
Tire Repair Kit
Inspect the emergency flat tire repair kit at
regular intervals.
 Check the tire sealant period of effective
use. Check the operation of the tire
compressor.
NOTE
The tire sealant has a period of effective
use. Check the period of effective use
indicated on the bottle label and do not
use it if it has expired. Have the tire
sealant replaced at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer before the period of effective use
has expired.
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7–16
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
Changing a Tire
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
transmission in Park (P), a manual
transmission in Reverse (R) or 1, and
turn off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle
and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack and tool (page
7-3).
6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite
the tire to be changed. When blocking
a wheel, place a tire block both in front
and behind the tire.
NOTE
When blocking a tire, use rocks or wood
blocks of sufficient size if possible to hold
the tire in place.
Removing a Tire
1. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise one turn each, but do
not remove any lug nuts until the tire
has been raised off the ground.

2. Place the jack on the ground.
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