6–69
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
CAUTION
Do not use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or anodised
aluminium parts. This may damage
the protective coating; also, cleaners
and detergents may discolour or
deteriorate the paint.
(With detachable aerial) To prevent damaging the aerial,
remove it before entering a car wash
facility or passing beneath a low
overhead clearance.
Pay special attention to removing salt, dirt,
mud, and other foreign material from the
underside of the wings, and make sure the
drain holes in the lower edges of the doors
and rocker panels are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits
can damage the ¿ nish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the ¿ nish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
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.
When using an automatic car wash
Retract the door mirrors.
The automatic car wash brushes could
reduce the paint lustre or hasten paint
deterioration.
When using a high water pressure car
wash
High water temperature and high water
pressure car washers are available
depending on the type of car wash
machine. If the car washer nozzle is
put too close to the vehicle, the force of
the spray could damage or deform the
molding, affect the sealability of parts,
and allow water to penetrate the interior.
Keep a suf ¿ cient space (30 cm (12 in) or
more) between the nozzle and the vehicle.
In addition, do not spend too much time
spraying the same area of the vehicle, and
be very careful when spraying between
gaps in doors and around windows.
6–70
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the ¿ nish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its lustre.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for
metallic, mica, and solid colours.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle does not need it.
Paint Damage Touch-up
Repair damage to the ¿ nish caused by
stone chipping, damage during parking
etc., by using Mazda touch-up paint before
rust begins to form. First, remove the dirt
and grease with a clean soft cloth.
If rust has already begun to form:
1. Remove rust completely with
sandpaper.
2. Wipe with a clean soft cloth.
3. Apply rust preventive primer to the
area.
4. After drying it completely, apply a
suitable top coat material to the area.
Of course there will be no problem if
you assign the work to an expert repairer,
we recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer.
Cavity Protection
Cavities are treated for protection at the
factory, but additional protective treatment
after the vehicle has been put into use will
extend the life of the body.
We recommend that you consult an expert
repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer concerning this additional
precaution.
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 lustre.
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 anodised aluminium parts. This
may result in damage to the protective
coating and cause discolouration or
paint deterioration.
