3–53
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tyre
chains, window scraper, À ares, a small
shovel, jumper leads, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an expert repairer, we recommend an
Authorised Mazda Repairer to check the
following:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page
6-27 .
Inspect the battery and its leads. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-22 ).
Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
Use washer À uid made with antifreeze—
but do not use engine coolant antifreeze
for washer À uid (page 6-30 ).
NOTE
Do not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transaxle and to 1 or R with a manual
transaxle. Block the rear wheels.
Remove snow before driving. Snow
left on the windscreen is dangerous
as it could obstruct vision.
Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice
or frozen snow on the mirror glass
and windscreen.
Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if
snow or ice adheres to the brake
components. If this situation occurs,
drive the vehicle slowly, releasing
the accelerator pedal and lightly
applying the brakes several times
until the brake performance returns
to normal.
6–36
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Battery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
Keep it securely mounted.
Keep the top clean and dry.
Keep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly or
terminal grease.
Rinse off spilled electrolyte immediately
with a solution of water and baking
soda.
If the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
leads and charge the battery every six
weeks.
Inspecting Electrolyte Level
A low level of electrolyte À uid will cause
the battery to discharge quickly.
Upper level
Lower level
Inspect the electrolyte level at least once
a week. If it is low, remove the caps and
add enough distilled water to bring the
level between the upper and lower level
(illustration).
Do not over ¿ ll.
Examine the speci ¿ c gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especially
during cold weather. If it is low, recharge
the battery.
Battery Recharging
NOTE
Before performing maintenance or
recharging the battery, turn off all
accessories and stop the engine.
To disconnect the battery, remove the
negative lead ¿ rst. Install it last when
connecting the battery.
Be sure to remove the caps before
recharging the battery.
(With i-stop system) Do not quick-charge the battery.
If the battery quickly discharges
because, for example, the lights were
left on too long with the engine off,
slow-charge it as required by battery
size and charger capacity.
If the battery gradually discharges
because of high electric load while the
vehicle is being used, recharge it as
required by battery size and charger
capacity.
Battery Replacement
Contact an Authorised Mazda Repairer for
a battery replacement purchase.
