3–52
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, fl ares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check
the following:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page
6-29 .
Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-26 ).
Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
Use washer fl uid made with antifreeze—
but do not use engine coolant antifreeze
for washer fl uid (page 6-31 ).
NOTE
Remove snow before driving. Snow left
on the windshield 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
windshield.
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.
Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Infl ate snow
tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2 , 4.3 psi) more
than recommended on the tire pressure
label (driver's door frame), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
The vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates you
may fi nd it necessary to replace them with
snow tires during the winter months to
further improve traction on snow and ice
covered roads.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tires diff erent in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly aff ected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
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4–32
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
Warning Indication/Warning Lights
These lights turn on or fl ash to notify the user of the system operation status or a system
malfunction.
Signal Warning Page
Brake System Warning Indication/Warning Light *1*2 7-30
ABS Warning Light *1 Electronic
Brake Force
Distribution
System Warning
7-30 ,
ABS warning
7-33
Charging System Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-30
Engine Oil Warning Light *1 7-30
(Red) * High Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-30
Power Steering Malfunction Indication/Malfunction Indicator Light *1 7-30
* Master Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-33
Electric Parking Brake (EPB) Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-33
* Engine Oil Level Warning Indication 7-33
Check Engine Light *1 7-33
Automatic Transaxle Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-33
* AWD Warning Indication/Warning Light *1 7-33
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light *1 7-33
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4–37
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
Wrench Indicator Light *
When the ignition is switched ON, the
wrench indicator light turns on and then
turns off after a few seconds.
The wrench indicator light turns on under
the following conditions:
When the preset maintenance period has
arrived.
When it’s time to replace the engine oil.
Refer to Maintenance Monitor on page
6-19 .
Low Engine Coolant Temperature
Indicator Light (Blue) *
The light illuminates continuously when
the engine coolant temperature is low and
turns off after the engine is warm.
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6–4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Scheduled Maintenance (U.S.A., Canada, and Puerto
Rico)
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions
(severe driving conditions)apply.
Repeated short-distance driving
Driving in dusty conditions
Driving with extended use of brakes
Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are used
Driving on rough or muddy roads
Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climates
Driving in extremely hot conditions
Driving in mountainous conditions continually
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2. (Canada residents follow Schedule 2.)
Vehicles using Engine Oil Flexible Maintenance
Engine Oil Flexible Maintenance is selected by default for U.S.A. and Puerto Rico residents.
If any following conditions do apply, follow Schedule 2 with engine oil fi xed maintenance.
Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation such as police car, taxi or driving
school car
Driving in dusty conditions
The vehicle calculates the remaining oil life based on engine operating conditions. The
vehicle lets you know when an oil change is due by illuminating the wrench indicator light
in the instrument cluster. Change the oil as soon as possible within the next 1000 km (600
mile) or 15 days. Refer page 6-19 for the details.
NOTE
Please ensure that the Flexible Oil Maintenance Setting is reset after each Oil and Filter
replacement.
For maintenance guidelines beyond the miles/months listed, follow the maintenance
intervals provided in the Scheduled Maintenance Tables.
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6–29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Inspecting Engine Oil Level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on a level
surface.
2. Warm up the engine to normal
operating temperature.
3. Turn it off and wait at least 5 minutes
for the oil to return to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
reinsert it fully.
MAX
MINOK
5. Pull it out again and examine the level.
The level is normal if it is between the
MIN and MAX marks.
If it is near or below MIN, add enough
oil to bring the level to MAX.
CAUTION
Do not overfi ll the engine oil. This may
cause engine damage.
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 fl ame 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.
Pull over to a safe location, then
switch the ignition 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 indefi nitely 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.
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6–68
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use gasoline, kerosene,
rectifi ed spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a signifi cant loss
in functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, fl ush with water
immediately.
If plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fl uids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery
fl uid, it could cause discoloration,
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any
such chemical agents or fl uids 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 into the vehicle
cabin:
Spraying water into the vehicle cabin is
dangerous as electrical devices such as
the audio and switches could get wet
resulting in a malfunction or vehicle
fi r e .
NOTE
Do not wipe the interior using alcohol,
chlorine bleach, or organic solvents
such as thinner, benzene, and gasoline.
Otherwise, it may cause discoloration
or stains.
Rubbing hard with a stiff brush or cloth
may cause damage.
If the vehicle interior becomes soiled
by any of the following, wipe it off
immediately using a soft cloth.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
discoloration, stains, cracks, or peeling
of the coating, and it will make it hard to
wipe off later.
Beverage or fragrance
Grease or oil
Soiling
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6–70
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
NOTE
Because genuine leather is a natural
material, its surface is not uniform and
it may have natural scars, scratches,
and wrinkles.
To maintain the quality for as long as
possible, periodical maintenance, about
twice a year, is recommended.
If the leather upholstery comes into
contact with any of the following, clean
it immediately.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
premature wear, mold, or stains.
Sand or dirt
Grease or oil, such as hand cream
Alcohol, such as in cosmetic or hair
dressing items
If the leather upholstery gets wet,
promptly remove moisture with a dry
cloth. Remaining moisture on the
surface may cause deterioration such as
hardening and shrinkage.
Exposure to direct sunlight for long
periods may cause deterioration and
shrinkage. When parking the car under
direct sunlight for long periods, shade
the interior using sunshades.
Do not leave vinyl products on the
leather upholstery for long periods.
They may affect the leather quality
and coloring. If the cabin temperature
becomes hot, the vinyl may deteriorate
and adhere to the genuine leather.
Plastic Part Maintenance
CAUTION
Do not use polishing agents.
Depending on the product ingredients,
they could cause discoloration, stains,
cracks or peeling of the coating.
Instrument Panel Top
Maintenance
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth
soaked in a mild detergent (approx.
5%) diluted with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
Panel Maintenance
If a panel becomes soiled, wipe it off with
a soft cloth soaked in clean water and
thoroughly wrung out.
If some areas require further cleaning, use
the following procedure:
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth
soaked in a mild detergent (approx. 5
%) diluted with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
NOTE
Be particularly careful when cleaning
shiny surface panels and metallic parts
such as plating as they can be scratched
easily.
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7–34
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
*Some models.
Signal Warning
Check Engine Light If this light illuminates while driving, the vehicle may have a problem. It is important to
note the driving conditions when the light illuminated and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The check engine light may illuminate in the following cases:
The fuel tank level being very low or approaching empty.
The engine's electrical system has a problem.
The emission control system has a problem.
The fuel-fi ller cap is missing or not tightened securely.
If the check engine light remains on, or it fl ashes continuously , do not drive at high speeds
and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Automatic
Transaxle Warning
Indication/Warning
Light The indication/light illuminates when the transaxle has a problem. CAUTION
If the automatic transaxle warning indication/light illuminates, the transaxle has
an electrical problem. Continuing to drive your Mazda in this condition could cause
damage to your transaxle. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
AWD Warning
Indication
*
“4WD System Malfunction” is displayed
The indication is displayed under the following conditions. The system may have a
malfunction. Have the vehicle checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When there is a malfunction in the AWD system.
When there is a large difference between the tire size of the front and rear wheels.
“4WD System High Load” is displayed
The indication is displayed under the following conditions. Park the vehicle in a safe place
and check that the warning indication light turns off, and then drive the vehicle. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if the indication is continuously displayed.
When the differential oil temperature is excessively high.
When there is a large difference between the front and rear wheel rotation, such as when
trying to remove the vehicle from mud.
AWD Warning
Light
*
When the light is turned on
The light turns on under the following conditions. The system may have a malfunction.
Have the vehicle checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When there is a malfunction in the AWD system.
When there is a large difference between the tire size of the front and rear wheels.
When the light is fl ashing
Park the vehicle in a safe place. After a few moments, if the warning light stops fl ashing,
you can resume driving. If the light does not stop fl ashing, contact an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
When the differential oil temperature is excessively high.
When there is a large difference between the front and rear wheel rotation, such as when
trying to remove the vehicle from mud.
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