2017 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF Owners Manual (in English)

6–21
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
NOTE
Changing the coolant should be done
by an expert repairer, we recommend an
Authorised Mazda Repairer.
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 travelling
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 (demineralised) 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 aluminium 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.
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6–22
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
If the coolant reservoir is empty or new
coolant is required frequently, consult
an expert repairer, we recommend an
Authorised Mazda Repairer. Brake/Clutch Fluid
Inspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid
Level
WARNING
If the brake/clutch À uid level is low,
have the brakes inspected:
A low brake/clutch À uid level is
dangerous.
A low level could indicate brake lining
wear or a brake system leak which
could cause the brakes to fail and lead
to an accident.
The brakes and clutch draw À uid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the À uid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept between the
MAX and MIN lines.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an expert
repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer.
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6–23
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Left-hand drive model
Right-hand drive model
Window and Headlight
Washer Fluid
Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
WARNING
Use only windscreen washer À uid or
plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
À uid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windscreen, it will dirty the windscreen,
affect your visibility, and could result in
an accident.
Inspect À uid level in the washer À uid
reservoir; add À uid if necessary.
Use plain water if washer À uid is
unavailable.
But use only washer À uid in cold weather
to prevent it from freezing.
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6–24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Body Lubrication
All moving points of the body, such as
door and bonnet hinges and locks, should
be lubricated each time the engine oil is
changed. Use a nonfreezing lubricant on
locks during cold weather.
Make sure the bonnet's secondary latch
keeps the bonnet from opening when the
primary latch is released.
Wiper Blades
CAUTION
  Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washers have been known to affect
the wiper's ability to clean windows.
  To prevent damage to the wiper
blades, do not use petrol, paraf¿ n,
paint thinner, or other solvents on or
near them.
  When the wiper lever is in the
AUTO position and the ignition is
switched ON, the wipers may move
automatically in the following cases:
 


 If the windscreen above the rain
sensor is touched.
 


 If the windscreen above the rain
sensor is wiped with a cloth.
 


 If the windscreen is struck with a
hand or other object.
 


 If the rain sensor is struck with a
hand or other object from inside
the vehicle.
  Be careful not to pinch hands or
¿ ngers as it may cause injury, or
damage the wipers. When washing or
servicing the vehicle, make sure the
wiper lever is in the OFF position.
Contamination of either the windscreen or
the blades with foreign matter can reduce
wiper effectiveness. Common sources are
insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments
used by some commercial car washes.
If the blades are not wiping properly,
clean the window and blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if
necessary.
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6–25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Replacing Windscreen Wiper
Blades
When the wipers no longer clean well, the
blades are probably worn or cracked.
Replace them.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiper arms
and other components, do not try to
sweep the wiper arm by hand.
NOTE
When raising both windscreen wiper
arms, raise the driver's side wiper arm
¿ rst. When lowering the wiper arms,
slowly lower the wiper arm from the
passenger's side ¿ rst while supporting it
with your hand. Forcefully lowering the
wiper arms could damage the wiper arm
and blade, and may scratch or crack the
windscreen.
(Type A)
1. Raise the wiper arm.
2. Open the clip and slide the blade
assembly in the direction of the arrow.
3. Tilt the blade assembly and remove it
from the arm.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the windscreen let
the wiper arm down easily, do not let it
slap down on the windscreen.
4. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it
out of blade holder.
5. Remove the metal stiffeners from each
blade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
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6–26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CAUTION
  Do not bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
  If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade's wiping ef¿ ciency could
be reduced.
 So do not use the driver's side metal
stiffeners on the passenger's side, or
vice versa.
  Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was in
the old blade rubber.
6. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
(Type B)
1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the blade
assembly to expose the plastic locking
clip.
Compress the clip and slide the
assembly downward; then lift it off the
arm.
Plastic locking clip
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the windscreen let
the wiper arm down easily, do not let it
slap down on the windscreen.
2. Hold the end of the rubber and pull
until the tabs are free of the metal
support.
Metal support
Ta b
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6–27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from each
blade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
CAUTION
  Do not bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
  If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade's wiping ef¿ ciency could
be reduced.
 So do not use the driver's side metal
stiffeners on the passenger's side, or
vice versa.
  Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was in
the old blade rubber.
4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
NOTE
Install the blade so that the tabs are
toward the bottom of the wiper arm.
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6–28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Battery
WARNING
Read the following precautions carefully before using the battery or inspecting
to ensure safe and correct handling:
Always wear eye protection when working near the battery:
Working without eye protection is dangerous. Battery À uid contains SULPHURIC
ACID which could cause blindness if splashed into your eyes. Also, hydrogen gas
produced during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to
explode.
Wear eye protection and protective gloves to prevent contact with battery À uid:
Spilled battery À uid is dangerous.
Battery À uid contains SULPHURIC ACID which could cause serious injuries if it gets
in eyes, or on the skin or clothing. If this happens, immediately À ush your eyes with
water for 15 minutes or wash your skin thoroughly and get medical attention.
Always keep batteries out of the reach of children:
Allowing children to play near batteries is dangerous. Battery À uid could cause serious
injuries if it gets in the eyes or on the skin.
Keep À ames and sparks away from open battery cells and do not allow metal
tools to contact the positive ( ) or negative ( ) terminal of the battery when working
near a battery. Do not allow the positive ( ) terminal to contact the vehicle body:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep all À ames including
cigarettes and sparks away from open battery cells.
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