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

6–61
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Convertible Top (Retractable
Fastback) Maintenance
W a s h i n g
To help protect the retractable fastback's
¿ nish, use a soft cloth or sponge to wash
it.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the ¿ nish if they are not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
CAUTION
  Do not use an automatic car wash. 
 Do not spray water directly on the
area where the window glass and the
retractable fastback meet. This would
probably cause water to enter the
cabin.
  Do not use strong soap, chemical
detergents, or hot water, and do not
wash the retractable fastback in
direct sunlight or when the surface is
warm.
Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm or cold
water. Do not allow soap to dry on the
¿ nish.
Waxing
Wax the retractable fastback when water
no longer beads on the paint. Always wash
and dry it before waxing.
CAUTION
  Wiping off dust or dirt with a dry
cloth will scratch the ¿ nish.

 Do not use abrasive wax. This may
damage the protective coating and
discolour or deteriorate the paint.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas.
Drainage outlet cleaning procedure
There are drainage outlets on the left and
right of the lower side of the rear window.
Rear roofDrainage
outlet
Rear window
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6–62
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
NOTE
If leaves or other foreign matter block
the drainage outlets, water may enter the
cabin. Clean the drainage outlets at least
once a year.
1. Continue pressing the retractable
fastback switch in the open direction
until the rear roof is raised up from the
fully closed position.
Refer to Opening the Roof on page
3-51 .
2. Remove your ¿ nger from the
retractable fastback switch after the
rear roof is raised up.
3. Make sure the drainage outlets are
visible.
Drainage
outlet
Rear roof links
4. Switch the ignition OFF.
WARNING
Verify that the ignition is switched off:
Closing the roof with the ignition not
switched off is dangerous as the motors
could turn on suddenly and cause
injury resulting from hands or ¿ ngers
being pinched in the mechanism.
5. Remove leaves and other foreign
matter accumulated in the drainage
outlet.
CAUTION
When cleaning the drainage outlets, be
careful not to touch the roof links or the
framework of the rear roof. Otherwise,
you could get injured.
Roof links Rear roof
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6–63
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6. After cleaning is ¿ nished, continue
pressing the retractable fastback switch
in the close direction to close the rear
roof.
Refer to Closing the Roof on page
3-52 . Plastic Part Maintenance
 












 When cleaning the plastic lenses of
the lights, do not use petrol, paraf¿ n,
recti¿ ed spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolour or damage the
surfaces resulting in a signi¿ cant loss
in functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, À ush with water
immediately.
 


 If plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or À uids such as petrol,
oil, engine coolant, or battery À uid, it
could cause discolouration, staining,
or paint peeling. Wipe off any such
chemical agents or À 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.
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6–64
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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
¿ re.
NOTE

 Do not wipe the interior using
alcohol, chlorine bleach, or organic
solvents such as thinner, benzene,
and petrol. Otherwise, it may cause
discolouration 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
discolouration, stains, cracks, or peeling
of the coating, and it will make it hard to
wipe off later.
 


 Beverage or fragrance



 Grease or oil



 Soiling
Seat Belt Maintenance
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly dabbing
it 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.
3. Before retracting seat belts which have
been pulled out for cleaning, dry them
off thoroughly and make sure there is
no remaining moisture on them.
WARNING
If a seat belt appears frayed or has
abrasions, have it replaced by an
Authorised Mazda Repairer:
If a seat belts is used under such a
condition, it cannot function at its full
capacity which could result in serious
injury or death.
Use a mild detergent to remove soiling
from a seat belt:
If organic solvents are used for
cleaning the seat belts or they become
stained or bleached, there is the
possibility of them becoming weakened
and as a result, they may not function
at their full capacity which could cause
serious injury or death.
NOTE
Clean seat belts diligently if they get
dirty. Leaving them uncleaned will make
it dif¿ cult to clean them later, and it may
affect the smooth retracting of the seat
belt.
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6–65
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
*Some models.
Vinyl Upholstery Maintenance
Remove dust and dirt from the vinyl
upholstery using a brush or vacuum.
Remove soiling from vinyl upholstery
using a leather and vinyl upholstery
cleaner.
Upholstery Maintenance
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly dabbing
it 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
Rubbing the interior side of the soft top
vigorously with a stiff brush or cloth
may cause damage.
Leather Upholstery Maintenance *
1. Remove dust and sand using a vacuum
cleaner.
2. Wipe off the soiled area with a soft
cloth and a suitable, special cleaner or
a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent
(about 5%) diluted with water.
3. Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
4. Remove moisture with a dry, soft cloth
and allow the leather to further dry in
a well-ventilated, shaded area. If the
leather gets wet such as from rain,
remove the moisture and dry it as soon
as possible.
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 colouring. If the cabin
temperature becomes hot, the vinyl
may deteriorate and adhere to the
genuine leather.
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6–66
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Plastic Part Maintenance
CAUTION
Do not use polishing agents.
Depending on the product ingredients,
they could cause discolouration, 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.
Cleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with an
oily, greasy, or waxy ¿ lm, clean them with
glass cleaner. Follow the directions on the
container.
CAUTION
  Do not scrape or scratch the inside of
the window glass. It could damage
the thermal ¿ laments.

 When washing the inside of the
window glass, use a soft cloth
dampened in lukewarm water, gently
wiping the thermal ¿ laments.
 Use of glass cleaning products could
damage the thermal ¿ laments.
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7–1*Some models.7–1
7If Trouble Arises
Helpful information on what to do if a problem arises with the vehicle.
Parking in an Emergency ................... 7-2
Parking in an Emergency ............... 7-2
Roadside Emergency Triangle
Retaining Strap
* ............................. 7-2
Flat Tyre ............................................... 7-3
Flat Tyre
* ........................................ 7-3
Tool Storage ................................... 7-5
Emergency Flat Tyre Repair
Kit
* ................................................. 7-7
Changing a Tyre ........................... 7-14
Battery Runs Out .............................. 7-20
Jump-Starting ............................... 7-20
Emergency Starting .......................... 7-23
Starting a Flooded Engine ............ 7-23
Push-Starting ................................ 7-23
Overheating ....................................... 7-24
Overheating .................................. 7-24
When Fuel-Filler Flap Cannot be
Opened ............................................... 7-26
When Fuel-Filler Flap Cannot be
Opened ......................................... 7-26
Emergency Towing ............................ 7-27
Towing Description ...................... 7-27
Towing Hooks .............................. 7-28 Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning
Sounds ................................................ 7-31
If a Warning Light Turns On or
Flashes .......................................... 7-31
Message Indicated in Multi-
information Display
* .................... 7-46
Message Indicated on Display * .... 7-47
Warning Sound is Activated ......... 7-49
When Boot Lid Cannot be
Opened ............................................... 7-55
When Boot Lid Cannot be
Opened ......................................... 7-55
When the Roof Cannot be Closed.... 7-60
When the Roof Cannot be
Closed .......................................... 7-60
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7–2
If Trouble Arises
Parking in an Emergency
*Some models.
Parking in an Emergency
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traf¿ c hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning À asher and
all the direction indicators will À ash. The
hazard warning indicator lights in the
instrument cluster À ash simultaneously.
NOTE

 The direction indicators do not work
when the hazard warning lights are
on.
  Check local regulations about the use
of hazard warning lights while the
vehicle is being towed to verify that
it is not in violation of the law.
Roadside Emergency
Triangle Retaining Strap
*
Keep the roadside emergency triangle in
the boot end trim and secure it with the
strap.
Strap
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