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Owner Maintenance Precautions
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these v ehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Deale r or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
When Refueling
Brake and clutch fluid level (page 6-26)
Engine coolant level (page 6-24)
Engine oil level (page 6-24)
Washer fluid lev el (page 6-26)
At Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 6-36)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you hav e some mechanical ability
and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
Engine coolant (page 6-24)
Engine oil (page 6-22)
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This sec tion gives instructions only
for items that are easy to perform.
As explained in the Introducti on (page 6-2), several procedures can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affec t warranty coverage.
Refer to Introduction (page 6-2) for owner's responsibility in protecting your investment.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provide d with the vehicle. If you
are unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of waste oil and fluids. Please
dispose of your waste properly and with due regard to the envir onment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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▼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.
MIN
MAX
OK
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 overfill 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
WA R N I N G
Do not use a match or live flame 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 indefinitely 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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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SignalWarning
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution System Wa r n i n g If the electronic brake force di
stribution control unit determines that some compo-
nents are operating incorrectly , the control unit may illuminate the brake system
warning light and the ABS warni ng light simultaneously. The problem is likely to be
the electronic brake force distribution system.
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning light and brake warning light illuminated.
Have the vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the brakes inspected as
soon as possible:
Driving when the brake system warning li ght and ABS warning light are illuminated
simultaneously is dangerous.
When both lights are illuminate d, the rear wheels could lock more quickly in an emer‐
gency stop than under normal circumstances.
Charging System Warn- ing Indication/Warning Light If the warning light illuminates while driving, it indicates a
malfunction of the alter-
nator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. Co nsult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving when the charging system warning light is illuminated be‐
cause the engine could stop unexpectedly.
Engine Oil Warning Light This warning light indicates low engine oil pressure.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil pressure is
low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
If the light illuminates or the w arning indication is displayed while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way o n level ground.
2. Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes for the oil to drain b ack into the oil pan.
3. Inspect the engine oil level (p age 6-24). If it's low, add the appropriate amount of
engine oil while being careful not to overfill.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil level is low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
4. Start the engine and check the warning light.
If the light remains illuminated even though the oil level is normal or after adding oil,
stop the engine immediately and have your vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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