i-ACTIV AWD Operation
▼i-ACTIV AWD Operation
AWD provides excellent drivability on
snow-covered and ice-packed roads,
sand and mud, as well as on steep
slopes and other slippery surfaces.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to AWD Warning Indication/
Warning Light on page 7-56.
WARNING
Never spin a wheel that is off the
ground:
Spinning a wheel that is off the ground
as a result of the vehicle being stuck or
in a ditch is dangerous. The drive
assembly could be seriously damaged
which could lead to an accident or
could even lead to overheating, oil
leakage, and a
fire.
▼AWD Driving
This vehicle has not been designed for
the purpose of off-road driving or
rallies. Do not attempt to drive over
uneven or rocky surfaces, or across
rivers.
Although this vehicle is equipped with
AWD, acceleration, steering and
braking operations should be
conducted in the same manner as with
a non-AWD vehicle, with the emphasis
placed on safe driving.
▼Ty re s a n d Ty re C h a i n s
The condition of the tyres plays a large
role in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse effects to
the drive assembly, please note the
following:
Ty re s
xWhen replacing tyres, always replace
all front and rear tyres at the same
time.
xAll tyres must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread
pattern. Pay particular attention
when equipping snow or other types
of winter tyres.
xDo not mix tread-worn tyres with
normal tyres.
xInspect tyre
inflation pressures at the
specified periods adjust to the
specified pressures.
NOTE
Check the tyre
inflation pressure label
attached to driver's door frame for the
correct tyre
inflation pressure.
xMake sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine tyres of the specified size,
on all wheels. With AWD, the system
is calibrated for all 4 wheels being of
the same dimensions.
Tyre chains
xInstall tyre chains to the front tyres. xDo not use tyre chains on the rear
wheels.
xDo not drive the vehicle faster than
30 km/h (19 mph) with the tyre
chains installed.
xDo not drive the vehicle with tyre
chains on road conditions other than
snow or ice.
▼To w i n g
If the vehicle requires towing, have it
towed with all 4 wheels completely
off
the ground.
Refer to Towing Description on page
7-46.
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
4-92
with plain water is ineffective, use a
mild soap made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots
from forming.
WARNING
Dry off brakes that have become wet
by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the
brake performance returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected.
When using an automatic car wash
xRetract the door mirrors. xThe automatic car wash brushes
could reduce the paint lustre or
hasten paint deterioration.
When using a high water pressure car
wash
High water temperature and high
water pressure car washers are
available depending on the type of car
wash machine. If the car washer nozzle
is put too close to the vehicle, the
force of the spray could damage or
deform the molding,
affect the
sealability of parts, and allow water to
penetrate the interior. Keep a
sufficient
space (30 cm (12 in) or more)
between the nozzle and the vehicle. In
addition, do not spend too much time
spraying the same area of the vehicle,
and be very careful when spraying
between gaps in doors and around
windows.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the
finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle
body, wax the metal trim to maintain
its lustre.
1. Use wax which contains no
abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will
remove paint and could damage
bright metal parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for
metallic, mica, and solid colours.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle does not need it.
▼Paint Damage Touch-up
Repair damage to the finish caused by
stone chipping, damage during parking
etc., by using Mazda touch-up paint
before rust begins to form. First,
remove the dirt and grease with a
clean soft cloth.
If rust has already begun to form:
1. Remove rust completely with
sandpaper.
2. Wipe with a clean soft cloth.
3. Apply rust preventive primer to the
area.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-57