Underinflation can cause reduced fuel
economy, uneven and accelerated tire
wear, and poor sealing of the tire bead,
which will deform the wheel and cause
separation of tire from rim.
Overinflation can produce a harsh ride,
uneven and accelerated tire wear, and a
greater possibility of damage from road
hazards.
Keep your tire pressure at the correct
levels. If one frequently needs inflating,
have it inspected.
▼Tire Rotation
WA R N I N G
Rotate tires periodically:
Irregular tire wear is dangerous. To
equalize tread wear for maintaining good
performance in handling and braking,
rotate the tires periodically or sooner if
irregular wear develops.
Please refer to Scheduled maintenance for
your tire rotation interval.
During rotation, inspect them for correct
balance.
1. Forward
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE
ONLY) spare tire in rotation.
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
Incorrect tire pressure
Improper wheel alignment
Out-of-balance wheel
Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 9- 9) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial tires
that have an asymmetrical tread pattern or
studs only from front to rear, not from side
to side. Tire performance will be reduced if
rotated from side to side.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-32
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The temporary spare tire has a tread life
of less than 5,000 km (3,000 miles). The
tread life may be shorter depending on
driving conditions.
The temporary spare tire is for limited
use, however, if the tread wear
solid-band indicator appears, replace the
tire with the same type of temporary
spare (page 6-33).
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they
are not being used on the road. It is
recommended that tires generally be
replaced when they are 6 years or older.
Heat caused by hot climates or frequent
high loading conditions can accelerate the
aging process. You should replace the
spare tire when you replace the other road
tires due to the aging of the spare tire. The
period in which the tire was manufactured
(both week and year) is indicated by a
4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 8-23.
▼ Replacing a Wheel
WA R N I N G
Always use wheels of the correct size on
your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is dangerous.
Braking and handling could be affected,
leading to loss of control and an accident.
CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
Tire fit
Wheel and bearing life
Ground clearance
Snow-chain clearance
Speedometer calibration
Headlight aim
Bumper height
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
NOTE
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original
factory wheel in diameter, rim width,
and offset (inset/outset).
For details, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-34
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CAUTION
When removing the lens or lamp unit using
a flathead screwdriver, make sure that the
flathead screwdriver does not contact the
interior terminal. If the flathead screwdriver
contacts the terminal, a short circuit may
occur.
NOTE
When replacing a bulb, contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if necessary.
Use the protective cover and carton for
the replacement bulb to dispose of the
old bulb promptly and out of the reach
of children.
For details regarding the installation
positions of the interior lights, refer to
the following:
Vanity mirror lights
Refer to Vanity Mirrors on page 5-34.
Overhead Lights/front map lights,
overhead light (rear), trunk light, and
luggage compartment light
Refer to Interior Lights on page 5-35.
▼ Replacing Exterior Light Bulbs
The exterior lights
have either LEDs or
normal bulbs.
Only the bulb for a parking lights/front
side-marker lights (type B) can be
replaced.
LED type
Headlights
Daytime running lights
Parking lights (Type A)
Front turn signal lights
Front side-marker lights (Type A)
Side turn signal lights*
High-mount brake light
Rear turn signal lights
Rear side-marker lights
Brake lights
Taillights
Reverse lights
License plate lights
The LED bulb cannot be replaced as a
single unit because it is an integrated unit.
The LED bulb has to be replaced with the
unit. We recommend an Authorized
Mazda Dealer when the replacement is
necessary.
Bulb type
Parking lights/Front side-marker lights
(Type B)
1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headligh t switch is off.
2. If you are changing the left bulb, start
the engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the right, and turn off
engine. If you are changing the right
bulb, turn the steering wheel to the left.
3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer
and remove the retainers.
1. Removal
2. Installation
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-36*Some models.
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▼Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is da
maged and needs metal
parts repaired or replaced, make sure the
body shop applies anti -corrosion materials
to all parts, both repaired and new. This
will prevent them from rusting.
▼ Bright-Metal Maintenance
Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
To prevent corrosi
on on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
During cold weather o r in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or
strong detergents containing highly
alkaline or caustic agents on
chrome-plated or anodized aluminum
parts. This may result in damage to the
protective coating and cause discoloration
or paint deterioration.
▼ Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of
such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also to
do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped there
will cause rusting.
WA R N I N G
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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-48
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▼Aluminum Wheel Maintenance*
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
CAUTION
Do not use any detergent other than mild
detergent. Before using any detergent,
verify the ingredients. Otherwise, the
product could discolor or stain the
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
Do not use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent
on aluminum wheels. They may damage
the coating.
Always use a sponge or soft cloth to
clean the wheels.
Rinse the wheels thoroughly with
lukewarm or cold water. Also, be sure to
clean the wheels after driving on dusty
or salted roads to help prevent
corrosion.
Avoid washing your vehicle in an
automatic car wash th
at uses high-speed
or hard brushes.
▼ Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use g
asoline, kerosene,
rectified spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a significant loss in
functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately.
If plastic parts s uch as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fluids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery
fluid, it could cause discoloration,
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any
such chemical agents or fluids 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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
*Some models.6-49
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5–Door
Perform the removal procedure in reverse.
Maintenance
Always keep the jack clean.
Make sure the moving parts are kept
free from dirt or rust.
Make sure the screw thread is
adequately lubricated.
▼Spare Tire
Your Mazda has a temporary spare tire.
The temporary spare tire is lighter and
smaller than a conventional tire, and is
designed only for emergency use and
should be used only for VERY short
periods. Temporary spare tires should
NEVER be used for long drives or
extended periods.
WA R N I N G
Do not install the temporary spare tire on
the front wheels (driving wheels):
Driving with the temporary spare tire on
one of the front driving wheels is
dangerous. Handling will be
affected. You
could lose control of the vehicle, especially
on ice or snow bound roads, and have an
accident. Move a regular tire to the front
wheel and install the temporary spare tire
to the rear.
CAUTION
When using the temporary spare tire,
driving stability may decrease compared
to when using only the conventional tire.
Drive carefully.
To avoid damage to the temporary spare
tire or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
Avoid driving over obstacles. Also, do
not drive through an automatic car
wash. This tire's diameter is smaller
than a conventional tire, so the ground
clearance is reduced.
Do not use a tire chain on this tire
because it will not
fit properly.
Do not use your temporary spare tire
on any other vehicle, it has been
designed only for your Mazda.
Use only one temporary spare tire on
your vehicle at the same time.
To remove the spare tire
4–Door
1. Remove the trunk mat.
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
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1. Park on a hard, level surface off theright-of-way and firmly set the parking
brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in Park (P), a manual
transmission in Reverse (R) or 1, and
turn off the engine.
3. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle and away from the vehicle and traffic.
5. Remove the jack, tool, and spare tire
(page 7-3).
6. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire. When blocking a wheel,
place a tire block both in front and
behind the tire.
NOTE
When blocking a tire, use rocks or
wood blocks of sufficient size if
possible to hold the tire in place.
▼Removing a Flat Tire
WA R N I N G
When jacking-up a vehicle, always shift the
shift lever to 1st or R position (manual
transmission vehicle) or shift the selector
lever to P position (automatic transmission
vehicle), apply the parking brake, and place
wheel blocks in the position diagonally
opposed to the jack:
Changing a
flat tire without using wheel
blocks is dangerous because the vehicle
may move and fall off the jack even with
the shift lever in 1st or R position, or the
selector lever is in P position, which could
result in an accident.
1. If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel cover, pry off the wheel cover
with the beveled end of the jack lever.
NOTE
Force the end of the jack lever firmly
between wheel and cover, or removal
will be difficult.
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
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CAUTION
Align the notch on the wheel cover with
the valve stem when installing it.
1. Notch
2. Tire valve
Damage could occur during
installation if the wheel cover is not
properly aligned.
2. Loosen the lug nuts by turning themcounterclockwise one turn each, but do
not remove any lug nuts until the tire
has been raised off the ground.
NOTE
If your Mazda is equipped with the
optional antitheft wheel lug nuts, a
special key must be used to unlock the
locking lug nut for each wheel. For
details, refer to the Locking Lug Nuts
on page 7-11.
3. Place the jack on the ground.
4. Turn the jack screw in the direction shown in the figure and adjust the jack
head so that it is close to the jack-up
position.
1. Jack head
If Trouble Arises
Flat Tire
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