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Pay special attention to removing salt, dirt,
mud, and other foreign material from the
underside of the fenders, and make sure
the drain holes in the lower edges of the
doors and rocker panels are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing 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.
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.
When using an automatic car wash
Retract the door mirrors.
The 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 seal ability of parts, and
allow water to penetra te 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 luster.
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 colors.
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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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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
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CAUTION
In addition, the
effectiveness of the
braking may diminish so you may need
to depress the brake pedal more strongly
than normal to stop the vehicle.
▼ Electronic Brake Force Distribution
System Warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may illuminate the brake
system warning light and the ABS
warning light simultaneously. The
problem is likely to be
the electronic brake
force distribution system.
WA R N I N G
Do not drive with both the brake system
warning light and ABS 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
light and ABS warning light are illuminated
simultaneously is dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
▼ Charging System Warning
Indication/Warning Light
If the warning light
illuminates while
driving, it indicates a malfunction of the
alternator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving when the charging
system warning light is illuminated
because the engine could stop
unexpectedly.
▼ Engine Oil Warning Indication/
Wa r n i n g L i g h t
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 warning
indication is displayed while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park
off the right-of-wa y on level ground.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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“AWD Malfunction. Front Wheel Drive
Only. Have the Vehicle Inspected” is
displayed/When the light is turned on
The indication is displayed/the light turns
on under the following conditions. The
system may have a malfunction. Have the
vehicle checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
When there is a malfunction in the
AWD system.
“Excessive AWD System Load. Drive
Slowly Until Warning Light Turns Off.
Vehicle Now in Front Wheel Drive” is
displayed/When the light is flashing
The indication is displayed/the light
flashes under the following conditions.
Park the vehicle in a safe place and check
that the warning indication light turns off/
the warning light stops flashing, and then
drive the vehicle. Contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer if the indication is
continuously displayed.
When the differential oil temperature is
excessively high.
When there is a large difference between
the front and rear wheel rotation, such as
when trying to remove the vehicle from
mud.
“Mismatched Tire Diameters. Vehicle
Now in Front Wheel Drive” is
displayed/When the light is turned on
The indication is displayed/the light turns
on under the following conditions. Inspect
the tire sizes or tire pressures on all 4
wheels. Contact an Authorized Mazda
Dealer if the indication remains on or the
warning light remains illuminated.
When any of the tire diameter is
different.
When any of the tire pressure is
incorrect.
▼ TCS/DSC Indication/Indicator
Light (Turns on)
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC or the
brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
▼Air Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning
Indication/Warning Light
A system malfunction is indicated if the
warning light constantly flashes,
constantly illuminates or does not
illuminate at all when the ignition is
switched ON. If any of these occur,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. The system may not
operate in an accident.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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