Winter Driving
▼Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper,
flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
check the following:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page
6-20.
Inspect the battery and its cables.
Cold reduces battery capacity.
Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that
the vehicle will be driven in (page
6-17).
Inspect the ignition system for
damage and loose connections.
Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze ―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 6-22).
NOTE
Remove snow before driving. Snow
left on the windshield is dangerous
as it could obstruct vision.
Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice
or frozen snow on the mirror glass
and windshield.
Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely a ffected if snow or
ice adheres to the brake
components. If this situation occurs,
drive the vehicle slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the
brake performance returns to
normal.
▼ Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all 4 wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75
mph) while driving with snow tires.
In
flate snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2,
4.3 psi) more than recommended on
the tire pressure label (driver's door
frame), but never more than the
maximum cold-tire pressure shown on
the tires.
Mexico
The vehicle is originally equipped with
summer tires designed for optimum
traction on wet and dry roads. If your
vehicle is to be used on snow and ice
covered roads, Mazda recommends
that you replace the tires originally
equipped on your vehicle with snow
tires during the winter months.
Except Mexico
The vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used
all year around. In some extreme
climates you may find it necessary to
replace them with snow tires during
the winter months to further improve
traction on snow and ice covered
roads.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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SignalWarning Refer to
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Indication/
Warning Light*17-32
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Warning Indication/Warning
Light*1
Flashing
7-33
Tu r n s o n 7-37
(Red) KEY Warning Indication/Warning Light
*17-33
(Amber)
*High Beam Control System (HBC) Warning Indication/Warning
Light*17-34
i-ACTIVSENSE Warning Indication/Warning Light*17-34
Exterior Light Warning Indication/Warning Light*17-34
Low Fuel Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-35
Check Fuel Cap Warning Indication/Warning Light*17-35
Engine Oil Level Warning Indication/Warning Light*17-35
Seat Belt Warning Indication/Warning Light (Front seat) 7-36
(Red)Seat Belt Warning Light (Rear seat)
7-36
*Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Indication/Warning Light7-36
Door-Ajar Warning Indication
7-37
*Trunk lid-Ajar Warning Indication7-37
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
4-24*Some models.
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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 Wa
rning Indication/
Warning Light on page 7-31.
WARNING
Never spin a wheel that is o ff the
ground:
Spinning a wheel that is o ff 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 o
ff-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.
▼ Tires and Tire Chains
The condition of the tires plays a large
role in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse eff
ects to
the drive assembly, please note the
following:
Tires
When replacing tires, always replace
all front and rear tires at the same
time.
All tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread
pattern. Pay particular attention
when equipping snow or other types
of winter tires.
Do not mix tread-worn tires with
normal tires.
Inspect tire inflation pressures at the
speci fied periods adjust to the
speci fied pressures.
NOTE
Check the tire
inflation pressure label
attached to driver's door frame for the
correct tire inflation pressure.
Make sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine tires of the speci
fied size, on
all wheels. With AWD, the system is
calibrated for all 4 wheels being of
the same dimensions.
Tire chains
Install tire chains to the front tires.Do not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
Do not drive the vehicle faster than
30 km/h (19 mph) with the tire
chains installed.
Do not drive the vehicle with tire
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
7-23.
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
*Some models.4-83
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Maintenance ItemNumber of times, maintenance was performed.
12345678
B ra ke lin es, h ose s a nd c onnectio ns IIII
Vacuum brake booster and
hose With vac-
uum booster
IIII
Brake and clutch fluid level IIIIIIII
Brake fluid With electri-
cal booster
RRRR
Disc brakes IIIIIIII
Tire rotation Rotate every 16,000 km (10,000 miles).
Tire in flation pressure and tire wear
*4IIIIIIII
S te erin g o pera tio n a nd lin ka ge s IIII
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and
wheel bearing axial play IIII
D riv e sh aft d ust b oo t IIII
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TTTT
Exhaust system and heat shields II
Emergency flat tire repair kit (if equipped)
*5Inspect annually.
Cabin air filter Replace every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 24
months.
Function of all lights IIIIIIII
Chart symbols:
I : Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, fill up, or replace if necessary.
R : Replace
T: Tighten
Remarks:
*1 Reset the engine oil data whenever replacing the engine oil regardless of the message/wrench indicator light display.
*2Use of FL-22 is recommended when replacing engine coolant. Using engine coolant other than
FL-22
may cause serious damage to the engine and cooling system.
*3 According to state/provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services
be performed at the recommended time or mileage/kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*4 Inspect a spare tire if equipped.*5Check the tire repair fl uid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance.
Replace the tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
6-5
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Maintenance ItemNumber of times, maintenance was performed.
12345678
Brake lines, hoses and connections II II
Vacuum brake booster and
hose With vacuum
booster
IIII
Brake and clutch fl uid level III III
Brake fluid RR
Disc brakes IIIIIIII
Tire rotation Rotate every 10,000 km.
Tire in flation pressure and tire wear
*4IIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages I I I I I I I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and
wheel bearing axial play IIII
Driveshaft dust boot II II
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TTT T
Exhaust system and heat shields II II
Emergency flat tire repair kit (if equipped)
*5Inspect annually.
Cabin air filter Replace every 40,000 km or 24 months.
Function of all lights IIIIIIII
Chart symbols:
I: Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, fill up, or replace if necessary.
R : Replace
T: Tighten
Remarks:
*1 Reset the engine oil data whenever replacing the engine oil regardless of the message/wrench indicator light display.
*2Use of FL -22 is recommended when replacing engine c oolant. Using engine coolant other than FL-22
may cause serious damage to the engine and cooling system.
*3 According to state/provincial and federal regulati ons, failure to perform maintenance on these items
will not void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services
be performed at the recommended time or mileage/kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*4 Inspect a spare tire if equipped.*5Check the tire repair fl uid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance.
Replace the tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Owner MaintenancePrecautions
▼Owner Maintenance Precautions
The owner or a qualified service
technician should make these vehicle
inspections at the indicated intervals to
ensure safe and dependable
operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of
an Authorized Mazda Dealer or
qualifi
ed service technician as soon as
possible.
When Refueling
Brake and clutch fluid level (page
6-21)
Engine coolant level (page 6-20)Engine oil level (page 6-19)Washer fluid level (page 6-22)
At Least Monthly
Tire in flation pressures (page 6-34)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example,
Every Spring and Fall)
You can do the following scheduled
maintenance items if you have some
mechanical ability and a few basic
tools and if you closely follow the
directions in this manual.
Engine coolant (page 6-20)Engine oil (page 6-19)
Improper or incomplete service may
result in problems. This section gives
instructions only for items that are easy
to perform.
As explained in the Introduction (page
6-2), several procedures can be done
only by a qualifi ed service technician
with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during
the warranty period may a ffect
warranty coverage. Refer to
Introduction (page 6-2) for owner's
responsibility in protecting your
investment. For details, read the
separate Mazda Warranty statement
provided 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
fl uids. Please dispose of your waste
properly and with due regard to the
environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil
and fluid changes of your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
Do not perform maintenance work if
you lack su fficient knowledge and
experience or the proper tools and
equipment to do the work. Have
maintenance work done by a
quali fied technician:
Performing maintenance work on a
vehicle is dangerous if not done
properly. You can be seriously injured
while performing some maintenance
procedures.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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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 o ff 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 o ff 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
a ff ected.
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 , aff ect the
sealability of parts, and allow water to
penetrate the interior. Keep a su fficient
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.
Wax containing abrasives will
remove paints 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 o ff the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
o ff 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 that uses
high-speed or hard brushes.
▼Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of
the lights, do not use gasoline,
kerosene, recti
fied spirit, paint,
thinner, highly acidic detergents, or
strongly alkaline detergents.
Otherwise, these chemical agents
can discolor or damage the surfaces
resulting in a signi ficant loss in
functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately.
If plastic parts such 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 o ff 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.6-53
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