MAZDA MODEL 3 5-DOOR 2004 Owners Manual

8-23
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
This air filter may be cleaned with
compressed air and reused, or replaced,
depending on its condition. Unless it is
very dirty, simply shake it to remove
foreign particles. Each time you inspect it,
wipe inside the air cleaner housing with a
damp cloth.

Replacing the Air Filter
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned
off.
2. Remove the battery cover and battery duct. 3. Unfasten the clamps.
4. Lift off the air filter cover and remove
the filter.
5. Wipe inside the air cleaner housing with a damp cloth.
6. Clean or replace the filter.
7. Install in the reverse order of removal.
Replace the filter according to the
Scheduled Maintenance (page 8-3).
Air Filter
Don ’t drive without an air filter. This
could result in excessive engine wear.
NOTE
If the vehicle is operated in very dusty
or sandy areas, replace the filter more
often than the recommended intervals.
Use a Mazda genuine air filter. Use of
other filters could damage the airflow
sensor.
CAUTION
CAUTION
Battery duct
Battery cover
Clamp
Air filter cover
Air filter
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8-24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Contamination of either the windshield or
the blades with foreign matter can reduce
wiper effectiveness. Common sources are
insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments
used by some commercial car washes.
If the blades are not wiping properly,
clean the window and blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if
necessary.

Replacing Windshield Wiper
Blades
When the wipers no longer clean well, the
blades are probably worn or cracked.
Replace them.
1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the blade
assembly to expose the plastic locking
clip.
Slide the assembly downward; then lift
it off the arm.
Wiper Blades
•Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washers have been known to affect
the wiper ’s ability to clean windows.
• To prevent damage to the wiper
blades, don
’t use gasoline,
kerosene, paint thinner, or other
solvents on or near them.
• When the wiper lever is in the
AUTO position and the ignition
switch is in the ON position, the
wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:

If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched.
 If the windshield above the rain
sensor is wiped with a cloth.
 If the windshield is given a
shock.
 If the rain sensor is given a shock
from inside the vehicle.
Be careful not to pinch hands or
fingers as it may cause injury, or
damage the wipers. When washing or
servicing your Mazda, make sure the
wiper lever is in the OFF position.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiper arms
and other components, don ’t move the
wipers by hand.
To prevent damage to the windshield,
don’ t let the wiper arm fall on it.
CAUTION
Push
Plastic locking clip
CAUTION
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8-25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
2. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it out of blade holder.
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from the blade rubber and install them in new
blades. 4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
Pull out
Stiffener
•Don
’t bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
• If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade’
s wiping efficiency could
be reduced.
So don ’t use the driver ’s side metal
stiffeners on the passenger’ s side, or
vice versa.
• Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was
in the old blade rubber.
CAUTION
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8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Replacing Rear Window Wiper
Blade (5 Door)
When the wiper no longer cleans well, the
blade is probably worn or cracked.
Replace it.
1. Raise the wiper arm and rotate the
wiper blade to the right until it unlocks,
then remove the blade. 2. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it
out of the blade holder.
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from the blade rubber and install them in new
blades.
To prevent damage to the wiper arm
and other components, don
’t move the
wiper by hand.
To prevent damage to the rear window,
don ’t let the wiper arm fall on it.
CAUTION
CAUTION
Don ’t bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
Pull out
Stiffener
CAUTION
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8-27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
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8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Battery
Battery-Related Lead Materials:
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.Follow These Precautions Carefully:
To ensure safe and correct handling of the battery, read the following precautions
carefully before using the battery or inspecting it.Eye Protection:
Working without eye protection is dangerous. Battery fluid contains SULFURIC
ACID which could cause blindness if splashed into in your eyes. Also, hydrogen gas
produced during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to
explode. Always wear eye protection when working near the battery.Spilled Battery Fluid:
Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC ACID which could cause serious injuries if it gets
in eyes, skin or clothing. If this happens, immediately flush your eyes with water for
15 minutes or wash your skin thoroughly and get medical attention. Wear eye
protection and protective gloves to prevent contact with battery fluid.Children and Batteries:
Allowing children to play near batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid could cause
serious injuries if it gets in the eyes or on the skin. Always keep batteries out of the
reach of children.
WARNING
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8-29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Keep Flames Away:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep all flames including
cigarettes and sparks away from open battery cells. When working near a battery, do
not allow metal tools to contact the positive ( ) or negative ( ) terminal of the
battery. Do not allow the positive ( ) terminal to contact the vehicle body.Battery-Related Explosion:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep all flames, including
cigarettes, and sparks away from open battery cells.
WARNING
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8-30
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Battery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
• Keep it securely mounted.
• Keep the top clean and dry.
• Keep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
• Rinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda. •
If the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.


Inspecting Electrolyte Level
A low level of electrolyte fluid will cause
the battery to discharge quickly.
Inspect the electrolyte level at least once a
week. If it
’s low, remove the cap and add
enough distilled water to bring the level
between the upper and lower level
(illustration).
Don ’t overfill.

Examine the specific gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especially
during cold weather. If it ’s low, recharge
the battery.
NOTE
Remove the battery cover before
performing battery maintenance.
Battery coverUpper level
Lower level
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8-31
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.

Tire Inflation Pressure
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System*
does not alleviate the need to check the
tire condition every day, including
whether the tires all look inflated
properly. Inspect all tire pressure monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, top handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-8).
Tires
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Except for the limited use of the
temporary spare tire, use only the
same type tires (radial, bias-belted,
bias-type) on all four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-8)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
WARNING
Incorrect Tire Inflation:
Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling
or unexpected tire failure could result
in a serious accident. Always inflate
the tires to the correct pressure (page
10-8).
WARNING
Tire pressure label
*Some models.
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8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)/8,000 km*
(5,000 miles) or sooner if irregular wear
develops. During rotation, inspect them
for correct balance.
*Unique driving conditions for USA,
Canada and Puerto Rico
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 10-8) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
NOTE
• Always check tire pressure when
tires are cold.
• Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don
’t
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
• Underinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy 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 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.
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 weakened if rotated from side
to side.
Front
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.
CAUTION
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