brakes MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK 2008 (in English) Owner's Guide

Black plate (329,1)
CAUTION
ØDon't use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or
caustic agents on chrome-plated
or anodized aluminum parts. This
may damage the protective
coating; also, cleaners and
detergents may discolor or
deteriorate the paint.
ØTo prevent damaging the antenna,
remove it before entering a car
wash facility or passing beneath a
low overhead clearance.
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. Don't 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 wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is 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.
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 doesn't need it.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
8-61
Mazda3_8X41-EA-07F_Edition2 Page329
Monday, June 18 2007 1:30 PM
Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (330,1)
qRepairing 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 damaged 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.
qBright-Metal Maintenance
lUse tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
lTo prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
lDuring cold weather or 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
Don't 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.
qUnderbody 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.
WARNING
Dry wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is 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.
8-62
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Mazda3_8X41-EA-07F_Edition2 Page330
Monday, June 18 2007 1:30 PM
Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (362,1)
qGlossary of Terms
Tire Placard:A label indicating the OE tire sizes, recommended inflation pressure, and
the maximum weight the vehicle can carry.
Tire Identification Number (TIN):A number on the sidewall of each tire providing
information about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire size, and date of
manufacture.
Inflation Pressure:A measure of the amount of air in a tire.
kPa:Kilopascal, the metric unit for air pressure.
psi:Pounds per square inch, the English unit for air pressure.
B-pillar:The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the front door.
Original Equipment (OE):Describes components originally equipped on the vehicle.
Vehicle Load Limit:The maximum value of the combination weight of occupants and
cargo.
Bead Area of the Tire:Area of the tire next to the rim.
Sidewall Area of the Tire:Area between the bead area and the tread.
Tread Area of the Tire:Area on the perimeter of the tire that contacts the road when it's
mounted on the vehicle.
Seating capacitymeans the total allowable number of vehicle occupants. Seating capacity
is described on the tire label.
Production options weightis the combination weight of installed regular production
options weighing over 2.3 kilograms in excess of the standard items which they replace,
and not previously considered in the curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.
Rimis the metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
9-30
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Mazda3_8X41-EA-07F_Edition2 Page362
Monday, June 18 2007 1:30 PM
Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (366,1)
Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not taw a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or trailer, to keep
your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating capability, with or without a trailer.
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of vehicle design performance.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle's weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle's Safety
Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's
suspension system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure,
handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the
distance required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail
completely, particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation
pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
9-34
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Mazda3_8X41-EA-07F_Edition2 Page366
Monday, June 18 2007 1:30 PM
Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (371,1)
GCW
GCW (Gross Combination Weight)is the weight of the loaded vehicle (GVW) plus the
weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating)is the maximum allowable weight of the
vehicle and the loaded trailer - including all cargo and passengers - that the vehicle can
handle without risking damage. (Important: The towing vehicle's braking system is rated
for operation at GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers weighing more than 1,500 lbs).The GCW must
never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weightis the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer
the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only mandatory options, no cargo (internal or
external), a tongue load of 10_
15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15_
25%
(fifth-wheel trailer), and driver only (150 lbs).Consult your dealership (or the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide provided by your dealership) for more detailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth-Wheel King Pin Weightrefers to the amount of the weight that a
trailer pushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples:For a 5000 lb conventional trailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a
proper tongue load range of 500 to 750 lbs. For an 11,500 lb fifth-wheel trailer, multiply by
0.15 and 0.25 to obtain a proper king pin load range of 1,725 to 2,875 lbs.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-39
Mazda3_8X41-EA-07F_Edition2 Page371
Monday, June 18 2007 1:30 PM
Form No.8X41-EA-07F

Black plate (388,1)
A
Accessory Socket .............................. 6-64
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories ....................................... 9-16
Air Bag Systems ............................... 2-40
Ambient Temperature Display .......... 6-54
Antenna ............................................. 6-15
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ......... 5-7
Warning light ............................... 5-8
Appearance Care ............................... 8-58
Ashtray .............................................. 6-58
Audio System ................................... 6-15
Audio control switch .................. 6-44
Audio set .................................... 6-27
Auxiliary Input ........................... 6-46
Operating tips for audio
system ........................................ 6-16
Safety certification ..................... 6-49
Automatic Transaxle
Driving tips ................................ 5-18
Fluid ........................................... 8-25
Manual shift mode ..................... 5-14
Shift-lock override ..................... 5-14
Shift-lock system ....................... 5-14
Transaxle ranges ........................ 5-13
B
Battery
Emergency starting .................... 7-16
Maintenance ............................... 8-32
Specifications ............................. 10-4
Beep Sounds
Ignition key reminder ................. 5-49
Lights-on reminder ..................... 5-49
Tire inflation pressure warning
beep ............................................ 5-49
Beeps
Seat belt warning beep Sounds ... 5-49
B
Before Starting the Engine .................. 4-6
After getting in ............................. 4-6
Before getting in .......................... 4-6
Body Lubrication .............................. 8-28
Bottle Holder ..................................... 6-60
Brake/Clutch
Fluid ........................................... 8-23
Brakes
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ..... 5-7
Brakes assist ................................. 5-9
Foot brake .................................... 5-5
Parking brake ............................... 5-6
Warning light ............................... 5-7
Break-In Period ................................... 4-7
Bulb Replacement ............................. 8-39
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-5
Cargo Securing Loops ...................... 6-61
Cargo Sub-Compartment .................. 6-61
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-4
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-17
Center Console .................................. 6-61
Child Restraint
Child restraint precautions ......... 2-25
Installing child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-29
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-35
Child Safety Locks for Rear Doors ... 3-10
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 6-58
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2
Gas specifications ...................... 10-6
Clock ................................................. 6-54
Cruise Control ................................... 5-19
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-59
11-2
Index
Mazda3_8X41-EA-07F_Edition2 Page388
Monday, June 18 2007 1:31 PM
Form No.8X41-EA-07F