flat tire MAZDA MODEL 6 2003 Owners Manual (in English)

2-27
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

Front Passenger’s Seat Child-
Restraint System Installation
1. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
2. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the instructions on the child-
restraint system for belt routing
instructions.
3. To get the retractor into the automatic
locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
4. Push the child-restraint system firmly
into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in automatic
locking mode. If the belt does not lock
the seat down tight, repeat this step.Children and Seating Position with Side and Curtain Air Bags:Allowing anyone to lean over or
against the front or rear doors is
dangerous. If the vehicle is equipped
with side and curtain air bags, the
impact of inflation could cause
serious injury or death to the person.
Children are more likely to sleep in
the vehicle; when they do, they are
more at risk in the front passenger’s
seat that have a side air bag because
they may slump over into the path of
the air bags.Furthermore, leaning
over or against the doors could block
the side and curtain air bags and
eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection.With the
front air bag and the additional side
air bag that comes out of the front
seat, the rear seat is always a better
location for children who are prone to
sleeping. Do not allow a child to lean
over or against the doors, even if the
child is seated in a child-restraint
system.
WARNING
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 27 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

4-5
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
Before Starting the Engine
•
Be sure the windows, outside mirror(s),
and outside lights are clean.
•
Inspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
•
Look under the vehicle for any sign of
a leak.
•
If you plan to back up, make sure
nothing will be in your way.•
Are all doors closed and locked?
•
Is the seat adjusted properly?
•
Are the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
•
Is everyone’s seat belt fastened?
•
Do all the lights work?
•
Check all gauges.
•
Check all warning lights when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
•
Release the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Getting In
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake/
clutch fluid, washer fluid, and other
fluid levels should be inspected daily,
weekly, or at refueling, depending on
the fluid. See Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 5 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
Driving Tips
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
•
Don’t race the engine.
•
Don’t maintain one constant speed for
long.
•
Don’t drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods
of time.
•
Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
•
Avoid full-throttle starts.How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
•
Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
•
Avo i d f a s t s t a r t s .
•
Keep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
•
Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
•
Slow down on rough roads.
•
Keep the tires properly inflated.
•
Don’t carry unnecessary weight.
•
Don’t rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
•
Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
•
Keep windows closed at high speeds.
•
Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
Break-In PeriodMoney-Saving Suggestions
Coasting:Turning off the engine to coast down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control. Any loss of steering or
braking control could cause an
accident. Never turn off the engine
and coast down a hill.
WARNING
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 6 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
•
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a Mazda dealer to perform the
following precautions:
•
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
•
Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•
Use only cold-weather engine oil (page
8-10).
•
Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
•
Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze—but don’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-19).
•
Don’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transaxle and to 1 or R with
a manual transaxle. Block the rear
wheels.

Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Your 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.
Don’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
Inflate 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.

Tire Chains
This vehicle cannot be operated with tire
chains because it could cause interference
with the vehicle body and scratching.
Winter Driving
Mixing Tire Types:Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle’s handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident. Use only the same size
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
WARNING
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
CAUTION
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 8 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

7-1
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
7In Case of an Emergency
Helpful information on what to do in an emergency.
Parking in an Emergency
............................................................. 7-2
Parking in an Emergency ........................................................... 7-2
Flat Tire
.......................................................................................... 7-3
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ...................................................... 7-3
Changing a Flat Tire .................................................................. 7-5
Overheating
................................................................................. 7-12
Overheating ............................................................................. 7-12
Emergency Starting
.................................................................... 7-14
Starting a Flooded Engine ....................................................... 7-14
Jump-Starting .......................................................................... 7-14
Push-Starting ........................................................................... 7-16
Emergency Towing
...................................................................... 7-17
Towing Description ................................................................. 7-17
Tiedown Hook ......................................................................... 7-18
Recreational Towing ................................................................ 7-18
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 1 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

7-3
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
Flat Tire
Spare tire and tools are stored in the locations illustrated in the diagram.
Spare Tire and Tool Storage
Spare tire
Jack
Lug wrench
Conventional tire
hold-down bolt
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 3 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

7-4
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I

Jack
To remove the jack
1. Remove the jack container lid.
2. Turn the wing bolt counterclockwise.
To secure the jack
Perform the removal procedure in reverse.

Spare Tire
Your Mazda has a temporary spare tire.
The temporary spare 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 spares should NEVER be used
for long drives or extended periods.
Jack
Wing bolt
Driving with a Temporary Spare Tire on Ice or Snow:Driving with a spare tire on the front
(driving) wheels on ice or snow is
dangerous. Handling will be affected.
You could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident. Put the spare
tire on the rear axle and move a
regular tire to the front.
To avoid damage to the temporary
spare or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
•
Don’t exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
•
Avoid driving over obstacles. Also,
don’t drive through an automatic car
wash. This tire’s diameter is smaller
than a conventional tire, so the
ground clearance is reduced about
43 mm (1.7 in).
•
Don’t use a tire chain on this tire
because it won’t fit properly.
•
Don’t use your temporary spare 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.
WARNING
CAUTION
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 4 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

7-5
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
To remove the spare tire
1. Remove the trunk board.
2. Turn the tire hold-down bolt
counterclockwise.
To secure the spare tire
Perform the removal procedure in reverse.If you have a flat tire, drive slowly to a
level spot that is well off the road and out
of the way of traffic to change the tire.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder of a
busy road is dangerous.
Trunk board
Lug wrench
Changing a Flat Tire
NOTE
If the following occurs while driving, it
could indicate a flat tire.
•
Steering becomes difficult.
•
The vehicle begins to vibrate
excessively.
•
The vehicle pulls in one direction.
Jacking a Vehicle:Changing a tire is dangerous if not
done properly. The vehicle can slip off
the jack and seriously injure
someone.
Be sure to follow the directions for
changing a tire, and never get under a
vehicle that is supported only by a
jack.
Passenger in Vehicle Supported by a
Jack:Allowing someone to remain in a
vehicle supported by a jack is
dangerous. The occupant could cause
the vehicle to fall resulting in serious
injury. Never allow anyone inside a
vehicle supported by a jack.
WARNING
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 5 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

7-6
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transaxle in Park (P), a manual
transaxle 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 block both in front and behind
the tire.

Removing a Flat Tire
1. Pry off the wheel cover with the
beveled end of the lug wrench.NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.
NOTE
Force the end of the lug wrench firmly
between wheel and cover, or removal
will be difficult.
Align the notch on the wheel cover
with the valve stem when installing it.
Damage could occur during
installation if the wheel cover is not
properly aligned.
Lug wrench
Wheel cover
CAUTION
Tire valve
Notch
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 6 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM

7-7
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R29-EA-02I
2. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise one turn each, but
don’t remove any until the tire has been
raised off the ground.
3. Place the jack under the jacking
position closest to the tire being
changed.
4. Insert the lug wrench into the jack.
Jacking position
Incorrect Jacking Position:Attempting to jack the vehicle in
positions other than those
recommended in this manual is
dangerous. The vehicle could slip off
the jack and seriously injure or even
kill someone. Use only the front and
rear jacking positions recommended
in this manual.
Improper Jack:
Using a jack that isn’t designed for
your Mazda is dangerous. The vehicle
could slip off the jack and seriously
injure someone. Use only the jack
provided with your Mazda.
Placing Objects Under the Jack:
Jacking the vehicle with an object
under the jack is dangerous. The jack
could slip and someone could be
seriously injured by the jack or the
falling vehicle. Never place objects
under the jack.
WARNING
shuseizumi_J56J_8R29_EA_02I.book Page 7 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:51 AM