wheel MAZDA MODEL 6 HATCHBACK 2004 (in English) Owner's Guide

Black plate (228,1)
Changing a Flat Tire
NOTE
If the following occurs while driving, it
could indicate a flat tire.
lSteering becomes difficult.
lThe vehicle begins to vibrate
excessively.
lThe vehicle pulls in one direction.
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.
WARNING
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 aJack:
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.
NOTE
Make sure the jack is well lubricated
before using it.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.
NOTE
When blocking a tire, use rocks or
wood blocks of sufficient size to hold
the tire in place.
7-8
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page228
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (229,1)
qRemoving a Flat Tire
1. If your vehicle is equipped with a
wheel cover, pry off the wheel cover
with the beveled end of the lug wrench.
Wheel cover
Lug wrench
NOTE
Force the end of the lug wrench firmly
between wheel and cover, or removal
will be difficult.
CAUTION
Align the notch on the wheel cover
with the valve stem when installing it.
Notch
Tire valve
Damage could occur during installation
if the wheel cover is not properly
aligned.2. Loosen the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise one turn each, but
don't remove any lug nuts until the tire
has been raised off the ground.
3. Place the jack under the jacking
position closest to the tire being
changed.
Jacking position
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-9
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page229
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (230,1)
WARNING
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.
4. Insert the lug wrench into the jack.5. Turn the lug wrench clockwise and
raise the vehicle high enough so that
the spare tire can be installed. Before
removing the lug nuts, make sure your
Mazda is firmly in position and that it
cannot slip or move.
6. Remove the lug nuts by turning them
counterclockwise; then remove the
wheel.
7-10
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page230
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (231,1)
qLocking Lug Nutsí
If your vehicle has optional antitheft
wheel lug nuts, one on each wheel will
lock the tires and you must use a special
key to unlock them. This key is attached
to the lug wrench and is stored with the
spare tire. Register them with the lock
manufacturer by filling out the card
provided in the glove box and mailing it
in the accompanying envelope. If you lose
your key, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or use the lock manufacturer's
order form, which is with the registration
card.
Special key Antitheft lug nut
To remove an antitheft lug nut
1. Get the key for the locking lug nut.
2. Place it on top of the nut, and be sure
to hold the key square to it. If you hold
the key at an angle, you may damage
both key and nut. Don't use a power
impact wrench.
3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key
and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.
To replace the nut
1. Place the key on top of the nut.
2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key,
apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.
qMounting the Spare Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
WARNING
Removing Dirt and Grime fromWheels, Hubs and Hub Bolts:
When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident. Make sure the mounting
surfaces of the wheel, hub and lug
nuts are clean before changing or
replacing tires.
2. Mount the spare tire.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-11íSome models. Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page231
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (232,1)
3. Install the lug nuts with the beveled
edge inward; tighten them by hand.
WARNING
Don't Apply Oil or Grease to LugNuts, Bolts:
Applying oil or grease to lug nuts and
bolts is dangerous. The lug nuts could
loosen while driving and cause the tire
to come off, resulting in an accident.
In addition, lug nuts and bolts could
be damaged if tightened more than
necessary. Do not apply oil or grease
to lug nuts and bolts and do not
tighten the lug nuts beyond the
recommended tightening torque.4. Turn the lug wrench counterclockwise
and lower the vehicle. Use the lug
wrench to tighten the nuts in the order
shown.
If you're unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Nut tightening torque
N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf)88—118
(9—12, 65—87)
WARNING
Loose Lug Nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result
in loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident. Always securely and
correctly tighten the lug nuts.
7-12
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page232
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (233,1)
WARNING
Metric Studs and Lug Nuts:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip off
and cause an accident. Be sure to
reinstall the same nuts you removed or
replace them with metric nuts of the
same configuration.
Incorrect Tire Air Pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident.
Don't drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure. When you
check the regular tires' air pressure,
check the spare tire, too.
5. Store the damaged tire, using the tire
hold-down bolt to hold it in place.
Have the damaged tire repaired as soon
as possible.
Without sub-woofer
Tire hold-down bolt Tire clamp
With sub-woofer
WasherTire hold-down
bolt (Gold)
Sub-woofer
NOTE
(Hatchback with sub-woofer)
When storing a damaged conventional
tire in the luggage compartment, the
sub-woofer can be stored in its original
position, however, the sub-woofer
connector on the trunk board cannot be
connected.
NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from
rattling, store them properly.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-13
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page233
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (240,1)
Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
front wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Don't tow the vehicle pointed backward
with driving wheels on the ground. This
may cause internal damage to the
transaxle.
CAUTION
Don't tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
7-20
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page240
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (241,1)
CAUTION
Do not use the hooks under the rear
bumper for towing and tying down, as
they cannot hold the load and it will
damage the bumper.
Hooks
Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“Towing Description”(page 7-20) and
carefully follow the instructions.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-21
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page241
Friday, December 5 2003 8:58 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (269,1)
qBattery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
lKeep it securely mounted.
lKeep the top clean and dry.
lKeep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
lRinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
lIf the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables and charge the battery every six
weeks.
Tires
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.
WARNING
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 10-6)
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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-27
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page269
Friday, December 5 2003 8:59 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K

Black plate (270,1)
qTire Inflation Pressure
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
10-6).
Inspect all tire pressures monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, top handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Tire pressure label
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-6).
NOTE
lAlways check tire pressure when
tires are cold.
lWarm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don't
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
lUnderinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy and poor sealing of the
tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.
lOverinflation 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.
qTire 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
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Front
8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Mazda6_8T12-EA-03K_Edition1 Page270
Friday, December 5 2003 8:59 AM
Form No.8T12-EA-03K