tire pressure MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2003 Owners Manual

4-5
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Before Starting the Engine
•Be sure the windows, outside mirrors,
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 parking 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
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4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
•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 8-13).
• 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 8-22).
• Don
’t use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transmission and to 1 or R
with a manual transmission. Block the
rear wheels.

Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Don
’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
Inflate snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm2, 4.3
psi) more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver ’s door), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.
Your 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, you may find it necessary
to replace the original equipment tires
with snow tires, during the winter months.
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.
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
WARNING
CAUTION
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7-8
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Locking Lug Nuts
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.
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.

Mounting the Spare Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
2. Mount the spare tire.
Antitheft lug nut Special key
Removing Dirt and Grime from
Wheels, 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.
WARNING
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7-10
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
5. Store the damaged tire in the trunk.Have the damaged tire repaired as soon
as possible.
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.
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.
NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from
rattling, store them properly.
WARNING
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8-6
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
I:Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R: Replace
L: Lubricate
CHASSIS and BODY
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM(if equipped) Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or kilometers (miles),
whichever comes first) Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
× 1000 km 8 1624324048566472808896
× 1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Brake lines, hoses and connections II
Brake and clutch fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Disc brakes IIII
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear IIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages II
Power steering fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Manual transmission oil RR
Rear differential oil RR
Front suspension ball joints II
Driveshaft dust boots II
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body IIII
Exhaust system heat shields II
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Refrigerant amount IIII
Compressor operation IIII
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8-9
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
I:Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R: Replace
T: Tig hten
L: Lubricate
EXHAUST EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHASSIS and BODY
*5If the brakes are used extensively (for example, continuous hard driving or mountain driving) or if the vehicle
is operated in extremely humid climates, change the brake fluid annually.
*6This is a full function check of electrical systems such as lights, wiper and washer systems (including wiper
blades), and power windows.
Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or kilometers (miles),
whichever comes first) Months 6 121824303642485460667278849096
× 1000 km 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160
× 1000 miles 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96
E.G.R. system IIIIIIII
All electrical system
*6 IIIIIIII
Head light alignment IIIII
Brake pedals and clutch pedals IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Brake lines, hoses and connections IIIIIIII
Clutch fluid IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Brake fluid
*5I I IRI I IRI I IRI I IR
Parking brake IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Power brake unit and hoses IIIIIIII
Disc brakes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Power steering fluid and lines IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and gear housing IIIIIIII
Steering linkages, tie rod ends and arms IIIIIIII
Manual transmission oil RR
Rear differential oil RR
Front and rear suspension and ball joints IIII
Automatic transmission fluid level IIII III
Automatic transmission fluid RRR
Wheel nuts TTTTTTTT
Drive shaft dust boots IIII
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TTTTTTTT
Exhaust system heat shields IIII
Tire (including spare tire)
(with inflation pressure adjustment) IIIIIIII
Hinges and catches LLLLLLLL
Road test IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
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8-10
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Owner Maintenance
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 qualified service
technician as soon as possible.

When Refueling
• Brake and clutch fluid level (page 8-17)
• Engine coolant level (page 8-15)
• Engine oil level (page 8-13)
• Washer fluid level (page 8-22)


At Least Monthly
• Tire inflation pressures (page 8-28)


At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
• Automatic transmission fluid level (page 8-20)
• Power steering fluid level (page 8-19)
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.
• Air filter (page 8-23)
• Engine coolant (page 8-15)
• Engine oil (page 8-14)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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8-27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
The battery is in the trunk.

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. 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.
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 10-6)
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.
WARNING
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8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Tire Inflation Pressure
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.
Refer to the specification charts (page 10-
6).

Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or sooner
if irregular wear develops. During
rotation, inspect them for correct balance.
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).
WARNING
NOTE
• 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.
Front
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.
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8-29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
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 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
Replacing a Tire
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
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.
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don
’t use the following:
• Tires not of the designated size
• Tires of different sizes or types at
the same time
• Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren ’t followed,
the rotation of the left and right wheels
will be different and will thus apply a
constant load on the limited-slip
differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
CAUTION
CAUTION
Worn Tires:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
Always use tires that are in good
condition.
WARNING
New tread Worn tread
Tread wear indicator
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