maintenance MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2008 Manual PDF

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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.
q Repairing 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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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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.
qAluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
NOTE
lDon't use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent on
aluminum wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lOnly use a mild soap or neutral detergent
and always use a sponge or soft cloth to
clean the wheels.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or cold
water. Also, be sure to clean the wheels
after driving on dusty or salted roads. This
helps prevent corrosion.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an automatic
car wash that uses high-speed or hard
brushes.
lIf your aluminum wheels lose luster, wax
the wheels.
qConvertible Top Maintenanceí
The convertible top is made of a special
high-grade material, but if it's not taken
good care of, hardening, staining, and loss
of luster will result. Maintain it under
these guidelines.
Washing
Do not wait until the convertible top gets
really dirty before cleaning it. Dirt that's
there too long will cause deterioration.
1. Before washing, remove dust and
coarse particulate with a soft brush.
2. Gently clean the convertible top with a synthetic neutral detergent, lots of
water, and a soft brush.
3. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove all the soap.
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Maintenance and Care
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4. Wipe it as dry as you can before thewater dries on it.
5. Then allow it to dry completely before lowering it.
CAUTION
ØAutomatic and high-pressure car
washes are harmful to a
convertible top. Avoid them.
Ø Do not spray water directly on the
area where the window glass and
the convertible top meet. This
would probably cause water to
enter the cabin.
Ø Do not spray water with a hose or
a car washing device directly on
the seam area of the body and the
convertible top as it could result in
water penetrating the trunk.
Appearance (Polyvinyl only)
Dress the convertible top once a month
after washing and drying it well. For best
results, use a water-based leather
treatment or vinyl top dressing. This will
help maintain good appearance and
material condition of the convertible top.
CAUTION
ØSome leather treatment products
can ruin the convertible top's
gloss. Be careful of the one you
choose.
Ø Test on an inconspicuous, small
corner of the convertible top if you
are not sure.
Ø Do not get any car wax on the
convertible top.
If you do, remove it with a good
leather cleaner.
Ø Too much treatment on the
convertible top can be as
damaging as too little. Follow the
manufacturer's directions.
Do not overdo it!
Ø Let the convertible top dry
completely before lowering after
applying treatment or dressing.
qHardtop Maintenanceí
Washing
To help protect the hardtop's finish, use a
soft cloth or sponge to wash it.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if they are not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
CAUTION
Ø Don't use an automatic car wash.
Ø Don't use strong soap, chemical
detergents, or hot water, and don't
wash the hardtop in direct
sunlight or when the surface is
warm.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
8-55íSome models.
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Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm or cold
water. Don't allow soap to dry on the
finish.
Waxing
Wax the hardtop when water no longer
beads on the paint. Always wash and dry
it before waxing.
CAUTION
ØWiping off dust or dirt with a dry
cloth will scratch the finish.
Ø Don't use abrasive wax. This may
damage the protective coating and
discolor or deteriorate the paint.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar
materials will usually also take off the wax.
Rewax these areas.
Interior Care
q Dashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They'll damage and discolor it.
If these solutions get on the dashboard,
wipe them off immediately.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
qCleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl with a leather-and-vinyl
cleaner.
Leatherí
Real leather isn't uniform and may have
scars, scratches, and wrinkles. Clean it
with a leather cleaner or mild soap.
If the leather gets wet from rain, remove
the moisture as soon as possible and dry
in a shaded area.
If the seats get wet, promptly remove
moisture with a dry cloth and allow it to
further dry in a shaded area.
If moisture is not removed, it will cause
hardening and shrinkage of the leather.
Do not leave vinyl products on the seats
for long periods as they may affect the
leather quality and coloring.
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Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
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Fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean it with a mild soap solution good
for upholstery and carpets. Remove fresh
spots immediately with a fabric spot
cleaner.
To keep the fabric looking clean and
fresh, take care of it. Otherwise its color
will be affected, it can be stained easily,
and its fire-resistance may be reduced.
CAUTION
Use only recommended cleaners and
procedures. Others may affect
appearance and fire-resistance.
Piano black panelí
The following parts are fitted with panels
that have been treated with a special
coating that resists scratching.
Center panel
When the panel needs to be cleaned, use a
soft cloth to wipe off dirt from the surface.
NOTE
Scratches or nicks on the panels resulting from
the use of a hard brush or cloth may not be
repairable.
qCleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt
Webbing
Clean the webbing with a mild soap
solution recommended for upholstery or
carpets. Follow instructions. Don't bleach
or dye the webbing; this may weaken it.
After cleaning the belts, thoroughly dry
the belt webbing and make sure there is
no remaining moisture before retracting
them.
WARNING
Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
replace damaged seat belts
immediately:
Using damaged seat belts is
dangerous. In a collision, damaged
belts cannot provide adequate
protection.
qCleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with an
oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean them
with glass cleaner. Follow the directions
on the container.
CAUTION
Don't scrape or scratch the inside of
the rear window. You may damage
the rear window defroster grid.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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9
Customer Information and Reporting
Safety Defects
Important consumer information including warranties and add-on equipment.
Customer Assistance ............................... 9-2 Customer Assistance (U.S.A.) ............ 9-2
Customer Assistance (Canada) ........... 9-4
Customer Assistance (Puerto Rico) .... 9-7
Customer Assistance (Mexico) ........... 9-8
Mazda Importer/Distributors ............... 9-10 Importer/Distributor .......................... 9-10
Distributor in Each Area ................... 9-10
Warranty ................................................ 9-12 Warranties for Your Mazda ............... 9-12
Outside the United States and
Canada .............................................. 9-13
Outside the United States .................. 9-14
Outside Canada ................................. 9-15
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country (Except United States and
Canada) ............................................. 9-16
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories ....................................... 9-17
Cell Phones ............................................. 9-18 Cell Phones Warning ......................... 9-18
Type Approval of Equipment ............... 9-19 Type Approval of Equipment
(Mexico) ............................................ 9-19
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
(UTQGS) ................................................ 9-21 Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
(UTQGS) .......................................... 9-21 Tire Information (U.S.A.) ..................... 9-23
Tire Labeling ..................................... 9-23
Location of the Tire Label
(Placard) ............................................ 9-29
Tire Maintenance .............................. 9-32
Vehicle Loading ................................ 9-35
Steps for Determining the Correct Load
Limit: ................................................ 9-42
Reporting Safety Defects ....................... 9-43 Reporting Safety Defects (U.S.A.) .... 9-43
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada) ... 9-44
Service Publications .............................. 9-45 Service Publications .......................... 9-45
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Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear abnormally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
qTire Inflation Pressure
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. Use the
pressures specified on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum service.
qTire 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.
Forward
Inspect the tires for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by one or a
combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressurelImproper wheel alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to specification (page 10-6) and inspect the lug nuts
for tightness.
9-32
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Service Publications
Factory-authorized Mazda service publications are available for owners who wish to do
some of their own maintenance and repair.
When requesting any of our publications through an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to the
chart below.
If they don't have what you need in stock, they can order it for you.
PUBLICATION ORDER NUMBERPUBLICATION DESCRIPTION
9999-95-042B-08 2008 WORKSHOP MANUAL (English)
9999-MX-042B-08 2008 WORKSHOP MANUAL (Spanish)
9999-95-026G-08 2008 WIRING DIAGRAM (English)
9999-MX-026G-08 2008 WIRING DIAGRAM (Spanish)
9999-95-031C-08 (U.S.A. only) 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-EC-031C-08 (Canada only) 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-PR-031C-08 (Puerto Rico, Mexico only) 2008 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-95-010F-08 2008 SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
qWORKSHOP MANUAL:
Covers recommended maintenance and repair procedures of the drive train, body and
chassis.
qWIRING DIAGRAM:
Provides electrical schematics as well as component location for the entire electrical
system.
qOWNER'S MANUAL:
This booklet contains information regarding the proper care and operation of your vehicle.
This is not a technician's manual.
qSERVICE HIGHLIGHTS:
Provides description and operation of the many systems of your Mazda.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Service Publications
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A
Accessory Socket .............................. 6-44
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories ....................................... 9-17
Advanced Key ..................................... 3-2Advanced key maintenance ......... 3-5
Advanced key suspend
function ...................................... 3-16
Auxiliary key .............................. 3-16
Locking, unlocking with request
switch ........................................... 3-8
Opening the trunk lid with request
switch ........................................... 3-9
Operation range ............................ 3-7
Remote control function ............. 3-14
Service ......................................... 3-6
When warning indicator/beep is
activated ..................................... 3-20
Air Bag Systems ............................... 2-28
Antenna ............................................... 6-9
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ......... 5-8 Warning light ............................... 5-8
Appearance Care ............................... 8-50
Audio System ..................................... 6-9 Audio control switch .................. 6-38
Audio set .................................... 6-19
Operating tips for audio system .... 6-9
Safety certification ..................... 6-40
Automatic Transmission Driving tips ................................ 5-18
Manual shift mode ..................... 5-14
Shift-lock system ....................... 5-14
Transmission ranges ................... 5-13
B
BatteryEmergency starting .................... 7-20
Maintenance ............................... 8-30
Specifications ............................. 10-4
Beep Sounds Ignition key reminder ................. 5-52
Lights-on reminder ..................... 5-52
Seat belt warning beep ............... 5-52
Tire inflation pressure warning
beep ............................................ 5-52
Before Starting the Engine .................. 4-5
After getting in ............................. 4-5
Before getting in .......................... 4-5
Body Lubrication .............................. 8-27
Bottle Holder ..................................... 6-42
Brake/Clutch Fluid ........................................... 8-25
Brakes Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ..... 5-8
Foot brake .................................... 5-5
Pad wear indicator ........................ 5-9
Parking brake ............................... 5-6
Warning light ............................... 5-7
Break-In Period ................................... 4-6
Bulb Replacement ............................. 8-37
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-4
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-3
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-18
Child Restraint Child restraint precautions ......... 2-17
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-25
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2
Gas specifications ...................... 10-6
11-2
Index
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C
Convertible TopPower Retractable Hardtop ........ 3-52
Soft Top ...................................... 3-39
Cruise Control ................................... 5-19
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-42
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-38
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-55
Defroster Rear window .............................. 5-58
Detachable Hardtop .......................... 3-44
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ....................................... 3-26
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-10
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-6 Automatic transmission .............. 5-18
Break-in period ............................ 4-6
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-10
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-7
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-6
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-8
Winter driving .............................. 4-8
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-24 DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-25
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-25
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-24
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-20Flooded engine ........................... 7-20
Jump-starting .............................. 7-21
Push-starting .............................. 7-24
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-25
Emission Control System .................... 4-3
E
Engine Coolant ....................................... 8-23
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-4
Hood release .............................. 3-37
Oil .............................................. 8-21
Overheating ................................ 7-18
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-20
Engine Coolant Overheating ................................ 7-18
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-36
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-4
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-52
F
Flasher Hazard warning .......................... 5-59
Headlights .................................. 5-54
Flat Tire ............................................... 7-3 Changing .................................... 7-13
Instant Mobility System
(IMS) Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit ................................................ 7-7
Tool storage .................................. 7-5
Fluids Classification .............................. 10-4
Owner maintenance ................... 8-18
Fog Lights ......................................... 5-56
Foot Brake .......................................... 5-5
Fuel Filler lid and cap ........................ 3-36
Gauge ......................................... 5-37
Requirements ............................... 4-2
Tank capacity ............................. 10-5
Index
11-3
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