maintenance MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF 2020 Service Manual

▼Closing the Hood
1. Check under the hood area to make
certain all filler caps are in place and
all loose items (e.g. tools, oil
containers, etc.) have been removed.
2. Lift the hood, grasp the padded area on the support rod, and secure the support
rod in the clip. Verify that the support
rod is secured in the clip before closing
the hood.

Clip
Pad
3. Lower the hood slowly to a height of
about 20 cm (7.9 in) above its closed
position and then let it drop.
CAUTION
When closing the hood, do not push it
excessively such as by applying your
weight. Otherwise, the hood could be
deformed.
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Engine Compartment Overview
Windshield washer fluid reservoirBrake/Clutch fluid reservoir
Engine oil dipstick
Battery
Fuse blockCooling system cap
Engine coolant reservoir
Engine oil-filler cap
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Engine Oil
NOTE
Changing the engine oil should be
performed by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Refer to Introduction (page 6-2) for
owner's responsibility in protecting your
investment.
▼Recommended Oil
U.S.A., Canada, and Puerto Rico
Use SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
Mazda Genuine Oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle. Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil is
required to achie
ve optimum fuel
economy.

For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Oil.

(ILSAC)
Only use SAE 0W-20 oil “Certified For
Gasoline Engines” by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
Oil with this tradem ark symbol conforms
to the current engine and emission system
protection standards and fuel economy
requirements of the International
Lubricant Standardization and Approval
Committee (ILSAC), comprised of U.S.
and Japanese automobile manufacturers.

80
60
40
20
0
–40 –20
30
100
40
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
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Except U.S.A., Canada, and Puerto Rico
Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil.
Oil container labels provide important
information.
A chief contribution this type of oil makes
to fuel economy is reducing the amount of
fuel necessary to overcome engine
friction.

For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts.

(ILSAC)
(Mexico)
Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil. If SAE 5W-30
engine oil is not available, use SAE 5W-20
engine oil.

The quality designation SM, or ILSAC
must be on the label.

80
60
40
20
0
–40 –20
30
100
40
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
▼ Inspecting Engine Oil Level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on a level
surface.
2. Warm up the engine to normal operating temperature.
3. Turn it off and wait at least 5 minutes for the oil to retur n to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstic k, wipe it clean, and
reinsert it fully.

MIN
MAX
OK
5. Pull it out again and examine the level. The level is normal if it is between the
MIN and MAX marks.
If it is near or below MIN, add enough
oil to bring the level to MAX.
CAUTION
Do not overfill the engine oil. This may
cause engine damage.
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
7. Reinsert the dipstick fully.
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Engine Coolant
▼Inspecting Coolant Level
WA R N I N G
Do not use a match or live flame in the
engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT:
A hot engine is dangerous. If the engine has
been running, parts of the engine
compartment can become very hot. You
could be burned. Carefully inspect the
engine coolant in the coolant reservoir, but
do not open it.
Pull over to a safe location, then switch
the ignition off and make sure the fan is
not running before attempting to work
near the cooling fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it is
running is dangerous. The fan could
continue running indefinitely even if the
engine has stopped and the engine
compartment temperature is high. You
could be hit by the fan and seriously
injured.
Do not remove either cooling
system cap when the engine and radiator
are hot:
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
NOTE
Changing the coolant should be done by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Inspect the antifreeze protection and
coolant level in the coolant reservoir at
least once a year―at the beginning of the
winter season―and before traveling where
temperatures may drop below freezing.

Inspect the condition and connections of
all cooling system and heater hoses.
Replace any that are swollen or
deteriorated.

The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the FULL and LOW
marks on the coolant reservoir when the
engine is cool.

Coolant reservoir
Cooling fan
Cooling system cap
If it is at or near LOW, add enough coolant
to the coolant reservoir to provide freezing
and corrosion protec tion and to bring the
level to FULL.
Securely tighten the coolant reservoir tank
cap after adding coolant.
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CAUTION
Radiator coolant will damage paint.
Rinse it off quickly if spilled.
 If the “FL22” mark is shown on or near
the cooling system cap, use of FL-22 is
recommended when replacing engine
coolant. Using engine coolant other than
FL-22 may cause serious damage to the
engine and cooling system.

If the coolant reser voir is empty or new
coolant is required frequently, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Brake/Clutch Fluid
▼ Inspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid Level
WA R N I N G
If the brake/clutch fluid level is low, have
the brakes inspected:
A low brake/clutch
fluid level is dangerous.
A low level could indicate brake lining wear
or a brake system leak which could cause
the brakes to fail and lead to an accident.
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept between the
MAX and MIN lines.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is exce ssively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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Washer Fluid
▼Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
WA R N I N G
Use only windshield washer fluid or plain
water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is
dangerous. If sprayed on the windshield, it
will dirty the windshield, affect your
visibility, and could result in an accident.
Using Washer Fluid Without Anti-freeze
Protection in Cold Weather:
Operating your vehicle in temperatures
below 4 °C (40 °F) using washer fluid
without anti-freeze protection is dangerous
as it could cause impaired windshield
vision and result in an accident. In cold
weather, always use washer fluid with
anti-freeze protection.
NOTE
State or local regulations may restrict the
use of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), which are commonly used as
anti-freeze agents in washer fluid. A
washer fluid with limited VOC content
should be used only if it provides adequate
freeze resistance for all regions and
climates in which the vehicle will be
operated.
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir; add fluid if necessary.

Use plain water if washer fluid is
unavailable.
But use only washer fluid in cold weather
to prevent it from freezing.
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Body Lubrication
All moving points of the body, such as
door and hood hinges and locks, should be
lubricated each time the engine oil is
changed. Use a nonfreezing lubricant on
locks during cold weather.

Make sure the hood's secondary latch
keeps the hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
Wiper Blades
CAUTION
Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washers have been known to
affect the
wiper's ability to clean windows.
 To prevent damage to the wiper blades,
do not use gasoline, kerosene, paint
thinner, or other solvents on or near
them.
 When the wiper lever is in the AUTO
position and the ignition is switched ON,
the wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:
 If the windshield above the rain sensor
is touched.
 If the windshield above the rain sensor
is wiped with a cloth.
 If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object.
 If the rain sensor is struck with a hand
or other object from inside the vehicle.
Be careful not to pinch hands or fingers
as it may cause injury, or damage the
wipers. When washing or servicing the
vehicle, make sure the wiper lever is in
the OFF position.
Contamination of either the windshield or
the blades with forei gn matter can reduce
wiper effectiveness. Common sources are
insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments
used by some commercial car washes.

If the blades are not w iping properly, clean
the window and blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if
necessary.
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▼Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades
When the wipers no longer clean well, the
blades are probably worn or cracked.
Replace them.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiper arms and
other components, do not try to sweep the
wiper arm by hand.
NOTE
When raising both windshield wiper arms,
raise the driver's side wiper arm first.
When lowering the wiper arms, slowly
lower the wiper arm from the passenger's
side first while supporting it with your
hand. Forcefully lowering the wiper arms
could damage the wiper arm and blade,
and may scratch or crack the windshield.
Replace the wiper blades using the
following procedure.
(Type A)
1. Raise the wiper arm.
2. Open the clip and slide the blade
assembly in the direction of the arrow.
3. Tilt the blade assembly and remove it
from the arm.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the windshield
let the wiper arm down easily, do not
let it slap down on the windshield.
4. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it out of blade holder.
5. Remove the metal stiffeners from eachblade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
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CAUTION
Do not bend or discard the
stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
 If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade's wiping efficiency could be
reduced.
So do not use the driver's side metal
stiffeners on the passenger's side, or
vice versa.
 Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was in
the old blade rubber.
6. Carefully insert the new blade rubber. Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
(Type B)
1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the bladeassembly to expose the plastic locking
clip.
Compress the clip and slide the
assembly downward; then lift it off the
arm.
Plastic locking clip
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the windshield
let the wiper arm down easily, do not
let it slap down on the windshield.
2. Hold the end of the rubber and pull until the tabs are free of the metal
support.
Metal support
Ta b
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from each blade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
Maintenance and Care
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