maintenance MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF 2020 Manual Online

▼Bright-Metal Maintenance
Use tar remover to r
emove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
To prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
During 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 p etroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Do not 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.
▼ Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and s
alt 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.
WA R N I N G
Dry off brakes that have become wet by
driving slowly, releasing the accelerator
pedal and lightly applying the brakes
several times until the brake performance
returns to 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.
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▼Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect t
his coating.
CAUTION
Do not use any detergent other than mild
detergent. Before using any detergent,
verify the ingredients. Otherwise, the
product could discolor or stain the
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
Do not use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent
on aluminum wheels. They may damage
the coating.
Always use a sponge or soft cloth to
clean the wheels.
Rinse the wheels thoroughly with
lukewarm or cold wate r. Also, be sure to
clean the wheels after driving on dusty
or salted roads to help prevent
corrosion.
▼ Convertible Top (Soft Top)
Maintenance
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.
Wa s h i n g
Do not wait until the convertible top gets
really dirty before cl eaning 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.
4. Wipe it as dry as you can before the
water dries on it.
5. Then allow it to dry completely before lowering it.
CAUTION
Automatic and high-pressure car washes
are harmful to a convertible top. Avoid
them.
 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.
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Do not spray water directly on the seam
area of the body and the convertible top
as it could result in water penetrating the
cabin and trunk.
Some leather treatment products can
ruin the convertible top's gloss. Be careful
of the one you choose.
 Test on an inconspicuous, small corner of
the convertible top if you are not sure.
 Do not wipe the convertible top using
alcohol, chlorine bleach, or organic
solvents such as thinner, benzene, or
gasoline. Otherwise, they may cause
discoloration or stains.
 Do not get any car wax on the
convertible top.
If you do, remove it with a good leather
cleaner or mild detergent (about 5%
solution).
 Too much treatment on the convertible
top can be as damaging as too little.
Follow the manufacturer's directions.
Do not overdo it!
 Let the convertible top dry completely
before lowering after applying treatment
or dressing.
Drain filter cleaning procedure
Drain filterA
Drain filterB
NOTE
If leaves or other matter block the drain
filter, water may enter the vehicle.
Clean the drain filter at least once a year.
1. Check the position of the drain filter A
with your hand from behind the bow.
Drain filterA
Bow
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2. Remove the drain filter A whilepressing the tab.
3. Remove drain filter B out of theopening after removing drain filter A.
4. Remove foreign matter such as leavesaccumulated in drain filter A and drain
filter B.
5. Install in the reverse order of removal.
CAUTION
When installing the drain filter, make sure
that the drain filter is securely attached to
its designated position by pushing it until
the tab locks. Water may enter the vehicle if
the drain filter is not secured to its
designated position.
▼ Convertible Top (Retractable
Hardtop) Maintenance
Wa s h i n g
To help protect the retractable 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

Do not use an automatic car wash.
 Do not spray water directly on the area
where the window glass and the
retractable hardtop meet. This would
probably cause water to enter the cabin.
 Do not use strong soap, chemical
detergents, or hot water, and do not
wash the retractable hardtop in direct
sunlight or when the surface is warm.
Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm or cold
water. Do not allow soap to dry on the
finish.
Wa x i n g
Wax the retractable hardtop when water no
longer beads on the paint. Always wash
and dry it before waxing.
CAUTION
 Wiping off dust or dirt with a dry cloth
will scratch the
finish.
 Do not use abrasive wax. This may
damage the protective coating and
discolor or deteriorate the paint.
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NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take off
the wax. Rewax these areas.
Drainage outlet cleaning procedure
There are drainage outlets on the left and
right of the lower side of the rear window.
Rear roofDrainage
outlet
Rear window
NOTE
If leaves or other fore
ign matter block the
drainage outlets, water may enter the
cabin. Clean the drainage outlets at least
once every 6 months.
1. Continue pressing the retractable hardtop switch in the open direction
until the rear roof is raised up from the
fully closed position.
Refer to Opening the Roof on page
3-44.
2. Remove your finger from theretractable hardtop switch after the rear
roof is raised up.
3. Make sure the drainage outlets are visible.

Drainage
outlet
Rear roof links
4. Switch the ignition OFF.
WA R N I N G
Verify that the ignition is switched off:
Closing the roof with the ignition not
switched off is dangerous as the motors
could turn on suddenly and cause
injury resulting from hands or fingers
being pinched in the mechanism.
5. Remove leaves and other foreign matter accumulated in the drainage
outlet.
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CAUTION
When cleaning the drainage outlets, be
careful not to touch the roof links or the
framework of the rear roof. Otherwise,
you could get injured.
Roof links Rear roof
6. After cleaning the drainage outlets,
continuously press the retractable
hardtop switch in the close direction to
close the rear roof.
Refer to Closing the Roof on page
3-44.

7. Pour about 200 ml (200 cc) of water at
once into each of the left and right
drainage outlets to wash away small
particles of foreign matter inside the
drainage path.

CAUTION
Use washer fluid instead of water in
cold weather.
If water is used, the water may freeze
inside the drainage path blocking the
path.
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▼Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use g
asoline, kerosene,
rectified spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a significant loss in
functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately.
If plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fluids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery
fluid, it could cause discoloration,
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any
such chemical agents or fluids using a
soft cloth immediately.
High water temperature and high water
pressure car washers are available
depending on the type of high pressure
car washer device. If the car washer
nozzle is put too close to the vehicle or
aimed at one area for an extended period
of time, it could deform plastic parts or
damage the paint.
Do not use wax containing compounds
(polish). Otherwise , it could result in
paint damage.
In addition, do not use an electrical or
air tool to apply wax. Otherwise, the
frictional heat generated could result in
deformation of plastic parts or paint
damage.
Interior Care
WA R N I N G
Do not spray water into the vehicle cabin:
Spraying water into the vehicle cabin is
dangerous as electrical devices such as the
audio and switches could get wet resulting
in a malfunction or vehicle fire.
NOTE
Do not wipe the interior using alcohol,
chlorine bleach, or organic solvents
such as thinner, benzene, and gasoline.
Otherwise, it may cause discoloration or
stains.
Rubbing hard with a stiff brush or cloth
may cause damage.
If the vehicle interior becomes soiled by
any of the following, wipe it off
immediately using a soft cloth.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
discoloration, stains, cracks, or peeling of
the coating, and it will make it hard to
wipe off later.
Beverage or fragrance
Grease or oil
Soiling
▼ Seat Belt Maintenance
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked in a
mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted
with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
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3. Before retracting seat belts which havebeen pulled out for cleaning, dry them
off thoroughly and make sure there is
no remaining mois ture on them.
WA R N I N G
If a seat belt appears frayed or has
abrasions, have it replaced by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer:
If a seat belt is used under such a condition,
it cannot function at its full capacity which
could result in serious injury or death.
Use a mild detergent to remove soiling
from a seat belt:
If organic solvents are used for cleaning the
seat belts or they become stained or
bleached, there is the possibility of them
becoming weakened and as a result, they
may not function at their full capacity
which could cause serious injury or death.
NOTE
Clean seat belts diligently if they get dirty.
Leaving them uncleaned will make it
difficult to clean them later, and it may
affect the smooth retracting of the seat
belt.
▼Vinyl Upholstery Maintenance
Remove dust and dirt from the vinyl
upholstery using a brush or vacuum.
Remove soiling from
vinyl upholstery
using a leather and vinyl upholstery
cleaner.
▼ Upholstery and Synthetic Leather
Maintenance
Fabric
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked in a
mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted
with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
Synthetic leather
1. Remove dust and sand using a vacuum cleaner.
2. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent (approx.
5%) diluted with water.
3. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
▼Leather Upholstery Maintenance*
1. Remove dust and sand using a vacuum
cleaner.
2. Wipe off the soiled area with a soft
cloth and a suitable, special cleaner or
a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent
(about 5%) diluted with water.
3. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
4. Remove moisture wi th a dry, soft cloth
and allow the leather to further dry in a
well-ventilated, shaded area. If the
leather gets wet such as from rain,
remove the moisture and dry it as soon
as possible.
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NOTE
Because genuine leather is a natural
material, its surface is not uniform and
it may have natural scars, scratches,
and wrinkles.
To maintain the quality for as long as
possible, periodical maintenance, about
twice a year, is recommended.
If the leather upholstery comes into
contact with any of the following, clean
it immediately.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
premature wear, mold, or stains.
Sand or dirt
Grease or oil, such as hand cream
Alcohol, such as in cosmetic or hair
dressing items
If the leather upholstery gets wet,
promptly remove moisture with a dry
cloth. Remaining moisture on the
surface may cause deterioration such as
hardening and shrinkage.
Exposure to direct sunlight for long
periods may cause deterioration and
shrinkage. When parking the car under
direct sunlight for long periods, shade
the interior using sunshades.
Do not leave vinyl products on the
leather upholstery for long periods.
They may affect the leather quality and
coloring. If the cabin temperature
becomes hot, the vinyl may deteriorate
and adhere to the genuine leather.
▼ Plastic Part Maintenance
CAUTION
Do not use polishing agents.
Depending on the product ingredients,
they could cause discoloration, stains,
cracks or peeling of the coating.
▼Instrument Panel Top Maintenance
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth
soaked in a mild detergent (approx.
5%) diluted with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
▼Panel Maintenance
If a panel becomes soiled, wipe it off with
a soft cloth soaked in clean water and
thoroughly wrung out.
If some areas require further cleaning, use
the following procedure:
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth
soaked in a mild detergent (approx.
5 %) diluted with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
NOTE
Be particularly careful when cleaning
shiny surface panels and metallic parts
such as plating as they can be scratched
easily.
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▼Cleaning 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

Do not scrape or scratch the inside of the
window glass. It could damage the
thermal filaments.
 When washing the inside of the window
glass, use a soft cloth dampened in
lukewarm water, gently wiping the
thermal filaments.
Use of glass cleaning products could
damage the thermal filaments.
▼ Cleaning the Floor Mats
Rubber floor mats should be cleaned with
mild soap and water only.
WA R N I N G
Do not use rubber cleaners, such as tire
cleaner or tire shine, when cleaning rubber
floor
mats:
Cleaning the rubber floor mats with rubber
cleaning products makes the floor mats
slippery.
This may cause an accident when
depressing the accelerator, brake, or clutch
(Manual transmission) pedal or when
getting in or out of the vehicle.
After removing the floor mats for
cleaning, always rein stall them securely
(page 3-52).
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