MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF 2017 Owners Manual (in English)

6–23
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Left-hand drive model
Right-hand drive model
Window and Headlight
Washer Fluid
Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
WARNING
Use only windscreen washer À uid or
plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
À uid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windscreen, it will dirty the windscreen,
affect your visibility, and could result in
an accident.
Inspect À uid level in the washer À uid
reservoir; add À uid if necessary.
Use plain water if washer À uid is
unavailable.
But use only washer À uid in cold weather
to prevent it from freezing.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Body Lubrication
All moving points of the body, such as
door and bonnet 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 bonnet's secondary latch
keeps the bonnet 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 petrol, paraf¿ n,
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 windscreen above the rain
sensor is touched.
 


 If the windscreen above the rain
sensor is wiped with a cloth.
 


 If the windscreen 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
¿ ngers 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 windscreen or
the blades with foreign 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 wiping properly,
clean the window and blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if
necessary.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Replacing Windscreen 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 windscreen wiper
arms, raise the driver's side wiper arm
¿ rst. When lowering the wiper arms,
slowly lower the wiper arm from the
passenger's side ¿ rst while supporting it
with your hand. Forcefully lowering the
wiper arms could damage the wiper arm
and blade, and may scratch or crack the
windscreen.
(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 windscreen let
the wiper arm down easily, do not let it
slap down on the windscreen.
4. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it
out of blade holder.
5. Remove the metal stiffeners from each
blade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
CAUTION
  Do not bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
  If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade's wiping ef¿ ciency 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 blade
assembly 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 windscreen let
the wiper arm down easily, do not let it
slap down on the windscreen.
2. Hold the end of the rubber and pull
until the tabs are free of the metal
support.
Metal support
Ta b
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
3. Remove the metal stiffeners from each
blade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
CAUTION
  Do not bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
  If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade's wiping ef¿ ciency 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.
4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
NOTE
Install the blade so that the tabs are
toward the bottom of the wiper arm.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Battery
WARNING
Read the following precautions carefully before using the battery or inspecting
to ensure safe and correct handling:
Always wear eye protection when working near the battery:
Working without eye protection is dangerous. Battery À uid contains SULPHURIC
ACID which could cause blindness if splashed into your eyes. Also, hydrogen gas
produced during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to
explode.
Wear eye protection and protective gloves to prevent contact with battery À uid:
Spilled battery À uid is dangerous.
Battery À uid contains SULPHURIC ACID which could cause serious injuries if it gets
in eyes, or on the skin or clothing. If this happens, immediately À ush your eyes with
water for 15 minutes or wash your skin thoroughly and get medical attention.
Always keep batteries out of the reach of children:
Allowing children to play near batteries is dangerous. Battery À uid could cause serious
injuries if it gets in the eyes or on the skin.
Keep À ames and sparks away from open battery cells and do not allow metal
tools to contact the positive ( ) or negative ( ) terminal of the battery when working
near a battery. Do not allow the positive ( ) terminal to contact the vehicle body:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep all À ames including
cigarettes and sparks away from open battery cells.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–29
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
WARNING
Keep all À ames, including cigarettes, and sparks away from open battery cells:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries.
NOTE
Before performing battery maintenance, remove the battery cover.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–30
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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
leads and charge the battery every six
weeks.
Inspecting Electrolyte Level
A low level of electrolyte À uid will cause
the battery to discharge quickly.
Upper level
Lower level
Inspect the electrolyte level at least once
a week. If it is low, remove the caps and
add enough distilled water to bring the
level between the upper and lower level
(illustration).
Do not over¿ ll.
Examine the speci¿ c gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especially
during cold weather. If it is low, recharge
the battery.
Battery Recharging
NOTE
  Before performing maintenance or
recharging the battery, turn off all
accessories and stop the engine.
  To disconnect the battery, remove the
negative lead ¿ rst. Install it last when
connecting the battery.
  Be sure to remove the caps before
recharging the battery.
 (With i-stop system) Do not quick-charge the battery.




 If the battery quickly discharges
because, for example, the lights were
left on too long with the engine off,
slow-charge it as required by battery
size and charger capacity.
 


 If the battery gradually discharges
because of high electric load while the
vehicle is being used, recharge it as
required by battery size and charger
capacity.
Battery Replacement
Contact an Authorised Mazda Repairer for
a battery replacement purchase.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–31
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Key Battery Replacement
If the buttons on the transmitter are
inoperable and the operation indicator
light does not À ash, the battery may be
dead.
Replace with a new battery before the
transmitter becomes unusable.
CAUTION
  Make sure the battery is installed
correctly. Battery leakage could
occur if it is not installed correctly.
  When replacing the battery, be
careful not to touch any of the
internal circuitry and electrical
terminals, bend the electrical
terminals, or get dirt in the
transmitter as the transmitter could
be damaged.
  There is the danger of explosion if
the battery is not correctly replaced.
  Dispose of used batteries according
to the following instructions.
 


 Insulate the plus and minus
terminals of the battery using
cellophane or equivalent tape.
 


 Never disassemble.



 Never throw the battery into ¿ re or
water.
 


 Never deform or crush. 

 Replace only with the same type
battery (CR2025 or equivalent).
The following conditions indicate that the
battery power is low:
 


 The KEY indicator light (green) À ashes
in the instrument cluster for about 30
seconds after the engine is turned off.
 


 The system does not operate and
the operation indicator light on the
transmitter does not À ash when the
buttons are pressed.
 


 The system's operational range is
reduced.
Replacing the battery at an Authorised
Mazda Repairer is recommended to
prevent damage to the key. If replacing the
battery by yourself, follow the instruction.
Replacing the key battery
1. Press the knob and pull out the
auxiliary key.
Knob
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD

6–32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
2. Twist a tape-wrapped À athead
screwdriver in the direction of the
arrow and open the cover slightly.
Cover
3. Insert the tape-wrapped À athead
screwdriver into the gap and slide it in
the direction of the arrow.
Cover
Gap
4. Twist the À athead screwdriver in the
direction of the arrow and remove the
cover.
Cover
5. Remove the battery cap, then remove
the battery.
6. Insert a new battery with the positive
pole facing up, and then cover the
battery with the battery cap.
7. Close the cover.
8. Reinsert the auxiliary key.
/:A(.'',A'FKVKQPKPFD