warning MAZDA MODEL SPEED MX-5 MIATA 2005 Owners Manual

Black plate (235,1)
qChanging Coolant
Change coolant according to Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).
CAUTION
lUse only soft (demineralized) water
in the coolant mixture. Water that
contains minerals will cut down on
the coolant's effectiveness.
lDon't add only water. Always add a
proper coolant mixture.
lThe engine has aluminum parts and
must be protected by an ethylene-
glycol-based coolant to prevent
corrosion and freezing.
lDO NOT USE coolants Containing
Alcohol, methanol, Borate or
Silicate.
These coolants could damage the
cooling system.
lDO NOT MIX alcohol or methanol
with the coolant. This could damage
the cooling system.
lDon't use a solution that contains
more than 60% antifreeze.
This would reduce effectiveness.
For mixture percentage:
Protection Volume
Antifreeze solutionDemineralizedwater
Above _
16°C (3°F) 35% 65%
Above _
26°C ( _
15°F) 45% 55%
Above _
40°C ( _
40°F) 55% 45%
To change coolant
WARNING
Removing the Cooling System Cap:
Removing the cooling system cap
while the engine is running or hot is
dangerous. This might lead to cooling
system and engine damage and could
result in serious injury from escaping
hot coolant or steam. Turn off the
engine and wait until it's cool. Even
then, be very careful when removing
the cap. Wrap a thick cloth around the
cap and slowly turn it
counterclockwise to the first stop.
Step back while the pressure escapes.
When you're sure all the pressure is
gone, press down on the cap ―still
using a cloth ―turn the cap, and
remove it.
1. Remove the cooling system cap.
Tighten
Loosen
Tighten Loosen
2. Only when the engine is cool, remove
the radiator drain plug and drain the
coolant into a suitable container.
Properly dispose of the used coolant.
3. Flush out the system with running water.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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qAdding Brake Fluid
WARNING
Spilled Brake Fluid:
Spilled brake fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with water
and get medical attention. Brake fluid
spilled on a hot engine could cause a
fire. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on yourself or on the engine.
Low Brake Fluid Levels:
Low brake fluid levels are dangerous.
Low levels could signal brake lining
wear or a brake system leak. Your
brakes could fail and cause an
accident. If you find a low fluid level,
have the brakes inspected.
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
CAUTION
lBrake fluid will damage painted
surfaces. If brake fluid does get on a
painted surface, wipe it off
immediately.
lUsing nonspecified brake fluids
(page 10-4) will damage the system.
Mixing different fluids will also
damage it.
If the brake system frequently
requires new fluid, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Clutch Fluid
q Inspecting Clutch Fluid Level
Inspect the level in the clutch fluid
reservoir regularly. It should be kept at
MAX.
qAdding Clutch Fluid
WARNING
Spilled Clutch Fluid:
Spilled clutch fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with water
and get medical attention. Clutch fluid
spilled on a hot engine could cause a
fire. Be careful not to spill clutch fluid
on yourself or on the engine.
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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WARNING
Sudden Vehicle Movement:
Shifting the shift lever without first
depressing the brake pedal is
dangerous. The vehicle could move
suddenly and cause an accident.
Make sure the brake pedal is applied
before shifting the shift lever.
4. With the engine still idling, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean.
5. Put the dipstick back into the filler tube and make sure it is fully seated.
6. Pull the dipstick out and read the fluid level.
FULL
LOW Fluid
cold
scale
The proper fluid level is marked on the
dipstick as follows.
Fluid hot scale
When checking the fluid level at normal
operating temperature, the fluid level
should be within the FULL and LOW
marks on the dipstick.
Fluid cold scale
When the vehicle has not been driven but
the engine is idling, and the outside
temperature is above 20°C (70°F), the
fluid level should be close to, but not
above, the bottom notch on the dipstick.
NOTE
Use the cold scale as a reference.
Fully insert the dipstick. When adding
fluid, inspect with the dipstick to make
sure it doesn't pass full.
NOTE
Inspect the fluid on both sides of the
dipstick in a well lit area for an accurate
reading.
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Owner Maintenance
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Washer Fluid
qInspecting Washer Fluid Level
WARNING
Substitute Washer Fluid:
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. Use only windshield
washer fluid or plain water in the
reservoir.
Using Washer Fluid Without Anti-
freeze Protection in Cold Weather:
Operating your vehicle in
temperatures below 4 degrees C (40
degrees 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.
Type A
Type B
Use plain water if washer fluid is
unavailable.
But use only washer fluid in cold weather
to prevent it from freezing.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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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.
Battery
WARNING
Battery-Related Lead Materials:
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer
and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Battery-Related Explosion:
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 flames, including
cigarettes, and sparks away from open
battery cells.
Children and Batteries:
Allowing children to play near
batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid
could cause serious injuries if it gets
in the eyes or on the skin. Always keep
batteries out of the reach of children.
NOTE
The battery in this vehicle is unique and
should only be replaced with the
appropriate Mazda battery. For more
details, contact an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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The battery is in the trunk.
qBattery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
lKeep it securely mounted.
lKeep the top clean and dry.
lKeep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
lRinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
lIf the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.
Tires
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.
WARNING
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.
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Owner Maintenance
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qTire Inflation Pressure
WARNING
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).
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).
NOTE
lAlways check tire pressure when
tires are cold.
lWarm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don't
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
lUnderinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy and poor sealing of the
tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.
lOverinflation 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.
q Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)/8,000 km*
(5,000 miles) or sooner if irregular wear
develops. During rotation, inspect them
for correct balance.
* Unique driving conditions for U.S.A.,
Canada and Puerto Rico
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressure
lImproper wheel alignment
lOut-of-balance wheel
lSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
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.
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
lTires not of the designated size
lTires of different sizes or types at the
same time
lTires 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.
q Replacing a Tire
WARNING
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.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
qTemporary Spare Tire
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least
monthly to make sure it's properly inflated
and stored.
The temporary spare tire is easier to
handle because of its construction. It is
lighter and smaller than a conventional
tire and should be used only for an
emergency and only for a short distance.
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Owner Maintenance
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Use the temporary only until the
conventional tire is repaired, which should
be as soon as possible.
Maintain its pressure at 420 kPa (4.2 kgf/
cm
2or bar, 60 psi).
CAUTION
lDon't use your temporary spare tire
rim with a snow tire or a
conventional tire. Neither will
properly fit and could damage both
tire and rim.
lThe temporary spare tire has a tread
life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles),
depending on road conditions and
driving habits.
lThe temporary spare tire is for
limited use, however, if the tread
wear solid-band indicator appears,
replace the tire with the same type of
temporary spare (page 8-32).
qReplacing a Wheel
WARNING
Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident. Always use
wheels of the correct size on your
vehicle.
CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
lTire fit
lWheel and bearing life
lGround clearance
lSnow-chain clearance
lSpeedometer calibration
lHeadlight aim
lBumper height
lLimited-Slip Differential System
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Your Mazda's headlights and fog lights
have replaceable halogen bulbs.
WARNING
Handling Halogen Bulbs:
When a halogen bulb breaks, it is
dangerous. These bulbs contain
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it
will explode and serious injuries could
be caused by the flying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with
bare hands, body oil could cause the
bulb to overheat and explode when lit.
Never touch the glass portion of the
bulb with your bare hands and always
wear eye protection when handling or
working around halogen bulbs.
Children and Halogen Bulbs:
Playing with a halogen bulb is
dangerous. Serious injuries could be
caused by dropping a halogen bulb or
breaking it some other way.
Always keep halogen bulbs out of the
reach of children.
qReplacing Exterior Light Bulbs
Replacing a headlight bulb
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned
off and the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood and find the high and low beam bulbs in the rear of the headlight
unit.
The outboard bulb is the LOW beam,
and the inboard one is the HIGH beam.
Refer to Light Bulbs (page 8-34). 3. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it while
holding the rubber socket cover in
place. Carefully remove the headlight
bulb from its socket in the reflector by
gently pulling it straight backward out
of the socket.
4. Disconnect the bulb from the electrical connector by pressing the tab on the
connector with your finger and pulling
the bulb upward.
High beam bulb
Low beam bulb
5. Install the new bulb in the reverse orderof removal.
NOTE
Use the protective cover and carton for
the replacement bulb to dispose of the
old bulb promptly and out of the reach
of children.
Replacing a fog light bulbí
Due to the complexity and difficulty of
the procedure, the bulbs should be
replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Front turn signal lights/Parking lights
1. Turn the socket and bulb assemblycounterclockwise and remove it.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-35íSome models.
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