Mazda Protege (2003 year). Manual — part 14

8-18

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

▼ Inspecting Washer Fluid Level

Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir; add fluid if necessary.

The top of the float should be between
FULL and LOW.

Use plain water if washer fluid is
unavailable.
But use only washer fluid in cold weather
to prevent it from freezing.

To inspect the washer fluid level in the
front reservoir, pull off the cap. Then,
holding your thumb over the hole in the
center of the cap, lift it straight up. There
should be fluid in the straw. 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.

Washer Fluid

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.

WARNING

Float

Sedan

Hatchback

8-19

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

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 engine hood’s secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.

A viscous paper air filter fits inside the air
cleaner housing, as shown. It’s been
specially treated and should not be
cleaned and reused. Replace it when
necessary.

▼ Replacing the Air Filter

1. Unfasten the clamps.

Body Lubrication

Air Filter

Don’t drive without an air filter. This
could result in excessive engine wear.

NOTE

If the vehicle is operated in very dusty
or sandy areas, replace the filter more
often than recommended intervals.

CAUTION

Clamp

8-20

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

2. Lift off the air filter cover and remove

the filter.

3. Wipe inside the air cleaner housing

with a damp cloth.

4. Replace the filter.

5. Install in the reverse order of removal.

Replace the filter according to Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).

Contamination of either the windshield 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.

▼ Replacing Windshield Wiper

Blades

When the wipers no longer clean well, the
blades are probably worn or cracked.
Replace them.

Air filter cover

Air filter

Wiper Blades

Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washes have been known to affect the
cleanability of windows.

To prevent damage to the wiper blades,
don’t use gasoline, kerosene, paint
thinner, or other solvents on or near
them.

To prevent damage to the wiper arms
and other components, don’t move the
wipers by hand.

CAUTION

CAUTION

CAUTION

8-21

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

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.

2. Hold the end of the rubber and pull

until the tabs are free of the metal
support.

3. Remove the metal stiffeners from the

blade rubber and install them in new
blades.

To prevent damage to the windshield,
don’t let the wiper arm fall on it.

Push

Plastic locking clip

CAUTION

Pull out

Tab

Metal support

• Don’t bend the stiffeners. You need

to use them again.

• If the metal stiffeners are switched,

the blade’s wiping efficiency could
be reduced.
So don’t 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.

Stiffeners

CAUTION

8-22

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.

Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse older of removal.

▼ Replacing Rear Window Wiper

Blade (Hatchback)

When the wiper no longer cleans well, the
blade is probably worn or cracked.
Replace it.

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.

2. Pull down the blade rubber and slide it

out of the blade holder.

NOTE

Install the blade so that the tabs are
toward the bottom of the wiper arm.

To prevent damage to the wiper arm
and other components, don’t move the
wiper by hand.

Tab

CAUTION

To prevent damage to the rear window,
don’t let the wiper arm fall on it.

Push

Plastic locking clip

CAUTION

Pull out

8-23

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

3. Remove the metal stiffeners from the

blade rubber and install them in new
blades.

4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.

Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.

Don’t bend the stiffeners. You need to
use them again.

Stiffeners

CAUTION

Battery

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.

Spilled Battery Fluid:
Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC
ACID which could cause serious
injuries, if it gets in your eyes or on
your skin. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with
water for 15 minutes or wash your
skin thoroughly and get medical
attention. Be careful not to get battery
fluid on yourself.

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.

WARNING

8-24

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
cables.

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.

Tires

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 when using 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 10-8)
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.

WARNING

8-25

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

▼ Tire Inflation Pressure

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-
8).

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
10-8).

WARNING

NOTE

• Warm tires normally exceed

recommended pressures. Don’t
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.

• Underinflation can cause reduced

fuel economy and poor sealing of
the tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.

• Overinflation 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.

8-26

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

▼ Tire 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.

Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:

• Incorrect tire pressure
• Improper wheel alignment
• Out-of-balance wheel
• Severe braking

After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-8) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.

▼ Replacing a Tire

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.

Front

Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.

CAUTION

Limited-Slip Differential system;
don’t use the following:
• Tires not of the designated size
• Tires of different sizes or types at

the same time

• Tires 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.

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.

CAUTION

WARNING

8-27

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.

You may need to replace it before the
band is across the entire tread.

▼ Temporary 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.

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

2

or bar, 60 psi).

▼ Replacing a Wheel

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.

New tread

Worn tread

Tread wear indicator

• Don’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.

• The temporary spare tire has a tread

life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles),
depending on road conditions and
driving habits.

• When the tread wear solid-band

indicator appears, replace the tire
with the same type of temporary
spare (page 8-26).

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

WARNING

8-28

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect
• Tire fit
• Wheel and bearing life
• Ground clearance
• Snow-chain clearance
• Speedometer calibration
• Headlight aim
• Bumper height

CAUTION

8-29

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

Light Bulbs

License plate lights

Front side-marker lights

Overhead lights/Map lights

Sedan

Headlights

Front turn signal lights/
Parking lights

Brake lights/Taillights

Rear turn signal lights

Reverse lights

Taillights

High-mount brake light

Trunk light

Rear side-marker lights

Side turn signal lights

8-30

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

License plate lights

Front side-marker lights

Overhead lights/Map lights

Headlights

Front turn signal lights/
Parking lights

Reverse lights

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights

Hatchback

Side turn signal lights

8-31

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

Your Mazda’s headlights have replaceable
halogen bulbs.

▼ Replacing a Headlight Bulb

Sedan

1. Make sure the headlight switch is off.

2. Lift the hood and find the bulb in the

rear of the headlight body.

3. Detach the electrical connector from

the bulb by pulling it to the rear.

4. Pull off the sealing cover.

5. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.

6. Swing the retaining spring out and

away to free the headlight bulb.

7. Carefully remove the headlight bulb

from the socket by pulling it straight
back.

8. Replace the bulb.

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.

WARNING

Sedan

Hatchback

Headlight low beam

Do not touch the glass surface

Headlight main beam

Sealing cover

8-32

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

9. Install in the reverse order of removal.

Hatchback

1. Make sure the headlight switch is off.

2. Lift the hood and find the bulbs in the

rear of the headlight body.

(Low beam bulb)

3. Detach the electrical connector from

the bulb by pulling it to the rear.

4. Pull off the sealing cover.

5. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.

6. Swing the retaining spring out and

away to free the headlight bulb.

7. Carefully remove the headlight bulb

from the socket by pulling it straight
back.

8. Replace the bulb.

9. Install in the reverse order of removal.

(High beam bulb)

10.Turn the socket and bulb assembly

counterclockwise and remove it.
Carefully remove the headlight bulb
from its socket in the reflector by
gently pulling it straight backward out
of the socket.

NOTE

• When reinstalling the sealing cover,

make sure

faces up.

• Use the protective cover and carton

to dispose of the old bulb promptly
out of the reach of children.

NOTE

• When reinstalling the sealing cover,

make sure

faces up.

• Use the protective cover and carton

to dispose of the old bulb promptly
out of the reach of children.

Sealing cover

8-33

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

11.Remove the bulb from the electrical

connector by pressing the tab on the
connector with your finger and pulling
the bulb upward.

12.Install the new bulb in the reverse

order of removal.

NOTE

Use the protective cover and carton to
dispose of the old bulb promptly out of
the reach of children.