Appearance Care
Maintaining the Finish
Washing
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Before lifting the windshield wiper blades off the windshield, always follow the procedure for moving the windshield wiper blades. Otherwise, a wiper blade, wiper arm, or the hood could be damaged.
Refer to the Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades (Search) section for the procedure on how to move the windshield wiper blades to the service position.
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When the power switch is switched ON and the wiper lever is in the AUTO position, the windshield wipers may operate automatically in the following cases:
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The area of the windshield above the rain sensor is touched or wiped with a cloth.
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The windshield or the rain sensor area in the cabin is hit.
When the power switch is switched ON and the wiper lever is in the AUTO position, do not touch the windshield or the windshield wipers Otherwise, the windshield wipers will operate automatically which could catch your fingers or damage the windshield wipers.
When removing ice or snow, or cleaning the windshield, always make sure the wiper lever is in the OFF position.
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Do not spray water in the motor compartment. Otherwise, it could lead to an electrical shock resulting in an accident.
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When washing and waxing the vehicle, be careful not to apply excessive force to any single area of the vehicle roof. Otherwise, you could dent the vehicle.
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Make sure that the charge lid is closed and lock the doors. Otherwise, the charge lid may be forcefully opened by water pressure causing damage to the vehicle or charge lid.
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When washing the vehicle, do not spray highly pressurized water against the sensor areas of the front and rear bumpers, or rub them strongly. Otherwise, the sensors may be unable to detect obstructions correctly and systems such as the parking sensor may not operate normally.
To help protect the finish from rust and deterioration, wash your Mazda thoroughly and frequently, at least once a month, with lukewarm or cold water.
If the vehicle is washed improperly, the paint surface could be scratched. Here are some examples of how scratching could occur.
Scratches occur on the paint surface when:
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The vehicle is washed without first rinsing off dirt and other foreign matter.
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The vehicle is washed with a rough, dry, or dirty cloth.
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The vehicle is washed at a car wash that uses brushes that are dirty or too stiff.
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Cleansers or wax containing abrasives are used.
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Mazda is not responsible for scratches caused by automatic car washes or improper washing.
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Scratches are more noticeable on vehicles with darker paint finishes.
To minimize scratches on the vehicle's paint finish:
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Rinse off any dirt or other foreign matter using lukewarm or cold water before washing.
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Use plenty of lukewarm or cold water and a soft cloth when washing the vehicle. Do not use a nylon cloth.
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Rub gently when washing or drying the vehicle.
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Take your vehicle only to a car wash that keeps its brushes well maintained.
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Do not use abrasive cleansers or wax that contain abrasives.
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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 damage the protective coating; also, cleaners and detergents may discolor or deteriorate the paint.
Pay special attention to removing salt, dirt, mud, and other foreign material from the underside of the fenders, and make sure the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial fallout, and similar deposits can damage the finish if not removed immediately. When prompt washing with plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a clean chamois to prevent water spots from forming.
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.
When using an automatic car wash
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Retract the door mirrors.
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The automatic car wash brushes could reduce the paint luster or hasten paint deterioration.
Release the parking brake and use neutral hold mode (automatic car wash mode) when it is necessary to change the shift position to the N position for an automatic car wash.
For details on neutral hold mode (automatic car wash mode) (Search).
When using a high water pressure car wash
High water temperature and high water pressure car washers are available depending on the type of car wash machine. If the car washer nozzle is put too close to the vehicle, the force of the spray could damage or deform the molding, affect the sealability of parts, and allow water to penetrate the interior. Keep a sufficient space (30 cm (12 in) or more) between the nozzle and the vehicle. In addition, do not spend too much time spraying the same area of the vehicle, and be very careful when spraying between gaps in doors and around windows.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body, wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
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Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Wax containing abrasives will remove paints and could damage bright metal parts.
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Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
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When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
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Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar materials will usually also take off the wax. Rewax these areas even if the rest of the vehicle does not need it.
Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish should be repaired promptly. Exposed metal quickly rusts and can lead to major repairs.
If your Mazda is damaged and needs metal parts repaired or replaced, make sure the body shop applies anti-corrosion materials to all parts, both repaired and new. This will prevent them from rusting.
Camera and Lens Maintenance
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The camera cover is made of hard plastic, therefore do not apply oil film remover, organic solvents, wax, or coating agents. If any such agent is applied, wipe it using a soft cloth immediately.
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Do not rub the camera cover or lens forcefully, or clean them with an abrasive or hard brush.
If there are water droplets, snow, or mud on the camera lens, wipe it off using a soft cloth. If the camera lens is especially dirty, wash it off with mild detergent.
Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the aluminum wheels. Special care is needed to protect this coating.
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.
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Do not use a wire brush or any abrasive cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent on aluminum wheels. They may damage the coating.
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Always use a sponge or soft cloth to clean the wheels.
Rinse the wheels thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water. Also, be sure to clean the wheels after driving on dusty or salted roads to help prevent corrosion.
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Avoid washing your vehicle in an automatic car wash that uses high-speed or hard brushes.
Interior Care
Leather Upholstery Maintenance (Some Models)
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Remove dust and sand using a vacuum cleaner.
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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.
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Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and wrung out well.
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Remove moisture with 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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Because genuine leather is a natural material, its surface is not uniform and it may have natural scars, scratches, and wrinkles.
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To maintain the quality for as long as possible, periodical maintenance, about twice a year, is recommended.
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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.
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Sand or dirt
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Grease or oil, such as hand cream
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Alcohol, such as in cosmetic or hair dressing items
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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.
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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.
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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.
Instrument Panel Top (Soft pad) Maintenance
Extremely soft material is used for the soft pad surface. If the soft pad surface is rubbed harshly with a dry cloth, it could result in the surface being damaged and leaving white scratch marks.
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Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted with water.
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Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and wrung out well.
Glass and Mirror Maintenance
Use Mazda genuine glass cleaner to remove oil film from the glass or mirror.
When cleaning the interior side of the window glass, gently wipe it with a soft cloth soaked in clean water and thoroughly wrung out.
If there is oil film on the windshield, headlight beams from on-coming vehicles may reflect irregularly especially on a rainy night, and your front vision might be obstructed.
If an antenna or filament is printed on the window glass, gently wipe along the antenna or filament to clean that area.
If some areas require further cleaning, a glass cleaning agent can be used. However, be careful of the following points.
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Follow the instructions on the glass cleaner container.
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Do not use a glass cleaning agent on a window antenna and filaments, and on a rearview mirror equipped with the automatic glare prevention function.
Using a glass cleaning agent may damage the window antenna or filaments, and the automatic glare prevention function may not operate normally.
