Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt 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.
| WARNING
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 aff ected. |
Bright-Metal Maintenance
Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
To prevent corrosion on brightmetal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a ...
Aluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
CAUTION
Do not use any detergent other than
mild detergent. Before using any
...
Other materials:
Variable Intake Air Shutter Valve Actuator Inspection [Mzr 2.0, Mzr 2.5]
Operation Inspection
1. Remove the air hose..
2. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the variable intake air shutter valve actuator.
3. Connect a vacuum pump to the variable intake air shutter valve actuator.
NOTE:
Covered with a hood, the rod of the variable intake air shutter valv ...
DSC HU/CM Removal/Installation
WARNING:
If the DSC HU/CM configuration is not completed, it could result in an unexpected
accident due to the DSC being inoperative. If the DSC HU/CM is replaced, always
use the automatic configuration function so that the DSC operation conditions
are correct.
If the DSC se ...
Trunk Side Trim Removal/Installation
4SD
Left-side
1. Remove the following parts:
a. Rear scuff plate.
b. Tire house trim.
c. Trunk mat.
d. Trunk board.
e. Trunk end trim.
f. Service hole cover
2. Remove the fasteners.
3. Install in the reverse order of removal.
Right-side
1. Remove the following parts:
a. Re ...
