Appearance Care; Exterior Care; Maintaining the Finish- Page 289

Appearance Care

7-5

Exterior Care

Follow 

all

 label and container directions

when using a chemical cleaner or polish.
Read all warnings and cautions.

J

Maintaining the Finish

t

Washing

To help protect the finish from rust and
deterioration, wash your Mazda thor-
oughly and frequently (at least once a
month) with lukewarm or cold water.

Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign materials
from the underside of the fenders, and
make sure the drain holes in the lower
edges of the doors and rocker panels are
kept clear and 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 luke-
warm or cold water. Don’t allow soap to
dry on the finish.

Wash chrome and aluminum parts with
the same mild soap you used to wash the
vehicle’s body.

Take similar precautions if your vehicle 
is exposed to chemical industrial fallout.

Remove any exterior accessories, such
as antennas, before entering a car wash. If
you have wax applied to the vehicle at a
commercial car wash, it is recommended

that you clean the wiper blades and wind-
shield (refer to page 8-37).

WARNING

Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is danger-
ous. Increased stopping distance or
the vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indi-
cate whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance is
normal.