2004 Mazda RX-8 Owners Manual - MyMazda

J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 42 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PMMaintenance and CareAppearance CarePay special attention to removing salt,dirt, mud, and other foreign material fromthe underside of the fenders, and makesure the drain holes in the lower edges ofthe doors and rocker panels are clean.Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,industrial fallout, and similar deposits candamage the finish if not removedimmediately. When prompt washing withplain water is ineffective, use a mild soapmade for use on vehicles.Thoroughly rinse off all soap withlukewarm or cold water. Don’t allow soapto dry on the finish.After washing the vehicle, dry it with aclean chamois to prevent water spots fromforming.WARNINGDriving with Wet Brakes:Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.Increased stopping distance or thevehicle pulling to one side whenbraking could result in a seriousaccident. Light braking will indicatewhether the brakes have beenaffected. Dry the brakes by drivingvery slowly and applying the brakeslightly until brake performance isnormal.WaxingYour vehicle needs to be waxed whenwater no longer beads on the finish.Always wash and dry the vehicle beforewaxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.Waxes containing abrasive will removepaint and could damage bright metalparts.2. Use a good grade of natural wax formetallic, mica, and solid colors.3. When waxing, coat evenly with thesponge supplied or a soft cloth.4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.NOTEA spot remover to remove oil, tar, andsimilar materials will usually also takeoff the wax. Rewax these areas even ifthe rest of the vehicle doesn’t need it.▼ Repairing Damage to the FinishDeep scratches or chips on the finishshould be repaired promptly. Exposedmetal quickly rusts and can lead to majorrepairs.CAUTIONIf your Mazda is damaged and needsmetal parts repaired or replaced, makesure the body shop applies anticorrosionmaterials to all parts, bothrepaired and new. This will preventthem from rusting.8-42Form No. 8R65-EA-03C