Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Emission Control System

Mazda 3 Owners Manual / Before Driving / Fuel and Emission / Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions / Emission Control System

This vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is part of this system) that enables the vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions requirements.

WARNING Never park over or near anything fl ammable: Parking over or near anything fl ammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with the engine turned off , the exhaust system remains very hot after normal use and could ignite anything fl ammable. A resulting fi re could cause serious injury or death.

CAUTION Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside the converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the converter and cause poor performance.

USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Do not drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
Do not coast with the ignition switched off .
Do not descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switched off .
Do not operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes.
Do not tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must be made by a qualifi ed technician.
Do not push-start or pull-start your vehicle.

NOTE

Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
While the engine is off, the sound of a valve opening and closing can be heard at the rear of the vehicle, however this does not indicate an abnormality. The vehicle has a selfchecking device and it operates while the engine is off.

Fuel Requirements

Vehicles with catalytic converters or oxygen sensors must use ONLY UNLEADED FUEL, which will reduce exhaust emissions and keep spark plug fouling to a minimum. This vehicle will perform best wit ...

Engine Exhaust (Carbon monoxide)

WARNING Do not drive your vehicle if you smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle: Engine exhaust gas is dangerous. This gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless, odor ...

Other materials:

Manual Transaxle Removal/Installation [G66 M R]
CAUTION: Secure the steering wheel using tape or a cable to prevent the steering shaft from rotating after disconnecting the steering shaft. If the steering wheel rotates after the steering shaft and the steering gear and linkage are disconnected, the internal parts of the clock spr ...

Steering Gear And Linkage Inspection
Steering Rack Inspection 1. Inspect for cracking, damage, and tooth wear. If there is any malfunction, replace the steering rack. 2. Measure the steering rack warp. If it exceeds the maximum specification, replace the steering rack. Steering rack runout Large ...

Temporary Spare Tire
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least monthly to make sure it is properly inflated and stored. NOTE The temporary spare tire condition gradually deteriorates even if it has not been used. The temporary spare tire is easier to handle because of its construction which is lighter and small ...