2013-2016 Mazda Cx-5 SUV Appearance Care User Manual
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Appearance Care for Your Mazda Cx-5 SUV First Generation (2013-2016)

Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
When insects stick to the paint surface  
and decompose, corrosive compounds  
form. These can erode the clear and color  
base coat of the vehicle's paintwork if  
they are not removed.  
Exterior Care  
The paintwork on your Mazda represents  
the latest technical developments in  
composition and methods of application.  
Tree sap will harden and adhere  
Environmental hazards, however, can  
harm the paint's protective properties, if  
proper care is not taken.  
permanently to the paint finish. If you  
scratch the sap off while it is hard, some  
vehicle paint could come off with it.  
Here are some examples of possible  
damage, with tips on how to prevent  
them.  
Prevention  
It is necessary to have your Mazda  
washed and waxed to preserve its finish  
according to the instructions in this  
section. This should be done as soon as  
possible.  
Etching Caused by Acid Rain or  
Industrial Fallout  
Occurrence  
Industrial pollutants and vehicle emissions  
drift into the air and mix with rain or dew  
to form acids. These acids can settle on a  
vehicle's finish. As the water evaporates,  
the acid becomes concentrated and can  
damage the finish.  
And the longer the acid remains on the  
surface, the greater the chance is for  
damage.  
Bird droppings can be removed with a  
soft sponge and water. If you are traveling  
and these are not available, a moistened  
tissue may also take care of the problem.  
The cleaned area should be waxed  
according to the instructions in this  
section.  
Insects and tree sap are best removed with  
a soft sponge and water or a commercially  
available chemical cleaner.  
Prevention  
It is necessary to wash and wax your  
vehicle to preserve its finish according to  
the instructions in this section. These  
steps should be taken immediately after  
you suspect that acid rain has settled on  
your vehicle's finish.  
Another method is to cover the affected  
area with dampened newspaper for one to  
two hours. After removing the newspaper,  
rinse off the loosened debris with water.  
Water Marks  
Occurrence  
Damage Caused by Bird Dropping,  
Insects, or Tree Sap  
Rain, fog, dew, and even tap water can  
contain harmful minerals such as salt and  
lime. If moisture containing these  
minerals settles on the vehicle and  
evaporates, the minerals will concentrate  
and harden to form white rings. The rings  
can damage your vehicle's finish.  
Occurrence  
Bird droppings contain acids. If these are  
not removed they can eat away the clear  
and color base coat of the vehicle's  
paintwork.  
6-64  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
Prevention  
qMaintaining the Finish  
Washing  
It is necessary to wash and wax your  
vehicle to preserve its finish according to  
the instructions in this section. These  
steps should be taken immediately after  
you find water marks on your vehicle's  
finish.  
CAUTION  
Ø When the wiper lever is in the  
AUTO position and the ignition is  
switched ON, the wipers may  
move automatically in the  
following cases:  
Paint Chipping  
Occurrence  
Ø
If the windshield above the rain  
sensor is touched or wiped with  
a cloth.  
If the windshield is struck with  
a hand or other object from  
either outside or inside the  
vehicle.  
Paint chipping occurs when gravel thrown  
in the air by another vehicle's tires hits  
your vehicle.  
Ø
How to avoid paint chipping  
Keeping a safe distance between you and  
the vehicle ahead reduces the chances of  
having your paint chipped by flying  
gravel.  
Keep hands and scrapers clear of  
the windshield when the wiper  
lever is in the AUTO position and  
the ignition is switched ON as  
fingers could be pinched or the  
wipers and wiper blades damaged  
when the wipers activate  
NOTE  
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The paint chipping zone varies with the  
speed of the vehicle. For example, when  
traveling at 90 km/h (56 mph), the paint  
chipping zone is 50 m (164 ft).  
automatically.  
If you are going to clean the  
windshield, be sure the wipers are  
turned off completely―this is  
particularly important when  
clearing ice and snow―when it is  
most likely that the engine is left  
running.  
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In low temperatures a vehicle's finish  
hardens. This increases the chance of paint  
chipping.  
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Chipped paint can lead to rust forming on  
your Mazda. Before this happens, repair the  
damage by using Mazda touch-up paint  
according to the instructions in this section.  
Failure to repair the affected area could  
lead to serious rusting and expensive  
repairs.  
Ø Do not spray water in the engine  
compartment. Otherwise, it could  
result in engine-starting problems  
or damage to electrical parts.  
Ø When washing and waxing the  
vehicle, be careful not to apply  
excessive force to any single area  
of the vehicle roof or the antenna.  
Otherwise, you could dent the  
vehicle or damage the antenna.  
Follow all label and container directions  
when using a chemical cleaner or polish.  
Read all warnings and cautions.  
6-65  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
To help protect the finish from rust and  
deterioration, wash your Mazda  
CAUTION  
thoroughly and frequently, at least once a  
month, with lukewarm or cold water.  
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.  
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:  
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.  
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The vehicle is washed without first  
rinsing off dirt and other foreign  
matter.  
The vehicle is washed with a rough,  
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dry, or dirty cloth.  
The vehicle is washed at a car wash  
that uses brushes that are dirty or too  
stiff.  
Cleansers or wax containing abrasives  
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.  
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are used.  
NOTE  
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Mazda is not responsible for scratches  
caused by automatic car washes or  
improper washing.  
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with  
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow  
soap to dry on the finish.  
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Scratches are more noticeable on vehicles  
with darker paint finishes.  
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a  
clean chamois to prevent water spots from  
forming.  
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.  
Use plenty of lukewarm or cold water  
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and a soft cloth when washing the  
vehicle. Do not use a nylon cloth.  
Rub gently when washing or drying the  
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vehicle.  
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Take your vehicle only to a car wash  
that keeps its brushes well maintained.  
Do not use abrasive cleansers or wax  
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that contain abrasives.  
6-66  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
Always wash and dry the vehicle before  
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,  
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.  
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  
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.  
Waxes containing abrasive will remove  
paint and could damage bright metal  
parts.  
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.  
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for  
metallic, mica, and solid colors.  
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the  
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.  
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.  
When using an automatic car wash  
NOTE  
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Retract the door mirrors.  
The automatic car wash brushes could  
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.  
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reduce the paint lustre or hasten paint  
deterioration.  
When using a high water pressure car  
wash  
qRepairing 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.  
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.  
CAUTION  
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.  
qBright-Metal Maintenance  
Waxing  
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Use tar remover to remove road tar and  
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when  
water no longer beads on the finish.  
insects. Never do this with a knife or  
similar tool.  
To prevent corrosion on bright-metal  
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surfaces, apply wax or chrome  
preservative and rub it to a high luster.  
6-67  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
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During cold weather or in coastal areas,  
WARNING  
cover bright-metal parts with a coating  
of wax or preservative heavier than  
usual. It would also help to coat them  
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or  
some other protective compound.  
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  
CAUTION  
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.  
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 result in  
damage to the protective coating and  
cause discoloration or paint  
qAluminum Wheel Maintenanceí  
deterioration.  
A protective coating is provided over the  
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed  
to protect this coating.  
qUnderbody 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.  
CAUTION  
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.  
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.  
6-68  
íSome models.  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
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NOTE  
High water temperature and high water  
pressure car washers are available  
depending on the type of high pressure  
car washer device. If the car washer  
nozzle is put too close to the vehicle or  
aimed at one area for an extended  
period of time, it could deform plastic  
parts or damage the paint.  
Do not use wax containing compounds  
(polish). Otherwise, it could result in  
paint damage.  
In addition, do not use an electrical or  
air tool to apply wax. Otherwise, the  
frictional heat generated could result in  
deformation of plastic parts or paint  
damage.  
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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.  
Avoid washing your vehicle in an automatic  
car wash that uses high-speed or hard  
brushes.  
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(19-inch wheel vehicle)  
If your aluminum wheels lose luster, apply  
wax which contains no polishing powder.  
qPlastic Part Maintenance  
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When cleaning the plastic lenses of the  
lights, do not use gasoline, kerosene,  
rectified spirit, paint, thinner, highly  
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline  
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical  
agents can discolor or damage the  
surfaces resulting in a significant loss  
in functionality. If plastic parts become  
inadvertently exposed to any of these  
chemical agents, flush with water  
immediately.  
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If plastic parts such as the bumpers  
become inadvertently exposed to  
chemical agents or fluids such as  
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery  
fluid, it could cause discoloration,  
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any  
such chemical agents or fluids using a  
soft cloth immediately.  
6-69  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
Interior Care  
WARNING  
If a seat belt appears frayed or has  
abrasions, have it replaced by an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer.  
WARNING  
Do not spray water into the vehicle  
cabin.  
If a seat belts is used under such a  
condition, it cannot function at its  
full capacity which could result in  
serious injury or death.  
Spraying water into the vehicle cabin  
is dangerous as electrical devices  
such as the audio and switches could  
get wet resulting in a malfunction or  
vehicle fire.  
Use a mild detergent to remove soiling  
from a seat belt.  
If organic solvents are used for  
cleaning the seat belts or they  
become stained or bleached, there is  
the possibility of them becoming  
weakened and as a result, they may  
not function at their full capacity  
which could cause serious injury or  
death.  
NOTE  
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Do not wipe the interior using alcohol,  
chlorine bleach, or organic solvents such as  
thinner, benzene , and gasoline. Otherwise,  
it may cause discoloration or stains.  
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Rubbing hard with a stiff brush or cloth  
may cause damage.  
If the vehicle interior becomes soiled by  
any of the following, wipe it off  
immediately using a soft cloth.  
Leaving it uncleaned could cause  
discoloration, stains, cracks, or peeling of  
the coating, and it will make it hard to  
wipe off later.  
NOTE  
Clean seat belts diligently if they get dirty.  
Leaving them uncleaned will make it difficult  
to clean them later, and it may affect the  
smooth retracting of the seat belt.  
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qVinyl Upholstery Maintenance  
Beverage or fragrance  
Grease or oil  
Soiling  
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Remove dust and dirt from the vinyl  
upholstery using a brush or vacuum.  
Remove soiling from vinyl upholstery  
using a leather and vinyl upholstery  
cleaner.  
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qSeat Belt Maintenance  
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly  
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked in a  
mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted  
with water.  
qUpholstery Maintenance  
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly  
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked in a  
mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted  
with water.  
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using  
a cloth soaked in clean water and  
wrung out well.  
3. Before retracting seat belts which have  
been pulled out for cleaning, dry them  
off thoroughly and make sure there is  
no remaining moisture on them.  
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using  
a cloth soaked in clean water and  
wrung out well.  
6-70  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
Leather Upholstery Maintenanceí  
NOTE  
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q
Because genuine leather is a natural  
1. Remove dust and sand using a vacuum  
cleaner.  
material, its surface is not uniform and it  
may have natural scars, scratches, and  
wrinkles.  
To maintain the quality for as long as  
possible, periodical maintenance, about  
twice a year, is recommended.  
If the leather upholstery comes into contact  
with any of the following, clean it  
immediately.  
2. 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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3. Wipe off the remaining detergent using  
a cloth soaked in clean water and  
wrung out well.  
Leaving it uncleaned could cause  
premature wear, mold, or stains.  
4. 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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Sand or dirt  
Grease or oil, such as hand cream  
Alcohol, such as in cosmetic or hair  
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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.  
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.  
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.  
qPlastic Part Maintenance  
CAUTION  
Do not use polishing agents.  
Depending on the product  
ingredients, they could cause  
discoloration, stains, cracks or  
peeling of the coating.  
íSome models.  
6-71  
Maintenance and Care  
Appearance Care  
qInstrument Panel Top (Soft pad)  
qCleaning the Window Interiors  
Maintenance  
If the windows become covered with an  
oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean them  
with glass cleaner. Follow the directions  
on the container.  
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.  
CAUTION  
Ø Do not scrape or scratch the inside  
of the window glass. It could  
damage the thermal filaments  
and the antenna lines.  
Ø When washing the inside of the  
window glass, use a soft cloth  
dampened in lukewarm water,  
gently wiping the thermal  
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth  
soaked in a mild detergent (approx.  
5%) diluted with water.  
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using  
a cloth soaked in clean water and  
wrung out well.  
qPanel Maintenance  
filaments and the antenna lines.  
Use of glass cleaning products  
could damage the thermal  
If a panel becomes soiled, wipe it off with  
a soft cloth soaked in clean water and  
thoroughly wrung out.  
filaments and the antenna lines.  
If some areas require further cleaning, use  
the following procedure:  
qCleaning the Floor Mats  
Rubber floor mats should be cleaned with  
mild soap and water only.  
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth  
soaked in a mild detergent (approx. 5  
%) diluted with water.  
WARNING  
Do not use rubber cleaners, such as tire  
cleaner or tire shine, when cleaning  
rubber floor mats:  
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using  
a cloth soaked in clean water and  
wrung out well.  
Cleaning the rubber floor mats with  
rubber cleaning products makes the  
floor mats slippery.  
This may cause an accident when  
depressing the accelerator, brake, or  
clutch (Manual transaxle) pedal or  
when getting in or out of the vehicle.  
NOTE  
Be particularly careful when cleaning shiny  
surface panels and metallic parts such as  
plating as they can be scratched easily.  
After removing the floor mats for  
cleaning, always reinstall them  
securely.Refer to Floor Mat on page 3-43.  
6-72  

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