Car body care (Mazda CX-5KE)

Car wash

Attention.

• If the windscreen wiper control lever is set to the "AUTO" position ("Automatic mode") and the ignition is on, the windscreen wipers may turn on automatically in the following cases:
• If you touch the windshield in the area where the rain sensor is located or wipe the windshield above the rain sensor with a rag.
• If the windshield is hit with a hand or other object from outside or inside the car.
• Be careful not to put your hands, brush or scraper near the windshield if the automatic windshield wiper mode is set and the ignition is on. When the windshield wiper is turned on automatically, you can injure your fingers, and the wiper blades and arms can be mechanically damaged. If you are going to clean the windshield, make sure that the windshield wiper is completely turned off. This is especially important in winter, when it is necessary to clear the windshield from snow or ice - in these cases, as a rule, the engine is started and continues to run. Do not spray water in the engine compartment. This can cause difficulty starting the engine and failure of electrical components.
• In order to protect the body from corrosion and preserve the protective and decorative properties of the paintwork, wash your car thoroughly and regularly (at least once a month).

When driving on dirty roads, wash your car weekly or more often if necessary to maintain cleanliness. Use room temperature or cold water for washing.



If you wash your car incorrectly, you can scratch the paintwork of the body and the lenses of the headlights and taillights. Below are several examples of when scratches can appear on the car body and the lenses of the headlights and taillights.

Scratches on the paintwork of the body and clouding of the diffusers appear if:

• start washing your car without first washing off dirt and other foreign substances;
• wash the car with a rough, dry or dirty cloth;
• wash your car in a mechanical car wash with dirty or too hard brushes;
• use a cleaning compound or polish that contains abrasive particles.

Note:

Mazda is not responsible for scratches on the paintwork and clouding of the diffusers of headlights and flashlights caused by exposure to brushes of a mechanized car wash or the use of incorrect car washing techniques.

Scratches are more noticeable on darker paintwork.

To reduce the likelihood of scratches on the car body and clouding of headlight and taillight lenses, follow these recommendations.

• Before washing your car, rinse off all dirt and other foreign substances. Use room temperature water or cold water.
• When washing your car, generously water the body with room temperature or cold water and use a soft cloth. Do not use nylon cloth.
• When washing the body and wiping the body surface dry, do not press the rag too hard.
• Use only those mechanized car washes where the condition of the brushes is properly monitored.
• Do not use cleaning compounds or polishes that contain abrasive particles.

Caution. Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaning compounds or aggressive detergents containing significant amounts of acids, alkalis or caustic components to treat chrome-plated or anodized aluminum parts or to wash the body. This may damage the protective and decorative metal coating of the body trim parts, as well as the paintwork of the body.

Pay special attention to removing salt, dirt and other foreign substances from under the body fenders. Check that the drainage holes in the doors, thresholds and other body elements are not clogged with dirt.

Insect debris, bitumen, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial emissions and other deposits can damage the paintwork if not removed immediately. If a quick wash with plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap made for washing cars.

Thoroughly rinse off all soap residue from the body with room temperature or cold water. Do not allow the soap solution to dry on the paintwork.

After washing, wipe the body dry with a clean chamois to avoid water stains.

Caution. If moisture gets into the brake mechanisms, dry them. While driving the car at a reduced speed, without pressing the accelerator pedal, lightly press the brake pedal several times until the normal efficiency of the braking system is restored. It is dangerous to drive a car with wet brake mechanisms. An increased braking distance or the car pulling to the side when braking can cause a serious traffic accident. To check the condition of the brake mechanisms, brake the car by lightly pressing the brake pedal.

Car wash with high pressure jet

Depending on the type of car washer, washing may be done with high-temperature and high-pressure water jets. If the nozzle of the car washer is too close to the surface of the car body, the high-pressure water jet may damage or deform the moldings, seals and make the latter leaky, which will allow water to leak into the car interior. Place the spray tip at least 30 cm from the car. In addition, do not direct the jet to the same area for a long time. Be especially careful when directing the water jet into the gaps between the doors and the seals around the perimeter of the glass.

Body polishing

If water no longer collects in drops on the body, then it is necessary to apply wax polish to the paintwork. Before polishing, it is necessary to wash and dry the car body. In addition to the body, also polish the metal trim parts in order to preserve their shine.

1. Use only non-abrasive polish. Polish containing abrasive particles will remove the top layer of paint and may damage the shiny finish of metal parts.

2. For polishing metallic or mica type paintwork, use a high-quality polish containing natural wax.

3. Apply the polish to the body in an even layer using the sponge included in the polish kit or a soft cloth.

4. Rub the polish with a soft cloth.

Note: Spot cleaners used to remove oil, tar, and similar substances will usually also remove polish from the body surface. After treating the contaminated areas, reapply polish to them, even if the entire body does not require polishing.

Repair touch-up of small chips

Touch up minor damage and paint chips from flying stones, light contact with obstacles when parking, etc., before corrosion occurs. For local touch-up of chips and minor defects, use Mazda repair agent. First, remove dirt and grease with a clean, soft cloth.

If corrosion has already started, do the following:

• 1. Remove all corrosion products using sandpaper.
• 2. Wipe the treated area with a clean soft cloth.
• 3. Apply anti-corrosion primer to the treated area.
• 4. After the primer has completely dried, touch up the damaged area with enamel of the appropriate color.

To fully restore the protective and decorative properties of the paintwork of the body, repair the damaged body part at the service station of an authorized Mazda dealer.

Protection of body cavities

The body cavities are treated at the factory to protect against corrosion. However, additional protective treatment of the cavities, carried out at the stage of vehicle operation, will extend the service life of the body. We recommend contacting the service station of an authorized Mazda dealer regarding additional measures to protect the body from corrosion.

Maintenance of decorative metal coating

Use a tar stain remover to remove bitumen, tar and insect debris from body parts. Never use a knife, scraper or similar tool for this purpose.

To protect shiny metal finishes from corrosion, apply polish or chrome protector to the finish and buff the surface to a high shine.

In the autumn-winter period or when operating the car in coastal sea areas, treat shiny parts with polish or protective agents more often than usual, and apply a thicker layer. This will also help to more reliably retain additional anti-corrosion protective compounds on the surface of the parts.

Caution. Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaning agents or aggressive detergents containing significant amounts of acids, alkalis or caustic components to treat chrome-plated or anodized aluminum parts or to wash the body. This may cause damage to the protective coating, discoloration and loss of decorative properties of the paintwork.

Protective coating for the underbody

This type of special protective coating is used for the underbody elements that are most susceptible to corrosion. The coating protects the car from damage by aggressive chemicals and flying stones. Over time, the coating is damaged. Periodically check the condition of the protective coating.



Specialists at official Mazda dealer service stations have all the information on restoring the protective coating. In such cases, you should contact an official Mazda dealer service station.

Caring for alloy wheels (some performances)

Aluminum alloy wheels have a protective coating. Special care is required to maintain this coating.

Warning. Do not use any products other than neutral detergents to wash your wheels. Check the ingredients before using any detergents. Otherwise, discolouration or stains may occur on your wheels.

Note:

• Do not use wire brushes, any abrasive cleaning agents or polishing compounds, or solvents when treating light alloy wheels. This may damage the protective coating of the wheels.
• When cleaning the wheels, be sure to use a sponge or rag. Rinse the wheels thoroughly with room temperature or cold water. Also, clean the wheels after driving on dirty roads and roads treated with salt compounds. This will help prevent corrosion.
• Avoid using mechanical car washes with high-speed or hard brushes.
• If the wheel finish has lost its shine, treat the wheels with wax polish.

Care of plastic parts

When cleaning plastic diffusers of lighting fixtures, do not use gasoline, kerosene, alcohol, dyes and tinting agents, aggressive solutions, etc. The above chemicals may discolor or damage the surfaces of the diffusers, which will impair their functioning. If plastic parts are exposed to aggressive substances for any reason, immediately rinse them with water.

If plastic parts, such as bumpers, have been exposed to chemicals such as gasoline, engine oil, engine coolant, or battery electrolyte, this can lead to stains on the body paintwork or cause it to peel off. If splashes of any chemicals come into contact with the exterior paintwork, immediately wipe them off with a clean cloth.



Depending on the type of washing machine, washing can be done with high-temperature and high-pressure water jets. If the jet of the washing machine is too close to the surface of the car or is directed at the same area for a long time, this can cause damage to plastic parts or the paintwork of the body.

It is prohibited to use body polishing products containing wax. Otherwise, the car's paintwork may be damaged.

Also, do not apply wax with an electrical or other device. Otherwise, the heat generated during the process may cause deformation of plastic parts or damage to their paint.