Mazda 6 Manual page 487

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 find water marks on your vehicle's
finish.
Paint Chipping
Occurrence
Paint chipping occurs when gravel thrown
in the air by another vehicle's tires hits
your vehicle.
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.
NOTE
The paint chipping zone varies with the
l
speed of the vehicle. For example, when
traveling at 90 km/h (56 mph), the paint
chipping zone is 50 m (164 ft).
In low temperatures a vehicle's finish
l
hardens. This increases the chance of paint
chipping.
Chipped paint can lead to rust forming on
l
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.
Follow all label and container directions
when using a chemical cleaner or polish.
Read all warnings and cautions.
Appearance Care
qMaintaining the Finish
Washing
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:
Ø
If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched or wiped with
a cloth.
Ø
If the windshield is struck with
a hand or other object from
either outside or inside the
vehicle.
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
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.
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.
Maintenance and Care
6-65