Mazda MX-5 Owner's Manual page 458

Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Battery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
Keep it securely mounted.
Keep the top clean and dry.
Keep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly or
terminal grease.
Rinse off spilled electrolyte immediately
with a solution of water and baking
soda.
If the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
leads and charge the battery every six
weeks.
Inspecting Electrolyte Level
A low level of electrolyte uid will cause
the battery to discharge quickly.
Upper level
Lower level
6–30
Inspect the electrolyte level at least once
a week. If it is low, remove the caps and
add enough distilled water to bring the
level between the upper and lower level
(illustration).
Do not over ll.
Examine the speci c gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especially
during cold weather. If it is low, recharge
the battery.
Battery Recharging
NOTE
Before performing maintenance or
recharging the battery, turn off all
accessories and stop the engine.
To disconnect the battery, remove the
negative lead rst. Install it last when
connecting the battery.
Be sure to remove the caps before
recharging the battery.
(With i-stop system)
Do not quick-charge the battery.
If the battery quickly discharges
because, for example, the lights were
left on too long with the engine off,
slow-charge it as required by battery
size and charger capacity.
If the battery gradually discharges
because of high electric load while the
vehicle is being used, recharge it as
required by battery size and charger
capacity.
Battery Replacement
Contact an Authorised Mazda Repairer for
a battery replacement purchase.