Mazda 3 Sedan 2020 Owner's Manual page 501

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.
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.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots
from forming.
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 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.
When using an automatic car wash
Retract the door mirrors.

The automatic car wash brushes

could reduce the paint lustre or
hasten paint deterioration.
Appearance Care
When using a high water pressure car
wash
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.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle
body, wax the metal trim to maintain
its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no
abrasives.
Wax containing abrasives will
remove paints and could damage
bright metal parts.
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.
NOTE
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.
Maintenance and Care
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