Windshield Wipers and Washer

The ignition switch must be in the ON position.

WARNING

Use only windshield washer fluid or clean water in the fluid reservoir:

Using antifreeze as washer fluid is dangerous.

If sprayed onto the windshield, it will smear, impair visibility and may cause an accident.

When it is freezing, use only washer fluid mixed with antifreeze protection solution:

Using washer fluid without antifreeze protection when it is freezing is dangerous, as the windshield may freeze and impair the driver's vision, which may result in an accident.

Also make sure the windshield is sufficiently warm, using the defroster, before spraying washer fluid.

NOTE

Since a thick layer of ice or snow can prevent the wipers from operating, the wiper motor is protected against breakage, overheating and fire by a circuit breaker. This mechanism stops the wiper operation for approximately 5 minutes.

In this case, turn the wiper control off, park at the side of the road, and then remove the snow and ice.

After 5 minutes, turn the control off and back on; the wipers should then operate normally. If they do not, contact an authorized Mazda dealer as soon as possible. Park the vehicle safely at the side of the road. Wait for the weather to improve before attempting to drive with the wipers inoperative.

Windshield Wipers

Push the lever up or down to operate the wipers.

With Intermittent Wipers

With Automatic Wiper Control

Variable-Speed Intermittent Wipers

Move the lever to the INT position and turn the ring to select the interval.

NOTE

As vehicle speed increases, the intermittent interval becomes shorter.

Automatic Wiper Control

When the wiper lever is in the position, the rain sensor
detects the amount of rain on the windshield and controls the wipers automatically (off―intermittent―low speed―high speed).

The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be adjusted by turning the switch on the wiper lever.

From the center (normal) position, turn the switch down for higher sensitivity (faster response) or turn the switch up for lower sensitivity (slower response).

WARNING

• Do not obstruct the rain sensor by attaching a label or sticker to the windshield. The rain sensor may not operate correctly.

With the wiper lever in the AUTO position and the ignition switch in ON, the wipers may operate automatically in the following cases:

• If the windshield above the rain sensor is touched or wiped with a cloth.
• If the windshield is struck by a hand or other object from outside or inside the vehicle.

Do not place your hands or scrapers near the windshield while the wiper lever is in the AUTO position and the ignition switch is in ON, as your fingers could be pinched or the wiper arms and blades could be damaged when they operate automatically.

When cleaning the windshield, make sure to turn the wipers off completely, especially when removing ice and snow, when the engine is running.

NOTE

• Moving the automatic wiper lever from the position to the
  position while driving operates the
  wipers once; afterward, they operate according to the amount of rain.
• Automatic wiper control may not operate when the rain sensor temperature is below -10 C or above 85 C.
• If the windshield is coated with a water-repellent product, the rain sensor may not be able to detect the amount of rain correctly, and automatic wiper control may not operate properly.
• If dirt or foreign matter (such as ice or other material containing road salt) adheres to the windshield at the rain sensor, or if the windshield is covered with ice, the wipers may operate automatically. However, if the wipers cannot remove the ice, dirt or foreign matter, automatic wiper control will stop. In such a case, move the wiper lever to low speed or high speed for manual operation, or remove the ice, dirt or foreign matter by hand to restore automatic wiper operation.
• If the automatic wiper lever is left in the position, the wipers may
  operate automatically due to strong light sources, electromagnetic waves or infrared light, because the rain sensor uses an optical sensor. It is recommended that the automatic wiper lever be moved to the position
  when driving in rainy conditions.
• The automatic wiper control functions can be deactivated. Refer to Customization Functions on page 9-9.

Windshield Washer

Pull the lever toward you and hold it to spray washer fluid.

NOTE

With the wiper lever in the position or in the intermittent/ position, the wipers
operate continuously until the lever is released.

If the washer does not operate, check the washer fluid level (page 6-27). If the level is normal, contact an authorized Mazda dealer.