Two stupid questions

[Soupie]

1. What is this thing for?
http://i32.tinypic.com/34dq0d0.jpg I'm sure the answer is in the owners manual but I bought used and didn't get one.

2. Is there any trick to get the tires off? I had no problem getting the lug nuts off but couldn't for the life of me get the tire off. I pulled on it pretty hard but didn't want to knock the car off the jack.

I have a feeling that #1 and #2 are related somehow (especially considering the tool in the pic is found in the trunk) but can't figure it out. Sometimes I wonder how I actually make it work every morning. I feel like such an :AH

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Noisy Crow]

1. It's a tie-down for towing. Fits into the front bumper, under the coloured insert.
2. Do a search on "wheels stuck". Here is one of the results: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23834&highlight=wheels+stuck

As to the manual:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23091&highlight=manuals

[KenYork]

1. I think is a tow ring that screws in through the hole in your front bumper(behind little round cover on front bumper).
2. Is fairly common, our wheels seize quite easily to the hub. It can take quite a bit of force to get it off.

[Flagrum_3]

Hey if you don't know, you don't know! No biggy! That thing in the trunk with the arrow pointed at it is called a 'tow hook' it attaches to the bumper to help pull the car out, in case you've ended up in a ditch.

As for the tires, or problem with taking your wheels off. Just use a rubber mallot and give the tires a good whack at opposite ends it'll come loose eventually! (make sure you leave atleast one nut on there in a loose fashion so the tire dosen't fall off completely.)...when whacking.

Hope that helped!


_3


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[Noisy Crow]

Hey if you don't know, you don't know! No biggy! That thing in the trunk with the arrow pointed at it is called a 'tow hook' it attaches to the bumper to help pull the car out, in case you've ended up in a ditch.

Actually, if you use it to tow your car you risk damaging the bumper. It's only designed to hold the car down when on a flat-bed towtruck or similar situtation. I must admit that the manual (at least the 2008 one) is a mite bit confusing about that, in that it basically says "since it's not strong enough to secure your car you should only use it to secure your car". :loco Right up there in clarity with the remote locks and alarm system instructions which also contradict each other.

[KenYork]

I thought the car would be lifted by the wheels with the tow bar and those securing chains were connected to the tow hook just in case the car falls off the tow bar.

[Soupie]

Thanks for the quick responses and thanks for the link to the owner’s manual, Noisy Crow. I figured that tool was used in that capacity seeing as it's threaded at one end but couldn't figure out where the hell to put it. That response answers my next question; "What is that cap for on the front of the bumper?"

I'm just glad I figured the tires are stuck on before I got a flat.

Thanks again.

[bunchi]

below the passenger side headlight there is a round cap that you can pry off, if you opened that cap, you'll see a hole with threads where you can connect the tow hook :)

[ShortBus]

Actually, if you use it to tow your car you risk damaging the bumper. It's only designed to hold the car down when on a flat-bed towtruck or similar situtation. I must admit that the manual (at least the 2008 one) is a mite bit confusing about that, in that it basically says "since it's not strong enough to secure your car you should only use it to secure your car". :loco Right up there in clarity with the remote locks and alarm system instructions which also contradict each other.

that's only for the rear, the front would be strong enough to hook up to if you need to get it out of a ditch.

[Wild Weasel]

Yeah, those comments about the tie downs not being strong enough refer to the ones under the car, not the screw-in tow hook on the front.