MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2002 Owners Manual
Page 101 of 248
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Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep
If the driver’
s seat belt is not fastened 
when the ignition switch is turned to the 
ON position, a beep will sound for about 
6 seconds and the seat belt warning light 
will remain on until the belt is fastened.
If the system does not operate correctly, 
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
 Charging System Warning Light
This warning light indicates a malfunction 
of the alternator or of the charging system.
If the light comes on while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park 
off the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine. Inspect the  alternator drive belt for looseness and 
breakage.
3. If it ’s OK, the charging system has a 
problem. Consult an Authorized 
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Brake Warning Light:
Driving with the brake system 
warning light on is dangerous. It 
indicates that your brakes may not 
work at all or that they could 
completely fail at any time. If this 
light remains on, have the brakes 
inspected immediately. Don ’t drive 
with this light on, and contact an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the 
brakes inspected as soon as possible.
ABS Warning Light and Brake 
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system 
warning light and ABS warning light 
are on at the same time is dangerous. 
When both lights are on, the rear 
wheels could lock more quickly in an 
emergency stop than under normal 
circumstances.
Don ’t drive with both lights on, and 
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer 
to have the brakes inspected as soon 
as possible.
WARNING
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Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Check Engine Light
If this light comes on while driving, the 
vehicle may have a problem. It is 
important to note the driving conditions 
when the light came on and consult an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The check engine light may come on in 
the following cases:
• The fuel tank level being very low or 
approaching empty.
• The engine
’s electrical system has a 
problem.
• The emission control system has a 
problem.
• The fuel-filler cap is missing or not 
tightened securely.
If the check engine light flashes 
continuously, decrease your speed and 
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as 
soon as possible.
 ABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few 
seconds when the ignition switch is turned 
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while 
you
’re driving, the ABS control unit has 
detected a system malfunction. If this 
occurs, your brakes will function 
normally as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized 
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Don
’t drive with a loose or broken 
alternator belt. The engine could 
overheat because this belt also drives 
the water pump.
CAUTION
ABS Warning Light and Brake 
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system 
warning light and ABS warning light 
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear 
wheels could lock more quickly in an 
emergency stop than under normal 
circumstances.
Don ’t drive with both lights on, and 
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer 
to have the brakes inspected as soon 
as possible.
WARNING
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Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner 
System Warning Light
If the air bag/seat belt pretensioner system 
is OK, the warning light comes on when 
the ignition switch is turned to the ON 
position or after the engine is cranked. 
After about 6 seconds it goes out.
A system malfunction is indicated when 
the warning light constantly flashes, stays 
on or doesn
’t come on at all. If any of 
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda 
Dealer as soon as possible. The system 
may not work in an accident.
 Immobilizer System Warning 
Light
If the immobilizer system is working 
properly, the light will come on when the 
ignition switch is turned to the ON or 
START position. The light will go out 
when confirmation by the immobilizer 
system is completed.
If the light flashes rapidly, fails to come 
on, or comes on and stays on, it indicates 
a system malfunction. If any of these 
occur, contact an Authorized Mazda 
Dealer as soon as possible.
Headlight High-Beam Indicator 
Light
This light indicates one of two things:
• The high-beam headlights are on.
• The turn signal lever is in the flash-to-
pass position.
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to 
charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs 
and the ABS warning light comes on. 
This is due to a weak battery, not a 
malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
Self-Servicing the Air Bag/
Pretensioner Systems:
Self-servicing or tampering with the 
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally 
activate or become disabled. This 
could cause serious injuries. Never 
tamper with the systems and always 
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer 
perform all servicing and repairs.
WARNING
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Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
O/D OFF Indicator Light
This light comes on when the overdrive 
has been turned off.
Cruise Set Indicator Light
This light comes on when a cruising speed 
is set.
Ignition Key Reminder
If the ignition switch is in the LOCK or 
ACC position, a beep will sound when 
any door is opened.
Lights-On Reminder
If lights are on and the key is removed 
from the ignition switch, a beep will 
sound when any door is opened.
If the overdrive-off indicator light 
flashes, the transaxle has an electrical 
problem. Continuing to drive your 
Mazda in this condition could cause 
damage to your transaxle. Consult an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as 
possible.
CAUTION
Beeps
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Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Switches and Controls
Headlights
To turn on the lights, turn the knob on the 
end of the control lever.
Lights-On Reminder
If lights are on and the key is removed 
from the ignition switch, a beep will 
sound when any door is opened.
 Headlight High-Low Beam
Push the lever forward for high beams.
Pull it back for low.
Flashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully 
toward you. The headlight switch need 
not be on, and the lever will return to the 
normal position when released.
Lighting Control
Lever Position OFF
Headlights Off Off OnTaillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights Off On On
NOTE
To prevent discharging the battery, 
don't leave the lights on while the 
engine is off.
High beam
Low beam
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Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Turn Signal
Move the signal lever down (for a left 
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop 
position. The signal will self-cancel after 
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash 
after a turn, manually return the lever to 
its original position.
Green indicators on the dashboard show 
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the 
direction of the change 
—until the 
indicator flashes — and hold it there. It 
will return to the off position when 
released. Use this switch to turn on the fog lights. 
They help you to see as well as to be seen.
To turn on the fog lights, first turn on the 
headlight switch. Then press the fog light 
switch.
To turn the fog lights off:
(Type A) 
Press the fog light switch again or turn the 
headlight switch off.
(Type B) 
Press the left part of the fog light switch 
or turn the headlight switch off.
Turn and Lane-Change 
Signals
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without 
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, the 
turn signal bulb may be burned out.
Right turn
Right lane
OFF
Left lanechange change
Left turn
Fog Lights
Type A
Type B
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Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with 
the headlights on during daytime 
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights 
automatically turn on when the ignition 
switch is turned to the ON position.The ignition switch must be in the ON 
position.
Daytime Running Lights
NOTE
The running lights go off when the 
parking brake is applied.
Windshield Wipers and 
Washer
Frozen Washer Fluid:
Using windshield washer fluid in 
freezing temperatures is dangerous. 
The washer fluid could freeze on the 
windshield and block your vision.
You could have an accident. Don
’t use 
the washer without first warming the 
windshield.
NOTE
Because heavy ice and snow can jam 
the wiper blades, the wiper motor is 
protected by a circuit breaker. This 
mechanism will automatically stop 
operation of the blades, but only for 
about 5 minutes.
If this happens, turn off the wiper 
switch and park off the right-of-way, 
and remove the snow and ice.
After 5 minutes, turn on the switch and 
the blades should operate normally. If 
they don ’t resume functioning, consult 
an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon 
as possible.
WARNING
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Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Windshield Wipers
Turn the wipers on by pulling the lever 
down.
INT 
— Intermittent
I  —  Normal
II  — Fast
One-touch wipers
For a single wiping cycle, push the lever 
forward and release it.
 Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid. In the OFF or INT 
position, the wipers will be activated until 
the lever is released.
If the washer doesn
’t work, inspect the 
fluid level (page 8-22). If it ’s OK, consult 
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
OFF
INT
I
II
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Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
The rear defroster clears frost, fog, and 
thin ice from the rear window.
The ignition switch must be in the ON 
position.
Push the switch to turn on the rear 
window defroster; the indicator light will 
come on.
Push the switch again to turn it off.To sound the horn, press around the   
mark of the steering wheel.
Rear Window Defroster
Don
’t use sharp instruments or 
window cleaners with abrasives to 
clean the inside of the rear window 
surface. They may damage the 
defroster grid inside the window.
NOTE
This defroster is not designed for 
melting snow. If there is an 
accumulation of snow on the rear 
window, brush it off before using the 
defroster.
CAUTION
Horn
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Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
The hazard warning lights should always 
be used when you stop on or near a 
roadway.
The hazard warning lights warn other 
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard 
and that they must take extreme caution 
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning switch and all 
four turn signals will flash at once.
Hazard Warning Flasher
NOTE
•The turn signals don
’t work when 
the hazard warning lights are on.
• Check local regulations about the 
use of hazard warning lights while 
the vehicle is being towed. They 
may forbid it.
Hazard warning flasher switch
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