warning MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2006 Owners Manual
Page 289 of 378
Black plate (289,1)
Brake/Clutch Fluid
qInspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qAdding Brake/Clutch Fluid
WARNING
Spilled Brake Fluid:
Spilled brake fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with water
and get medical attention. Brake fluid
spilled on a hot engine could cause a
fire. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on yourself or on the engine.
Low Brake/Clutch Fluid Levels:
Low brake/clutch fluid levels are
dangerous. Low levels could signal
brake lining wear or a brake system
leak. Your brakes could fail and cause
an accident. If you find a low fluid
level, have the brakes and clutch
inspected.
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
CAUTION
lBrake and clutch fluid will damage
painted surfaces. If brake or clutch
fluid does get on a painted surface,
wipe it off immediately.
lUsing nonspecified brake and clutch
fluids (page 10-4) will damage the
systems. Mixing different fluids will
also damage them.
If the brake/clutch system frequently
requires new fluid, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-21
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page289
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:5 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 290 of 378
Black plate (290,1)
Power Steering Fluid
qInspecting Power Steering Fluid
Level
CAUTION
To avoid damage to the power steering
pump, don't operate the vehicle for long
periods when the power steering fluid
level is low.
NOTE
Use specified power steering fluid
(page 10-4).
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir at
each engine oil change with the engine off
and cold. Add fluid if necessary; it does
not require periodic changing.
The level must be kept between MIN and
MAX.
Visually examine the lines and hoses for
leaks and damage.
If new fluid is required frequently, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Washer Fluid
q Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
WARNING
Substitute Washer Fluid:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the windshield,
affect your visibility, and could result
in an accident. Use only windshield
washer fluid or plain water in the
reservoir.
Using Washer Fluid Without Anti-
freeze Protection in Cold Weather:
Operating your vehicle in
temperatures below 4 degrees C (40
degrees F) using washer fluid without
anti-freeze protection is dangerous as
it could cause impaired windshield
vision and result in an accident. In
cold weather, always use washer fluid
with anti-freeze protection.
NOTE
State or local regulations may restrict
the use of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), which are commonly used as
anti-freeze agents in washer fluid. A
washer fluid with limited VOC content
should be used only if it provides
adequate freeze resistance for all
regions and climates in which the
vehicle will be operated.
8-22
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page290
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:5 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 295 of 378
Black plate (295,1)
Battery
WARNING
Battery-Related Lead Materials:
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Follow These Precautions Carefully:
To ensure safe and correct handling of the battery, read the following precautions
carefully before using the battery or inspecting it.
Eye Protection:
Working without eye protection is dangerous. Battery fluid contains SULFURIC
ACID which could cause blindness if splashed into your eyes. Also, hydrogen gas
produced during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to
explode. Always wear eye protection when working near the battery.
Spilled Battery Fluid:
Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC ACID which could cause serious injuries if it gets
in eyes, skin or clothing. If this happens, immediately flush your eyes with water for
15 minutes or wash your skin thoroughly and get medical attention. Wear eye
protection and protective gloves to prevent contact with battery fluid.
Children and Batteries:
Allowing children to play near batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid could cause
serious injuries if it gets in the eyes or on the skin. Always keep batteries out of the
reach of children.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-27
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page295
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:5 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 296 of 378
Black plate (296,1)
WARNING
Keep Flames Away:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep all flames including
cigarettes and sparks away from open battery cells. When working near a battery, do
not allow metal tools to contact the positive (
) or negative () terminal of the
battery. Do not allow the positive (
) terminal to contact the vehicle body.
Battery-Related Explosion:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep all flames, including
cigarettes, and sparks away from open battery cells.
8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page296
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:5 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 298 of 378
Black plate (298,1)
Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WARNING
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-6)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
qTire Inflation Pressure
WARNING
Incorrect Tire Inflation:
Overinflation or underinflation of tires
is dangerous. Adverse handling or
unexpected tire failure could result in
a serious accident. Always inflate the
tires to the correct pressure (page
10-6). The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
í
does not alleviate the need to check the
tire condition every day, including
whether the tires all look inflated properly.
Inspect all tire pressure monthly when the
tires are cold. Maintain recommended
pressures for the best ride, top handling,
and minimum tire wear.
When checking the tire pressures, use of a
digital tire pressure gauge is
recommended.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-6).
8-30
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page298
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:6 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 300 of 378
Black plate (300,1)
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
lTires not of the designated size
lTires of different sizes or types at the
same time
lTires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren't followed, the
rotation of the left and right wheels will
be different and will thus apply a
constant load on the limited-slip
differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
q Replacing a Tire
WARNING
Worn Tires:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
Always use tires that are in good
condition.
CAUTION
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
When replacing/repairing the tires or
wheels or both, have the work done by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer, or the tire
pressure sensors may be damaged.
NOTE
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
lWhen tires with steel wire
reinforcement in the sidewalls are
used, the system may not function
correctly even with a genuine wheel.
Refer to System Error Activation on
page 5-30.
lBe sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced.
Refer to Tires and Wheels on page
5-30.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page300
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:6 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 301 of 378
Black plate (301,1)
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when
they are not being used on the road. It is
recommended that tires generally be
replaced when they are 6 years or older.
Heat caused by hot climates or frequent
high loading conditions can accelerate
the aging process. Regarding the
manufacturing week and year is
indicated with 4 digit.
Refer to The tire labeling on page 9-18.
qReplacing a Wheel
WARNING
Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident. Always use
wheels of the correct size on your
vehicle.
CAUTION
lA wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
lTire fitlWheel and bearing lifelGround clearancelSnow-chain clearancelSpeedometer calibrationlHeadlight aimlBumper heightlTire Pressure Monitoring SystemlLimited-Slip Differential System
l(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
lWhen replacing/repairing the tires
or wheels or both, have the work
done by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer, or the tire pressure sensors
may be damaged.
lThe wheels equipped on your
Mazda are specially designed for
installation of the tire pressure
sensors. Do not use non-genuine
wheels, otherwise it may not be
possible to install the tire pressure
sensors.
NOTE
Be sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced. Refer to Tires and Wheels on
page 5-30.
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-33
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page301
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:6 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 304 of 378
Black plate (304,1)
WARNING
Xenon Fusion Bulb Replacement:
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself is dangerous. Because the
xenon fusion bulbs require high
voltage, you could receive an electric
shock if the bulbs are handled
incorrectly. Do not replace the xenon
fusion bulbs yourself. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer when the
replacement is necessary.
Handling Halogen Bulbs:
When a halogen bulb breaks, it is
dangerous. These bulbs contain
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it
will explode and serious injuries could
be caused by the flying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with
bare hands, body oil could cause the
bulb to overheat and explode when lit.
Never touch the glass portion of the
bulb with your bare hands and always
wear eye protection when handling or
working around halogen bulbs.
Children and Halogen Bulbs:
Playing with a halogen bulb is
dangerous. Serious injuries could be
caused by dropping a halogen bulb or
breaking it some other way.
Always keep halogen bulbs out of the
reach of children.
qReplacing Exterior Light Bulbs
Replacing the headlight bulbs
1. Make sure the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood and find the high and low
beam bulbs in the rear of the headlight
body.
The outboard bulb is the LOW beam,
and the inboard one is the HIGH beam.
High-beam bulbs
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise, and carefully pull it
backward.
2. Disconnect the socket and bulb assembly from the electrical connector
by pressing the tab on the connector
with your finger and pulling it.
3. Install the new socket and bulbassembly in the reverse order of
removal.
8-36
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page304
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:6 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 311 of 378
Black plate (311,1)
Fuses
Your vehicle's electrical system is
protected by fuses.
If any lights, accessories, or controls don't
work, inspect the appropriate circuit
protector. If a fuse has blown, the inside
element will be melted.
If the same fuse blows again, avoid using
that system and consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
qFuse Replacement
Replacing the fuses on the vehicle's left
side
If the electrical system doesn't work, first
inspect fuses on the vehicle's left side.
1. Turn off the ignition switch and other
switches.
2. Remove the cover.
3. Pull the fuse straight out with the fuse puller provided on the inside of the
engine compartment fuse block cover.
Fuse puller
Fuse block cover
4. Inspect it and replace if it's blown.
Normal Blown
5. Push in a new fuse of the same
amperage rating, and make sure it fits
tightly. If it doesn't, have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer install it.
If you have no spare fuses, borrow one
of the same rating from a circuit not
essential to vehicle operation, such as
the MIRROR or CIGAR circuit.
WARNING
Always replace a fuse with one of the
same rating. Otherwise you may
damage the electric system.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-43
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page311
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:6 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F
Page 314 of 378
Black plate (314,1)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATING PROTECTED COMPONENT
17 BTN 30 A For protection of various circuits
18 MAIN 120 A For protection of all circuits
19 EGI INJ 10 A Injector
20 EGI COMP1 10 A Engine control system
21 EGI COMP2 10 A Engine control system
22 HEAD LOW L 15 A Headlight low beam (LH)
23 HEAD LOW R 15 A Headlight low beam (RH)
24 HEAD 15 A Headlight high beams
25 P.WIND 20 A Power windows
26 ENGINE 15 A Engine control system
27 WIPER 20 A Windshield wipers and washer
28 DRL 15 A DRL
í, Headlight levellingí
29HORN 15 A Horn
30 STOP 10 A Brake lights
31 ETV 10 A Electric throttle valve
32 FUEL PUMP 15 A Fuel Pump
33 HAZARD 10 A Turn signals, Hazard warning flashers
34 P.WIND2 20 A ―
35 IG KEY1 40 A For protection of various circuits
8-46
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition4 Page314
Thursday, October 6 2005 11:6 AM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F