wheel MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF 2017 (in English) User Guide

3–29
Before Driving
Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving
it can very easily cause the driver
to abruptly turn to the left or right.
This can lead to loss of control or an
accident.
Steering Wheel Adjustment
To change the angle of the steering wheel:
1. Stop the vehicle, and then pull down
the lock release lever under the steering
column.
Lock release lever
2. Tilt the steering wheel to the desired
positions, then push the lever up to lock
the column.
3. Attempt to push the steering wheel
up and down to make sure it's locked
before driving.
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3–59
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Running-In
No special running-in is necessary, but
a few precautions in the ¿ rst 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of the vehicle.
 


 Do not race the engine.



 Do not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
 


 Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods of
time.
 


 Avoid unnecessary hard stops.



 Avoid full-throttle starts.
Saving Fuel and
Protection of the
Environment
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save fuel and
reduce CO2.
 


 Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
 


 Avoid fast starts.



 Drive at lower speeds.



 Anticipate when to apply the brakes
(avoid sudden braking).
 


 Follow the maintenance schedule (page
6-3 ) and have an expert repairer,
we recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer perform inspections and
servicing.
 


 Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
 


 Slow down on rough roads.



 Keep the tyres properly inÀ ated.



 Do not carry unnecessary weight.



 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
 


 Keep the wheels in correct alignment.



 Keep windows closed at high speeds.



 Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
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3–60
Before Driving
Driving Tips
WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:
Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident.
Hazardous Driving
WARNING
Be extremely careful if it is necessary
to downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tyre
speed could cause the tyres to skid. This
could lead to loss of vehicle control and
an accident.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
 


 Be cautious and allow extra distance for
braking.
 


 Avoid sudden braking and sudden
manoeuvring.
 


 Do not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
  Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-86 .
 


 If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the rear
wheels.
 


 For more traction in starting on slippery
surfaces such as ice or packed snow,
use sand, rock salt, chains, carpeting,
or other nonslip material under the rear
wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the rear
wheels.
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3–62
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Rocking the Vehicle
WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at high speed,
and do not allow anyone to stand
behind a wheel when pushing the
vehicle:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tyre could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries.
CAUTION
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transmission failure, and
tyre damage.
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand or mud, depress the accelerator
slightly and slowly move the shift lever
from 1 (D) to R.
Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tyre
chains, window scraper, À ares, a small
shovel, jumper leads, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an expert repairer, we recommend an
Authorised Mazda Repairer to check the
following:
 


 Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
  Refer to Engine Coolant on page
6-20 .
 


 Inspect the battery and its leads. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
 


 Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-17 ).
 


 Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
 


 Use washer À uid made with antifreeze—
but do not use engine coolant antifreeze
for washer À uid (page 6-23 ).
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3–63
Before Driving
Driving Tips
NOTE
  Do not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transmission and to 1 or R with a
manual transmission. Block the rear
wheels.
  Remove snow before driving. Snow
left on the windscreen is dangerous
as it could obstruct vision. In
addition, if the vehicle is driven with
snow accumulated on the bonnet,
the active bonnet system may not
activate normally in an emergency.
  Do not open or close the soft top
when the temperature is 5 °C (41 °F)
or less. The material of the soft top
could be damaged by freezing.
  Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice
or frozen snow on the mirror glass
and windscreen.
  Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
  Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if
snow or ice adheres to the brake
components. If this situation occurs,
drive the vehicle slowly, releasing
the accelerator pedal and lightly
applying the brakes several times
until the brake performance returns
to normal.
Snow Tyres
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tyres
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tyres different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tyres.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tyre
pressure monitoring system (vehicle
with run-À at tyres), the system may not
function correctly when using tyres with
steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls
(page 4-146 ).
Use snow tyres on all four wheels
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for your snow tyres or legal speed
limits.
E u r o p e
When snow tyres are used, select the
speci¿ ed size and pressure (page 9-8 ).
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3–64
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Tyre Chains
Check local regulations before using tyre
chains.
CAUTION
  Chains may affect handling. 
 Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
  Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
  Avoid locked-wheel braking. 
 Do not use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tyres and
chains could be damaged.
  Chains may scratch or chip
aluminium wheels.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tyre
pressure monitoring system, the system
may not function correctly when using
tyre chains.
Install the chains on the rear tyres only.
Do not use chains on the front tyres.
Tyre chain selection (Europe)
Mazda recommends hexagon type
steel ring chains. Select the proper type
according to your tyre size.
Tyre size Tyre chain
195/50R16 Hexagon type
205/45R17 Hexagon type
NOTE
Although Mazda recommends hexagon
type steel ring chains, all chains within
the installation speci¿ cations may be
used.
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4–4
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Ignition Switch
Push Button Start Positions
The system operates only when the key is
within operational range.
Each time the push button start is pressed,
the ignition switches in the order of off,
ACC, and ON. Pressing the push button
start again from ON switches the ignition
off.
Indicator light
NOTE
  The engine starts by pressing
the push button start while
depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) or the brake pedal
(automatic transmission). To switch
the ignition position, press the push
button start without depressing the
pedal.
  Do not leave the ignition switched
ON while the engine is not running.
Doing so could result in the battery
going dead. If the ignition is left in
ACC (For automatic transmission,
the selector lever is in the P position,
and the ignition is in ACC), the
ignition switches off automatically
after about 25 minutes. O f f
The power supply to electrical devices
turns off and the push button start indicator
light (amber) also turns off.
In this position the steering wheel is
locked.
WARNING
Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition off, set the parking
brake, and make sure the selector lever
is in P (automatic transmission) or in
1st gear or R (manual transmission):
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition off, setting the
parking brake, and shifting the selector
lever to P (automatic transmission) or
to 1st gear or R (manual transmission)
is dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur which could
result in an accident.
In addition, if your intention is to leave
the vehicle for even a short period, it
is important to switch the ignition off,
as leaving it in another position will
disable some of the vehicle's security
systems and run the battery down.
NOTE
(Locked steering wheel)
If the push button start indicator light
(green) is À ashing and the beep sound
is heard, this indicates that the steering
wheel is not unlocked. To unlock the
steering wheel, press the push button
start while moving the steering wheel
left and right.
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4–5
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
ACC (Accessory)
Some electrical accessories will operate
and the indicator light (amber) illuminates.
In this position the steering wheel is
unlocked.
NOTE
The keyless entry system does not
function while the push button start has
been pressed to ACC, and the doors will
not lock/unlock even if they have been
locked manually.
O N
This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The indicator light
(amber) turns off. (The indicator light
(amber) illuminates when the ignition
is switched ON and the engine is not
running.)
Some indicator lights/warning lights
should be inspected before the engine is
started (page 4-42 ).
NOTE
When the push button start is pressed
to ON, the sound of the fuel pump
motor operating near the fuel tank can
be heard. This does not indicate an
abnormality.
Starting the Engine
WARNING
Radio waves from the key may affect
medical devices such as pacemakers:
Before using the key near people who
use medical devices, ask the medical
device manufacturer or your physician
if radio waves from the key will affect
the device.
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4–14
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Automatic transmission
1. Engine idling stops when the brake pedal is depressed while the vehicle is driven (except
for driving in the R or M position second gear ¿ xed mode) and the vehicle is stopped.
2. The engine restarts automatically when the brake pedal is released with the selector lever
in the D or M position (not in second gear ¿ xed mode).
3. If the selector lever is in the N or P position, the engine does not restart when the brake
pedal is released. The engine restarts when the brake pedal is depressed again or the
selector lever is shifted to the D, M (not in second gear ¿ xed mode) or the R position.
(For the purposes of safety, always keep the brake pedal depressed when shifting the
selector lever while engine idling is stopped.)
Operation conditions
When the system is operable
Under the following conditions, engine idling stops and the i-stop indicator light (green)
turns on.
 


 The engine is warmed up.



 The engine has been started and the vehicle is driven for a certain period.



 The engine is started with the bonnet closed.



 The battery is in good condition.



 All doors, boot lid, and bonnet are closed.



 The driver's seat belt is fastened.



(Manual Air-Conditioning) 


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in a position other than ( ).


 
 The airÀ ow amount is other than the maximum airÀ ow amount.




(Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning)


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in a position other than ( ).


 
 The temperature setting dial of the air conditioner is in a position other than maximum
heating or maximum cooling (A/C ON) position.
 

 
 The vehicle's interior temperature and the set temperature for the air conditioner are
nearly the same.
 


 The i-stop warning light (amber) is not turned on/À ashing.



 The keyless entry & push button start system functions are normal.



 The brake vacuum is suf¿ ciently high.



 The steering wheel is not being operated.



(Manual transmission)



 
 The vehicle speed is 3 km/h (1.8 mph) or less.


 
 The shift lever is in the neutral position.


 
 The clutch pedal is not depressed.
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4–15
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
 


(Automatic transmission)



 
 The vehicle is stopped.


 
 The selector lever is in the D or M position (not in second gear ¿ xed mode).


 
 The automatic transmission À uid has warmed up suf¿ ciently.


 
 The automatic transmission À uid temperature is not abnormally high.


 
 The steering wheel is almost in the straight-ahead position (idling may not stop even
with the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position if force is applied to the steering
wheel. Release the force applied to the steering wheel to stop engine idling).
 

 
 The vehicle is stopped by depressing the brake pedal.


 
 Emergency braking is not applied.
When the system is not operable
Engine idling does not stop in the following conditions:
 


 The vehicle is stopped but the engine is kept idling.



(Manual Air-Conditioning)


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in the ( ) position and the fan control
dial is in a position other than 0.
 

 
 The airÀ ow amount is the maximum airÀ ow amount.




(Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning)


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in the ( ) position.


 
 The temperature setting dial of the air conditioner is in the maximum heating or
maximum cooling (A/C ON) position.
 

 
 There is a large difference between the cabin temperature and the set temperature of the
air conditioner.
 


 The ambient temperature is extremely high or low.



 The atmospheric pressure is low (when driving at high altitudes).



(Automatic transmission)



 
 The vehicle is stopped on a steep incline.


 
 The steering wheel is not in the straight-ahead position while the vehicle is stopped.




(Retractable fastback model)
 The retractable fastback is operating
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