steering MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF 2017 (in English) Owner's Manual

4–58
When Driving
Transmission
*Some models.
Manually shifting down
You can shift gears down by operating
the selector lever or the steering shift
switches
* .
M 6
: M5
: M4
: M3
: M2
: M1
Using selector lever
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward
once.
Using steering shift switch *
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the DOWN
switch
toward you once with your
¿ ngers.
DOWN switch (-)
WARNING
Do not use engine braking on slippery
road surfaces or at high speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while driving
at high speeds causes sudden engine
braking, which 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.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using ¿ ngers on the steering
shift switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous. If
the driver's air bag were to deploy in a
collision, your hands could be impacted
causing injury.
NOTE
  When driving at high speeds, the
gear may not shift down.
  During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending
on vehicle speed.
  When depressing the accelerator
fully, the transmission will shift to
a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed. However, the gears do not
kickdown while the DSC is turned
off.
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4–61
When Driving
Transmission
*Some models.
Direct Mode *
Direct mode can be used for temporarily
switching gears by operating the steering
shift switch while the vehicle is being
driven with the selector lever in the D
range.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate and the gear position
in use is illuminated.
Direct mode is cancelled (released) under
the following conditions.
 


 The UP switch ( ) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time or
longer.
 


 The vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating).
 


 The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.
Gear position indication
Direct mode indication
NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct
mode may not be possible depending on
the vehicle speed. In addition, because
direct mode is cancelled (released)
depending on the rate of acceleration
or if the accelerator is fully depressed,
use of the manual shift mode is
recommended if you need to drive the
vehicle in a particular gear for long
periods.
Driving Tips
WARNING
Do not let the vehicle move in a
direction opposite to the direction
selected by the selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward
with the selector lever in a forward
position, or do not let the vehicle move
forward with the selector lever in the
reverse position. Otherwise, the engine
may stop, causing the loss of the power
brake and power steering functions,
and make it dif¿ cult to control the
vehicle which could result in an
accident.
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
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4–79
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Horn
To sound the horn, press the mark on
the steering wheel.
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traf¿ c hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning À asher and
all the direction indicators will À ash. The
hazard warning indicator lights in the
instrument cluster À ash simultaneously.
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4–97
When Driving
Drive Selection
*Some models.
Drive Selection *
Drive selection is a system to switch the vehicle's drive mode. When the sport mode
is selected, vehicle's response against accelerator operation is enhanced. This provides
additional quick acceleration which may be needed to safely make manoeuvres such as lane
changes, merging onto freeways, or passing other vehicles.
CAUTION
Do not use the sport mode when driving on slippery roads such as wet or snow-covered
roads. It may cause tyre slipping.
NOTE
  When the sport mode is selected, driving at higher engine speeds increases and it may
increase fuel consumption. Mazda recommends that you cancel the sport mode on
normal driving.
  Drive mode cannot be switched in the following conditions:




 ABS/TCS/DSC is operating



 Cruise control is operating.



 Steering wheel is being operated abruptly
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4–99
When Driving
Power Steering
Power Steering
 












 Power steering is only operable when
the engine is running. If the engine is
off or if the power steering system is
inoperable, you can still steer, but it
requires more physical effort.
  If the steering feels stiffer than usual
during normal driving or the steering
vibrates, consult an expert repairer,
we recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer.
 


 The warning light noti¿ es the driver
of system abnormalities and operation
conditions.
  Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-42 .
CAUTION
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than
5 seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power steering
system.
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4–102
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.
Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) *
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS) automatically adjusts the headlight beams to the
left or right in conjunction with the operation of the steering wheel after the headlights have
been turned on.
A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-42 .
NOTE
  Headlights do not blind drivers approaching in the opposite direction no matter
what side of the road you must drive your vehicle (left-hand or right-hand traf¿ c).
Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the optical axis of the headlights when
switching temporarily to driving on the opposite side of the road (left-hand or right-
hand traf¿ c).

 The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) function can be switched to operable/
inoperable using the personalisation function.
 Refer to Personalisation Features on page 9-10 .
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4–106
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) *
The LDWS system noti¿ es the driver that the vehicle may be deviating from its lane.
The system detects the white or yellow lines on the traf¿ c lane using the Forward Sensing
Camera (FSC) and if it determines that the vehicle may be deviating from its lane, it noti¿ es
the driver by À ashing the LDWS warning light and activating the LDWS warning beep, and
by the multi-information display (vehicles with multi-information display).
Use the LDWS when you drive the vehicle on roads with white or yellow lines.
Refer to Forward Sensing Camera on page 4-129 .
Forward Sensing Camera
(FSC)
The warning light illuminates when the system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning Lights on page 4-42 .
WARNING
Do not use the LDWS under the following conditions:
The system may not operate adequately according to the actual driving conditions,
resulting in an accident.
 
 Driving on roads with tight curves. 
 Driving under bad weather conditions (rain, fog, and snow).
The functions of the LDWS have limitations:
Always stay on course using the steering wheel and drive with care. The system is not
designed to compensate for a driver’s lack of caution and if you rely too much on the
LDWS it could lead to an accident. The driver is responsible for assuring lane changes
and other manoeuvres. Always pay attention to the direction in which the vehicle is
travelling and the vehicle’s surroundings.
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4–107
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension. If the vehicle height or the damping force of the
suspensions is changed, the LDWS may not operate correctly.
NOTE
  If your vehicle deviates from its traf¿ c lane, the LDWS operates (warning sound and
indicator light). Steer the vehicle adequately to drive the vehicle to the centre of the
lane.
  When the direction indicator lever is operated for a lane change, the LDWS warning
is automatically cancelled. The LDWS warning becomes operable when the direction
indicator lever is returned and the system detects the white or yellow lines.
  If the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal is operated abruptly and the
vehicle moves close to a white or yellow line, the system determines that the driver is
making a lane change and the LDWS warning is automatically cancelled.
  The LDWS may not operate during the period immediately after the vehicle has
deviated from its lane and the LDWS has operated, or the vehicle deviates from its
lane repeatedly within a short period of time.
  The LDWS does not operate if it does not detect the white or yellow lines of the traf¿ c
lane.
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4–110
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
Auto cancel warning
When the following operations are
performed, the LDWS determines that
the driver intends to make a lane change
and the LDWS warning is cancelled
automatically. The LDWS is enabled
automatically after the driver performs the
operation.
 


 The steering wheel is operated abruptly.



 The brake pedal is depressed abruptly.



 The accelerator pedal is depressed
abruptly.
 


 The direction indicator lever is operated
(after the direction indicator lever is
returned, the LDWS may not operate for
about 3 seconds which is the period of
time required to make a lane correction).
NOTE
After about 60 seconds have elapsed
with the direction indicator lever left
operating, the LDWS warning may
operate if the vehicle is close to a white
or yellow line.
Cancelling the System
Press the LDWS OFF switch to cancel the
LDWS. The LDWS OFF indicator light
turns on.
Vehicle lane display (vehicles with
multi-information display)
The vehicle lane lines are no longer
indicated in the multi-information display
when the LDWS is cancelled.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched OFF, the
LDWS becomes operational the next
time the ignition switched ON.
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4–111
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
Lane Departure Warning
If the system determines that there is the
possibility of a lane departure, the LDWS
warning beep activates and the LDWS
warning light À ashes. Operate the steering
wheel appropriately and steer the vehicle
to the centre of the lane.
For vehicles equipped with the multi-
information display and the active driving
display, the colour of the lane line in the
direction which the system determined
that the vehicle may be deviating from its
lane changes from white to amber and the
vehicle lane line À ashes.
Indication on display
NOTE
  If the LDWS warning sound is set
to rumble *1 , the sound will be heard
from the vehicle speaker on the side
which the system determined the
vehicle may be deviating from its
lane.
  It may be dif¿ cult to hear the LDWS
warning beep depending on the
surrounding conditions such as
outside noise.
  The volume of the LDWS warning
sound can be changed.
 Refer to Personalisation Features on
page 9-10 .

 The type of warning sound (rumble *1 /
beep) on the LDWS can be changed.
 Refer to Personalisation Features on
page 9-10 .
*1 A rumble strip is a series of grooves
in the road pavement surface
positioned at speci¿ c intervals,
and when the vehicle passes over
it a vibration and rumble sound is
produced which alerts the driver that
the vehicle is departing from the lane.
The rumble sound is a reproduction
of the sound which occurs when a
vehicle passes over a rumble strip.

Rumble
Groove
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