check engine light MAZDA MODEL MX-5 2018 (in English) User Guide

Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting out
of P unless the brake pedal is depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
the ignition is switch ed off, the selector
lever cannot be shifted from P.
The ignition cannot be switched to OFF
if the selector lever is not in P.
▼ Shift-Lock Override
If the selector lever will not move from P
using the proper shift procedure, continue
to hold down the brake pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
using a cloth-wrapped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
Cover
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer to have the system checked.
Transmission Ranges
The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates. Refer to
Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-26.
The selector lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transmission and prevents the
rear wheels from rotating.
WA R N I N G
Always set the selector lever to P and set
the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the P
position without using the parking brake to
hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P fails to
hold, the vehicle could move and cause an
accident.
CAUTION
 Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transmission.
 Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster than
idle can damage the transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except under
rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-52).
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Operating Tips
Operate the climate control system with
the engine running.
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not leave the fan control
dial on for a long period of time with the
ignition switched ON when the engine is
not running.
Clear all obstructions such as leaves,
snow and ice from the hood and the air
inlet in the cowl grille to improve the
system efficiency.
Use the climate control system to defog
the windows and dehumidify the air.
The recirculate mode should be used
when driving through tunnels or while
in a traffic jam, or when you would like
to shut off outside air for quick cooling
of the interior.
Use the outside air position for
ventilation or windshield defrosting.
If the vehicle has been parked in direct
sunlight during hot weather, open the
windows to let warm air escape, then
run the climate control system.
Run the air cond itioner about 10
minutes at least once a month to keep
internal parts lubricated.
Have the air conditioner checked before
the weather gets hot. Lack of refrigerant
may make the air conditioner less
efficient.
The refrigerant specifications are
indicated on a label attached to the
inside of the engine compartment. If the
wrong type of refrigerant is used, it
could result in a ser ious malfunction of
the air conditioner. Consult a
professional, government certified
repairer for the inspection or repair
because a special device is required for
the air conditi oner maintenance.
For details, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Label
Interior Features
Climate Control System
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Remarks:
*1 The engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year or within 12,000 km (7,500 miles) since last
engine oil and filter change. Re set the engine oil data whenever replacing the engine oil regardless of the
message/wrench indicator light display.
*2 Use of FL-22 is recommended when replacing engine coolant. Using engine coolant other than FL-22 may
cause serious damage to the engine and cooling system.
*3 According to state/provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not
void your emissions warranties. H owever, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or mileage/kilometer period to ensure long -term reliability.
*4 If this component has been submerged in water, the oil should be replaced.*5 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with ne w one before the expiration dat e.
▼Schedule 2
U.S.A. and Puerto Rico residents - Severe driving conditions ma
intenance interval
Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first.
Months 6 1218243036424854606672
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Drive belts II
Engine oil & filter Flexible
*1Replace when wrench indicator light is ON. (Max interval: 12
months/12,000 km (7,500 miles))
Fixed RRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine coolant
*2Replace at first 192,000 km (120, 000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years.
Engine coolant level IIIIIIIIIIII
Air filter
*3Replace when any equivalent tim ing of replacing engine oil.
(Max interval: 36 months or 60,000 km (37,500 miles))
Fuel lines and hoses
*4III
Hoses and tubes for emission
*4I
Spark plugs Replace every 12 0,000 km (75,000 miles).
Function of all lights IIIIIIIIIIII
Brake lines, hoses and connections II I
Brake and clutch fluid level I I I I I I I I I I I I
Disc brakes IIIIII
Manual transmission oil Replace every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) o r 2 years.
Tire (Rotation) Rotate when any equivalent tim
ing of replacing engine oil.
(Max interval: 8,000 km (5,000 miles))
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear IIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages II I
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first.
Months 6 1218243036424854606672
×1000 km 8 1624324048566472808896
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play III
Rear differential oil
*5
Driveshaft dust boots III
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TT T
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years.
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Emergency flat tire repair kit (if installed)
*6Inspect annually.
Chart symbols:
I: Inspect: Inspect and clean, re pair, adjust, fill up, or replac e if necessary.
R: Replace
L: Lubricate
C: Clean
T: Tighten
D: Drain
Remarks:
*1 Engine oil flexible maintenance i s available for U.S.A. and Puerto Rico residents whose vehicle is operated
mainly where none of the following conditions apply.
Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation such as polic e car, taxi or driving school carDriving in dusty conditions
If any do apply, follo w fixed maintenance.
The engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year or within 12,000 km (7,500 miles) since last
engine oil and filter change. Res et the engine oil data whenever replacing the engine oil regardless of the
message/wrench indicator light display.
*2 Use of FL-22 is recommended wh en replacing engine coolant. Using engine coolant other than FL-22 may
cause serious damage to the engine and cooling system.
*3 If the vehicle is operated in v ery dusty or sandy areas, clean and if necessary, replace the air filter more often
than the recommended intervals.
*4 According to state/provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or mileage/ kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*5 If this component has been subm erged in water, the oil should be replaced.*6 Check the tire repair fluid exp iration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.

Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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C: Clean
T: Tighten
D: Drain
Remarks:
*1 Use of FL-22 is recommended wh en replacing engine coolant. Using engine coolant other than FL-22 may
cause serious damage to the engine and cooling system.
*2 According to state/provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or kilomete r period to ensure long-term reliability.
*3 If this component has been subm erged in water, the oil should be replaced.*4 Check the tire repair fluid exp iration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.

(Cont.)
Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers, whichever comes first
Months 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72
×1000 km 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Drive belts II
Engine oil & filter R R R R R R R R R R R R
Cooling system II
Engine coolant
*1Replace at first 200,000 km or 10 years; after that, every 100,000 km or 5 years
Engine coolant level IIIIIIIIIIII
Air filter CRCRCR
Fuel lines and hoses I
*2I
Hoses and tubes for emission I
*2I
Fuel filter Replace every 60,000 km
Spark plugs IIIIII
Replace every 120,000 km
Function of all lights I I I I I I I I I I I I
Brake lines, hoses and connections III
Brake and clutch fluid level II I I
Brake fluid RR
Disc brakes IIIIII
Manual transmission oil RR
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 10,000 km
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear IIIIII
Steering operation and linkages IIIIII
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play III
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Overheating
If the high engine coolant temperature
warning light turns on, the vehicle loses
power, or you hear a loud knocking or
pinging noise, the engine is probably too
hot.
WA R N I N G
Pull over to a safe location, then switch
the ignition off and make sure the fan is
not running before attempting to work
near the cooling fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it is
running is dangerous. The fan could
continue running indefinitely even if the
engine has stopped and the engine
compartment temperature is high. You
could be hit by the fan and seriously
injured.
Do not remove either cooling
system cap when the engine and radiator
are hot:
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
Open the hood ONLY after steam is no
longer escaping from the engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you.
If the high engine c oolant temperature
warning light turns on:

1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Turn off the air conditioner.
5. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from the engine
compartment.

If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine.
Wait until the steam dissipates, then
open the hood and start the engine.

If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine
until it cools.
CAUTION
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the engine
temperature will increase. Stop the
engine and call an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating, then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
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SignalWarning
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution System Wa r n i n g If the electronic brake force di
stribution control unit determines that some compo-
nents are operating incorrectly , the control unit may illuminate the brake system
warning light and the ABS warni ng light simultaneously. The problem is likely to be
the electronic brake force distribution system.
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning light and brake warning light illuminated.
Have the vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the brakes inspected as
soon as possible:
Driving when the brake system warning li ght and ABS warning light are illuminated
simultaneously is dangerous.
When both lights are illuminate d, the rear wheels could lock more quickly in an emer‐
gency stop than under normal circumstances.
Charging System Warn- ing Indication/Warning Light If the warning light illuminates while driving, it indicates a
malfunction of the alter-
nator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. Co nsult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving when the charging system warning light is illuminated be‐
cause the engine could stop unexpectedly.
Engine Oil Warning Light This warning light indicates low engine oil pressure.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil pressure is
low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
If the light illuminates or the w arning indication is displayed while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way o n level ground.
2. Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes for the oil to drain b ack into the oil pan.
3. Inspect the engine oil level (p age 6-24). If it's low, add the appropriate amount of
engine oil while being careful not to overfill.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil level is low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
4. Start the engine and check the warning light.

If the light remains illuminated even though the oil level is normal or after adding oil,
stop the engine immediately and have your vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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▼Contact Authorized Mazda Deal
er and Have Vehicle Inspected
If any of the following warning lights o r the indicator light turns on/flashes, the system may
have a malfunction. Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have your vehicle inspected.
SignalWarning
Master Warning In-
dication/Warning
Light
*
Type A instrument cluster
(Master warning indication)
Displays when notification of the system malfunctions is required.
Check the message indicated in th e display and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
(Master warning light)
The master warning light display s when a warning message occurs.
This indicates a malfunction with the vehicle system. Check the message indicated in the
display and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
For details, refer to the explanations for the warning/indicato r lights, in the warning/indi-
cator lights section, which match the symbol in the upper part of the display.
If a message is not indicated in the display, operate the INFO switch to display the “Warn-
ing” screen.
Refer to Message Indicated in Mu lti-information Display and INFO switch on page 4-18.
Type B instrument cluster
The light illuminates continuously if any one of the following occurs. Consult an Author-
ized Mazda Dealer.
There is a malfunction in the battery management system.There is a malfunction in the brake switch.
Electric Vacuum
Pump Warning Light The light turns on if the electric vacuum pump system has a pro
blem. Have your vehicle
inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
ABS Warning Light 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 A uthorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light may illuminate. If this occurs, it is the result of the weak battery and does
not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
The brake assist system does not operate wh ile the ABS warning light is illuminated.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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SignalWarning
Check Engine LightIf this light illuminates while dr
iving, the vehicle may have a problem. It is important to
note the driving conditions when the light illuminated and cons ult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The check engine light may illumi nate in the following cases:
The engine's electrical system has a problem.The emission control system has a problem.The fuel tank level being very low or approaching empty.The fuel-filler cap is missing or not tightened securely.
If the check engine light remains on, or it flashes continuously , do not drive at high
speeds and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Automatic Trans-
mission Indication/
Warning Light
*
The indication/light illuminates when the transmission has a pr oblem.
CAUTION
If the automatic transmission warning indication/light illuminates, the transmission has an
electrical problem. Continuing to drive your Mazda in this condition could cause damage to
your transmission. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
(Illuminate)
TCS/DSC Indicator
Light If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC or the brake assist system may have a malfunction and
they may not operate correctly.
Take your vehicle to an Authori zed Mazda Dealer.
Air Bag/Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Light A system malfunction is indicated
if the warning light constantly flashes, constantly illu-
minates or does not illuminate a t all when the ignition is switched ON. If any of these oc-
cur, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not operate
in an accident.WA R N I N G
Never tamper with the air bag/pretensioner systems and always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer perform all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the systems is dangerous. An air bag/pretensioner could
accidentally activate or become disabled causing serious injury or death.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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SignalWarning
(Flashing)
Tire Pressure Moni- toring System
Warning Light If the tire pressure monitoring s
ystem has a malfunction, the tire pressure warning light
flashes. Have your vehicle check ed by an Authorized Mazda Deale r as soon as possible.
WA R N I N G
If the tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminates or flashes, or the tire pres‐
sure warning beep sound is heard, decrease vehicle speed immediately and avoid sudden
maneuvering and braking:
If the tire pressure monitoring system warnin g light illuminates or flashes, or the tire pres‐
sure warning beep sound is heard, it is dang erous to drive the vehicle at high speeds, or
perform sudden maneuver ing or braking. Vehicle drivabilit y could worsen and result in an
accident.
To determine if you have a slow leak or a flat, pull over to a safe position where you can
check the visual condition of the tire and determine if you have enough air to proceed to a
place where air may be added and the system monitored again by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or a tire repair station.
Do not ignore the TPMS Warning Light:
Ignoring the TPMS warning light is dangerous, even if you know why it is illuminated. Have
the problem taken care of as soon as possible before it develops into a more serious situa‐
tion that could lead to tire failure and a dangerous accident.
(Red)
KEY Warning Indi-
cation
*
“Keyless System malfunction” is displayed
This message is displayed if the advanced keyless entry & push button start system has a
problem.
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
If the message is indicated, or the push button start indicato r light (amber) flashes, the en‐
gine may not start. If the engine cannot be started, try starting it using the emergency oper‐
ation for starting the engine, and have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Deal‐
er as soon as possible.
Refer to Emergency Operation for St arting the Engine on page 4-9.
(Amber)
KEY Warning Indi-
cation
*
“Ignition is on” is displayed
This message is displayed when the driver's door is opened with out switching the ignition
off.
“Key not detected” is displayed
This message is displayed when any of the following operations is performed with the key
out of the operational range or placed in areas inside the cabi n where it is difficult for the
key to be detected.
The push button start is pressed with the ignition switched offThe ignition is switched onAll doors are closed without switching the ignition off
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
7-38*Some models.
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