warning MAZDA MODEL MX-5 2020 Owners Manual (in English)

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 difficult 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.
NOTE
The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how much
the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown, and
functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed.
While the selector lever is in the M
position and the DSC is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.
Climbing steep gra des from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight and
grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, one
of the turn signal bulbs may be burned
out.
A personalized function is available to
change the turn indicator sound volume.
(page 9-9)
▼Lane-Change Signals
Move the lever halfway toward the
direction of the lane change―until the
indicator flashes― and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
▼Three-Flash Turn Signal
After releasing the turn signal lever, the
turn signal indicator flashes 3 times. The
operation can be canceled by moving the
lever in the direction opposite to which it
was operated.
NOTE
The three-flash turn signal function can be
switched to operable/inoperable using the
personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9.
Windshield Wipers and Washer
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the wipers.
WARNING
Use only windshield washer fluid or plain
water in the reservoir:
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.
Only use windshield washer fluid mixed
with anti-freeze protection in freezing
weather conditions:
Using windshield washer fluid without
anti-freeze protection in freezing weather
conditions is dangerous as it could freeze
on the windshield and block your vision
which could cause an accident. In addition,
make sure the windshield is sufficiently
warmed using the defroster before
spraying the washer fluid.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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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 traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.

Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash. The hazard
warning indicator lights in the instrument
cluster flash simultaneously.
NOTE
The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
HomeLink WirelessControl System
*
NOTE
HomeLink and HomeLink house icon are
registered trademarks of Gentex
Corporation.
The HomeLink system replaces up to 3
hand-held transmitters with a single
built-in component in the auto-dimming
mirror. Pressing the HomeLink button on
the auto-dimming mirror activates garage
doors, gates and other devices surrounding
your home.

HomeLink button
Indicator light
WARNING
Do not use the HomeLink system with any
garage door opener that lacks the safety
stop and reverse feature:
Using the HomeLink system with any
garage door opener that lacks the safety
stop and reverse feature as required by
federal safety standards is dangerous. (This
includes garage doors manufactured
before April 1, 1982.)
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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Brake System
▼Foot Brake
This vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
use.

Should power-assist fail, you can stop by
applying greater force than normal to the
brake pedal. But the distance required to
stop will be greater than usual.
WARNING
Do not coast with the engine stalled or
turned off,
find a safe place to stop:
Coasting with the engi ne stalled or turned
off is dangerous. Braking will require more
effort, and the brake's power-assist could
be depleted if you pump the brake. This will
cause longer stopping distances or even an
accident.
Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep hills:
Driving with your foot continuously on the
brake pedal or steadily applying the brakes
for long distances is dangerous. This causes
overheated brakes, resulting in longer
stopping distances or even total brake
failure. This could cause loss of vehicle
control and a serious accident. Avoid
continuous application of the brakes.
Dry off brakes that have become wet by
driving slowly, releasing the accelerator
pedal and lightly applying the brakes
several times until the brake performance
returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the vehicle
pulling to one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light braking
will indicate whether the brakes have been
affected.
CAUTION
 Do not drive with your foot held on the
clutch pedal or brake pedal, or hold the
clutch pedal depressed halfway
unnecessarily. Doing so could result in
the following:
 The clutch and brake parts will wear
out more quickly.
 The brakes can overheat and adversely
affect brake performance.
 Always depress the brake pedal with the
right foot. Applying the brakes with the
unaccustomed left foot could slow your
reaction time to an emergency situation
resulting in insufficient braking
operation.
When Driving
Brake
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Wear shoes appropriate for driving in
order to avoid your shoe contacting the
brake pedal when depressing the
accelerator pedal.
▼Parking Brake
CAUTION
Driving with the parking brake on will
cause excessive wear of the brake parts.
NOTE
For parking in snow, refer to Winter
Driving (page 3-53) regarding parking
brake use.
Setting the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and then firmly
pull the parking brake lever fully upwards
with sufficient force to hold the vehicle in
a stationary position.
Releasing the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and pull the
parking brake lever upwards, then press
the release button. While holding the
button, lower the parking brake lever all
the way down to the released position.
Button
▼Warning Light
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-36.
When Driving
Brake
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▼Brake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes a screeching noise
to warn that the pads should be replaced.
When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with worn disc pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is dangerous.
The brakes could fail and cause a serious
accident. As soon as you hear a screeching
noise consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
In high humidity weather conditions,
brake noises, such as brake squeak or
brake squeal can be heard. It does not
indicate a malfunction.
▼Brake Assist
During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the brake
pedal with greater force, the brake assist
system provides braking assistance, thus
enhancing braking performance.

When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the brakes apply
more firmly.
NOTE
When the brake pedal is depressed hard
or depressed more quickly, the pedal
will feel softer but the brakes will apply
more firmly. This is a normal effect of
the brake assist operation and does not
indicate a malfunction.
When the brake pedal is depressed hard
or depressed more quickly, a motor/
pump operation noise may be heard.
This is a normal effect of the brake
assist and does not indicate a
malfunction.
The brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the
vehicle's main braking system.
When Driving
Brake
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Hill Launch Assist (HLA)*
HLA is a function which assists the driver
in accelerating from a stop while on a
slope. When the driver releases the brake
pedal and depresses the accelerator pedal
while on a slope, the function prevents the
vehicle from rolling. The braking force is
maintained automatically after the brake
pedal is released on a steep grade.
For vehicles with a manual transmission,
HLA operates on a downward slope when
the shift lever is in the reverse (R)
position, and on an upward slope when the
shift lever is in a position other than the
reverse (R) position.
For vehicles with an automatic
transmission, HLA operates on a
downward slope when the selector lever is
in the reverse (R) position, and on an
upward slope when the selector lever is in
a forward gear.
WARNING
Do not rely completely on HLA:
HLA is an auxiliary device for accelerating
from a stop on a slope. The system only
operates for about 2 seconds and
therefore, relying only on the system, when
accelerating from a stop is dangerous
because the vehicle may move (roll)
unexpectedly and cause an accident.
The vehicle could roll depending on the
vehicle's load or if it is towing something. In
addition, for vehicles with a manual
transmission, the vehicle could still roll
depending on how the clutch pedal or the
accelerator pedal is operated.
Always confirm the safety around the
vehicle before starting to drive the vehicle.
NOTE
HLA does not operate on a gentle slope.
In addition, the gradient of the slope on
which the system will operate changes
depending on the vehicle's load.
HLA does not operate if the parking
brake is applied, the vehicle has not
stopped completely, or the clutch pedal
is released.
While HLA is operating, the brake pedal
may feel stiff and vibrate, however, this
does not indicate a malfunction.
HLA does not operate while the
TCS/DSC indicator light is illuminated.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-36.
HLA does not turn off even if the DSC
OFF switch is pressed to turn off the
TCS/DSC.
When Driving
Brake
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Antilock Brake System(ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one
wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing and
reapplying that wheel's brake.

The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal ABS system operation. Continue
to depress the brake pedal without
pumping the brakes.

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-36.
WARNING
Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for safe
driving:
The ABS cannot compensate for unsafe
and reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle too
closely), driving on ice and snow, and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
NOTE
Braking distances may be longer on
loose surfaces (snow or gravel, for
example) which usually have a hard
foundation. A vehicle with a normal
braking system may require less
distance to stop under these conditions
because the tires will build up a wedge
of surface layer when the wheels skid.
The sound of the ABS operating may be
heard when starting the engine or
immediately after starting the vehicle,
however, it does not indicate a
malfunction.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
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Traction Control System(TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by controlling
engine torque and braking. When the TCS
detects driving wheel slippage, it lowers
engine torque and operates the brakes to
prevent loss of traction.

This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to th e drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin a nd loss of traction.

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-36.
WARNING
Do not rely on the Traction Control System
(TCS) as a substitute for safe driving:
The Traction Control System (TCS) cannot
compensate for unsafe and reckless
driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
Use snow tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are covered
with ice and/or snow:
Driving without proper traction devices on
snow and/or ice-covered roads is
dangerous. The Traction Control System
(TCS) alone cannot provide adequate
traction and you could still have an
accident.
NOTE
To turn off the TCS, press the DSC OFF
switch (page 4-68).
▼TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.

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
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
In addition to the indicator light
flashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This indicates
that the TCS/DSC is operating properly.
On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to achieve
high rpm when the TCS is on.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
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Dynamic Stability Control(DSC)
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and engine
torque in conjunction with systems such as
ABS and TCS to help control side slip
when driving on slippery surfaces, or
during sudden or evasive maneuvering,
enhancing vehicle safety.

Refer to ABS (page 4 -65) and TCS (page
4-66).

DSC operation is possible at speeds
greater than 20 km/h (12 mph).

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-36.
WARNING
Do not rely on the Dynamic Stability
Control as a substitute for safe driving:
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
cannot compensate for unsafe and reckless
driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
CAUTION
 The DSC may not operate correctly
unless the following are observed:
 Use tires of the correct size
specified for
your Mazda on all 4 wheels.
 Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all 4
wheels.
 Do not mix worn tires.
 The DSC may not operate correctly when
tire chains are used or a temporary spare
tire is installed because the tire diameter
changes.
▼TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.

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
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
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