brakes MAZDA MODEL MX-5 2020 (in English) Owner's Manual

Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.

Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.

After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
WARNING
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.
Wa x i n g
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to m aintain its luster.

1. Use wax which contains no abrasives. Wax containing abrasives will remove
paints and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take off
the wax. Rewax these areas even if the rest
of the vehicle does not need it.
▼Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs metal
parts repaired or replaced, make sure the
body shop applies anti-corrosion materials
to all parts, both repaired and new. This
will prevent them from rusting.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-60
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

▼Bright-Metal Maintenance
Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
To prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
During cold weather or in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive p etroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or
strong detergents containing highly
alkaline or caustic agents on
chrome-plated or anodized aluminum
parts. This may result in damage to the
protective coating and cause discoloration
or paint deterioration.
▼Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and s alt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.

Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also to
do this every month.

Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.

The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped there
will cause rusting.
WARNING
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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-61
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

If a Warning Light Turns On or Flashes
If any warning light turns on/flashes, take appropriate action for each light. There is no
problem if the light turns off, however if the light does not t urn off or turns on/flashes again,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The details for some warnings can be viewed on the center displa y.
1. If the warning light is turned on, select the
icon on the home screen to display the
application screen.
2. Select “Vehicle Status Monitor”.
3. Select “Warning Guidance” to display the current warnings.
4. Select the applicable warni ng to view the warning details.
▼Stop Vehicle in Safe Place Immediately
If any of the following warning lights turns on, the system may have a malfunction. Stop the
vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Signal War n i n g
Brake System Warning
Light This warning has the
following functions:
Parking brake warning/Warning light inspection
The light illuminates when the parking brake is applied with th e ignition switched to
START or ON. It turns off when the parking brake is fully relea sed.
Low brake fluid level warning
If the brake warning light remains illuminated even though the parking brake is re‐
leased, the brake fluid may be l ow or there could be a problem with the brake system.
Park the vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system warning light illuminated. Contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer to have the brakes inspected as soon as possible:
Driving with the brake system warning light illuminated is dangerous. It indicates that
your brakes may not work at all or that they could completely fail at any time. If this
light remains illuminated, after checking that the parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
CAUTION
In addition, the effectiveness of the braking may diminish so you may need to depress
the brake pedal more st rongly than normal to stop the vehicle.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
7-33
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

SignalWarning
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution System Warning 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 warning 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
7-34
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

▼Contact Authorized Mazda Dealer 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 4-19.
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 while the ABS warning light is illuminated.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
7-36*Some models.
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

▼Glossary of Terms
Tire Placard: A label indicating the OE tire sizes, recommended inflation pr essure, and the
maximum weight the vehicle can carry.
Tire Identification Number (TIN): A number on the sidewall of each tire providing
information about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire size, and date of manufacture.
Inflation Pressure: A measure of the amo unt of air in a tire.
kPa: Kilopascal, the metric unit for air pressure.
psi: Pounds per square inch, the English unit for air pressure.
B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the fr ont door.
Original Equipment (OE): Describes components originally equipped on the vehicle.
Vehicle Load Limit: The maximum value of the combination weight of occupants and
cargo.
Bead Area of the Tire: Area of the tire next to the rim.
Sidewall Area of the Tire: Area between the bead area and the tread.
Tread Area of the Tire: Area on the perimeter of the tire that contacts the road when it's
mounted on the vehicle.

Seating capacity means the total allowable number of vehicle occupants. Seating capacity
is described on the tire label.

Production options weight is the combination weight of installed regular production
options weighing over 2.3 kilograms in excess of the standard i tems which they replace, and
not previously considered in the curb weight or accessory weigh t, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and speci al trim.

Rim is the metal support (wheel) fo r a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
8-32
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to tow a
trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will provide
maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading yo ur vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings, from the
vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious consequences
in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's suspension system can cause
spring or shock absorber failure, brake failu re, handling or steering problems, irregular tire
wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive an d control. It also increases the distance
required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail completely, particularly
on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a combination of the size of the tire, its load
range, and corresponding inflation pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe th e vehicle's weight ratings from the vehicle's
Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
8-36
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

Index
A
Accessory Socket.............................. 5-93
Adaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)................................................. 4-77
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories........................................ 8-19
Advanced KeyAdvanced keyless entry system... 3-11
Operational range........................ 3-12
Air Bag Systems............................... 2-36
Air Bag/Seat Belt Pr etensioner System
Warning Beep.................................... 7-48
Ambient Temperature Display.......... 4-17
Antilock Brake System (ABS).......... 4-65
Audio Control Switch
Adjusting the Volume.................. 5-14
Seek Switch................................. 5-14
Audio Set Android Auto™........................... 5-43
Apple CarPlay™......................... 5-40
Applications................................. 5-78
AUX.............................................5-33
Bluetooth®.................................. 5-47
Radio............................................5-25
Satellite Radio............................. 5-29
Settings........................................ 5-76
Troubleshooting........................... 5-79
USB............................................. 5-34
Voice Recognition....................... 5-74
Volume/Display/Sound
Controls....................................... 5-23
Audio System
Antenna........................................5-17
Appendix..................................... 5-85
Audio Control Switch................. 5-14
Audio Set..................................... 5-18
AUX/USB mode..........................5-15
Before Using the Audio
System......................................... 5-14
Automatic Transmission
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)...... 4-37
Automatic transmission
controls........................................ 4-35
Direct mode................................. 4-43
Driving tips..................................4-44
Manual shift mode.......................4-38
Shift-lock system......................... 4-36
Transmission ranges.................... 4-36
B
Back Trim Storage Box.................. 5-100
Battery............................................... 6-32 Maintenance.................................6-34
Replacement................................ 6-34
Specifications.................................9-4
Battery Runs Out.............................. 7-23 Jump-starting............................... 7-23
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM).......... 4-87 Canceling operation of Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM).......................4-91
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) System
Warning Beep.................................... 7-50
Bluetooth® Bluetooth® Audio....................... 5-53
Bluetooth® Hands-Free...............5-64
Bluetooth® Preparation............... 5-50
Body Lubrication.............................. 6-28
Brakes Brakes assist................................ 4-63
Foot brake....................................4-61
Pad wear indicator....................... 4-63
Parking brake...............................4-62
Warning light............................... 4-62
Break-In Period................................. 3-51
C
Capacities............................................ 9-5
Carbon Monoxide......... .................... 3-27
Cell Phones....................................... 8-20
Child Restraint
10-2
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition2 _old 2019-8-29 16:18:06