ECU MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2002 Owner's Manual

4-9
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the rear tires.
Don
’t use chains on the front tires.
Use only SAE Class "S" chains, and make
sure they fit.
Installing the chains
1. Remove the wheel covers, or the chain bands will scratch them.
2. Secure the chains on the rear tires as tightly as possible. Always follow the
chain manufacturer ’s instructions.
3. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2—1 km (1/4 —1/2 mile).
•
Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels. Install tire chains
on steel wheels only.
• Chains may affect handling.
• Don
’t 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.
• Don
’t use chains on the temporary
tire; it may result in damage to the
vehicle and to the tire.
• Don
’t use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
CAUTION
Driving In Flooded Area
Driving with Wet Brakes:
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. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance
returns to normal.
Make sure water does not enter the
vehicle interior or the engine area. The
vehicle interior could become wet or
the engine could be damaged.
WARNING
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 9 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

5-26
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Check Engine Light
If this light comes on while driving, the
vehicle may have a problem. It is
important to note the driving conditions
when the light came on and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The check engine light may come on in
the following cases:
• The fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty.
• The engine
’s electrical system has a
problem.
• The emission control system has a
problem.
• The fuel-filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
If the check engine light flashes
continuously, decrease your speed and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.

ABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
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 Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Don
’t drive with a loose or broken
alternator belt. The engine could
overheat because this belt also drives
the water pump.
CAUTION
ABS Warning Light and Brake
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
Don ’t drive with both lights on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
WARNING
J07L(02MY).book Page 26 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

6-40
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Mesh Pocket
Maps or pamphlets can be placed in the
mesh pocket.
Press the center fastener to release it. When you need a sunvisor, lower it for
use in front or swing it to the side.


Va n i t y M i r r o r
To use the vanity mirror, lower the
sunvisor on the passenger
’s side.
Make sure the fastener is securely
fastened when the top is open;
otherwise, objects placed in the mesh
pocket could be blown away by the
wind. CAUTION
Sunvisors
Vanity mirror
J07L(02MY).book Page 40 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

7-4
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Jack
To remove the jack
Turn the wing bolt counterclockwise.
To secure the jack
Perform the removal procedure in reverse.

Spare Tire
Your Mazda has a temporary spare tire.
It
’s lighter and smaller than a
conventional tire, and is designed only for
emergency use and should be used only
for VERY short periods. Temporary
spares should NEVER be used for long
drives or extended periods.
Driving with a Temporary Spare Tire
on Ice or Snow:
Driving with a spare tire on the rear
(driving) wheels on ice or snow is
dangerous. Handling will be affected.
You could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident. Put the spare
tire on the front axle and move a
regular tire to the rear.
Jack
Wing bolt
WARNING
To avoid damage to the temporary
spare or to the vehicle, observe the
following precautions:
•
Don
’t exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
• Avoid driving over obstacles.
Also, don
’t drive through an
automatic car wash. This tire ’s
diameter is smaller than a
conventional tire ’s, so the ground
clearance is reduced about 25 mm
(1 in).
• Don
’t use a tire chain on this tire
because it won ’t fit properly.
• Don
’t use your temporary spare on
any other vehicle; it has been
designed only for your Mazda.
• Use only one temporary spare tire
on your vehicle at the same time.
(With limited slip differential)
When using the temporary spare tire
on the rear axle, replace it with a
standard tire as soon as possible. The
size difference between the spare and
the standard tire will cause the limited
slip differential to malfunction.
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 4 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

7-10
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
5. Store the damaged tire in the trunk. Have the damaged tire repaired as
soon as possible.
Loose Lug Nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result
in loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident. Always securely and
correctly tighten the lug nuts.
Metric Studs and Lug Nuts:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip
off and cause an accident. Be sure to
reinstall the same nuts you removed
or replace them with metric nuts of
the same configuration.
Incorrect Tire Air Pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident.
Don ’t drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure. When you
check the regular tires ’ air pressure,
check the spare tire, too.
NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from
rattling, store them properly.
WARNING
J07L(02MY).book Page 10 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
5. Pull it out again and examine the level. It’s OK between L and F.
But if it ’s near at or below L, add
enough oil to bring the level to F.
6. Make sure the O-ring is positioned properly before reinserting the
dipstick.
The distance between L and F on the
dipstick represents the following:

Changing Engine Oil and Filter
Change engine oil and filter according to
Scheduled Maintenance (page 8-3).
Please act responsibly
—protect the
environment and take used oil to a
recycling facility. Ask your dealer or a
service station for information. Changing engine oil
1. Warm up the engine for a few minutes
and turn it off. Remove the oil-filler
cap.
2. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil into a suitable container.
3. Replace the plug tightly after the oil has thoroughly drained.
4. Fill the engine with new oil to the F mark on the dipstick.
5. Securely replace the oil-filler cap.
6. Start the engine and inspect around the drain plug for leaks.
7. Turn it off and wait 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
Don
’t add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
L (US qt, Imp qt) 0.8 (0.85, 0.70)
Handling Used Engine Oil:
Continuous contact with used engine
oil is dangerous. It could cause skin
cancer. Always wash with soap and
water immediately after changing oil
and filter.
CAUTION
WARNING
Checking or Changing Engine Oil:
Hot engine oil is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, the engine
oil becomes very hot. You could be
seriously burned. Don ’t check or
change the engine oil when the
engine is hot.
WARNING
Tighten
Loosen
Drain plug
J07L(02MY).book Page 14 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

8-27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
The battery is in the trunk.

Battery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
• Keep it securely mounted.
• Keep the top clean and dry.
• Keep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
• Rinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
• If the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables. For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
Tires
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Except when using the temporary
spare tire, use only the same type tires
(radial, bias-belted, bias-type) on all
four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-6)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
WARNING
J07L(02MY).book Page 27 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

11-5
Index
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
R
Rear Window Defroster ................... 5-33
Rearview Mirror
............................... 3-32
Recreational Towing
........................ 7-17
Rocking the Vehicle
........................... 4-7
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................ 9-14
Seat Belt System 3-point type
................................. 2-7
Automatic locking
...................... 2-6
Emergency locking
..................... 2-6
Extender
.................................... 2-10
Pregnant women
......................... 2-6
Pretensioner and load limiting
.... 2-8
Seat belt precautions
................... 2-4
Warning light/beep
................... 2-11
Seats
................................................... 2-2
Security System Immobilizer system
.................. 3-28
Service Publications
......................... 9-15
Spare Tire and Tool Storage
.............. 7-3
Specifications
................................... 10-4
Speedometer
..................................... 5-18
SRS Air Bags Air bag system description
....... 2-22
Passenger-Side air bag
deactivation switch
................... 2-19
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions
................................ 2-16
Warning light
............................ 2-25
Starting the Engine
............................. 5-3
Steering Wheel Horn
.......................................... 5-33
Storage Compartments
..................... 6-39
Sunvisors
.......................................... 6-40
T
Tachometer .......................................5-19
Temporary Spare Tire
......................8-30
Tiedown Hook
..........................................7-17
Tires Flat tire
........................................7-3
Inflation pressure
.......................8-28
Replacement
..............................8-29
Rotation
.....................................8-28
Snow tires
....................................4-8
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Specifications
............................10-6
Tire chains
...................................4-9
Uniform tire quality grading
system (UTQGS)
.......................9-12
Tool
....................................................7-3
Towing Description
................................7-16
Emergency towing
....................7-16
Recreational towing
..................7-17
Trailer towing
............................4-10
Trailer Towing
..................................4-10
Trip Meter
........................................5-18
Trunk Lid
..........................................3-11
Trunk Release Handle
......................3-13
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
........5-30
V
Vanity Mirror ...................................6-40
Vehicle Information Labels
..............10-2
J07L(02MY)IX.fm Page 5 Monday, June 11, 2001 5:33 PM