weight MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2003 Owners Manual

4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Driving Tips
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
•Don
’t race the engine.
• Don
’t maintain one constant speed for
long.
• Don
’t drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods
of time.
• Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
• Avoid full-throttle starts. How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
•
Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
• Avoid fast starts.
• Keep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
• Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
• Slow down on rough roads.
• Keep the tires properly inflated.
• Don
’t carry unnecessary weight.
• Don
’t rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
• Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
• Keep windows closed at high speeds.
• Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
Break-In PeriodMoney-Saving Suggestions
Coasting:
Turning off the engine to coast down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control. Any loss of steering or
braking control could cause an
accident. Never turn off the engine
and coast down a hill.
WARNING
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 6 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

4-10
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
Overloading
Vehicle Load Weight:
The gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
and the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of your vehicle are on the
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label
on the driver’s door frame. Exceeding
these ratings can cause an accident or
vehicle damage. You can estimate the
weight of your load by weighing the
items (or people) before putting them
in the vehicle. Be careful not to
overload your vehicle.
WARNING
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5-13
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
O/D OFF indicator light
This light comes on when the overdrive
has been turned off.

Driving Tips
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.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or 1, depending on the load
weight and grade steepness.
3. Release all brakes while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to 2 or 1,
depending on load weight and grade steepness.
Descend slowly, using the brakes only
occasionally to prevent them from overheating.
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 rigid during normal
driving, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
If the overdrive-off indicator light
flashes, 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.
CAUTION
Power Steering
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.
CAUTION
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 13 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

8-27
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
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 for the limited use of 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
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 27 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

10-5
Specifications
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Capacities
(Approximate Quantities)
Check oil and fluid levels with dipsticks or reservoir gauges.

Dimensions
*With license plate holder

We i g h t s

Air Conditioner
Item Unit
L US qt Imp qt
Engine oil With oil filter
3.84.0 3.3
Without oil filter 3.63.8 3.2
Coolant 6.06.3 5.3
Manual transmission oil 5-Speed transmission 2.0
2.11.8
6-Speed transmission 1.8 1.91.6
Automatic transmission fluid 6.77.1 5.9
Rear differential oil 1.01.1 0.9
Fuel tank 48 12.7 (US gal) 10.6 (Imp gal)
Item mm (in)
Overall length 3,945 (155.3), 3,963 (156.0)
*
Overall width 1,678 (66.1)
Overall height 1,228 (48.4)
Front tread 1,415 (55.7)
Rear tread 1,440 (56.7)
Wheelbase 2,265 (89.2)
Item Weight
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 1,335 kg (2,943 lb)
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) Front
685 kg (1,510 lb)
Rear 670 kg (1,477 lb)
Gas complies with SAE J639 Maximum operating charge
HFC134a (R134a) 0.4 kg (14.1 oz)
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 5 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM

11-6
Index
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
W
Warning Lights ................................ 5-22
ABS
.......................................... 5-26
Air bag system
.......................... 5-27
Brake system
............................ 5-24
Charging system
....................... 5-25
Check engine
............................ 5-26
Immobilizer system
.................. 5-28
Low fuel
.................................... 5-27
Seat belt
.................................... 5-27
Seat belt pretensioner system
... 5-27
Warranty
............................................ 9-8
Washer Fluid
.................................... 8-22
Weights
............................................ 10-5
Wheel Replacement
......................... 8-30
Windblocker
.................................... 6-41
Windows Power windows
........................ 3-13
Windshield Washer
.......................... 5-33
Windshield Wipers
.......................... 5-33
Blades replacement
................... 8-24
Winter Driving
................................... 4-8
J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book Page 6 Monday, February 3, 2003 1:16 PM