ECO mode MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2008 Owners Manual

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Thank you for choosing a Mazda. We at Mazda design and build vehicles with complete
customer satisfaction in mind.
To help ensure enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your Mazda, read this manual
carefully and follow its recommendations.
An Authorized Mazda Dealer knows your vehicle best. So when maintenance or service is
necessary, that's the place to go.
Our nationwide network of Mazda professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best
possible service.
We assure you that all of us at Mazda have an ongoing interest in your motoring pleasure
and in your full satisfaction with your Mazda product.Mazda Motor CorporationHIROSHIMA, JAPAN
Important Notes About This Manual
Keep this manual in the glove box as a handy reference for the safe and enjoyable use of your Mazda. Should you
resell the vehicle, leave this manual with it for the next owner.
All specifications and descriptions are accurate at the time of printing. Because improvement is a constant goal at
Mazda, we reserve the right to make changes in specifications at any time without notice and without obligation.
Event Data Recorder
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder. In the event of a crash, this device records data related to
vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time. These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur and lead to the designing of safer
vehicles.
Air Conditioning and the Environment
Your Mazda's genuine air conditioner is filled with HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that has been found not to
damage the earth's ozone layer. If the air conditioner does not operate properly, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Perchlorate
Certain components of this vehicle such as [air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners, lithium batteries, ...] may
contain Perchlorate Material –Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Please be aware that this manual applies to all models, equipment and options. As a result, you may find
some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.
©2007 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed in Japan Apr. 2008(Print5)
A Word to Mazda Owners
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Seat Belt Precautions
Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and passenger always wear seat belts.
All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way
when not in use.
The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an
emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a
collision.
However, the passenger's seat lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in two modes: emergency
locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode.
Your vehicle is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for securing the LATCH child-
restraint system in the passenger seat but there is no child-restraint tether available. As
there is no rear seat on this vehicle, the preferred location for children, following the
manufacturer's instructions on the LATCH child restraint-system and this owner's manual is
important (page 2-25).
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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CAUTION
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and seat belt guides are soiled, so try
to keep them clean. For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to“Cleaning
the Lap/Shoulder Belt Webbing ”(page 8-57).
Seat belt guide
q Pregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific
recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the
stomach area.
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your
doctor for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.
qEmergency Locking Mode
In the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the
retractor will lock in position during a collision. When the seat belt is fastened, it will
always be in the emergency locking mode until it is switched to automatic locking mode by
pulling it all the way out to its full length. If the belt feels tight and hinders comfortable
movement while the vehicle is stopped or in motion, it may be in the automatic locking
mode because the belt has been pulled too far out. To return to the belt to the more
comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until the vehicle has stopped in a safe, level
area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking mode and then extend it
around you again.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Seat Belt Pretensioner and
Load Limiting Systems
For optimum protection, the driver and
passenger seat belts are equipped with
pretensioner and load limiting systems.
For both these systems to work properly
you must wear the seat belt properly.
Pretensioners:
In moderate or severe frontal or near-
frontal accidents, the air bag and
pretensioner systems deploy
simultaneously. The seat belt retractors
remove slack quickly as the air bags are
expanding.
In addition, the pretensioner system for
the passenger, like the passenger air bag,
is designed to only deploy in accordance
with the total seated weight on the
passenger seat (page 2-38) or when the
passenger air bag deactivation switch
turned to the ON position (page 2-32).
Any time the air bags and seat belt
pretensioners have fired they must be
replaced.
Load limiter:
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce
belt force on the occupant's chest. While
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs
in frontal collisions, the load limiter has
an automatic mechanical function and can
activate in any accident mode with
sufficient occupant movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting function must be
checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this owner's manual:Incorrect positioning of the driver and
passenger seat belts is dangerous.
Without proper positioning, the
pretensioner and load limiting
systems cannot provide adequate
protection in an accident and this
could result in serious injury. For
more details about wearing seat
belts, refer to “Fastening the seat
belts ”(page 2-9).
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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NOTElThe system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the passenger front and side
air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or other
items are put on the passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior changes
suddenly.
lThe passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the passenger seat changes.
lYou must deactivate the passenger air bag using the key (page 2-32) and consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Driver and passenger buckle switches
The buckle switches on the seat belts detect whether or not the seat belts are securely
fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.
qHow the Side Air Bags Workí
When air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the side air bags and after the inflation, the side air bags
quickly deflate. However, the side air bag system for the passenger is designed to only
deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the passenger seat.
The side air bags will function only once. After that, the side air bags will not work again
and must be replaced. Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the systems.
The side air bag will deploy only on the
side the vehicle receives the force of the
impact.
qAir Bag Activation/Deactivation
NOTE
If the passenger seat weight sensors detect a total seated weight on the passenger seat is less than
approximately 42 kg (93 lb), the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner may not
deploy (page 2-38).
2-42
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
SRS Air Bags
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NOTEl(With advanced key)
The driver's door cannot be locked using
the door-lock knob from the outside.
l(With retractable type key)
The driver's door cannot be locked using
the door-lock knob from the outside if the
key is in the ignition switch.
lWhen locking the doors this way, be careful
not to leave the key inside the vehicle.
qPower Door Locksí
Vehicle lock-out prevention
(With advanced key)
The vehicle lock-out prevention feature
prevents you from locking yourself out of
the vehicle. Both doors will automatically
unlock if they are locked using the power
door locks with any door open.
(With retractable type key)
The vehicle lock-out prevention feature
prevents you from locking yourself out of
the vehicle. With the key in the ignition
switch, both doors will automatically
unlock if they are locked using the power
door locks with any door open.
Locking, unlocking with key
Both doors lock automatically when the
driver's door is locked with the key. Both
doors unlock when the driver's door is
unlocked and the key is held in the unlock
position for one second or longer.
Unlock
Lock
NOTE
Holding the key in the unlocked position in the
driver's door lock for about a second unlocks
both doors. To unlock only the driver's door,
insert the key into the driver's door lock and
turn the key briefly to the unlock position and
then immediately return it to the center
position.
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Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Doors and Locks
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Convertible Top (Soft Top)í
Windshield headerTop latch assembly
Top storage area
Convertible
top's handlesLabel (The label indicates the position where convertible
top is to be held when lowering or raising it.)
qConvertible Top Precautions
WARNING
Sit in the seat with the seat belt
correctly fastened when the vehicle is
moving:
Standing in the vehicle, or sitting on
the convertible top storage area or
center console when the vehicle is
moving is a dangerous way to ride.
During a sudden maneuver or
collision you could be seriously
injured or even killed. Always keep your hands and fingers
away from the fastening mechanisms
when moving the convertible top:
It is dangerous to place your hands
or fingers near the fastening
mechanisms. Your hands or fingers
could be caught and injured by the
mechanism.
CAUTION
Remove leaves or other matter that
may accumulate on and around the
soft top. Otherwise, the water
drainage outlets could become
blocked, resulting in water leakage.
For detailed maintenance of the
water draining outlets, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-39íSome models.
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Theft-Deterrent Systemí
If the theft deterrent system detects an
inappropriate entry into the vehicle, which
could result in the vehicle or its contents
being stolen, the alarm alerts the
surrounding area of an abnormality by
sounding the horn and flashing the hazard
warning lights.
Refer to Operation on page 3-72.
NOTE
lThe theft-deterrent system operates with the
key or the keyless entry system transmitter.
l(With advanced key)
The theft-deterrent system can also be
operated using a request switch or the start
knob.
The system operates only when the driver is
in the vehicle or within operational range
while the advanced key is being carried.
lThe system will not function unless it is
properly armed. To properly secure the
vehicle, always make sure both windows
are completely closed and both doors and
the trunk lid are locked before leaving the
vehicle. Remember to take your key and
transmitter.
qOperation
System triggering conditions
The horn sounds intermittently and the
hazard warning lights flash for about 25
seconds when the system is triggered by
any one of the following:
lForcing open a door, the hood or the
trunk lid.
lUnlocking a door with the door lock
switch.
lOpening a door by operating an inside
door-lock knob.
lOpening the hood by operating the
hood release handle.
lOpening the trunk lid by operating the
trunk lid release button.
If the system is triggered again, the lights
and horn will activate until a door is
unlocked or the trunk lid is opened with
the key or with the transmitter.
(With advanced key)
The lights and horn can also be
deactivated by pressing a request switch.
q How to Arm the System
1. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
(With advanced key)
Turn the start knob to the LOCK
position.
2. Make sure the hood and the trunk lid are closed. Close and lock both doors
from the outside using the key. If you
have the keyless entry system, press
the lock button on the transmitter.
(With advanced key)
Press a request switch on the doors or
the lock button on the transmitter.
The hazard warning lights will flash
once to indicate that the system is
armed.
(Without advanced key)
The following method will also arm the
theft-deterrent system:
Close the hood and the trunk lid . Press
the area on the door-lock switch
marked “LOCK ”once. Close both
doors.
NOTE
Locking the doors with the inside door-lock
knob will not arm the system.
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Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Security System
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qAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)í
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one
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 when the ABS operates. Don't
pump the brakes, continue to press down
on the brake pedal.
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
lBraking 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.
lThe 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.
q ABS Warning Lightí
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.
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to charge the
battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light comes on. This is due to a weak
battery, not a malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
5-8
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Starting and Driving
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qElectronic Brake Force
Distribution System Warningí
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light and the ABS warning light
on at the same time. 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 light and ABS warning light
are illuminated at the same time is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
qBrake 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.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-9íSome models.
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