clutch MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2008 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: MAZDA, Model Year: 2008, Model line: MODEL MX-5 MIATA, Model: MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2008Pages: 400, PDF Size: 4.99 MB
Page 72 of 400

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5.(Manual transmission)
Depress the clutch pedal all the way
and shift into neutral.
Keep the clutch pedal depressed while
cranking the engine.
(Automatic transmission)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transmission)
The starter will not operate if the clutch pedal
is not depressed all the way.
(Automatic transmission)
The starter will not operate if the shift lever is
not in P or N.
6. Push the start knob slowly all the way in.
7. Verify that the KEY indicator light(green) illuminates in the instrument
cluster. The KEY warning light (red)
means you cannot continue to start the
engine using the Advanced Keyless
System. You may have to use the
auxiliary key instead (page 3-20).
NOTE
In the following cases, the KEY warning light
(red) illuminates and the engine will not start.
lThe advanced key battery is dead.lThe advanced key is out of operational
range.
lThe advanced key is placed in areas where
it is difficult for the system to detect the
signal (page 3-7).
lA key from another manufacturer similar to
the advanced key is in the operational
range.
8. Turn the ignition switch to the ACC
position while pushing the start knob
in.
3-12
Knowing Your Mazda
Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 141 of 400

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Before Getting In
lBe sure the windows, outside mirrors,
and outside lights are clean.
lInspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
lLook under the vehicle for any sign of
fluid leaks.
lIf you plan to back up, make sure
nothing is in your way.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake/clutch fluid,
washer fluid, and other fluid levels should be
inspected. See Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
lAre all doors closed and locked?lIs the seat adjusted properly?lAre the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
lIs each occupant's seat belt fastened?lCheck all gauges.lCheck all warning lights when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
lRelease the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Before Starting the Engine
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 152 of 400

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ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel unlocks and some
electrical accessories will operate.
ON
This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The warning lights
should be inspected before the engine is
started (page 5-39).
NOTE
When the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position, the sound of the fuel pump motor
operating near the fuel tank can be heard. This
does not indicate an abnormality.
START
The engine is started in this position. It
will crank until you release the key; then
it returns to the ON position.
qIgnition Key Reminder
If the ignition switch is in the LOCK or
ACC position with the key inserted, a
continuous beep sound will be heard
when the driver's door is opened.
Starting the Engine
NOTE
Engine-starting is controlled by the spark
ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian Interference-
Causing Equipment Standard requirements
regulating the impulse electrical field strength
of radio noise.
1. Occupants should fasten their seat
belts.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the brake pedal.
4. (Manual transmission)
Depress the clutch pedal all the way
and shift into neutral.
Keep the clutch pedal depressed while
cranking the engine.
(Automatic transmission)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transmission)
The starter will not operate if the clutch pedal
is not depressed all the way.
(Automatic transmission)
The starter will not operate if the shift lever is
not in P or N.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the START
position and hold (up to 10 seconds at
a time) until the engine starts.
5-4
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 158 of 400

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Manual Transmission
Operation
qManual Transmission Shift Pattern
5-speed transmission
6-speed transmissionNeutral position
Neutral position
The vehicle is equipped with either a 5-
speed or 6-speed manual transmission.
The shift pattern for each is shown above.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
(5-speed transmission)
A safety feature prevents accidental
shifting from 5 to R (reverse). The shift
lever must be put in neutral before being
shifted to R. (6-speed transmission)
Vehicles with 6-speed transmission are
equipped with a device to prevent shifting
to R (reverse) by mistake. Push the shift
lever downward and shift to R.WARNING
Do not use sudden engine braking on
slippery road surfaces or at high
speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which is dangerous.
The sudden change in tire speed
could cause the tires to skid. This
could lead to loss of vehicle control
and an accident.
Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended: Otherwise the vehicle could move
and cause an accident.
5-10
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 159 of 400

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CAUTION
ØKeep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also,
don't use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.
Ø Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
still moving may damage the
transmission.
NOTE
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
q Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend
these shift points.
Gear 5-speed
transmission 6-speed
transmission
1 to 2 24 km/h (15 mph) 23 km/h (14 mph)
2 to 3 42 km/h (26 mph) 37 km/h (23 mph)
3 to 4 55 km/h (34 mph) 50 km/h (31 mph)
4 to 5 66 km/h (41 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)
5to6 ―66 km/h (41 mph)
For cruising
Gear 5-speed
transmission 6-speed
transmission
1 to 2 15 km/h (9 mph) 18 km/h (11 mph)
2 to 3 29 km/h (18 mph) 32 km/h (20 mph)
3 to 4 47 km/h (29 mph) 44 km/h (27 mph)
4 to 5 61 km/h (38 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)
5to6 ―68 km/h (42 mph)
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
reduces the chance of stalling and gives
better acceleration when you need more
speed.
On a steep downgrade , downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-11
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 170 of 400

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Your vehicle has a tap-down feature that
allows you to decrease your current speed
in decrements of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the cruise control
switch. Multiple taps will decrease your
vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each
tap.
qTo Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 30 km/h (19 mph)
If some other method besides the ON/
OFF switch was used to cancel cruising
speed (such as applying the brake pedal)
and the system is still activated, the most
recent set speed will automatically resume
when the cruise control switch pulled up.
If vehicle speed is below 30 km/h (19
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 30
km/h (19 mph) and pull up the cruise
control switch.
Cruise
control
switch
qTo Cancel
To cancel the system, use oneof these
methods:
lPress the ON/OFF switch.lSlightly depress the brake pedal.lDepress the clutch pedal (Manual
transmission only).
lPress the CANCEL button.
The system is off when the ignition is off.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15 km/h (9
mph) below the preset speed (such as may
happen when climbing a long, steep grade) or
below 30 km/h (19 mph).
5-22
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 283 of 400

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8Maintenance and Care
How to keep your Mazda in top condition.
Introduction .................................................................................. 8-2Introduction ............................................................................... 8-2
Scheduled Maintenance ................................................................ 8-3 Scheduled Maintenance (North America) ................................. 8-3
Scheduled Maintenance (Mexico) ............................................. 8-8
Scheduled Maintenance (Except North America and
Mexico) ................................................................................... 8-15
Owner Maintenance ................................................................... 8-18 Owner Maintenance Schedule ................................................ 8-18
Owner Maintenance Precautions ............................................. 8-19
Engine Compartment Overview .............................................. 8-20
Engine Oil ............................................................................... 8-21
Engine Coolant ....................................................................... 8-23
Brake/Clutch Fluid .................................................................. 8-25
Power Steering Fluid ............................................................... 8-26
Washer Fluid ........................................................................... 8-26
Body Lubrication .................................................................... 8-27
Wiper Blades ........................................................................... 8-28
Battery ..................................................................................... 8-30
Tires ........................................................................................ 8-33
Light Bulbs ............................................................................. 8-37
Fuses ....................................................................................... 8-45
Appearance Care ........................................................................ 8-50 How to Minimize Environmental Paint Damage .................... 8-50
Exterior Care ........................................................................... 8-52
Interior Care ............................................................................ 8-56
8-1
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 300 of 400

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Owner Maintenance Schedule
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these vehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
qWhen Refueling
lBrake and clutch fluid level (page 8-25)lEngine coolant level (page 8-23)lEngine oil level (page 8-22)lWasher fluid level (page 8-26)
qAt Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 8-33)
qAt Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
lPower steering fluid level (page 8-26)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
lEngine coolant (page 8-23)lEngine oil (page 8-21)
8-18
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 302 of 400

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Engine Compartment Overview
Engine oil dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir / Clutch
fluid reservoir (only for manual
transmission model)
Washer fluid reservoir Cooling system capBattery
Engine coolant reservoir Power steering fluid cap
Air filter Fuse block
8-20
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F
Page 307 of 400

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Brake/Clutch Fluid
qInspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qAdding Brake/Clutch Fluid
WARNING
Be careful not to spill brake fluid on
yourself or on the engine:
Spilled brake fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with
water and get medical attention.
Brake fluid spilled on a hot engine
could cause a fire.
If the brake/clutch fluid level is low,
have the brakes and clutch inspected: Low brake/clutch fluid levels are
dangerous. Low levels could signal
brake lining wear or a brake system
leak. Your brakes could fail and
cause an accident.
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
CAUTION
Ø Brake and clutch fluid will
damage painted surfaces. If brake
or clutch fluid does get on a
painted surface, wash it off with
water immediately.
Ø Using nonspecified brake and
clutch fluids (page 10-4) will
damage the systems. Mixing
different fluids will also damage
them.
If the brake/clutch system
frequently requires new fluid,
consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-25
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Form No.8X49-EA-07F