tow MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2008 Owners Manual

Black plate (87,1)
qLocking, Unlocking with Key
Either door can be locked/unlocked with
the key.
Turn the key toward the front to unlock,
toward the back to lock.
Unlock
Lock
qLocking, Unlocking with Request
Switch (with Advanced Key)
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the request switch while
carrying the advanced key outside the
vehicle, refer to Operations Using
Advanced Keyless Functions (page 3-7).
qLocking, Unlocking with
Transmitter (with Advanced Key)
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to Keyless Entry System
(page 3-14).
qLocking, Unlocking with Transmitter
(with Retractable Type Key)
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to Keyless Entry System
(page 3-22).
qLocking, Unlocking with Door-
Lock Knob
To lock any door from the inside, push the
door-lock knob.
To unlock, pull it out.
This does not operate the other door
locks.
Lock
Unlock
To lock any door with the door-lock knob
from the outside, push the door-lock knob
to the lock position and close the door.
This does not operate the other door
locks.
Door-lock knob
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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6. Standing outside of the vehicle, holdthe convertible top along the center
edge and pull it toward the vehicle rear.
Center edge
NOTE
To lower the convertible top from inside the
vehicle, use the convertible top's handles.
Convertible top's
handles
7. Continue to move the convertible top
rearward while pressing the rear glass
lightly with your hand.
8. After the convertible top has beenfolded down, press the back end of the
folded down convertible top until a
click sound is heard, then the front end.
Lightly rock the retracted convertible
top to make sure it is securely locked.
9. Raise the windblocker if it is needed.
NOTE
The windblocker reduces the amount of wind
coming into the cabin from behind when
driving with the convertible top opened.
Refer to Windblocker on page 6-45.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
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qRaising the Convertible Top
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Fully open the left and right windows.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Pull the unlock lever outward to
disengage the lock.
Unlock lever
5. Standing outside of the vehicle, holdthe convertible top along the center
edge and pull it towards the vehicle
front.
Center edge
NOTE
To raise the convertible top from inside the
vehicle, use the convertible top's handles.
Convertible top's
handles
6. Sitting in a seat, grasp the convertible
top's handles, and press the convertible
top against the windshield.
Move the top latch slowly to make sure
the anchor engages with the striker,
then rotate the top latch to the lock
position until a click sound is heard.
Striker
Anchor
Convertible top's
handles
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Doors and Locks
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2. Grasp the hardtop along the side andrear surfaces and lift it up enough to
create a clearance behind the rear glass.
3. Grasp the hardtop along its side surfaceand the rear area of the rear glass, pull
the hardtop towards the front of the
vehicle, and completely close it.
4. Lock the top latch.Refer to Closing the Power Retractable
Hardtop on page 3-56. Closing the deck
1. Loop the center of the rope through the
pin on the link twice so that it does not
loosen.
Pin
Rope
Link
NOTE
Before closing the deck, two small ropes need
to be installed and tied into the trunk so that
the deck does not pop up while driving, and so
that the deck can be raised for servicing by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
2. Route one end of the rope to the insideof the vehicle passing it through the
gap in the trim. Route the other end to
the outside of the vehicle passing it
through the links.
To the inside of the vehicle
Trim
Rope
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Doors and Locks
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4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-4
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-5 Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-5
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-5
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-6 Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-6
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-6
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-7
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-8
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-8
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-10
Overloading ............................................................................ 4-10
Towing .......................................................................................... 4-11 Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-11
4-1
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Trailer Towing
The Mazda MX-5 is not designed for
towing. Never tow a trailer with your
Mazda MX-5.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
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Releasing the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and pull the
parking brake lever upwards, then press
the release button. While holding the
button, lower the parking brake lever all
the way down to the released position.
qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way. You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-25).
2. After adding fluid, check the light again.
If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes out have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
Having to add brake fluid is sometimes an
indicator of leakage. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible even if the
brake light is no longer illuminated.
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.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-7
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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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Gear position indicator
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
Shift position
indicator
Gear position
indicator
NOTElIf the gears cannot be shifted down when
driving at higher speeds, the gear position
indicator will flash twice to signal that the
gears cannot be shifted down.
lIf the automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
temperature becomes too high, there is the
possibility that the transmission will switch
to automatic shift mode, canceling manual
shift mode and turning off the gear position
indicator illumination. This is a normal
function to protect the AT. After the ATF
temperature has decreased, the gear
position indicator illumination turns back
on and driving in manual shift mode is
restored.
Shifting
You can shift gears up and down by
operating the shift lever or the steering
shift switches.NOTE
lIf the steering shift switches on both sides
(left and right) are operated simultaneously,
the gear will shift once.
lThe gear will not shift if:lThe steering shift switch and the shift
lever are operated simultaneously.
lThe UP switch and DOWN switch are
operated simultaneously.
Manually Shifting up
(M1
→M2 →M3 →M4 →M5 →M6)
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the shift
lever back (
) once.
To shift up to a higher gear with the
steering shift switches, tap either of the
UP switches toward you once with your
fingers.
UP switches
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Starting and Driving
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qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-25).
2. After adding fluid, check the light again.
If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes out have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer. NOTE
Having to add brake fluid is sometimes an
indicator of leakage. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible even if the
brake light is no longer illuminated.
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.
qABS 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.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-41íSome models.
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