MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2012 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: MAZDA, Model Year: 2012, Model line: MODEL MX-5 MIATA, Model: MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2012Pages: 456, PDF Size: 5.68 MB
Page 321 of 456

Black plate (321,1)
WARNING
Use only the front and rear jacking
positions recommended in this manual:Attempting to jack the vehicle in
positions other than those
recommended in this manual is
dangerous. The vehicle could slip off
the jack and seriously injure or even
kill someone. Use only the front and
rear jacking positions recommended
in this manual.
Do not jack up the vehicle in a position
other than the designated jack-up
position or place any objects on or
under the jack: Jacking up the vehicle in a position
other than the designated jack-up
position or placing objects on or
under the jack is dangerous as it
could deform the vehicle body or the
vehicle could fall off the jack
resulting in an accident.
Use only the jack provided with your
Mazda: Using a jack that is not designed for
your Mazda is dangerous. The vehicle
could slip off the jack and seriously
injure someone.
Never place objects under the jack: Jacking the vehicle with an object
under the jack is dangerous. The jack
could slip and someone could be
seriously injured by the jack or the
falling vehicle. 6. Insert the jack handle into the jack.
7. Turn the jack handle clockwise and
raise the vehicle high enough so that
the tire can be installed. Before
removing the lug nuts, make sure your
Mazda is firmly in position and that it
cannot slip or move.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-15
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page321
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 322 of 456

Black plate (322,1)
WARNING
Do not jack up the vehicle higher than
is necessary:Jacking up the vehicle higher than is
necessary is dangerous as it could
destabilize the vehicle resulting in an
accident.
Do not start the engine or shake the
vehicle while it is jacked up: Starting the engine or shaking the
vehicle while it is jacked up is
dangerous as it could cause the
vehicle to fall off the jack resulting in
an accident.
Never go under the vehicle while it is
jacked up: Going under the vehicle while it is
jacked up is dangerous as it could
result in death or serious injury if the
vehicle were to fall off the jack.
8. Remove the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise, then remove the
wheel.
qLocking Lug Nutsí
If your vehicle has optional antitheft
wheel lug nuts, one on each wheel will
lock the tires and you must use a special
key to unlock them. This key is attached
to the lug wrench. Register them with the
lock manufacturer by filling out the card
provided in the glove compartment and
mailing it in the accompanying envelope.
If you lose this key, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer or use the lock
manufacturer's order form, which is with
the registration card.
Special key
Antitheft lug nut
To remove an antitheft lug nut
1. Obtain the key for the antitheft lug nut.
2. Place the key on top of the nut, and be
sure to hold the key square to it. If you
hold the key at an angle, you may
damage both key and nut. Do not use a
power impact wrench.
3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.
7-16
In Case of an Emergency
íSome models.
Flat Tire
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page322
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 323 of 456

Black plate (323,1)
To install the nut
1. Place the key on top of the nut, and besure to hold the key square to it. If you
hold the key at an angle, you may
damage both key and nut. Do not use a
power impact wrench.
2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key, apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.
qMounting the Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
WARNING
Make sure the mounting surfaces of
the wheel, hub and lug nuts are clean
before changing or replacing tires: When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident.
2. Mount the tire. 3. Install the lug nuts with the beveled
edge inward; tighten them by hand.
WARNING
Do not apply oil or grease to lug nuts
and bolts and do not tighten the lug
nuts beyond the recommended
tightening torque: Applying oil or grease to lug nuts and
bolts is dangerous. The lug nuts
could loosen while driving and cause
the tire to come off, resulting in an
accident. In addition, lug nuts and
bolts could be damaged if tightened
more than necessary.
4. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise and lower the vehicle. Use the lug
wrench to tighten the nuts in the order
shown.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-17
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page323
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 324 of 456

Black plate (324,1)
If you're unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Nut tightening torque
N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf) 88
―118
(9 ― 12, 65 ―87)
WARNING
Always securely and correctly tighten
the 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.
Be sure to reinstall the same nuts you
removed or replace them with metric
nuts of the same configuration: 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.
5. Remove the tire blocks and store the tools, jack, and damaged tire.
6. Check the inflation pressure. Refer to Tires on page 10-7.
7. Have the flat tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure: Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident. NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from rattling, store
them properly.
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
A tire pressure sensor is not installed to the
temporary spare tire. The warning light will
flash continuously while the temporary spare
tire is being used (page 5-32).
7-18
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page324
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 325 of 456

Black plate (325,1)
Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, the vehicle loses power, or
you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.
WARNING
Switch the ignition to off and
make sure the fan is not running before
attempting to work near the cooling
fan: Working near the cooling fan when it
is running is dangerous. The fan
could continue running indefinitely
even if the engine has stopped and
the engine compartment temperature
is high. You could be hit by the fan
and seriously injured.
Do not remove the cooling
system cap when the engine and
radiator are hot: When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury.
Open the hood ONLY after steam is no
longer escaping from the engine: Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you.
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. 2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Turn off the air conditioner.
5. Check whether coolant or steam is escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine.
Wait until the steam dissipates, then
open the hood and start the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools.
CAUTION
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the
engine temperature will increase.
Stop the engine and call an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating, then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.
7. When cool, check the coolant reservoir level.
If it's low, look for coolant leaks from
the radiator and hoses.
In Case of an Emergency
Overheating
7-19
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page325
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 326 of 456

Black plate (326,1)
If you find a leak or other damage, or if
coolant is still leaking:
Stop the engine and call an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Cooling system cap
Coolant reservoir
If you find no problems, the engine is
cool, and no leaks are obvious:
Carefully add coolant as required (page
8-20).
CAUTION
If the engine continues to overheat or
frequently overheats, have the
cooling system inspected. The engine
could be seriously damaged unless
repairs are made. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
7-20
In Case of an Emergency
Overheating
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page326
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 327 of 456

Black plate (327,1)
Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).
Follow this procedure:
1. If the engine does not start within fiveseconds on the first try, switch the
ignition off, wait ten seconds and try
again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and hold it there.
4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual transmission) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transmission).
5. Switch the ignition to START and hold it there ―for up to ten seconds. If the
engine starts, release the key and
accelerator immediately because the
engine will suddenly rev up.
6. If the engine fails to start, crank it without depressing the accelerator ―for
up to ten seconds.
If the engine still does not start using the
above procedure, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
7-21
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page327
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 328 of 456

Black plate (328,1)
Jump-Starting
Jump-starting is dangerous if done incorrectly. So follow the procedure carefully. If you
feel unsure about jump-starting, we strongly recommend that you have a competent service
technician do the work.
WARNING
Follow These Precautions Carefully:
To ensure safe and correct handling of the battery, read the following precautions
carefully before using the battery or inspecting it.
Always wear eye protection when working near the battery:
Working without eye protection is dangerous. Battery fluid contains SULFURIC ACID
which could cause blindness if splashed into your eyes. Also, hydrogen gas produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode.
Wear eye protection and protective gloves to prevent contact with battery
fluid: Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC ACID which could cause serious injuries if it gets in
eyes, skin or clothing. If this happens, immediately flush your eyes with water for 15
minutes or wash your skin thoroughly and get medical attention.
Always keep batteries out of the reach of children:
Allowing children to play near batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid could cause
serious injuries if it gets in the eyes or on the skin.
Do not allow the positive () terminal to contact any other metal object that
could cause sparks: Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries. When working near a
battery, do not allow metal tools to contact the positive (
) or negative ()
terminal of the battery.
7-22
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page328
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 329 of 456

Black plate (329,1)
Keep all flames, including cigarettes, and sparks away from open battery cells:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns and injuries.
Do not jump-start a frozen battery or one with a low fluid level: Jump-starting a frozen battery or one with a low fluid level is dangerous. It may
rupture or explode, causing serious injury.
Connect the negative cable to a good ground point away from the battery: Connecting the end of the second jumper cable to the negative (
) terminal of the
discharged battery is dangerous.
A spark could cause the gas around the battery to explode and injure someone.
Route the jumper cables away from parts that will be moving: Connecting a jumper cable near or to moving parts (cooling fans, belts) is dangerous.
The cable could get caught when the engine starts and cause serious injury.
CAUTION
Use only a 12 V booster system. You can damage a 12 V starter, ignition system, and
other electrical parts beyond repair with a 24 V power supply (two 12 V batteries in
series or a 24 V motor generator set).
Discharged battery
Connect cables in numerical order and disconnect in reverse order.
Jumper cables
Booster battery
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
7-23
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page329
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F
Page 330 of 456

Black plate (330,1)
1. Remove the rubber hose from thebattery cover.
2. Remove the battery cover from its right
side.
3. Make sure the booster battery is 12 Vand that its negative terminal is
grounded.
4. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, don't allow both vehicles to
touch. Turn off the engine of the
vehicle with the booster battery and all
unnecessary electrical loads in both
vehicles. 5. Connect the jumper cables in the exact
sequence as in the illustration.
lConnect one end of a cable to the
positive terminal on the discharged
battery (1).
lAttach the other end to the positive
terminal on the booster battery (2).
lConnect one end of the other cable
to the negative terminal of the
booster battery (3).
lConnect the other end to the ground
point indicated in the illustration
away from the discharged battery
(4).
6. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and run it a few minutes. Then start the
engine of the other vehicle.
7. When finished, carefully disconnect the cables in the reverse order described in
the illustration.
8. If the battery cover has been removed, install it in the reverse order of
removal.
7-24
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page330
Monday, July 18 2011 10:9 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F