manual transmission MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2012 Owners Manual

Black plate (75,1)
qStarting the Engine
Ignition switch positions
As there is no traditional key, some of the
ignition switch functions are different.
Start knob
The engraved mark on the actual vehicle
may read OFF or LOCK depending on the
type of ignition system.
OFF/LOCK ―Knob Released
The power supply to electrical devices is
turned off.
OFF/LOCK ―Knob Depressed
The ignition can be switched to ACC
when the KEY indicator light (green)
illuminates in the instrument cluster.
WARNING
Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition to OFF/LOCK, set the
parking brake and make sure the shift
lever is in P (automatic transmission) or
in 1st gear or R (manual transmission):
It is important to switch the ignition
to OFF/LOCK even if you are not
removing the key from the ignition or
leaving the vehicle. Leaving the key
in other positions will disable some of
the vehicle security systems and run
the battery down.
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition to OFF/LOCK,
setting the parking brake and
shifting the shift lever to P
(automatic transmission) or to 1st
gear or R (manual transmission) is
dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur. This could
cause an accident.
NOTE
lIf turning the ignition switch is difficult,
move the steering wheel left and right.
l(Automatic transmission)
The ignition cannot be switched from ACC
to OFF/LOCK when the shift lever is not in
P.
ACC (Accessory)
In this position, some electrical
accessories will operate.
NOTE
The Advanced Keyless Entry System does not
function in the ACC position, and the doors
will not lock/unlock using the transmitter or
request switches even if the advanced key is
carried away from the vehicle.
Knowing Your Mazda
Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System
3-11
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page75
Monday, July 18 2011 10:7 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (77,1)
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 3-22).
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. Switch the ignition to ACC while
pushing the start knob in.
Knowing Your Mazda
Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System
3-13
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page77
Monday, July 18 2011 10:7 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (115,1)
lBefore opening or closing the hardtop, stop in a safe place off the right-of-way and park
on a level surface.
lWhen opening the hardtop, make sure objects inside the vehicle are not blown away by
the wind.
lSecure all loose objects inside before driving with the hardtop down.lTo help prevent burglary or vandalism and to ensure that the passenger compartment
stays dry, close the hardtop securely and lock both doors when leaving the vehicle.
lDo not drive through an automatic car wash as it may damage the hardtop.lDo not open or close the hardtop forcefully when the ambient temperature is low and the
hardtop or the surrounding area is frozen as it could damage the hardtop.
lOpening the hardtop while it is wet can also cause water to drip into the passenger
compartment.
lDo not open or close the hardtop in a strong wind as it could damage the hardtop.
qOperation Indicator Light
When illuminated
This notifies the driver that the hardtop is
only partially open.
When flashing
This indicates that the hardtop is being
open/closed. (During button operation)
When not illuminated
This indicates that the hardtop is open/
closed fully.
NOTE
If the operation indicator light flashes quickly,
there may be a system malfunction. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qOperation Conditions
If the following conditions have been
satisfied, the hardtop can be opened/
closed.
lThe vehicle is parked on a level surface
off the right-of-way and the parking
brake is firmly set.
lThe ignition is switched ON.lPut a vehicle with an automatic
transmission in Park (P) or Neutral (N),
a manual transmission in Neutral.
lThe trunk lid is closed.
NOTE
If the power retractable hardtop cannot be
closed even after the operation conditions are
all met, have it checked at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
The hardtop can be closed manually as an
emergency measure.
Refer to The Power Retractable Hardtop Does
not Close on page 3-55.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-51
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page115
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (116,1)
qOpening the Power Retractable
Hardtop
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in Park (P), a manual
transmission in Neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake with the brake pedal depressed.
4. Start the Engine.
NOTE
Do not open/close the hardtop with the engine
stopped. Otherwise the vehicle's battery power
could be depleted.
5. With the lock release button depressed, pull the top latch outward to unlock.
Lock release button
Top latch
6. Verify that the operation indicator light is illuminated and the lock is detached. 7. Press and hold the open button until the
hardtop opens completely.
NOTElWhen the open switch is pressed, a beep
sound is heard.
lThe hardtop keeps opening and the
operation indicator light flashes while the
open switch is pressed.
lIf the switch is released while the hardtop is
opening, the hardtop stops opening. If the
switch is pressed again, the hardtop
resumes opening.
8. The deck opens.
NOTE
If the windows are closed, the windows
automatically open partially when the deck
opens.
3-52
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page116
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (117,1)
9. The hardtop opens.
10. The hardtop retracts under the deck.
11. The deck closes.
NOTE
When the operation is finished, a beep sound is
heard and the operation indicator light turns
off.
qClosing the Power Retractable
Hardtop
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of-
way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in Park (P), a manual
transmission in Neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake with the brake pedal depressed.
4. Start the Engine.
NOTE
Do not open/close the hardtop with the engine
stopped. Otherwise the vehicle's battery power
could be depleted.
5. Press and hold the close button until the hardtop closes completely.
NOTElWhen the close switch is pressed, a beep
sound is heard.
lThe hardtop keeps closing and the
operation indicator light flashes while the
close switch is pressed.
lIf the switch is released while the hardtop is
closing, the hardtop stops closing. If the
switch is pressed again, the hardtop
resumes closing.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-53
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page117
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (120,1)
CAUTION
ØDo not drive the vehicle with the
hardtop open halfway.
Ø Do not perform the procedure in a
strong wind as it could cause an
unexpected accident.
Ø Two adults are required to
perform the procedure, especially
when lifting up the hardtop. Do
not do it alone so as not to cause
injury or vehicle damage.
Ø Some steps in the procedure
require using multiple tools at the
same time and a certain level of
technical expertise. In addition,
holding your body extended over
the car can result in muscle strains
so Mazda recommends having the
hardtop checked at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
Use a suitable means of illumination, such as a
flashlight, to improve visibility under the deck
lid when performing this task.
Before closing manually
1. Park on a level surface off the right-of- way and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in Park (P), a manual
transmission in Reverse (R) or 1, and
turn off the engine.
3. Switch the ignition off while depressing the brake pedal.
4. Turn on the hazard warning flasher if it is needed.
WARNING
Verify that the ignition is switched off
before manually operating the hardtop:
Manually retracting the hardtop with
the ignition not switched off is
dangerous as the retractor motors
could turn on suddenly and cause
injury resulting from hands or fingers
being pinched in the mechanism.
Manual closing
Tool preparation
Locate the following tools in the glove
box.
Refer to Tool Storage on page 7-5.
Rope
Eyebolt
Allen wrench
Opening the deck
1. Remove the antenna if it is installed.
Refer to AM/FM Radio Antenna on
page 6-14.
CAUTION
Do the procedure with the antenna
removed. The antenna may be
damaged if it is left installed.
3-56
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page120
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (151,1)
Winter Driving
lCarry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-20.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze ―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-23).
lDo not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transmission and to 1 or R with a
manual transmission. Block the rear
wheels.
lDo not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
lNever use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
lBraking performance can be adversely
affected if snow or ice adheres to the
brake equipment. If this situation
occurs, drive the vehicle slowly,
releasing the accelerator pedal and
lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
q Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi)
more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver's door frame), but
never more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
summer tires designed for optimum
traction on wet and dry roads. If your
vehicle is to be used on snow and ice
covered roads, Mazda recommends that
you replace the tires originally equipped
on your vehicle with snow tires during the
winter months.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels: Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result
in an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system may
not function correctly when using tires with
steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls (page
5-34).
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
4-9
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page151
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (157,1)
5Driving Your Mazda
Explanation of instruments and controls.
Starting and Driving ..................................................................... 5-2Ignition Switch .......................................................................... 5-2
Starting the Engine .................................................................... 5-4
Turning the Engine Off ............................................................. 5-5
Brake System ............................................................................ 5-6
Manual Transmission Operation ............................................. 5-11
Automatic Transmission Controls ........................................... 5-14
Power Steering ........................................................................ 5-22
Cruise Control
í...................................................................... 5-22
Traction Control System (TCS)í........................................... 5-26
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)í........................................ 5-27
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemí......................................... 5-30
Instrument Cluster and Indicators ............................................ 5-37 Meters and Gauges .................................................................. 5-37
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds ............................ 5-42 Warning/Indicator Lights ........................................................ 5-42
Beep Sounds ........................................................................... 5-54
Switches and Controls ................................................................ 5-56 Lighting Control ..................................................................... 5-56
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ............................................... 5-58
Fog Lights
í............................................................................ 5-58
Windshield Wipers and Washer .............................................. 5-59
Rear Window Defroster ........................................................... 5-60
Horn ........................................................................................ 5-61
Hazard Warning Flasher .......................................................... 5-61
HomeLink Wireless Control System
í.................................... 5-62
5-1íSome models.
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page157
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (158,1)
Ignition Switch
Auxiliary key (with advanced key)
NOTE
When starting the engine using the advanced
key, refer to Starting the Engine (page 3-11).
When starting the engine with the
auxiliary key, perform the following
procedure.
1. Remove the auxiliary key from theadvanced key (page 3-18).
2. Make sure the start knob is in OFF/ LOCK position.
3. Remove the start knob by pulling it outward while pressing the buttons on
both the left and right sides.
4. Insert the auxiliary key in the ignitionswitch.
qIgnition Switch Positions
With advanced
key
Without advanced
key
The engraved mark on the actual vehicle
may read OFF or LOCK depending on the
type of ignition system.
OFF/LOCK
The power supply to electrical devices is
turned off. Only in this position can the
key be removed.
Manual Transmission Vehicle
Push the key
5-2
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page158
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F

Black plate (159,1)
Automatic Transmission VehicleWARNING
Remove the key only when the vehicle
is parked (with steering lock
mechanism):Removing the key from the ignition
switch while the vehicle is moving is
dangerous. Removing the key allows
the steering wheel to lock. You will
lose steering control and a serious
accident could occur. (For vehicles
equipped with the advanced key, the
steering wheel locks when the starter
knob is turned to the OFF/LOCK
position.)
Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition to OFF/LOCK, set the
parking brake and make sure the shift
lever is in P (automatic transmission) or
in 1st gear or R (manual transmission): It is important to switch the ignition
to OFF/LOCK even if you are not
removing the key from the ignition or
leaving the vehicle. Leaving the key
in other positions will disable some of
the vehicle security systems and run
the battery down.
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition to OFF/LOCK,
setting the parking brake and
shifting the shift lever to P
(automatic transmission) or to 1st
gear or R (manual transmission) is
dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur. This could
cause an accident.
NOTE
If turning the key is difficult, move the steering
wheel left and right.
Leaving the key or start knob in any position
but the OFF/LOCK position also disables
some of the security features and may run the
battery down.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-3
MX-5_8CC1-EA-11F_Edition2 Page159
Monday, July 18 2011 10:8 AM
Form No.8CC1-EA-11F