transmission MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2020 User Guide

(Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may
not start using the usual starting
method (for vehicles with a type A
instrument cluster (page 4-27),
messages are displayed in the
instrument cluster). Have your
vehicle inspected at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. If
this occurs, the engine can be
force-started. Press and hold the
push button start until the engine
starts. Other procedures necessary
for starting the engine, such as
having the key in the cabin, and
depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) or the brake pedal
(automatic transmission) are
required.
When the engine is force-started, the
KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button start
indicator light (amber) remains
flashing.
(Automatic transmission)
When the selector lever is in the
neutral (N) position, the KEY
indicator light (green) and the push
button start indicator light (green)
do not illuminate.
7. Press the push button start after both
the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.
NOTE
After starting the engine, the push
button start indica tor light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to
the ON position.
After pressing the push button start
and before the engine starts, the
operation sound of the fuel pump
motor from near the fuel tank can be
heard, however, this does not
indicate a malfunction.
8. After starting the e ngine, let it idle for
about ten seconds.
NOTE
Whether the engine is cold or warm,
it should be started without the use
of the accelerator.
If the engine does not start the first
time, refer to Starting a Flooded
Engine under Emergency Starting. If
the engine still does not start, have
your vehicle inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer (page
7-26).
▼ Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead
CAUTION
When starting the engine by holding the
transmitter over the push button start due
to a dead key battery or a malfunctioning
key, be careful not to allow the following,
otherwise the signal from the key will not
be received correctly and the engine may
not start.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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Metal parts of other keys or metal objects
touch the key.
Type A Type B
Spare keys or keys for other vehicles
equipped with an immobilizer system
touch or come near the key.
Type A Type B
Devices for electronic purchases, or
security passage touch or come near the
key.
If the engine cannot be started due to a
dead key battery, the engine can be started
using the following procedure:
1. Continue to depress the brake pedal firmly until the engine has completely
started.
2. (Manual transmission)
Continue to depress the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
3. Make sure that the push button start indication light (green) flashes.
4.Ty p e A
Touch the push button start using the
backside of the ke y (as shown) while
the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes.

Push
b utton
start
Indicator light
Key
NOTE
When touching the push button start
using the backside of the key as shown
in the illustration, touch the push
button start with the lock switch side of
the key facing up.
Ty p e B
Align the center area of the emblem on
the transmitter with the center area of
the push button start while the push
button start indicator light (green)
flashes.

Push
b
utton
start
Indicator light
Key Emblem
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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5. Make sure that the push button startindicator light (green) turns on.
6. Press the push button start to start the
engine.
NOTE
The engine cannot be started unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed
(manual transmission) or the brake
pedal is fully depressed (automatic
transmission).
If there is a malfunction with the
push button start function, the push
button start indica tor light (amber)
flashes. In this ca se, the engine may
start, however, have the vehicle
checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
If the push button start indicator
light (green) does not illuminate,
perform the operation from the
beginning again. If it does not
illuminate, have the vehicle checked
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
To switch the ignition position
without starting the engine, perform
the following operations after the
push button start indicator light
(green) turns on.
1. Release the clutch pedal (manual transmission) or brake pedal
(automatic transmission).
2. Press the push button start to
switch the ignition position. The
ignition switches in the order of
ACC, ON, and off each time the
push button start is pressed. To
switch the ignition position
again, perform the operation
from the beginning.
▼Emergency Operation for Starting
the Engine
If the KEY warning ligh
t (red) illuminates,
or the push button start indicator light
(amber) flashes, this could indicate that
the engine may not s tart using the usual
starting method (for vehicles with a type A
instrument cluster (page 4-27), messages
are displayed in the instrument cluster).
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. If this occurs , the engine can be
force-started. Press and hold the push
button start until the engine starts. Other
procedures necessary for starting the
engine such as having the key in the cabin,
and depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) or the brake pedal
(automatic transmission) are required.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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Turning the Engine Off
WA R N I N G
Do not stop the engine while the vehicle is
moving:
Stopping the engine while the vehicle is
moving for any reason other than in an
emergency is dangerous. Stopping the
engine while the vehicle is moving will
result in reduced braking ability due to the
loss of power braking, which could cause
an accident and serious injury.
1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2.(Manual transmission)
Shift into neutral and set the parking
brake.
(Automatic transmission)
Shift the selector lever to the P
position and set the parking brake.
3. Press the push button start to turn off
the engine. The ignition position is off.
CAUTION
When leaving the vehicle, make sure the
push button start is off.
NOTE
The cooling fan in the engine
compartment could turn on for a few
minutes after the ignition is switched
from ON to OFF, whether or not the A/C
is on or off, to cool the engine
compartment quickly.
If the system detects that the remaining
battery power of the key is low when the
ignition is switched from ON to ACC or
OFF, the following is indicated.
Replace with a new battery before the
key becomes unusable.
Refer to Key Battery Replacement on
page 6-34.
(Vehicle equipped with Type A
instrument cluster)
A message is indicated in the display of
the instrument cluster.
(Vehicle equipped with Type B
instrument cluster)
The KEY indicator li ght (green) flashes
for approximately 30 seconds.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-27.
(Automatic transmission)
If the engine is turned off while the
selector lever is in a position other than
P, the ignition switches to ACC.
▼Emergency Engine Stop
Continuously pressing the push button
start or quickly pressing it any number of
times while the engi
ne is running or the
vehicle is being driven will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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SignalWarning Lights Page
ABS Warning Light*1
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution System Wa r n i n g
7-33
ABS warning 7-36
Check Engine Light*17-36
*Automatic Transmission Warnin g Indication/Warning Light*17-36
Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light*17-36
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light*1
Flashing
7-36
Turns on 7-40
(Red)
*KEY Warning Light*1
Turns on7-36
Flashing 7-40
(Amber)
*KEY Warning Indication 7-36
*Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) Warning Indication/
Warning Light*1
Turns on 7-36
Flashing 4-86
(Amber)
*High Beam Control System (HBC) Warning Indication/Warn‐
ing Light*17-36
*Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Warning Indication 7-36
*Retractable Hardtop Warning Indication
7-36
LED Headlight Warning Light*17-36
(Amber)
*Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) Warning Indication/Warn‐
ing Light*17-40
Seat Belt Warning Light 7-40
*Door-Ajar Warning Light7-40
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
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Manual Transmission ShiftPattern
Neutral position
The shift pattern of the transmission is
conventional, as shown.

Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.

Your vehicle is equipped with a device to
prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake.
Push the shift lever downward and shift to
R.

WA R N I N G
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.
Always 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.
CAUTION
 Keep your foot off the clutch pedal except
when shifting gears. Also, do not use the
clutch to hold the vehicle on an upgrade.
Riding the clutch will cause needless
clutch wear and damage.
 Do not apply any excessive lateral force
to the shift lever when changing from
5th to 4th gear. This could lead to the
accidental selection of 2nd gear, which
could result in damage to the
transmission.
 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.
When Driving
Manual Transmission Operation
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NOTE
A natural driving posture can be
realized by lightly gripping the shift
lever from the side without having to
rest your elbow on the center console
box.

If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
▼Gear Shift Indicator (GSI)
The GSI supports you to obtain optimum
fuel economy and smooth driving. It
displays the selected gear position in the
instrument cluster as well as notifies the
driver to change to the most suitable gear
position corresponding to the actual
driving condition.

Selected gear position Suitable gear position
Indication
Condition
Numeral The selected gear position is dis‐
played.
and numeral Shift up or down to the indicated
gear position is recommended.
CAUTION
Do not rely solely on the shift-up/
shift-down recommendations by
indications. The actual driving situation
might require shift
operations different
from indication. To avoid the risk of
accidents, the road and traffic conditions
have to be judged correctly by the driver
before shifting.
NOTE
The GSI turns off when the following
operations are performed.
The vehicle is stopped.
The vehicle is put in neutral.
The vehicle is driven in reverse.
The clutch is not fully engaged when
accelerating from a stop.
The clutch pedal remains depressed for
2 seconds or longer while driving.
▼ Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, Mazda
recommends these shift points:
Gear
Vehicle speed
1 to 2 23 km/h (14 mph)
2 to 3 39 km/h (24 mph)
3 to 4 53 km/h (33 mph)
4 to 5 61 km/h (38 mph)
5 to 6 77 km/h (48 mph)
When Driving
Manual Transmission Operation
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For cruising, Mazda recommends these
shift points:
GearVehicle speed
1 to 2 11 km/h (7 mph)
2 to 3 31 km/h (19 mph)
3 to 4 42 km/h (26 mph)
4 to 5 55 km/h (34 mph)
5 to 6 66 km/h (41 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.
When Driving
Manual Transmission Operation
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Automatic Transmission Controls
Lock-release button
Indicates the selector lever can be shifted freely into any position.
Indicates that you must hold in the lock-release button to shift. Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal and hold in the lock-release
button to shift (The ignition must be switched ON).
Various Lockouts:
NOTE
The Sport AT has an option that is not includ
ed in the traditional automatic transmission
that gives the driver the option of selecti ng each gear instead of leaving it to the
transmission to shift gears. Even if you intend to use the automatic transmission functions as
a traditional automatic, you should also be aware that you can inadvertently shift into
manual shift mode and an inappropriate gear may be retained as the vehicle speed
increases. If you notice the engine speed going higher or hear the engine racing, confirm
you have not accidentally slipped into manual shift mode (page 4-38).
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting out
of P unless the brake pedal is depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
the ignition is switched off, the selector
lever cannot be shifted from P position.
The ignition cannot be switched to OFF
if the selector lever is not in P position.
▼ Shift-Lock Override
If the selector lever will not move from P
using the proper shift procedure, continue
to hold down the brake pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
using a cloth-wrapped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
Cover
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer to have the system checked.
Transmission Ranges
The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-27.
The selector lever must be in P or N
position to operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transmissi on and prevents the
rear wheels from rotating.
WA R N I N G
Always set the selector lever to P position
and set the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the P
position without using the parking brake to
hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P fails to
hold, the vehicle could move and cause an
accident.
CAUTION
 Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transmission.
 Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster than
idle can damage the transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except under
rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-53).
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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