window MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA POWER RETRACTABLE HARDTOP 2009 Owner's Guide

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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 the steering wheel adjusted properly?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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Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
lDo not race the engine.lDo not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
lDo not drive constantly at full-throttle
or high engine rpm for extended
periods of time.
lAvoid unnecessary hard stops.lAvoid full-throttle starts.
Money-Saving Suggestions
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
lAvoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
lAvoid fast starts.lKeep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
lUse the air conditioner only when
necessary.
lSlow down on rough roads.lKeep the tires properly inflated.lDo not carry unnecessary weight.lDo not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
lKeep the wheels in correct alignment.lKeep windows closed at high speeds.lSlow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause
damage to the drivetrain. Any loss of
steering or braking control could
cause an accident.
4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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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.
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
5-32).
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

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5Driving Your Mazda
Explanation of instruments and controls.
Starting and Driving ..................................................................... 5-2Ignition Switch .......................................................................... 5-2
Starting the Engine .................................................................... 5-4
Brake System ............................................................................ 5-5
Manual Transmission Operation ............................................. 5-10
Automatic Transmission Controls ........................................... 5-13
Power Steering ........................................................................ 5-20
Cruise Control
í...................................................................... 5-21
Traction Control System (TCS)í........................................... 5-24
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)í........................................ 5-25
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemí......................................... 5-28
Instrument Cluster and Indicators ............................................ 5-35 Meters and Gauges .................................................................. 5-35
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds ............................ 5-40 Warning/Indicator Lights ........................................................ 5-40
Beep Sounds ........................................................................... 5-53
Switches and Controls ................................................................ 5-55 Lighting Control ..................................................................... 5-55
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ............................................... 5-57
Fog Lights
í............................................................................ 5-57
Windshield Wipers and Washer .............................................. 5-58
Rear Window Defroster ........................................................... 5-59
Horn ........................................................................................ 5-60
Hazard Warning Flasher .......................................................... 5-60
HomeLink Wireless Control System
í.................................... 5-61
5-1íSome models.
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qWindshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid.
OFF
Washer
NOTE
With the wiper lever in the OFF or INT
position, the wipers will operate continuously
until the lever is released.
If the washer does not work, inspect the
fluid level (page 8-23). If it's normal,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Rear Window Defroster
The rear window defroster clears frost,
fog, and thin ice from the rear window.
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Press the switch to turn on the rear
window defroster, the indicator light will
illuminate.
Press the switch again to turn it off.
Indicator light
CAUTION
Do not use sharp instruments or
window cleaners with abrasives to
clean the inside of the rear window
surface. They may damage the
defroster grid inside the window.
NOTE
This defroster is not designed for melting snow.
If there is an accumulation of snow on the rear
window, remove it before using the defroster.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
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Operating Tips
qOperating the Climate Control
System
Operate the climate control system with
the engine running.
NOTE
To prevent the battery from being discharged,
do not leave the fan control dial on for a long
period of time with the ignition switch in the
ON position when the engine is not running.
qClearing the Air Inlet
Clear all obstructions such as leaves,
snow and ice from the hood and the air
inlet in the cowl grille to improve the
system efficiency.
qFoggy Windows
The windows may fog up easily in humid
weather. Use the climate control system to
defog the windows.
To help defog the windows, operate the
air conditioner to dehumidify the air.
NOTE
The air conditioner may be used along with the
heater to dehumidify the air.
qOutside/Recirculated Air Position
Use the outside air position in normal
conditions. The recirculated air position
should be used only when driving on
dusty roads or for quick cooling of the
interior.
qParking in Direct Sunlight
If the vehicle has been parked in direct
sunlight during hot weather, open the
windows to let warm air escape, then run
the climate control system.
qNot Using for a Long Period
Run the air conditioner about 10 minutes
at least once a month to keep internal
parts lubricated.
qCheck the Refrigerant before the
Weather Gets Hot
Have the air conditioner checked before
the weather gets hot. Lack of refrigerant
may make the air conditioner less
efficient. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for refrigerant inspection.
The air conditioner is filled with
HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that will
not damage the ozone layer.
If the air conditioner is low on refrigerant
or has a malfunction, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
6-2
Interior Comfort
Climate Control System
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Recirculated air mode (indicator light
illuminated)
Outside air is shut off. Air within the
vehicle is recirculated.
This mode can be used when driving on a
dusty road or in similar conditions. It also
helps to provide quicker cooling of the
interior.
WARNING
Do not use the recirculated air mode in
cold or rainy weather:Using the recirculated air mode in
cold or rainy weather is dangerous as
it will cause the windows to fog up.
Your vision will be hampered, which
could lead to a serious accident.
qHeating
1. Set the mode selector dial to theor
position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the hot position.
3. Set the fan control dial to the desired speed. NOTE
lIf the windshield fogs up easily, set the
mode selector dial to the
position.lIf cooler air is desired at face level, set the
mode selector dial at the
position and
adjust the temperature control dial to
maintain maximum comfort.
lThe air to the floor is warmer than air to
the face (except when the temperature
control dial is set at the extreme hot or cold
position).
lIn the,,orposition, the air
conditioner is automatically turned on
(however, the indicator light does not
illuminate) and the outside air mode is
automatically selected to defrost the
windshield.
In the
orposition, the outside air
mode cannot be changed to the recirculated
air mode.
q Cooling (With Air Conditioner)í
1. Set the mode selector dial to theor
position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the cold position.
3. Set the fan control dial to the desired speed.
4. Turn on the air conditioner by pressing the A/C switch.
5. Adjust the fan control dial and temperature control dial to maintain
maximum comfort.
6-8
Interior Comfort
íSome models.
Climate Control System
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qDehumidifying (With Air
Conditioner)í
Operate the air conditioner in cool or cold
weather to help defog the windshield and
side windows.
1. Set the mode selector dial to the
desired position.
2. Set the air intake selector to the outside air mode.
3. Set the temperature control dial to the desired position.
4. Set the fan control dial to the desired speed.
5. Turn on the air conditioner by pressing the A/C switch.
NOTE
One of the functions of the air conditioner is
dehumidifying the air and, to use this function,
the temperature does not have to be set to cold.
Therefore, set the temperature control dial to
the desired position (hot or cold) and turn on
the air conditioner when you want to
dehumidify the cabin air.
6-10
Interior Comfort
íSome models.
Climate Control System
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NOTElThe air conditioner may not function when
the outside temperature approaches 0 °C
(32 °F).
l(Type B)
When the mode is set to
,or
with the fan control dial in a position other
than 0 and the temperature control dial in
the maximum cold position, the air intake
selector switches to the recirculated air
mode and the A/C turns on automatically. If
A/C is not desired, press the A/C switch to
turn it off. If recirculated air mode is not
desired, press the air intake selector to
switch to outside air mode.
Air intake selector
Outside or recirculated air positions can
be selected. Press the switch to select
outside/recirculated air positions.
Recirculated air position (indicator
light illuminated)
Use this position when going through
tunnels, driving in congested traffic (high
engine exhaust areas) or when quick
cooling is desired.
Outside air position (indicator light
turned off)
Use this position for normal conditions
and defogging.
WARNING
Do not use theposition in cold or
rainy weather:
Using the
position in cold or
rainy weather is dangerous as it will
cause the windows to fog up. Your
vision will be hampered, which could
lead to a serious accident.
q Operation of Automatic Air
Conditioning
1. Set the mode selector dial to the AUTO
position.
2. Set the air intake selector to the outside air position (indicator light turned off).
3. Set the temperature control dial to the desired position.
4. Set the fan control dial to the AUTO position.
5. Turn on the air conditioner.
To turn off the system, set the fan control
dial to OFF.
NOTE
lSetting the temperature to maximum high
or low will not provide the desired
temperature at a faster rate.
lTo prevent cool air blowing from the vents
when heating right after starting the
engine, the amount of airflow is reduced
until the air warms up.
lTurn the mode selector dial to an OPEN
MODE position for maximum comfort
while the roof is open. When the mode
selector dial is turned to the AUTO
position, OPEN MODE (
) and ()
vents will not be selected automatically.
Select them manually.
Interior Comfort
Climate Control System
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qWindshield Defrosting and Defogging
Set the mode selector dial to the
position and turn the fan control dial to
the desired speed.
The outside air position is automatically
selected. The air conditioner will
automatically turn on and direct
dehumidified air to the front windshield
and side windows.
WARNING
Set the temperature control to hot or
warm position when using the
position:Using the
position with the
temperature control set to the cold
position is dangerous as it will cause
the outside of the windshield to fog
up. Your vision will be hampered,
which could lead to a serious
accident.
NOTE
Use the temperature control dial to increase
the air flow temperature and defog the
windshield more quickly.
q Sunlight/Temperature Sensor
The automatic air conditioner function
measures inside and outside temperatures,
and sunlight. It then sets temperatures
inside the passenger compartment
accordingly.
CAUTION
Do not obstruct either sensor,
otherwise the automatic air
conditioner will not operate properly.
Sunlight sensor
Interior temperature
sensor
6-14
Interior Comfort
Climate Control System
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