tow MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA PRHT 2012 Owners Manual

Black plate (94,1)
Door Locks
WARNING
Always take all children and pets with
you or leave a responsible person with
them:Leaving a child or a pet unattended
in a parked vehicle is dangerous. In
hot weather, temperatures inside a
vehicle can become high enough to
cause brain damage or even death.
Do not leave the key in your vehicle
with children and keep them in a place
where your children will not find or
play with them: Leaving children in a vehicle with the
key is dangerous. This could result in
someone being badly injured or even
killed.
Keep both doors locked when driving: Unlocked doors in a moving vehicle
are dangerous. Passengers can fall
out if a door is accidentally opened
and can more easily be thrown out in
an accident.
Always close all the windows, lock the
doors and take the key with you when
leaving your vehicle unattended: Leaving your vehicle unlocked is
dangerous as children could lock
themselves in a hot vehicle, which
could result in death. Also, a vehicle
left unlocked becomes an easy target
for thieves and intruders.
After closing the doors, always verify
that they are securely closed: Doors not securely closed are
dangerous, if the vehicle is driven
with a door not securely closed, the
door could open unexpectedly
resulting in an accident. Always confirm the safety around the
vehicle before opening a door:
Suddenly opening a door is
dangerous. A passing vehicle or a
pedestrian could be hit and cause an
accident.
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 3-15).
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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 6-84.
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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 3-53. 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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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
Floor Mat .................................................................................. 4-8
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-8
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-9
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-10
Overloading ............................................................................. 4-11
Driving on Uneven Road ........................................................ 4-12
Towing ......................................................................................... 4-13 Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-13
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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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Setting the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and then firmly
pull the parking brake lever fully upwards
with sufficient force to hold the vehicle in
a stationary position.
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 illuminates when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switched
to START or ON. It turns 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.
Brake system warningí
Illuminates when there is a malfunction in
the brake switch.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
depress 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, open the
hood and check the brake fluid level
immediately, and then add fluid if
required (page 8-22).
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.
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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.
NOTE
lWhen the engine is jump-started to charge
the battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light may illuminate. If this occurs,
it is the result of the weak battery and does
not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
l(With DSC vehicles)
The brake assist system does not operate
while the ABS warning light is illuminated.
qElectronic Brake Force
Distribution System Warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may illuminate the brake
system warning light and the ABS
warning light on simultaneously. 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 simultaneously is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
qBrake Assist (with DSC vehicles)
During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the brake
pedal with greater force, the brake assist
system provides braking assistance, thus
enhancing braking performance.
When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the brakes apply
more firmly.
NOTE
lWhen the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the pedal will feel
softer but the brakes will apply more firmly.
This is a normal effect of the brake assist
operation and does not indicate a
malfunction.
lWhen the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, a motor/pump
operation noise may be heard. This is a
normal effect of the brake assist and does
not indicate a malfunction.
lThe brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the vehicle's
main braking system.
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NOTElIf you change to manual shift mode when
the vehicle is stopped, the gear will shift to
M1.
lIf you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 5th gear, the gear will
shift to M4.
lIf you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 6th gear, the gear will
shift to M5.
Indicators
Manual shift mode indicator
In manual shift mode, the“M ”of the shift
position indicator in the instrument panel
illuminates.
Gear position indicator
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
Shift position
indicator
Gear position
indicator
NOTE
If 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 (to protect the
transmission).
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 the 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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qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light illuminates when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switched
to START or ON. It turns 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.
Brake system warningí
Illuminates when there is a malfunction in
the brake switch.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
depress 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, open the
hood and check the brake fluid level
immediately, and then add fluid if
required (page 8-22).
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 turns off, 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.
qMalfunction Warning Lightí
When the ignition is switched ON, the
malfunction warning light illuminates and
then turns off after a few seconds.
The light stays on if the brake switch has
a malfunction. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
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