tow MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA PRHT 2013 Owner's Manual

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Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (rear wheels) off the ground.
If excessive damage or other conditions
prevent this, use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
CAUTION
Do not tow the vehicle pointed
forward with driving wheels on the
ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
Do not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage your
vehicle. Use wheel-lift or flatbed
equipment.
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In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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Tiedown Hooks
CAUTION
Do not use the front and rear
tiedown eyelets for towing the
vehicle.
They have been designed only for
securing the vehicle to a transport
vessel during shipping.
Using the eyelets for any other
purpose could result in the vehicle
being damaged.
qTiedown Hooks
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet, lug
wrench, and jack lever from the trunk
(page 7-5).
2. Wrap the jack lever with a soft cloth to prevent damage to a painted bumper,
and open the cap located on the front or
rear bumper.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
Ø Do not use excessive force as it
may damage the cap or scratch
the painted bumper surface.
Ø The rear bumper cover cannot be
removed completely. Attempting
to forcefully remove the rear
bumper cover could result in it
being damaged.
NOTE
Remove the front bumper cover completely and
store it so as not to lose it.
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet using the lug wrench.
Front
Lug wrench
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

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Rear
Lug wrench
4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedowneyelet.
Front
Tiedown eyelet
Rear
Tiedown eyelet
CAUTION
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying down
the vehicle. Make sure that the
tiedown eyelet is securely tightened
to the bumper.
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In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing ”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“ Towing Description ”(page 7-26) and
“ Tiedown Hooks ”(page 7-27) and
carefully follow the instructions.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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3. Remove the metal stiffeners from eachblade rubber and install them in the
new blade.
CAUTION
ØDon't bend or discard the
stiffeners. You need to use them
again.
Ø If the metal stiffeners are
switched, the blade's wiping
efficiency could be reduced.
So don't use the driver's side metal
stiffeners on the passenger's side,
or vice versa.
Ø Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber
so that the curve is the same as it
was in the old blade rubber. 4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
NOTE
Install the blade so that the tabs are toward the
bottom of the wiper arm.
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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NOTElRemove the rubber hose first, and then
battery cover before performing battery
maintenance.
Battery coverRubber hose
lBefore installing the battery cover, make
sure both of the cables connecting the
negative battery terminal (right side of
battery) are connected with the cables
routed toward the right and back of the
battery as shown in the figure.
qBattery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:lKeep it securely mounted.lKeep the top clean and dry.lKeep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
lRinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
lIf the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.
When replacing the battery, refer to the
specification charts (page 10-4).
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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qSafety Practices
The way you drive has a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety. So cultivate
good driving habits for your own benefit.
lObserve posted speed limitslAvoid fast starts, stops and turnslAvoid potholes and objects on the roadlDo not run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking
CAUTION
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving or you suspect your
tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your speed. Drive with caution
until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and inspect the tire for damage. If the tire
is under-inflated or damaged, deflate it, remove the tire and rim and replace it with
your spare tire. If you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest
vehicle or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle,
familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings,
from the vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle: Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's
suspension system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure,
handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the
distance required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail
completely, particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation
pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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SAMPLE
WARNING
Exceeding Axle Weight Rating Limits:Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits is dangerous and
could result in death or serious injury as a result of substandard vehicle handling,
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, or loss of control.
Always keep the vehicle within the axle weight rating limits.
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle: Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Steps for Determining the Correct Load Limit
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit-
(1) Locate the statement“The combined weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs ”on your vehicle's placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the “XXX ”amount equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 _
750 (5 × 150) = 650
lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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Form No.8CM3-EA-12F