tow MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF 2020 Owner's Manual

7If Trouble Arises
Helpful information on what to do if a problem arises with the vehicle.
Parking in an Emergency................. 7-2 Parking in an Emergency..............7-2
Flat Tire.............................................. 7-3 Tool Storage..................................7-3
Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit................................................. 7-5
Changing a Tire.......................... 7-17
Battery Runs Out............................ 7-23 Jump-Starting............................. 7-23
Emergency Starting.........................7-26 Starting a Flooded Engine.......... 7-26
Push-Starting.............................. 7-26
Overheating......................................7-27 Overheating................................ 7-27
When Fuel-Filler Lid Cannot be
Opened..............................................7-29 When Fuel-Filler Lid Cannot be
Opened........................................7-29
Emergency Towing.......................... 7-30
Towing Description.................... 7-30
Tiedown Hooks
*......................... 7-31
Warning/Indicator Lights and
Warning Sounds.............................. 7-33 If a Warning Light Turns On or
Flashes........................................ 7-33
Message Indicated in Multi-
information Display
*.................. 7-45
Message Indicated on
Display........................................7-46
Warning Sound is Activated....... 7-48
When Trunk Lid Cannot be
Opened..............................................7-52 When Trunk Lid Cannot be
Opened........................................7-52
When the Roof Cannot be
Closed............................................... 7-57 When the Roof Cannot be
Closed......................................... 7-57
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Parking in an Emergency
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.

The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.

Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash. The hazard
warning indicator lights in the instrument
cluster flash simultaneously.
NOTE
The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
If Trouble Arises
Parking in an Emergency
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Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).

Follow this procedure:

1. If the engine does not start within 5seconds on the first try, wait 10
seconds and try again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and hold it there.
4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual transmission) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transmission), then press
the push button start. If the engine
starts, release the accelerator
immediately because the engine will
suddenly rev up.
5. If the engine fails to start, crank it
without depressing the accelerator.

If the engine still does not start using the
previous procedure, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Push-Starting
Do not push-start your Mazda.
WA R N I N G
Never tow a vehicle to start it:
Towing a vehicle to start it is dangerous.
The vehicle being towed could surge
forward when its engine starts, causing the
2 vehicles to collide. The occupants could
be injured.
CAUTION
Do not push-start a vehicle that has a
manual transmission. It can damage the
emission control system.
NOTE
You cannot start a vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing it.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Starting
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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

When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Do not tow the vehicle pointed backward
with driving wheels on the ground. This
may cause internal damage to the
transmission.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
If Trouble Arises
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.
▼Tiedown Hooks
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug
wrench from the luggage compartment
(page 7-3).
2. Wrap a flathead screwdriver or similar
tool with a soft c loth to prevent
damage to a painted bumper, and open
the cap located on the front or rear
bumper.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
Do not use excessive force as it may
damage the cap or scratch the painted
bumper surface.
NOTE
Remove the cap completely and store it
so as not to lose it.
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet using the lug wrench or equivalent.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Front
Lug wrench
Tiedown eyelet
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
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Rear
Lug wrench
Tiedown eyelet
4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown eyelet.
CAUTION
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying the
vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown
eyelet is securely tightened to the
bumper.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
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SignalWarning
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution System Wa r n i n g If the electronic brake force di
stribution control unit determines that some compo‐
nents are operating incorrectly , the control unit may illuminate the brake system
warning light and the ABS warni ng light 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 li ght and ABS warning light are illuminated
simultaneously is dangerous.
When both lights are illuminate d, the rear wheels could lock more quickly in an emer‐
gency stop than under normal circumstances.
Charging System Warn‐ ing Indication/Warning Light If the warning light illuminates while driving, it indicates a
malfunction of the alter‐
nator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. Co nsult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving when the charging system warning light is illuminated be‐
cause the engine could stop unexpectedly.
Engine Oil Warning Light This warning light indicates low engine oil pressure.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil pressure is
low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
If the light illuminates or the w arning indication is displayed while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way o n level ground.
2. Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes for the oil to drain b ack into the oil pan.
3. Inspect the engine oil level (p age 6-24). If it's low, add the appropriate amount of
engine oil while being careful not to overfill.
CAUTION
Do not run the engine if the oil level is low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.
4. Start the engine and check the warning light.

If the light remains illuminated even though the oil level is normal or after adding oil,
stop the engine immediately and have your vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
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4. Slowly close the rear roof while lightlypulling the rope with one hand so that
the rope does not unhook.
Rope
NOTE
Route the rope rearward through the
clearance between the rear roof and
trunk.
5. One person pushes the rear roof down and the other person pulls the rope
strongly and straight back towards the
vehicle rear until a click sound is
heard.
Rope
NOTE
The rear roof is locked completely if
the position where the rope is
hooked is at the rear end of the
bracket groove in the direction of the
vehicle rear, as shown in the figure,
when viewed from the vehicle
interior.
Rope
Link pin
If the rear roof is not locked
completely, the trunk will not open
even if the remote release button,the
electric trunk lid opener, or the trunk
button on the transmitter is
operated.
6. Do the same procedure on the other side.
7. Open the trunk and tie the rope to the trunk hinge.
Hinge
Rope
If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed
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Reporting Safety Defects (Canada)
Canadian customers who wish to report a safety-related defect to Transport Canada, Defect
Investigations and Recalls, may telephone the toll free hotline 1-800-333-0510, or contact
Transport Canada by mail at: Transport Canada, ASFAD, Place de Ville Tower C, 330
Sparks Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0N5.

For additional road safety information, please visit the Road S afety website at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca /roadsafety/menu.htm
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects
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▼Safety 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.
Observe posted speed limits and drive at speeds that are safe f or the existing weather
conditions
Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
Avoid potholes and objects on the road
Do 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 yo ur 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 ne arest vehicle or tire dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
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