MAZDA MX5 MIATA 2017 Owners Manual

4 –47 When Driving
Switches and Controls
*Some models.Auto-light control *
When the headlight switch is in the position and the ignition is switched ON, the light
sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the headlights,
other exterior lights and dashboard illumination on or off.
CAUTION 
Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a sticker or a label on the windshield. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly. 
The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the position and the
ignition is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades could be
damaged when the wipers activate automatically. If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off completely when it is particularly tempting to leave the
engine running. This is particularly important when clearing ice and snow.
NOTE 
The headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination may not turn off
immediately even if the surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor
determines that it is night time if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several
minutes such as inside long tunnels, traffic jams inside tunnels , or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the lights turn off if the light switch is turned to the position.
The dashboard illumination can be adjusted by rotating the knob in the instrument cluster.
Also, the day/night mode can be changed by rotating the knob until a beep sound is heard.
To adjust the brightness of the dashboard illumination:
Refer to Dashboard Illumination on page 4-15 .
The sensitivity of the auto-light control may be changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9 .
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4 –48 When Driving
Switches and Controls Headlight High-Low BeamThe headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward. High beam
Low beam
When the headlight high-beams are on,
the headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.
Flashing the HeadlightsCan be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on). OFF
Headlight
flashing The headlight high-beam indicator light
in the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The lever will return to the
normal position when released.
Coming Home Light The coming home light turns on the
headlights (low beams) when the lever is
operated.
To turn on the lights
When the lever is pulled with the ignition
switched to ACC or OFF, the low beam
headlights turn on.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed after the doors
are closed.
NOTE 
The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 . 
If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pulled, the headlights
turn off. 
The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
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4 –49 When Driving
Switches and Controls Leaving Home LightThe leaving home light turns on the lights
when the transmitter unlock button is
pressed while away from the vehicle.
The following lights turn on when the
leaving home light is operated.
Low beams, Parking lights, Taillights,
License lights.
To turn on the lights
When the ignition switch and the headlight
switch are in the following conditions,
the headlights will illuminate when the
transmitter unlock button is pressed and
the vehicle receives the transmitter signal.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed (30 seconds). 
Ignition switch: off 
Headlight switch: or Lock button
Unlock
b
utton NOTE 
Operation of the leaving home light can
be turned on or off.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 . 
When the transmitter lock button is
pressed and the vehicle receives the
transmitter signal, the headlights turn
off. 
When the headlight switch is in a
position other than or , the
headlights turn off.
Headlight Leveling The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
Daytime Running Lights Some countries require moving vehicles
to have their lights on (daytime running
lights) during the daytime.
The daytime running lights turn on
automatically when the vehicle starts
moving.
They turn off when the parking brake is
operated or the shift lever is shifted to
the P position (automatic transmission
vehicle).
NOTE
(Except Canada)
The daytime running lights can be
deactivated.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9 .
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4 –50 When Driving
Switches and Controls
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals The ignition must be switched ON to use
the turn and lane-change signals.
Turn SignalsMove the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to its
original position. Right turn
Left turnRight lane change
Left lane change OFF
The turn signal indicators in the instrument
cluster flash according to the operation of
the turn signal lever to show which signal
is working. NOTE 
If an indicator light stays on without
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, one
of the turn signal bulbs may be burned
out. 
A personalized function is available to
change the turn indicator sound volume.
(page 9-9 )
Lane-Change Signals Move the lever halfway toward the
direction of the lane change—until the
indicator flashes— and hold it there. It will
return to the off position when released.
Three-Flash Turn Signal After releasing the turn signal lever, the
turn signal indicator flashes three times.
The operation can be cancelled by moving
the lever in the direction opposite to which
it was operated.
NOTE
The three-flash turn signal function can be
switched to operable/inoperable using the
personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9 .
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4 –51 When Driving
Switches and Controls
Windshield Wipers and
Washer The ignition must be switched ON to use
the wipers.
WARNING Use only windshield washer fluid or
plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the windshield,
affect your visibility, and could result in
an accident.
Only use windshield washer fluid mixed
with anti-freeze protection in freezing
weather conditions:
Using windshield washer fluid without
anti-freeze protection in freezing
weather conditions is dangerous as
it could freeze on the windshield and
block your vision which could cause
an accident. In addition, make sure
the windshield is sufficiently warmed
using the defroster before spraying the
washer fluid. NOTE
If the windshield wipers are operated
under cold weather conditions or
during snowfall, they could stop due to
accumulated snow on the windshield.
If the windshield wipers stop due to
accumulated snow on the windshield,
park the vehicle in a safe place, turn the
wiper switch off, and then remove the
accumulated snow. If the wiper switch is
turned to another position other than OFF,
the wipers will operate. If the wipers do
not operate even though the wiper switch
is turned to a position other than OFF,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.
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4 –52 When Driving
Switches and Controls Windshield WipersTurn the wipers on by pressing the lever
up or down.
With intermittent wiper
Switch
Position Wiper operation
Operation while pulling up lever
Stop
Intermittent
Low speed
High speed Variable-speed intermittent wipers
Set the lever to the intermittent position
and choose the interval timing by rotating
the ring.
INT ring
FastSlow
With auto-wiper control
Switch
Position Wiper operation
Operation while pulling up lever
Stop
Auto control
Low speed
High speed
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4 –53 When Driving
Switches and ControlsAuto-wiper control
When the wiper lever is in the
position, the rain sensor senses the amount
of rainfall on the windshield and turns the
wipers on or off automatically (off—
intermittent—low speed—high speed).
The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be
adjusted by turning the switch on the
wiper lever.
From the center position (normal), rotate
the switch upward for higher sensitivity
(faster response) or rotate it downward for
less sensitivity (slower response).
Higher sensitivity Less sensitivity
Switch
Center
positionCAUTION 
Do not shade the rain sensor by
adhering a sticker or a label on the
windshield. Otherwise the rain sensor
will not operate correctly.

When the wiper lever is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON,
the wipers may move automatically in
the following cases: 
If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched or wiped with a
cloth. 
If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object from either outside or
inside the vehicle.
Keep hands and scrapers clear of the
windshield when the wiper lever is in the
position and the ignition is
switched ON as fingers could be pinched
or the wipers and wiper blades damaged
when the wipers activate automatically.
If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off
completely (when it is most likely
that the engine is left running) this is
particularly important when clearing ice
and snow.
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4 –54 When Driving
Switches and Controls NOTE 
Switching the auto-wiper lever from the
to the position while driving
activates the windshield wipers once,
after which they operate according to
the rainfall amount. 
The auto-wiper control may not operate
when the rain sensor temperature is
about -10 °C (14 °F) or lower, or about
85 °C (185 °F) or higher. 
If the windshield is coated with water
repellent, the rain sensor may not be
able to sense the amount of rainfall
correctly and the auto-wiper control
may not operate properly. 
If dirt or foreign matter (such as ice or
matter containing salt water) adheres
to the windshield above the rain sensor,
or if the windshield is iced, it could
cause the wipers to move automatically.
However, if the wipers cannot remove
this ice, dirt or foreign matter, the auto-
wiper control will stop operation. In
this case, set the wiper lever to the low
speed position or high speed position
for manual operation, or remove the ice,
dirt or foreign matter by hand to restore
the auto-wiper operation. 
If the auto-wiper lever is left in the
position, the wipers could operate
automatically from the effect of strong
light sources, electromagnetic waves, or
infrared light because the rain sensor
uses an optical sensor. It is
recommended that the auto-wiper lever
be switched to the
position other
than when driving the vehicle under
rainy conditions. 
The auto-wiper control functions can
be turned off. Refer to Personalization
Features on page 9-9 . Windshield Washer Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid. WasherOFF
NOTE
If the windshield washer is turned on when
the windshield wipers are not operating,
the windshield wipers operate a few times.
If the washer does not work, inspect the
fluid level (page 6-31 ). If the fluid level
is normal, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
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4 –55 When Driving
Switches and Controls
Rear Window Defogger The rear window defogger clears fog from
the rear window.
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the defogger.
Press the switch to turn on the rear
window defogger. The rear window
defogger operates for about 15 minutes
and then turns off automatically.
The indicator light illuminates when the
defogger is operating.
To turn off the rear window defogger
before the 15 minutes has elapsed, press
the switch again.
Manual Climate Control Indicator light
Fully Automatic Climate Control 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 defogger grid inside
the window. 
Before opening the convertible top,
make sure the rear window defogger
switch is turned off. Otherwise the heat
generated from the defogger could
damage the convertible top and the
internal material.
NOTE
This defogger is not designed for melting
snow. If there is an accumulation of snow
on the rear window, remove it before using
the defogger.
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4 –56 When Driving
Switches and Controls
*Some models. Mirror Defogger *
The mirror defoggers defrost the outside
mirrors.
The mirror defoggers operate in
conjunction with the rear window
defogger.
To turn on the mirror defoggers, switch
the ignition ON and press the rear window
defogger switch (page 4-55 ).
Manual Climate Control Indicator light
Fully Automatic Climate Control Indicator light Horn To sound the horn, press the mark on
the steering wheel.
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