transmission MAZDA MX5 MIATA 2017 User Guide

4 –7 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
CAUTION If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate a problem with the
engine starting system. This may
prevent the engine from starting or
from switching the ignition to ACC or
ON. Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
NOTE 
Under the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes after
the push button start is pressed. This
informs the driver that the push button
start will not switch to ACC even if it is
pressed from off. 
The key battery is dead. 
The key is out of operational range. 
The key is placed in areas where it is
difficult for the system to detect the
signal (page 3-7 ).
A key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range. 
(Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may not
start using the usual starting method.
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. If this occurs, the engine can
be force-started. Press and hold the
push button start until the engine starts.
Other procedures necessary for starting
the engine, such as having the key in the
cabin, and depressing the clutch pedal
(manual transmission) or the brake
pedal (automatic transmission) are
required. 
When the engine is force-started,
the KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button
start indicator light (amber) remains
flashing. 
(Automatic transmission)
When the selector lever is in the neutral
(N) position, the KEY indicator light
(green) and the push button start
indicator light (green) do not illuminate.
7. Press the push button start after both
the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.
NOTE 
After starting the engine, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to the
ON position. 
After pressing the push button start and
before the engine starts, the operation
sound of the fuel pump motor from near
the fuel tank can be heard, however, this
does not indicate a malfunction.
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4 –8 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine 8. After starting the engine, let it idle for
about ten seconds.NOTE 
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it
should be started without the use of the
accelerator. 
If the engine does not start the first
time, refer to Starting a Flooded Engine
under Emergency Starting. If the engine
still does not start, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer (page 7-26 ).
Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead
CAUTION When starting the engine by holding
the transmitter over the push button
start due to a dead key battery or a
malfunctioning key, be careful not
to allow the following, otherwise the
signal from the key will not be received
correctly and the engine may not start. 
Metal parts of other keys or metal
objects touch the key.

Spare keys or keys for other
vehicles equipped with an
immobilizer system touch or come
near the key.

Devices for electronic purchases,
or security passage touch or come
near the key.
If the engine cannot be started due to a
dead key battery, the engine can be started
using the following procedure:
1. Continue to depress the brake pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
2. (Manual transmission)
Continue to depress the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
3. Verify that the push button start
indication light (green) flashes.
4. Touch the push button start using the
backside of the key (as shown) while
the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes.

Transmitter
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4 –9 When Driving
Start/Stop EngineNOTE
When touching the push button start using
the backside of the key as shown in the
illustration, touch the push button start
with the lock switch side of the key facing
up.
5. Verify that the push button start
indicator light (green) turns on.
6. Press the push button start to start the
engine.
NOTE 
The engine cannot be started unless the
clutch pedal is fully depressed (manual
transmission) or the brake pedal is fully
depressed (automatic transmission). 
If there is a malfunction with the push
button start function, the push button
start indicator light (amber) flashes.
In this case, the engine may start,
however, have the vehicle checked at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. 
If the push button start indicator light
(green) does not illuminate, perform the
operation from the beginning again. If
it does not illuminate, have the vehicle
checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer. 
To switch the ignition position without
starting the engine, perform the
following operations after the push
button start indicator light (green) turns
on.
1. Release the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) or brake pedal
(automatic transmission).
2. Press the push button start to switch
the ignition position. The ignition
switches in the order of ACC, ON,
and off each time the push button
start is pressed. To switch the
ignition position again, perform the
operation from the beginning. Emergency Operation for Starting
the Engine If the KEY warning light (red) illuminates,
or the push button start indicator light
(amber) flashes, this could indicate that
the engine may not start using the usual
starting method. Have your vehicle
inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible. If this occurs, the
engine can be force-started. Press and hold
the push button start until the engine starts.
Other procedures necessary for starting
the engine such as having the key in the
cabin, and depressing the clutch pedal
(manual transmission) or the brake pedal
(automatic transmission) are required.
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4 –10 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Turning the Engine Off WARNINGDo not stop the engine while the vehicle
is moving:
Stopping the engine while the vehicle
is moving for any reason other than in
an emergency is dangerous. Stopping
the engine while the vehicle is moving
will result in reduced braking ability
due to the loss of power braking, which
could cause an accident and serious
injury.
1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2. (Manual transmission)
Shift into neutral and set the parking
brake.
(Automatic transmission)
Shift the selector lever to the P position
and set the parking brake.
3. Press the push button start to turn off
the engine. The ignition position is off.
CAUTION When leaving the vehicle, make sure
the push button start is off. NOTE 
The cooling fan in the engine
compartment could turn on for a few
minutes after the ignition is switched
from ON to OFF, whether or not the
A/C is on or off, to cool the engine
compartment quickly. 
When the push button start is pressed
from ON to ACC or OFF, the KEY
indicator light (green) may flash for
approximately 30 seconds indicating
that the remaining battery power of the
key is low.
Replace with a new battery before the
key becomes unusable.
Refer to Key Battery Replacement on
page 6-38 . 
(Automatic transmission)
If the engine is turned off while the
selector lever is in a position other than
P, the ignition switches to ACC.
Emergency Engine Stop Continuously pressing the push button
start or quickly pressing it any number of
times while the engine is running or the
vehicle is being driven will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.
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4 –27 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.Signal Warning Lights Page
Electric Vacuum Pump Warning Light *1
7-36
ABS Warning Light *1
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution System
Warning
7-33
ABS warning
7-36
Check Engine Light *1
7-36*
Automatic Transmission Warning Indication/Warning Light *1
7-36
Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light *1
7-36*
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light *1
Flashing
7-36
Illuminate
7-41
(Red) *
KEY Warning Indication/Warning Light *1
Malfunction
7-36
Except malfunction
7-41
(Amber) *
KEY Warning Indication 7-36*
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) Warning Indication/
Warning Light *1
Illuminated
7-36
Flashing
4-83
(Amber) *
High Beam Control System (HBC) Warning Indication/
Warning Light *1
7-36*
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Warning Indication 7-36*
Retractable Fastback Warning Indication 7-36
LED Headlight Warning Light *1
7-36
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4 –31 When Driving
Transmission
Manual Transmission
Operation Manual Transmission Shift Pattern Neutral position
The shift pattern of the transmission is
conventional, as shown.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a device to
prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake.
Push the shift lever downward and shift
to R. WARNING Do not use sudden engine braking on
slippery road surfaces or at high speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while driving
at high speeds causes sudden engine
braking, which is dangerous. The
sudden change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid. This could
lead to loss of vehicle control and an
accident.
Always leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake when
leaving the vehicle unattended:
Otherwise the vehicle could move and
cause an accident.
CAUTION 
Keep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also, do not
use the clutch to hold the vehicle on an
upgrade. Riding the clutch will cause
needless clutch wear and damage. 
Do not apply any excessive lateral
force to the shift lever when changing
from 5th to 4th gear. This could lead to
the accidental selection of 2nd gear,
which could result in damage to the
transmission. 
Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is still
moving may damage the transmission.
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4 –32 When Driving
Transmission NOTE 
A natural driving posture can be
realized by lightly gripping the shift
lever from the side without having to
rest your elbow on the center console
box. 
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again. Gear Shift Indicator The gear shift indicator supports you to
obtain optimum fuel economy and smooth
driving. It displays the selected gear
position in the instrument cluster as well
as notifies the driver to change to the most
suitable gear position corresponding to the
actual driving condition.
Selected gear position Suitable gear positionIndication Condition
Numeral The selected gear position is
displayed.
and numeral Shift up or down to the indicated
gear position is recommended.
CAUTION Do not rely solely on the shift-up/
shift-down recommendations by
indications. The actual driving
situation might require shift operations
different from indication. To avoid the
risk of accidents, the road and traffic
conditions have to be judged correctly
by the driver before shifting.
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4 –33 When Driving
TransmissionNOTE
The gear shift indicator turns off when the
following operations are performed. 
The vehicle is stopped. 
The vehicle is put in neutral. 
The vehicle is driven in reverse. 
The clutch is not fully engaged when
accelerating from a stop. 
The clutch pedal remains depressed for
2 seconds or longer while driving.
Recommendations for ShiftingUpshifting
For normal acceleration, Mazda
recommends these shift points: Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 23 km/h (14 mph)
2 to 3 39 km/h (24 mph)
3 to 4 53 km/h (33 mph)
4 to 5 61 km/h (38 mph)
5 to 6 77 km/h (48 mph)
For cruising, Mazda recommends these
shift points: Gear Vehicle speed
1 to 2 11 km/h (7 mph)
2 to 3 31 km/h (19 mph)
3 to 4 42 km/h (26 mph)
4 to 5 55 km/h (34 mph)
5 to 6 66 km/h (41 mph) Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy traffic
or on a steep upgrade , downshift before
the engine starts to overwork. This reduces
the chance of stalling and gives better
acceleration when you need more speed.
On a steep downgrade , downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
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4 –34 When Driving
Transmission
Automatic Transmission Controls Lock-release button
Indicates the selector lever can be shifted freely into any position.
Indicates that you must hold in the lock-release button to shift.Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal and hold in the lock-release
button to shift (The ignition must be switched ON). V arious Lockouts:
NOTE
The Sport AT has an option that is not included in the traditional automatic transmission
that gives the driver the option of selecting each gear instead of leaving it to the
transmission to shift gears. Even if you intend to use the automatic transmission functions
as a traditional automatic, you should also be aware that you can inadvertently shift
into manual shift mode and an inappropriate gear may be retained as the vehicle speed
increases. If you notice the engine speed going higher or hear the engine racing, confirm
you have not accidentally slipped into manual shift mode (page 4-37 ).
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4 –35 When Driving
Transmission Shift Position Indication
The selector position is indicated when the
ignition is switched ON.
Gear position indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift
position indication illuminates and the
numeral for the selected gear is displayed.
Warning LightThe warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-26 .
Transmission Ranges 
The shift position indicator light in the
instrument cluster illuminates. Refer to
Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-26 . 
The selector lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transmission and prevents the
rear wheels from rotating.
WARNING Always set the selector lever to P and set
the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the
P position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous.
If P fails to hold, the vehicle could move
and cause an accident. CAUTION 
Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transmission. 
Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster than
idle can damage the transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete
stop before shifting to or from R, except
under rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-53 ).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transmission are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING If the engine is running faster than idle,
do not shift from N or P into a driving
gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine
is running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move suddenly,
causing an accident or serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot
be applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury.
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