MAZDA MX5 MIATA 2017 Owners Manual

7 –57 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed
When the Roof Cannot be ClosedIf the roof cannot be closed electrically by pressing the retractable fastback switch, verify
the roof operation conditions first.
Refer to Operation Conditions on page 3-44 .
If the roof cannot be closed even after the operation conditions are all met, have it checked
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If you are unable to have the roof checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer, the roof can be
closed manually as an emergency measure.
The procedure for manually closing the roof is as follows:
1. Opening the rear roof
Release the locks of the rear roof and open it.
2. Closing the front roof
Lift up the front roof and close it.
3. Closing the rear roof
Tie the ropes to the rear roof links and close the rear roof. Front roof Rear roof
Rear roof link
CAUTION 
Do not drive the vehicle with the roof partially open. The vehicle operation may be affected
by the wind and could result in an accident. 
Do not perform the procedure in a strong wind as it could cause an unexpected accident. 
Two adults are required to perform the procedure, especially when lifting up the front roof.
Do not do it alone so as not to cause injury or vehicle damage. 
Some steps in the procedure require using multiple tools at the same time and a certain
level of technical expertise. In addition, holding your body extended over the car can result
in muscle strains so Mazda recommends having the roof checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
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7 –58 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed NOTE 
This procedure is for manually closing the roof as an emergency measure. After closing
the roof manually, electric operation is not possible until the system is restored by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer. 
Using a flashlight will facilitate the procedure.
Manual closingBefore closing manually
WARNINGVerify that the ignition is switched off
before manually operating the roof:
Manually closing the roof with the
ignition not switched off is dangerous
as the motors could turn on suddenly
and cause injury resulting from
hands or fingers being pinched in the
mechanism.
1. Park on a hard, level surface off the
right-of-way and firmly set the parking
brake.
2. Put a vehicle with an
automatictransmission in Park (P), a
manual transmission in Neutral.
3. Switch the ignition off while depressing
the brake pedal.
4. Turn on the hazard warning flasher if it
is needed. Tool preparation
Take out the five tools stored in the seat
side box.
Refer to Seat Side Box on page 5-138 .Wire Gear
(tool kit) Rope
L-shaped
he xagonal wrench
(Small) L-shaped
hexagonal wrench

(Large)
Opening the rear roof
CAUTION 
When turning the bolt, cover the front
roof using a cloth. The front roof may
be damaged if the L-shaped hexagonal
wrench contacts it. 
Because the clearance with the stored
front roof is narrow, be careful not to let
the L-shape hexagonal wrench contact
the roof when turning the bolt.
NOTE
Moving the seats as far forward as
possible and folding the seatbacks forward
will facilitate the procedure.
Refer to Seat Operation on page 2-4 .
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7 –59 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed1. Remove the antenna if it is installed.
Refer to When the Antenna on page
5-13 .
2. Insert the short end of the L-shaped
hexagonal wrench (Large) into the
motor bracket bolt. Bolt
NOTE
If it is difficult to see the bolt, remove the
windblocker and identify the bolt from the
center of the vehicle. Windblocker 3. Turn the L-shaped hexagonal wrench
(Large) counterclockwise to loosen the
bolt slightly.
4. Remove the L-shaped hexagonal
wrench (Large) once from the bolt,
then insert the long end of the wrench
into the bolt.
NOTE
The tip of the long end of the L-shaped
hexagonal wrench can be used at an
angle. Moving the wrench upward slightly
will increase the clearance between the
rear roof and the stored front roof and
facilitate the procedure.
5. Turn the L-shaped hexagonal wrench
(Large) counterclockwise 13 times or
more while pressing the wrench against
the bolt.
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7 –60 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed NOTE 
The bolt cannot be removed completely. 
If it is hard to turn the bolt, repeat Step
3 a few times.
6. Hook the wire to the link pin shown in
the figure.
7. While one person pushes the rear roof
down, another person pulls the wire
until a latch sound is heard and the rear
roof unlocks.
LockLink PinWire
Unlock
8. Do the same procedure on the other
side.
9. While standing on both sides of the
vehicle, lift the rear roof to the position
it stops while keeping the height of
its left and right sides as parallel as
possible. CAUTION 
Do not let go of the rear roof on both
sides until it is fully open. The rear roof
could fall if it is released too soon and
cause injury. 
Do not attempt to forcefully lift the
rear roof. If the rear roof is forcefully
lifted without being unlocked, it could
damage vehicle parts. 
Lift the rear roof with its left and right
height as parallel as possible. If the
rear roof is lifted with the left or right
height slanted, it could deform the link
mechanism.
Closing the front roof
CAUTION 
Some steps in the procedure require
holding your body in a strained position
and if over exerted it could result in
injury. 
Do the procedure being very careful not
to get your hands and fingers caught
while closing the front roof. Otherwise,
your hands or fingers could be injured. 
Removal of the headliner is included
in the procedure, however, never drive
the vehicle with the headliner removed.
Driving the vehicle with the headliner
removed is prohibited by law. Correctly
perform the procedure while following
the instructions.
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7 –61 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed1. While standing on both sides of the
vehicle, hold the front and rear sides
of the front roof and pull the front roof
upward.
2. Switch your hand on the rear side of
the front roof to the front side and pull
the front roof forward.
3. Stop pulling the front roof before it
completely closes.
NOTE
The next step cannot be done if the front
roof is closed completely. 4. Remove the link covers on the left and
right sides by pulling them out by hand. Link cover
5. Remove the fasteners and the headliner.
6. Lightly press the front edge of the front
roof from outside of the vehicle to
close the front roof completely.
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7 –62 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed 7. Insert the short end of the hexagonal
wrench (Small) into the gear (tool kit)
and assemble. L-shaped hexagonal
wrench (Small) Gear (tool kit)
8. Insert the point of the gear (tool kit)
into the hole beside the top lock
motor gear with the hexagonal wrench
inserted into the gear tool. Top lock motor
gear
Gear (tool kit)
CAUTION Insert the gear (tool kit) securely until
it engages with the top lock motor
gear. If the gear (tool kit) is not inserted
securely, it may come off and be
damaged. 9. Rotate the hexagonal wrench and move
the hook in the lock direction so that
there is enough space for the opening
of the headliner to be attached to the
hook. Unlock
UnlockLock
Lock
NOTE
Turning the gear (tool kit) requires some
effort due to motor resistance. Slowly
operate the hexagonal wrench.
10. Insert the hook into the opening of the
headliner
Hook
Headliner
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7 –63 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed11. Turn the hexagonal wrench (Small) and
gear (tool kit) counterclockwise and
engage the hook with the vehicle body
side.
NOTE
The top lock lever completely engages
with the vehicle body (locked condition)
at the position where the teeth of the gear
(tool kit) contact the bracket.
Gear (tool kit) Bracket 12. Lift the rear end of the headliner with it
hinged on the opening of the headliner.
13. Install the headliner to the front roof
using the fasteners at two locations.
NOTE
The fasteners in the five locations at the
front of the headliner are not fastened. Do
not lose the fasteners because they are
needed for the required servicing at the
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
14. Install the left and right link covers
from the vehicle interior. Link cover
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7 –64 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be Closed Closing the rear roof
CAUTION 
Slowly close the rear roof. If the rear
roof is closed suddenly, a hand or other
body part may be pinched, leading to a
serious injury. 
Do not attempt to forcefully push the
rear roof. Pushing the rear roof forcefully
may damage vehicle parts.
1. Fold the rope in half and hook it to the
link pin of the rear roof.
Rope
Link pin
2. Do the same procedure on the other
side.
3. Close the rear roof uniformly on both
sides using two adults, one on each side
of the vehicle.
CAUTION Close the rear roof with its left and
right positions as parallel as possible.
If the rear roof is closed with its left or
right height slanted, it could deform
the link mechanism. 4. Slowly close the rear roof while lightly
pulling 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
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7 –65 If Trouble Arises
When the Roof Cannot be ClosedNOTE 
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
8. Tie off the other side rope the same
way.
9. Close the trunk lid. After finishing the procedure
After finishing the procedure, have the
roof checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING Drive the vehicle at a speed of 40 km/h
(24 mph) or lower before having the
roof checked at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer:
The front roof may open while t he
ve hicle is being driven and cause an
accident.
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7 –66
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