2002 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA stop start

5-12
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
And for a smoother ride with less shifting,
don’t use it when:
• Going up a steep grade.
• Driving in stop-and-go traffic.
• Pulling heavy loads.
To turn off the overdrive, push the
button.
The transmission will then shift through a
three-gear sequence in D.
Shift patterns without overdrive:
D = 1st, 2nd, 3rd
2 = 2nd
1 = 1st
To turn it on, push the button again.
Shift patterns with overdrive:
D = 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
2 = 2nd
1 = 1st
O/D OFF indicator light
This light comes on when the overdrive
has been turned off.

Driving Tips
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission
will shift to a lower gear, depending on
vehicle speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or 1, depending on the load
weight and grade steepness.
3. Release all brakes while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to 2
or 1, depending on load weight and grade
steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
If the overdrive-off indicator light
flashes, the transaxle has an electrical
problem. Continuing to drive your
Mazda in this condition could cause
damage to your transaxle. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
CAUTION
J07L(02MY).book Page 12 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM

5-24
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

Brake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning/
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-17).
2. After adding fluid, check the light again. If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes off, have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible.
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light on.
In this case, the ABS warning light comes
on at the same time (page 5-26).
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6-27
Interior Comfort
Audio System
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
* Noise reduction system manufactured
under license from Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are
trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.
Ejecting the cassette tape
Press the cassette tape eject button ( ) to
eject the cassette tape.
Fast forward/Rewind
Press the fast-forward button ( ) to
fast-forward.
Press the rewind button ( ) to rewind.
To stop this operation and play the
cassette tape, press the button again.
Reversing
Press the program button ( ) to
change cassette tape-playing direction.
Automatic program control (APC)
APC is used to find the beginning of
either the next program or the one being
played.Press the APC button ( ) to the
beginning of the next selection.
Press the APC button ( ) to the
beginning of the one being played. To
stop this operation and play the cassette
tape, press the button again.
If APC detects 15 seconds of blank space
it will automatically advance the tape to
the next selection.
Repeat play
This operation makes it possible to listen
to a selection repeatedly.
Press the repeat button ( ) during play.
The current selection playing will be
repeated ("RPT" will be displayed).
Press the repeat button ( ) once again
to cancel repeat play.
NOTE
The cassette tape can be ejected when
the ignition switch is in the OFF
position.
NOTE
When the cassette tape ends during
fast forward or rewind, it automatically
stops and starts playing.
NOTE
When the cassette tape ends, the unit
automatically reverses play.
NOTE
APC may not operate properly if
•
A tape was recorded at a low level.
• A tape has long, silent intervals.
• A tape is a live recording.
• A tape has very short intervals of
less than 3 seconds.
NOTE
RPT may not operate properly if
•A tape was recorded at a low level.
• A tape has long, silent intervals.
• A tape is a live recording.
• A tape has very short intervals of
less than 3 seconds.
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7-11
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience power loss,
or you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.
If this happens:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
Apply the parking brake.
3. Turn off the air conditioner. 4. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment, don ’t go near the front
of the vehicle. Stop the engine. Then
turn the ignition switch to the ON
position without starting the engine.
The radiator cooling fans will start to
cool the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping, open the hood and idle the
engine until it cools. If this doesn ’t
lower the temperature, stop the engine
and let it cool.
5. Visually inspect the alternator/water pump drive belt for looseness and
breakage and all cooling hose
connections for leaks. If the belt is
broken or coolant is leaking, call an
Authorized Mazda Dealer for
assistance.
6. If the drive belt is OK, the engine is cool, and no coolant leaks are obvious,
inspect the coolant level. Carefully add
coolant as required (page 8-15).
Overheating
Steam from Overheated Engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you. Open the hood
ONLY after steam is no longer
escaping from the engine.
WARNING
Cooling system cap
Engine coolant
reservoir
J07L(02MY).book Page 11 Monday, June 11, 2001 4:52 PM