2003 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA Owners Manual

3-19
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
5. Push the unlock buttons and fully release the top latches.
6. Lift up on the front section of the top to release it from the windshield header. 7. Fold back the front and carefully lower
it to the storage area, then put the
latches in the locked position.

Covering the Convertible Top
1. Cover the convertible top with the top
covering, stored in the trunk.
2. Feed the straps on the bottom of the covering through the lower links and
snap them into position.
3. Secure the top covering with the straps.
4. Affix the top covering fasteners.
Unlock button Top latch
Windshield header
Top covering
Link Strap
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3-20
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
5. Insert the top covering’s rear edge into
the groove in the body molding.

Raising the Convertible Top
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
firmly set the parking brake.
2. Lower the side windows, then turn off the ignition.
3. Pull down the sunvisors.
4. Undo the fasteners and straps. 5. Remove the top covering and store it
properly in the trunk.
6. Unlock the top latches and open them fully.
7. Hold the top lift handle and pull the top up and forward until it ’s against the
windshield header.
8. After securely hooking the top latches onto the windshield header, push each
latch up with the palm of your hand
until the lock buttons click and the
latches are locked.
Never drive with the top partially
folded or uncovered. Otherwise the top
and/or the top covering could be
damaged.
Top covering
Body
Molding
CAUTION
Sunvisor Sunvisor
Windshield header
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3-21
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
9. If the rear window defroster coupler is disconnected, connect the coupler.

Taking Care of the Top
Refer to convertible top maintenance
(page 8-46) for information on taking care
of the top.Make sure the top is securely locked
by pushing up on it.
Driving with the top unlocked could
damage the top.
NOTE
Make sure the top is securely locked
by pushing up on it. If it still sounds
loose (rattles) after being locked by the
top latches, have it inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Rear window defroster coupler
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3-22
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Detachable Hardtop Precautions
Detachable Hardtop
Top latch assembly
Side latch assemblyRear deck latch
Rear deck stud
Rear window defroster coupler
Standing in a Moving Vehicle:
Standing in the vehicle, or sitting on
the convertible top storage area or
center console when it ’s moving is a
dangerous way to ride. During a
sudden maneuver or collision you
could be seriously injured or even
killed.
Sit in the seat with the seat belt on
when the vehicle is moving.
WARNINGHardtop and Rollover Accidents:
Rollover accidents on a hardtop
vehicle are dangerous. The hardtop is
not as strong as a regular steel roof.
Rollover accidents could dislodge or
crush the hardtop and cause serious
injuries or even death, just as with no
top or a soft top.
Always drive safely and observe the
speed limit.
WARNING
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3-23
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
•Before removing or installing the
hardtop, stop in a safe place off the
right-of-way and park on a level
surface.
• When removing the hardtop, make sure
objects inside the vehicle aren
’t blown
away by the wind.
• Secure all loose objects inside before
driving with the hardtop removed.
• Don
’t drive through an automatic car
wash; it may damage the hardtop.
• Don
’t remove or install the hardtop
when the wind is strong; the wind
could damage the hardtop.
• When removing the hardtop, make sure
the operation is performed by 2
persons.
• Before removing the hardtop, lower the
antenna.
• Removing the hardtop while it
’s wet
can cause water to drip into the
passenger compartment.

Removing the Detachable
Hardtop
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
firmly set the parking brake.
2. Lower the side windows, then turn off the ignition.
3. Pull down the sunvisors.
4. Push the unlock buttons and fully release the top latches.Fa s t e n i n g M e c h a n i s m s :
It is dangerous to place your hands or
fingers near the fastening
mechanisms. Your hands or fingers
could be caught and injured by the
mechanism. Always keep your hands
and fingers away from the fastening
mechanisms when moving the top.
WARNING
Sunvisor Sunvisor
Unlock button
Top latch
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3-24
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
5. Push the unlock buttons and fully release the side latches.
6. Disconnect the rear window defroster coupler. 7. Slide the hardtop rearward while
pressing down on the rear deck latches
to unlock the latches.
8. Lift the hardtop straight off the body to prevent damage to the rear deck latches
and studs.
Unlock button
Side latch
Rear window defroster coupler
Wi nd shiel d ’s Edges:
Not being careful of the windshield ’s
edges when getting into or out of the
vehicle is dangerous. The
windshield ’s edges could scratch and
cause injuries.
Be careful of the windshield ’s edges
when getting into or out of the
vehicle.
Rear deck latch
Hardtop
Rear deck stud
WARNING
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3-25
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Installing the Detachable
Hardtop
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
firmly set the parking brake.
2. Lower the side windows, then turn off the ignition.
3. Pull down the sunvisors.
4. Unlock the top latches and the side latches on the hardtop.
•
Be careful not to strike the body
with any of the protruding hardtop
latches.
• Use extreme care when carrying the
hardtop to prevent scratching or
other damage to it.NOTE
Points to remember when storing the
detachable hardtop.
•Do not place the hardtop on a hard
surface, such as concrete or asphalt.
Place it on a cushioning material,
such as an old blanket.
• Be sure the top and side latches are
locked.
• Do not lean the hardtop against a
wall or stand it in an unstable way.
• Store the hardtop in a dry clean
area, and cover it with a soft
material, such as an old blanket.
Do not attempt to install the hardtop
with the convertible top also up.
Lower the convertible top before
installing the hardtop, otherwise
damage will occur to the convertible
top.
CAUTION
CAUTION
NOTE
• Be sure to place the convertible top
latches in the locked position.
• Make sure the convertible top is
completely lowered before
installing the hardtop. Also confirm
that the rear window defroster
coupler is disconnected.
Sunvisor
Sunvisor
Top latch assembly
Slide latch assembly
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3-26
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8R09-EA-02G
5. Align the rear deck latches with the rear deck studs and set the hardtop
squarely onto the body.
6. Slide the hardtop forward while pressing down on the rear deck latches
to lock the latches, and then verify that
they are secure by attempting to lift the
rear of the hardtop. 7. Push each top latch up with the palm of
your hand until the lock buttons click
and the latches are locked.
Rear deck stud
Hardtop
Rear deck latch
Rear deck latch
Rear deck latch
• Be careful not to strike the body
with any of the protruding hardtop
latches.
• The rear defogger grid and the
defogger cord could be damaged
when removing or installing the top.
Make sure the rear defogger grid
isn
’t folded and the defogger cord
isn ’t caught between the vehicle ’s
body and the top.
CAUTION
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