2004 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA Owners Manual

3-19
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
•Before lowering or raising the top, stop
in a safe place off the right-of-way and
park on a level surface.
• Make sure nothing is on the top or near
the back window when raising or
lowering the top.
Even small objects may interfere and
cause damage.
• When lowering the top, make sure
objects inside the vehicle aren
’t blown
away by the wind.
• Secure all loose objects inside before
driving with the top down.
• To help prevent burglary or vandalism
and to ensure that the passenger
compartment stays dry, close the top
securely and lock all doors when
leaving the vehicle.
• Don
’t drive through an automatic car
wash; it may damage the top.
• Don
’t raise or lower the top when the
temperature is below 5 °C (41 °F) ; this
will damage the top material.
• Don
’t lower the top when it ’s wet. If
the top dries while folded, it will
deteriorate and shrink.
• Lowering the top while it
’s wet can
also cause water to drip into the
passenger compartment.
• Don
’t raise or lower the top when the
wind is strong; the wind could damage
the top.
Lowering 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. Remove all objects in the top storage area.
Objects in the Storage Area:
Putting heavy or sharp objects in the
top storage area is dangerous.
During a sudden stop or collision,
they can become projectiles that
might hit and injure passengers.
Don ’t place heavy or sharp objects in
the top storage area.
Sunvisor Sunvisor
WARNING
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 19 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-20
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 20 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-21
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 21 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-22
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
9. If the rear window defroster coupler is disconnected, connect the coupler.

Taking Care of the Top
Refer to convertible top maintenance
(page 8-45) 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
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 22 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-23
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

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
*Some models.
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 23 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-24
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
•When removing the hardtop, make sure
the operation is performed by 2
persons.
• Before removing or installing the
hardtop, be sure you are parked out of
traffic in a flat area near the location
your top is to be stored.
• 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.
• 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.Fastening Mechanisms:
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
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 24 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-25
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
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
Windshield ’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
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 25 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM

3-26
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

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.
•
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.
CAUTION
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.
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.
CAUTION
Sunvisor
Sunvisor
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 26 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM