2005 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA Owners Manual

Black plate (105,1)
O/D OFF indicator light
This light comes on when the overdrive
has been turned off.
CAUTION
If the overdrive-off indicator light
flashes, the transmission has an
electrical problem. Continuing to drive
your Mazda in this condition could
cause damage to your transmission.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.
qDriving 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.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-13
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page105
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (106,1)
Power Steering
Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or if
the power steering system is inoperable,
you can still steer, but it requires more
physical effort.
If the steering feels rigid during normal
driving, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
CAUTION
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than 5
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power steering
system.
Cruise Controlí
With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 40 km/h (25 mph).
WARNING
Cruise Control Use:
Using cruise control in the following
conditions could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle:
lHilly terrainlSteep inclineslHeavy or unsteady trafficlSlippery or winding roadslSimilar restrictions that require
inconsistent speed
Don't use cruise control in these
situations.
q Cruise Set Indicator Light
This light comes on when a cruising speed
is set.
5-14
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Starting and Driving
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page106
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (107,1)
qActivation/Deactivation
To activate the system, press the CRUISE
MAIN switch.
To deactivate the system, press the switch
again.
Indicator light
WARNING
Cruise Main Switch:
Leaving the CRUISE MAIN switch on
when not using the cruise control is
dangerous as it may be switched on
accidentally. This could result in loss
of vehicle control. Keep the CRUISE
MAIN switch off when cruise control
is not in use.
qTo Set Speed
1. Activate the cruise control system.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which
must be more than 40 km/h (25 mph). 3. Turn the control knob to SET/COAST
and release it at the speed you want.
Release the accelerator at the same
time.
Control knob
Don't continue to hold the knob. Until you
release it, speed will continue to drop
(unless you continue to accelerate) and
you'll miss the desired speed.
NOTE
lThe SET function can't be activated
until about 2 seconds after the
CRUISE MAIN switch has been
engaged.
lOn a steep grade, the vehicle may
momentarily slow down going up or
speed up while going down.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-15
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page107
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (108,1)
qTo Increase Cruising Speed
Follow either of these procedures.
lTurn the control knob to RESUME/
ACCEL and hold it. Your vehicle will
accelerate.
Release the knob at the speed you
want.
Control knob
lAccelerate to the desired speed.
Turn the control knob to SET/COAST
and release it immediately.
Control knob
NOTE
Accelerate if you want to speed up
temporarily when the cruise control is
on. Greater speed will not interfere with
it or change the set speed.
Take your foot off the accelerator to
return to the set speed.
qTo Decrease Cruising Speed
Turn the control knob to SET/COAST and
hold it. The vehicle will gradually slow.
Release the knob at the speed you want.
Control knob
qTo Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 40 km/h (25 mph)
If some other method besides the
CRUISE MAIN switch was used to
cancel cruising speed and the system is
still activated, the most recent set speed
will automatically resume when the
control knob is turned to RESUME/
ACCEL.
If vehicle speed is below 40 km/h (25
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 40
km/h (25 mph) and turn the control knob
to RESUME/ACCEL.
Control knob
5-16
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page108
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (109,1)
qTo Cancel
To turn off the system, use oneof these
methods:
lPress the CRUISE MAIN switch.
lSlightly depress the brake pedal.
lDepress the clutch pedal. (Manual
transmission only)
The system is off when the ignition is off.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15
km/h (9 mph) below the preset speed or
below 40 km/h (25 mph).
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-17
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page109
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (110,1)
Meters and Gauges
Speedometer ...................................................................................................... page 5-19
Odometer, Trip Meter and Selector .................................................................... page 5-19
Tachometer ........................................................................................................ page 5-20
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge .................................................................. page 5-20
Fuel Gauge ........................................................................................................ page 5-20
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge ................................................................................ page 5-21
5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page110
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (111,1)
qSpeedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.
qOdometer, Trip Meter and
Selector
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
The display mode can be changed from
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter B
and then back to odometer by pressing the
selector while one of them is displayed.
The selected mode will be displayed.
Selector
Odometer
Trip meter A Press the selector
Press the selector
Press the selector
Trip meter B
Odometer
When this mode is selected, ODO will be
displayed.
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
trip meter A, and the other is recorded in
trip meter B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and trip
meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter is
again reset. Return it to
“0.0 ”by holding
the selector depressed for more than 1
second. Use this meter to measure trip
distances and to compute fuel
consumption.
NOTE
lOnly the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
lThe trip record will be erased when;
lThe power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
lThe vehicle is driven over 999.9
km (mile).
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
5-19
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page111
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (112,1)
qTachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
Red zone
CAUTION
Don't run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
qEngine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge
shows the temperature of the engine
coolant.
If the needle exceeds normal range toward
H, it indicates overheating.
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine can
cause serious engine damage (page
7-11).
qFuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately how
much fuel is in the tank. We recommend
keeping the tank over 1/4 full. When the
low fuel warning light illuminates or
when the needle is near E, refuel as soon
as possible.
5-20
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition2 Page112
Tuesday, August 31 2004 11:24 AM
Form No.8T72-EA-04G