2005 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 tow

Black plate (51,1)
Door Locks
WARNING
Unattended Children and Pets:
Leaving a child or an animal
unattended in a parked vehicle is
dangerous. In hot weather,
temperatures inside a vehicle can
become high enough to cause brain
damage or even death. Always take all
children and animals with you or
leave a responsible person with them.
Keys and Children:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the
key is dangerous. This could result in
someone being badly injured or even
killed. They could play with power
windows or other controls, or even
make the vehicle move. Don't leave the
keys in your vehicle with children and
keep them in a place where your
children will not find or play with
them.
Unlocked Doors:
Unlocked doors in a moving vehicle
are dangerous. Passengers can fall out
if a door is accidentally opened and
can more easily be thrown out in an
accident. So keep all doors locked
when driving.
NOTE
Always remove the key from the
ignition switch, close all windows, and
lock all doors and the trunk lid when
leaving your vehicle unattended. This
discourages intruders and thieves.
qLocking, Unlocking with Key
Either door can be locked/unlocked with
the key.
Turn the key toward the front to unlock,
toward the back to lock.
Unlock
Lock
qLocking, Unlocking with
Transmitterí
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to keyless entry system
(page 3-3).
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-9íSome models. MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition1 Page51
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (79,1)
4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2
Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-4
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-6
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-7
Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-7
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-7
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-8
Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-8
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-8
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-9
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-9
Winter Driving ........................................................................ 4-10
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-12
Overloading ............................................................................ 4-12
Turbocharger Information (MAZDASPEED MX-5) .............. 4-13
Towing ......................................................................................... 4-14
Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-14
4-1
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (92,1)
Trailer Towing
Never tow a trailer with your Mazda.
4-14
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (98,1)
qBrake 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 8-19).
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 5-25).
WARNING
Brake Warning Light:
Driving with the brake system warning
light on is dangerous. It indicates that
your brakes may not work at all or
that they could completely fail at any
time. If this light remains on, after
checking that the parking brake is
fully released, have the brakes
inspected immediately. Don't drive
with this light on, and contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible.
ABS Warning Light and Brake
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
Don't drive with both lights on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
5-6
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition1 Page98
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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_Edition1 Page112
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (115,1)
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Immobilizer System Warning Light 5-26
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light 5-27
O/D OFF Indicator Light 5-27
Cruise Set Indicator Light 5-27
Turn-Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights 5-27
qBrake 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 8-19).
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.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-23
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (121,1)
Lighting Control
qHeadlights
To turn on the lights, turn the headlight
switch on the end of the control lever.
Switch Position
Headlights Off Off On
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lightsOff On On
NOTE
To prevent discharging the battery, don't
leave the lights on while the engine is
off.
qLights-On Reminder
If lights are on and the key is removed
from the ignition switch, a beep sound
will be heard when any door is opened.
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Push the lever forward for high beam.
Pull it back for low.
High beam
Low beam
qFlashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
toward you. The headlight switch need
not be on, and the lever will return to the
normal position when released.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-29
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G

Black plate (122,1)
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
qTurn Signal
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to
its original position.
OFF Right lane
change
Left lane
changeRight turn
Left turn
Green indicators on the dashboard show
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the
direction of the change―until the
indicator flashes―and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, the
turn signal bulb may be burned out.
Fog Lightsí
Use this switch to turn on the fog lights.
They help you to see as well as to be seen.
Type A
Type B
To turn on the fog lights, first turn the
headlight switch to the
position.
Then press the fog light switch.
To turn the fog lights off:
(Type A)
Press the fog light switch again or turn the
headlight switch to the
or OFF
position.
(Type B)
Press the left part of the fog light switch
or turn the headlight switch to the
or
OFF position.
NOTE
The fog lights will turn off when the
headlights are set at high beam.
5-30
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
MX-5 Miata_8T72-EA-04G_Edition1 Page122
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Form No.8T72-EA-04G