GETTING STARTED
Always check the Owner’s Manual for more operating information and safety features
Getting Started
Mazda MX-5 Miata Quick
Tips
®are designed to quickly
familiarize you with some
important features of your
Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Driver’s View tab is your
index to the Quick Tips
®, locate
the item you would like to
learn more about and then
turn to the listed tab
This Getting Started section
contains important operating
tips about your Mazda
MX-5 Miata
Items identified in blue text
call out important informationTire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)*
Warning light illuminates on
instrument cluster for a few
seconds with ignition on
If tire pressure is low, warning
light illuminates with audible
beep sound, adjust tire pressure
to correct specifications, perform
tire pressure adjustment before
driving, a digital tire pressure
gauge is recommended
Flashing warning light may
indicate malfunction, dealer
inspection required
WARNINGS: When using
a rear-facing infant-safety
seat always set the passenger
seat air bag deactivation
switch to OFF position
An infant is in serious danger
of being injured or killed if front
passenger air bag is deployed
If you must install a forward-
facing child-safety seat in the
front seating position, move
vehicle seat as far back as possible
and set air bag deactivation
switch to OFF positionPassenger air bag
deactivation
indicator light
Front air bag deactivation indicator
light provides current status of
front passenger air bag and
pretensioner system
If total seated weight on front
passenger seat is less than
approximately 66 lb., front
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates,
air bag/pretensioner will not
deploy/activate in an accident
If the total seated weight is greater
than approximately 93 lb., light does
not illuminate, and the air bag/
pretensioner will deploy/activate
in an appropriate accident,
see Owner’s Manual
Getting
Started
Getting
Started
*Denotes optional equipment†For other rare circumstances when
passenger air bag can be shut off,
refer to NHTSA guidelines
Passenger’s seat air bag
deactivationswitch†
Deactivate passenger’s seat air bag
when using a child-safety seat
To deactivate/activate: Insert
ignition key or auxiliary key
(Advanced keyless entry*) in
switch (1), rotate to OFF/ON,
remove key
Passenger air bag off indicator
illuminates when air bag is
deactivated and ignition is on
Remote fuel filler release
lever
Located in rear compartment
between seats
Pull remote fuel-filler lid release
lever (1) to open fuel-filler lid
Behind seat storageMove seatbacks forward to access
additional storage compartments,
see Seats
1
E F2341
PA S S
AIRBAG
PA S S
AIRBAG
Always “ON”
Except
CRS used ON OFF
1
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Always check the Owner’s Manual for more operating information and safety features
Instrument
Cluster
Instrument
Cluster
CHE F
LF
A0.08
781011
433
16x1000r/min
P
80 1 2 345
6
7
R
N
D
M
9
2
0 20 406080100
120
140
240 80
60
40
20
0220 100200 120180 140160
km/hmph
5
GAUGES AND CONTROLS
1. Dashboard illumination
control, Rotate to dim/brighten
2. Tachometer
Avoid red zone
3. Turn signal/hazard
warning on
4. Engine oil pressure gauge
If outside normal range,
stop vehicle safely and turn
off engine, check oil level
See Owner’s Manual for
scheduled maintenance
Tip: Needle fluctuates with
engine RPM, this is normal
5. Speedometer
6. Odometer/trip odometer
selector
Press to select odometer or trip
odometer A/B; press and hold
to reset selected trip odometer
• Cruise control* onAmber light: Cruise control
system activated
Green light: Cruising speed set;
see Getting Started
• High beams on,see Getting Started
• Immobilizer system on,
see Locks
• Check engine
Dealer inspection required
• Air bag readiness
If light flashes or stays on, the
air bags may not operate in an
accident; dealer inspection required
•
Brake system
Parking brake on/low brake fluid
• AT Automatic transmission
warning light*
• Charging system
Possible alternator or charging
system malfunction,dealer
inspection required
• Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS)*
Indicates ABS malfunction,
dealer inspection required
• Door ajar
• Dynamic Stability
Control* off
• Tire pressure
monitoring system*,
see Getting Started
• Always fasten seat belts
DSC
OFF
*Denotes optional equipment
WARNING LIGHTS
7. Coolant temperature
gauge
If above normal range, stop
vehicle safely and turn off
engine;check coolant level
when safe 8. Odometer/trip
odometer display
9. Shift/gear position
indicators*
10. Low fuel indicator
11. Fuel gauge
12-gallon/48-liter tank
• Flat tire warning light*
Flat tire or system malfunction,
dealer inspection required
• KEY*,see Getting Started
• TCS/DSC indicator light*
Flashes when traction control
or stability control is functioning,
steady light indicates malfunction
Enhances traction and safety
by regulating engine and
brake torque
TCS/DSC light may occasionally
flash while driving, this indicates
that the TCS/DSC was performing
a correction to help maintain
your best vehicle control, if
TCS/DSC light remains on,
see your Mazda Dealer
FLAT
TIRE
TRUNK
Always check the Owner’s Manual for more operating information and safety features
Trunk
Driving Tips
3. Instant Mobility System
emergency flat tire
repair kit (IMS)*
Your Mazda MX-5 Miata is
not equipped with a spare tire,
if tire repair is required, repair
tire with emergency flat tire
repair kit, see Owner’s Manual
for instructions
If equipped with optional run-
flat tire, see Owner’s Manual
4. Lock
To lock/unlock: Insert key and
turn counterclockwise/clockwise
5. Remote trunk-lid release
lock-out,see Locks
6. Trunk light
Tip: Trunk can be opened using
remote keyless entry system
7. Trunk release lever
Allows you to escape should
you become locked in trunk
To open: Slide lever in
direction of arrow, lever will
glow if it has been exposed
to lightTrunk
1. Tool bag
Contains lug wrench, tow
hooks and jack handle
2. Jack
To remove: Turn knob counter-
clockwise, open cover, turn
wing bolt counterclockwise,
remove jack
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)*
ABS automatically reduces
hydraulic pressure to any wheel
on the verge of locking up
You may feel a slight pulsing of the
brake pedal and hear a clicking noise;
this tells you the ABS is functioning
properly; increase pressure on pedal
for maximum braking
Tips: Maintain constant
pressure on the brake pedal
Do not pump the brakes
ABS self test
A self-diagnostic test is performed
when vehicle starts to move; you
may feel some brake pedal
pulsation and hear some noise,
this is normal
7
245631
Tire economy and tipsCheck pressure at least monthly
when tires are cold
Maintain correct 4-wheel alignment
and tire balance; rotate tires at
7,500-mile intervals; see Owner’s
Manual for rotation chart
Tire pressureDecal on the edge of the
driver’s door jamb provides tire
pressure information
Tire chains*†Tire chains can damage
aluminum wheels; use on
steel wheels only
Tips: Use only genuine
Mazda tire chains; install only
on rear tires; install as tightly
as possible and retighten
periodically
Never exceed 30 mph with
tire chains
*Denotes optional equipment†See Owner’s Manual
Gas cap
After filling vehicle with
gasoline, fully reinstall gas
cap by turning clockwise until
a clicking sound is heard, if gas
cap is not fully installed, Check
Engine light may come on
For more information on Check
Engine light, see Owner’s Manual