2008 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA warning

Black plate (4,1)
We want to help you get the most driving
pleasure from your vehicle. Your owner's
manual, when read from cover to cover,
can do that in many ways.
Illustrations complement the words of the
manual to best explain how to enjoy your
Mazda. By reading your manual, you can
find out about the features, important
safety information, and driving under
various road conditions.
The symbol below in this manual means
“Do not do this ”or “Do not let this
happen ”.
Index: A good place to start is the Index,
an alphabetical listing of all information
in your manual.
You'll find several WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs, and NOTEs in the manual.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a situation in
which serious injury or death could
result if the warning is ignored.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which bodily injury or damage to
your vehicle, or both, could result if
the caution is ignored. NOTE
A NOTE provides information and sometimes
suggests how to make better use of your
vehicle.
The symbol below, located on some parts
of the vehicle, indicates that this manual
contains information related to the part.
Please refer to the manual for a detailed
explanation.
How to Use This Manual
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page4
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (9,1)
Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-28
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-74
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-24
Passenger airbag deactivation switch ................................................................ page 2-32
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-38
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-54
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-34
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-28
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-57
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-19
Power retractable hardtop switches ................................................................... page 3-52
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-59
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Audio system ....................................................................................................... page 6-9
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-6
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-33
MT shift lever .................................................................................................... page 5-10
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-12
Accessory socket ............................................................................................... page 6-44
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-74
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-38
Fog light switch ................................................................................................. page 5-56
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-37
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-30
Fuse box ............................................................................................................ page 8-45
Seat belt ............................................................................................................... page 2-5
Seats ..................................................................................................................... page 2-2
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-41
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-75
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-41
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-41
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-43
Mesh Pocket ...................................................................................................... page 6-44
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-42
Bottle holder ...................................................................................................... page 6-42
Remote fuel-filler lid release ............................................................................. page 3-36
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page9
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (13,1)
2Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint
systems and SRS air bags.
Seats ............................................................................................... 2-2Seats .......................................................................................... 2-2
Seat Belt Systems .......................................................................... 2-5 Seat Belt Precautions ................................................................ 2-5
Seat Belt .................................................................................... 2-9
Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ................ 2-11
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-13
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-15
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-17 Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-17
Installing a Child-Restraint System ......................................... 2-22
LATCH Child-Restraint System ............................................. 2-25
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-28 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-28
Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch .................................. 2-32
Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-36
How the Air Bags Work .......................................................... 2-38
2-1
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page13
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (14,1)
Seats
WARNING
Do not modify or replace the front
seats:Modifying or replacing the front seats
such as replacing the upholstery or
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The
front seats contain air bag
components essential to the
supplemental restraint system. Such
modifications could damage the
supplemental restraint system and
result in serious injury. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is
any need to remove or reinstall the
front seats.
Do not drive with damaged front seats: Driving with damaged front seats is
dangerous. A collision, even one not
strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the front seats which
contain essential air bag
components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may
not deploy which could lead to
injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,
front seat belt pretensioners and air
bags after a collision.
Make sure the adjustable components
of a seat are locked in place: Adjustable seats and seatbacks that
are not securely locked are
dangerous. In a sudden stop or
collision, the seat or seatback could
move, causing injury. Make sure the
adjustable components of the seat
are locked in place by attempting to
slide the seat forward and backward
and rocking the seatback.
qSeat Slide
WARNING
Adjust the driver seat only when the
vehicle is stopped:
Adjusting the driver's seat while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. The
driver could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident.
To move a seat forward or backward, raise
the lever and slide the seat to the desired
position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and
backward.
q Seat Recline
WARNING
Do not drive with the seats reclined:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don't get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you
can slide under the lap belt and
suffer serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back
and upright.
2-2
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page14
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (18,1)
WARNING
Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained:Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not
wearing seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown
out of the vehicle. They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same
collision, occupants wearing seat belts would be much safer.
Do not wear twisted seat belts: Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt is not
available to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt,
which could cause serious injury or death.
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time: Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt
used in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers
could be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for
more than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant
properly restrained.
Do not operate a vehicle with a damaged seat belt: Using a damaged seat belt is dangerous. An accident could damage the belt
webbing of the seat belt in use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide adequate
protection in a collision. Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect all seat belt
systems in use during an accident before they are used again.
Have your seat belts changed immediately if the pretensioner or load limiter has
been expended: If the air bags deploy the corresponding pretensioner(s) may also deploy at the same
time. While it is safer to use a crash-used seat belt that was used in an accident than
no seat belt at all, using a seat belt with an expended pretensioner or load limiter
loaded reduces the safety available to you. Like the air bags, the seat belt
pretensioners will only function once. After they are expended, they will not function
again and must be replaced immediately. If the seat belt pretensioners are not
replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will increase. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the seat belt pretensioners and air bags after any collision.
Expended seat belt pretensioners and air bags must be replaced after any collision
which caused them to deploy. Additionally, the load limiter will only limit loads on
the chest once in a collision and this is another reason to have the seat belts
inspected.
2-6
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page18
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (21,1)
Seat Belt
WARNING
Always wear the seat belt with it
correctly routed in its guide:Wearing a seat belt without the seat
belt routed in its guide is dangerous
because the seat belt would not be
able to provide adequate protection
in an accident, which could result in
serious injury.
Seat belt guide
qFastening the Seat Belt
1. Grasp the tongue.
2. Slowly pull out the lap/shoulder belt.
Belt
Tongue
3. Insert the tongue into the buckle until you hear a click.
Tongue
Buckle
WARNING
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the
Seat Belt: Improper positioning of the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.
Always make sure the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is positioned
across your shoulder and near your
neck, but never under your arm, on
your neck, or on your upper arm.
4. Position the lap belt as low as possible, not on the abdominal area, then adjust
the shoulder belt so that it fits snugly
against your body.
Too high
Take up slack
Keep low on
hip bone
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-9
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page21
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (22,1)
WARNING
Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat
Belt:The lap portion of the seat belt worn
too high is dangerous. In a collision,
this would concentrate the impact
force directly on the abdominal area,
causing serious injury. Wear the lap
portion of the belt snugly and as low
as possible.
qUnfastening the Seat Belt
Depress the button on the buckle. If the
belt does not fully retract, pull it out and
check for kinks or twists. Then make sure
it remains untwisted as it retracts.
Button
NOTE
If a belt does not fully retract, inspect it for
kinks and twists. If it is still not retracting
properly, have it inspected at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
qSeat Belt Caution Label
A caution label has been placed inside the
sleeve of the lap portion of the driver's
seat belt. When an accident occurs while
the seat belt is in use, the resulting stress
on the seat belt will cause an indicator
with the words “REPLACE BELT ”
visible on it to be pulled out of the sleeve
below the caution label. This indicates
that THE SEAT BELT MUST BE
REPLACED .
Also note that if at any time the seat belt
has undergone stress because of an
accident or other reason, damage to the
seat belt's webbing, metal fittings, or
anchor bolt may have occurred, even
though nothing appears to be wrong with
the seat belt. For this reason we
recommend that the seat belt be replaced
after it has undergone stress, whether or
not the indicator has been pulled out.
Caution
label
2-10
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page22
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F

Black plate (23,1)
Seat Belt Pretensioner and
Load Limiting Systems
For optimum protection, the driver and
passenger seat belts are equipped with
pretensioner and load limiting systems.
For both these systems to work properly
you must wear the seat belt properly.
Pretensioners:
In moderate or severe frontal or near-
frontal accidents, the air bag and
pretensioner systems deploy
simultaneously. The seat belt retractors
remove slack quickly as the air bags are
expanding.
In addition, the pretensioner system for
the passenger, like the passenger air bag,
is designed to only deploy in accordance
with the total seated weight on the
passenger seat (page 2-38) or when the
passenger air bag deactivation switch
turned to the ON position (page 2-32).
Any time the air bags and seat belt
pretensioners have fired they must be
replaced.
Load limiter:
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce
belt force on the occupant's chest. While
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs
in frontal collisions, the load limiter has
an automatic mechanical function and can
activate in any accident mode with
sufficient occupant movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting function must be
checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WARNING
Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this owner's manual:Incorrect positioning of the driver and
passenger seat belts is dangerous.
Without proper positioning, the
pretensioner and load limiting
systems cannot provide adequate
protection in an accident and this
could result in serious injury. For
more details about wearing seat
belts, refer to “Fastening the seat
belts ”(page 2-9).
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-11
MX-5_8X49-EA-07F_Edition5 Page23
Thursday, February 21 2008 12:50 AM
Form No.8X49-EA-07F