2009 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA POWER RETRACTABLE HARDTOP towing

Black plate (328,1)
Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing ”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“ Towing Description ”(page 7-25) and
“ Tiedown Hooks ”(page 7-26) and
carefully follow the instructions.
7-28
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (419,1)
Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle,
familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings,
from the vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle: Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's
suspension system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure,
handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the
distance required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail
completely, particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation
pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-35
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Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (423,1)
SAMPLE
WARNING
Exceeding Axle Weight Rating Limits:Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits is dangerous and
could result in death or serious injury as a result of substandard vehicle handling,
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, or loss of control.
Always keep the vehicle within the axle weight rating limits.
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle: Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-39
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Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (439,1)
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-4
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-3
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-20
Child RestraintChild restraint precautions ......... 2-17
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-25
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2 Gas specifications ...................... 10-6
Convertible Top
Power Retractable Hardtop ........ 3-48
Soft Top ...................................... 3-43
Cruise Control ................................... 5-21
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-81
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-39
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-56
Defroster Rear window .............................. 5-59
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ....................................... 3-30
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-10
Driving on Uneven Road .................. 4-12
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-6 Automatic transmission .............. 5-19
Break-in period ............................ 4-6
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-10
Driving on uneven road ............. 4-12
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-7
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-6
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-8
Winter driving .............................. 4-9
D
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-25
DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-26
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-27
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-26
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-20Flooded engine ........................... 7-20
Jump-starting .............................. 7-21
Push-starting .............................. 7-24
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-25
Emission Control System .................... 4-3
Engine Coolant ....................................... 8-20
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-4
Hood release .............................. 3-42
Oil .............................................. 8-18
Overheating ................................ 7-18
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-17
Engine Coolant Overheating ................................ 7-18
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-38
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-4
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-50
F
Flasher Hazard warning .......................... 5-60
Headlights .................................. 5-55
Index
11-3
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M
MaintenanceIntroduction .................................. 8-2
Owner maintenance
precautions ................................. 8-16
Owner maintenance schedule ..... 8-15
Scheduled ..................................... 8-3
Manual Transmission Operation ....... 5-10 Recommendations for shifting .... 5-11
Mesh Pocket ..................................... 6-83
Mirrors Outside mirrors .......................... 3-73
Rearview mirror ......................... 3-74
Money-Saving Suggestions ................ 4-6
O
Odometer and Trip Meter .................. 5-36
Outside Mirrors ................................. 3-73
Outside Temperature Display ............ 5-36
Overhead Lights ................................ 6-80
Overheating ....................................... 7-18
Overloading ...................................... 4-11
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-48
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-6
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Power Door Locks ............................ 3-31
Power Retractable Hardtop ............... 3-48
Power Steering .................................. 5-20 Fluid ........................................... 8-23
Power Windows ................................ 3-37
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-24
R
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-59
R
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-74
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-28
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-18
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-8
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................. 9-42
Seat Belt System 3-point type ................................ 2-10
Automatic locking ........................ 2-9
Belt minder ................................. 2-15
Caution label .............................. 2-11
Emergency locking ...................... 2-8
Extender ..................................... 2-14
Pregnant women .......................... 2-8
Pretensioner and load limiting .... 2-12
Seat belt precautions .................... 2-6
Warning light/beep ..................... 2-15
Seats .................................................... 2-2 Seat warmer .................................. 2-4
Security System Immobilizer system
(with advanced key) ................... 3-63
Immobilizer system
(without advanced key) .............. 3-67
Theft-deterrent system ............... 3-71
Service Publications .......................... 9-44
Soft Top ............................................ 3-43
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speedometer ...................................... 5-36
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-4
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-73 Horn ........................................... 5-60
Index
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Form No.8Z78-EA-08K

Black plate (442,1)
S
Storage Compartments ...................... 6-82Back trim storage box ................ 6-82
Glove box ................................... 6-82
Mesh pocket ............................... 6-83
Seat side box .............................. 6-82
Sunvisors .......................................... 6-80
T
Tachometer ........................................ 5-37
Theft-Deterrent System ..................... 3-71
Tiedown Hook .......................................... 7-26
Tire Information ................................ 9-23
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 5-28 System error activation .............. 5-32
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light .............................. 5-30
Tires and wheels ......................... 5-33
Tires Flat Tire ........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-30
Replacement ............................... 8-31
Rotation ...................................... 8-31
Snow tires .................................... 4-9
Specifications ............................. 10-7
Tire chains .................................. 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-21
Tool ..................................................... 7-5
Tool Storage ........................................ 7-5
Towing Description ................................. 7-25
Emergency towing ..................... 7-25
Hook .......................................... 7-26
Recreational towing ................... 7-28
Trailer towing ............................. 4-13
T
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-24
TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-25
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-13
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-36
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-33 Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-35
Trunk Light ....................................... 6-80
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-57
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-80
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-40 ABS ............................................ 5-42
Air bag system ........................... 5-44
Automatic transmission .............. 5-46
Brake system .............................. 5-42
Charging system ......................... 5-43
Check engine .............................. 5-44
Door-ajar .................................... 5-46
Flat tire ....................................... 5-49
KEY warning light
(Red)/KEY indicator light
(Green) ....................................... 5-49
Low fuel ..................................... 5-45
Seat belt ...................................... 5-45
Seat belt pretensioner system ..... 5-44
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-47
Warranty ............................................ 9-14
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-23
Weights ............................................. 10-5
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-32
Windblocker ...................................... 6-84
11-6
Index
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Form No.8Z78-EA-08K