Black plate (175,1)
NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct mode may
not be possible depending on the vehicle
speed. In addition, because direct mode is
canceled (released) depending on the rate of
acceleration or if the accelerator is fully
depressed, use of the manual shift mode is
recommended if you need to drive the vehicle
in a particular gear for long periods.
qDriving Tips
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position.
Otherwise, the engine will stop,
causing the loss of the power brake
and power steering functions, and
make it difficult to control the vehicle
which could result in an accident.
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 M1, depending on theload weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, 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
5-21
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Wednesday, March 2 2011 5:26 PM
Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (179,1)
Your vehicle has a tap-down feature that
allows you to decrease your current speed
in decrements of 1.6 km/h (1 mph) by a
momentary tap of the cruise control SET/-
switch. Multiple taps will decrease your
vehicle speed 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for each
tap.
qTo Resume Cruising Speed at
More Than 30 km/h (19 mph)
If some other method besides the ON/
OFF switch was used to cancel cruising
speed (such as applying the brake pedal)
and the system is still activated, the most
recent set speed will automatically resume
when the cruise control RES/+ switch is
pressed up.
If vehicle speed is below 30 km/h (19
mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 30
km/h (19 mph) or more and press up the
cruise control RES/+ switch.
Cruise
control
switch
qTo Cancel
To cancel the system, use oneof these
methods:
lPress the ON/OFF switch.lSlightly depress the brake pedal.lDepress the clutch pedal (Manual
transmission only).
lPress the CANCEL switch.
The system turns off when the ignition is
off.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about 15 km/h (9
mph) below the preset speed (such as may
happen when climbing a long, steep grade).
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-25
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Wednesday, March 2 2011 5:26 PM
Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (193,1)
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 1 second or
more. 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).
Average fuel economy display
This mode displays the average fuel
economy by calculating the total fuel
consumption and the total traveled
distance since purchasing the vehicle, re-
connecting the battery after disconnection,
or resetting the data. The average fuel
economy is calculated and displayed
every minute.
To clear the data being displayed, press
the selector for more than 1 second. After
pressing the selector, - - - L/100 km (- - -
mpg) will be displayed for about 1 minute
before the fuel economy is recalculated
and displayed.
Outside temperature display
This mode displays the outside
temperature. NOTE
l(Temperature unit change function)í
To change the outside temperature display
from Fahrenheit (°F) to Centigrade (°C),
press and hold the selector for several
seconds while the outside temperature is
displayed.
lUnder the following conditions, the ambient
temperature display may differ from the
actual ambient temperature depending on
the surroundings and vehicle conditions:
lSignificantly cold or hot temperatures.lSudden changes in ambient temperature.lThe vehicle is parked.lThe vehicle is driven at low speeds.
q
Tachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
Manual Transmission
Red zone
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
5-39íSome models.
MX-5_8BR3-EA-10F_Edition3 Page193
Wednesday, March 2 2011 5:26 PM
Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (194,1)
Automatic Transmission
Red zone
CAUTION
Do not 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 is near H, it indicates
overheating.
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine
can cause serious engine damage
(page 7-19).
qFuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately how
much fuel is remaining in the tank when
the ignition is switched ON.
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.
Low fuel
warning light
NOTElAfter refueling, it may require some time for
the needle to stabilize. In addition, the
needle may deviate while driving on a slope
or curve since the fuel moves in the tank.
lThe direction of the arrow () indicates
that the fuel-filler lid is on the left side of
the vehicle.
5-40
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
MX-5_8BR3-EA-10F_Edition3 Page194
Wednesday, March 2 2011 5:26 PM
Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (197,1)
SignalWarning/Indicator Lights Page
Door-Ajar Warning Light 5-48
Automatic Transmission Warning Light5-48
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light5-49
Flat Tire Warning Light5-51
KEY Warning Light (Red)/KEY Indicator Light (Green)5-51
Security Indicator Light5-53
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light5-53
Shift Position Indicator Light5-53
TCS/DSC Indicator Light5-54
DSC OFF Indicator Light5-54
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green) 5-54
Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights5-55
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-43
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Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (202,1)
Driver seated/Passenger seated
The seat belt warning function reminds
the passenger to fasten the seat belt
according to the chart below.
ConditionVehicle speed
Between 0 ―20
km/h
(0 ― 12 mph) 20 km/h
(12 mph) or more
Seat belt
(Driver)
Seat belt
(Passenger)
Indicator
Beep
: Fastened: Unfastened: Illuminated: Flashing: Beep
Placing heavy items on the passenger seat
may cause the passenger seat belt warning
function to operate depending on the
weight of the item.
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period has passed.
NOTE
lTo allow the passenger seat weight sensor
to function properly, do not place and sit on
an additional seat cushion on the passenger
seat. The sensor may not function properly
because the additional seat cushion could
cause sensor interference.
lWhen a small child sits on the passenger
seat, it is possible that neither the warning
light nor the warning beep operate.
q Door-Ajar Warning Light
This warning light illuminates when any
door is not securely closed.
Close the door securely before driving the
vehicle.
qAutomatic Transmission Warning
Light
This warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
The light illuminates when the
transmission has a problem.
CAUTION
If the automatic transmission
warning light illuminates, 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.
5-48
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
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Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (207,1)
NOTE
The advanced key can be set so that the KEY
indicator light (green) does not flash even if
the battery power is low.
Refer to Setting Change (Function
Customization)(page 3-21).
qSecurity Indicator Light
This indicator light starts flashing every 2
seconds when the ignition is switched
from ON to ACC and the immobilizer
system is armed.
The light stops flashing when the ignition
is switched ON with the correct ignition
key.
At this time, the immobilizer system is
disarmed and the light illuminates for
about 3 seconds and then turns off.
If the engine does not start with the
correct ignition key, and the security
indicator light keeps illuminating or
flashing, the system may have a
malfunction. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
qHeadlight High-Beam Indicator
Light
This light indicates one of two things:lThe high-beam headlights are on.lThe turn signal lever is in the flash-to-
pass position.
qShift Position Indicator Light
(Automatic Transmission)
This indicates the selected shift position
when the ignition is switched ON.
Gear position indicator
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-53
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Form No.8BR3-EA-10F
Black plate (218,1)
NOTE
FCC ID: NZLOBIHL3
CANADA:4112A-OBIHL3
This device complies with FCC rules part 15.
Operation is subject to the following
conditions:
1- This device may not cause any harmful
interference and
2- This device must accept any interference
that may be received including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE
The programming will not be erased even if
the battery is disconnected.
qPre-programming the HomeLink
System
NOTE
It is recommended that a new battery be
placed in the hand-held transmitter of the
device being programmed to HomeLink for
quicker training and accurate transmission of
the radio-frequency signal.
lVerify that there is a remote control
transmitter available for the device you
would like to program.
lDisconnect the power to the device.
qProgramming the HomeLink System
CAUTION
When programming a garage door
opener or a gate, disconnect the
power to these devices before
performing programming, as
continuous operation of the devices
could damage the motor. The HomeLink system provides 3 buttons
which can be individually selected and
programmed using the transmitters for
current, on-market devices as follows:
1. Press and hold the two outer
HomeLink buttons (buttons one and
three) ―releasing only when the
indicator light begins to flash (after 20
seconds). Do nothold the buttons for
longer than 30 seconds and do not
repeat step 1 to program a second and/
or third hand-held transmitter to the
remaining two HomeLink buttons.
2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter 2.5 ―7.5 cm (1 ―3 inches)
away from the HomeLink button you
wish to program while keeping the
indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the chosen HomeLink and hand-held
transmitter buttons. Do not release the
buttons until step 4 has been
completed.
NOTE
Some gate operators and garage door openers
may require you to replace this Programming
Step 3 with procedures noted in the “Gate
Operator/Canadian Programming ”section.
4. After the HomeLink indicator light
changes from a slow to a rapidly
blinking light, release both the
HomeLink and hand-held transmitter
buttons.
NOTE
If the HomeLink indicator light does not
change to a rapidly blinking light, contact
HomeLink at www.homelink.com or call1-
800-355-3515 for assistance.
5-64
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
MX-5_8BR3-EA-10F_Edition3 Page218
Wednesday, March 2 2011 5:26 PM
Form No.8BR3-EA-10F