2013 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA PRHT tow

Black plate (84,1)
Door Locks
WARNING
Always take all children and pets with
you or leave a responsible person with
them:Leaving a child or a pet 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.
Do not leave the key in your vehicle
with children and keep them in a place
where your children will not find or
play with them: Leaving children in a vehicle with the
key is dangerous. This could result in
someone being badly injured or even
killed.
Keep both doors locked when driving: 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.
Always close all the windows, lock the
doors and take the key with you when
leaving your vehicle unattended: Leaving your vehicle unlocked is
dangerous as children could lock
themselves in a hot vehicle, which
could result in death. Also, a vehicle
left unlocked becomes an easy target
for thieves and intruders.
After closing the doors, always verify
that they are securely closed: Doors not securely closed are
dangerous, if the vehicle is driven
with a door not securely closed, the
door could open unexpectedly
resulting in an accident. Always confirm the safety around the
vehicle before opening a door:
Suddenly opening a door is
dangerous. A passing vehicle or a
pedestrian could be hit and cause an
accident.
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 Request
Switch (with Advanced Key)
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the request switch while
carrying the advanced key outside the
vehicle, refer to Operations Using
Advanced Keyless Functions (page 3-7).
qLocking, Unlocking with
Transmitter (with Advanced Key)
The doors can be locked/unlocked by
operating the keyless entry system
transmitter, refer to Keyless Entry System
(page 3-15).
3-30
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page84
Friday, August 31 2012 1:44 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (98,1)
lBefore lowering or raising the
convertible top, stop in a safe place off
the right-of-way and park on a level
surface.
lMake sure nothing is on the convertible
top or near the back window when
raising or lowering the convertible top.
Even small objects may interfere and
cause damage.
lWhen lowering the convertible top,
make sure objects inside the vehicle are
not blown away by the wind.
lSecure all loose objects inside before
driving with the convertible top down.
lTo help prevent burglary or vandalism
and to ensure that the passenger
compartment stays dry, close the
convertible top securely and lock both
doors when leaving the vehicle.
lDo not drive through an automatic car
wash; it may damage the convertible
top.
lDo not raise or lower the convertible
top when the temperature is below 5 °C
(41 °F) ; this will damage the
convertible top material.
lDo not lower the convertible top when
it's wet. If the convertible top dries
while folded, it will deteriorate and
shrink.
lLowering the convertible top while it's
wet can also cause water to drip into
the passenger compartment.
lDo not raise or lower the convertible
top in a strong wind as it could damage
the convertible top or cause an
unexpected accident.
qLowering the Convertible Top
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Fully open the left and right windows.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Make sure there are no objects which
have been placed in the area where the
convertible top is to be retracted.
5. Pull the top latch outward by pressing the lock release button to detach the
lock. Make sure the lock is detached.
Lock release button
Top latch
6. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold the convertible top along the center
edge and pull it toward the vehicle rear.
Center edge
3-44
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page98
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (100,1)
4. Pull the unlock lever outward todisengage the lock.
Unlock lever
5. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold
the convertible top along the center
edge and pull it towards the vehicle
front.
Center edge
NOTE
To raise the convertible top from inside the
vehicle, use the convertible top's handles.
Convertible top's
handles
6. Sitting in a seat, grasp the convertible
top's handles, and press the convertible
top against the windshield.
Move the top latch slowly to make sure
the anchor engages with the striker,
then rotate the top latch to the lock
position until a click sound is heard.
Striker
Anchor
Convertible top's
handles
3-46
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page100
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (113,1)
2. Grasp the hardtop along the side andrear surfaces and lift it up enough to
create a clearance behind the rear glass.
3. Grasp the hardtop along its side surfaceand the rear area of the rear glass, pull
the hardtop towards the front of the
vehicle, and completely close it.
4. Lock the top latch.Refer to Closing the Power Retractable
Hardtop on page 3-52. Closing the deck
1. Loop the center of the rope through the
pin on the link twice so that it does not
loosen.
Pin
Rope
Link
NOTE
Before closing the deck, two small ropes need
to be installed and tied into the trunk so that
the deck does not pop up while driving, and so
that the deck can be raised for servicing by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
2. Route one end of the rope to the insideof the vehicle passing it through the
gap in the trim. Route the other end to
the outside of the vehicle passing it
through the links.
To the inside of the vehicle
Trim
Rope
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-59
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page113
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (131,1)
4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-4
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-5 Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-5
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-5
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-6 Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-6
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-6
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-7
Floor Mat .................................................................................. 4-8
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-8
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-9
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-10
Overloading ............................................................................. 4-11
Driving on Uneven Road ........................................................ 4-12
Towing ......................................................................................... 4-13 Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-13
4-1
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page131
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (143,1)
Trailer Towing
The Mazda MX-5 is not designed for
towing. Never tow a trailer with your
Mazda MX-5.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
4-13
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page143
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (152,1)
qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light illuminates when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switched
to START or ON. It turns off when the
parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level 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.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
depress 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, open the
hood and check the brake fluid level
immediately, and then add fluid if
required (page 8-24).
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 turns off, have your
brake system inspected as soon as
possible by an Authorized Mazda Dealer. NOTE
Having to add brake fluid is sometimes an
indicator of leakage. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible even if the
brake light is no longer illuminated.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system
warning light illuminated. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible:
Driving with the brake system
warning light illuminated 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
illuminated, after checking that the
parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
qAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one
wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing and
reapplying that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal ABS system operation. Continue
to depress the brake pedal without
pumping the brakes.
5-8
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page152
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F

Black plate (154,1)
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning
light and brake warning light
illuminated. Have the vehicle towed to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have
the brakes inspected as soon as
possible:Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are illuminated simultaneously is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
qBrake Assist (with DSC vehicles)
During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the brake
pedal with greater force, the brake assist
system provides braking assistance, thus
enhancing braking performance.
When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the brakes apply
more firmly.
NOTE
lWhen the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the pedal will feel
softer but the brakes will apply more firmly.
This is a normal effect of the brake assist
operation and does not indicate a
malfunction.
lWhen the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, a motor/pump
operation noise may be heard. This is a
normal effect of the brake assist and does
not indicate a malfunction.
lThe brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the vehicle's
main braking system.
qBrake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes a loud screeching
noise to warn that the pads should be
replaced.
When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
WARNING
Do not drive with worn disc pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is
dangerous. The brakes could fail and
cause a serious accident. As soon as
you hear a screeching noise consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
5-10
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page154
Friday, August 31 2012 1:45 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F