2016 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 Main

3–43
Before Driving
Driving Tips
Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the first 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of the vehicle.
 Do not race the engine. Do not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time. Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods of
time. Avoid unnecessary hard stops. Avoid full-throttle starts.
Saving Fuel and
Protection of the
Environment
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save fuel and
reduce CO2.
 Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving. Avoid fast starts. Drive at lower speeds. Anticipate when to apply the brakes
(avoid sudden braking). Follow the maintenance schedule
(page 6-4) and have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer perform inspections and
servicing. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary. Slow down on rough roads. Keep the tires properly inflated. Do not carry unnecessary weight. Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Keep windows closed at high speeds. Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING
Never stop the engine when going down
a hill:
Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 432015/03/10 9:54:46

4–5
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
CAUTION
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button
start indicator light (amber) flashes,
this could indicate a problem with
the engine starting system and the
inability to start the engine or switch
the ignition to ACC or ON. Have your
vehicle inspected at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
 Under the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes after
the push button start is pressed to
inform the driver that the push button
start will not switch to ACC even if it is
pressed from off.
 The key battery is dead. The key is out of operational range. The key is placed in areas where it is
difficult for the system to detect the
signal (page 3-7). A key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range.
 (Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may not
start using the usual starting method.
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. If this occurs, the engine can
be force-started. Press and hold the
push button start until the engine starts.
Other procedures necessary for starting
the engine such as having the key in the
cabin, and depressing the clutch pedal
(manual transmission) or the brake
pedal (automatic transmission) are
required. When the engine is force-started,
the KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button
start indicator light (amber) remains
flashing. (Automatic transmission)
When the selector lever is in the neutral
(N) position, the KEY indicator light
(green) and the push button start
indicator light (green) do not illuminate.
7. Press the push button start after both
the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.
NOTE
 After starting the engine, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to the
ON position. After pressing the push button start and
before the engine starts, the operation
sound of the fuel pump motor from near
the fuel tank can be heard, however, this
does not indicate a malfunction.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 52015/03/10 9:54:48

4–8
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Turning the Engine Off
WARNING
Do not stop the engine while the vehicle
is moving:
Stopping the engine while the vehicle
is moving for any reason other than in
an emergency is dangerous. Stopping
the engine while the vehicle is moving
will result in reduced braking ability
due to the loss of power braking, which
could cause an accident and serious
injury.
1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2. (Manual transmission)
Shift into neutral and set the parking
brake.
(Automatic transmission)
Shift the selector lever to the P position
and set the parking brake.
3. Press the push button start to turn off
the engine. The ignition position is off.
CAUTION
When leaving the vehicle, make sure
the push button start is off.
NOTE
 The cooling fan in the engine
compartment could turn on for a few
minutes after the ignition is switched
from ON to OFF, whether or not the
A/C is on or off, to cool the engine
compartment quickly. When the push button start is pressed
from ON to ACC or OFF, the KEY
indicator light (green) may flash for
approximately 30 seconds indicating
that the remaining battery power of the
key is low.
Replace with a new battery before the
key becomes unusable.
Refer to Key Battery Replacement on
page 6-38. (Automatic transmission)
If the engine is turned off while the
selector lever is in a position other than
P, the ignition switches to ACC.
Emergency Engine Stop
Continuously pressing the push button
start or quickly pressing it any number of
times while the engine is running or the
vehicle is being driven will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 82015/03/10 9:54:49

4–12
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
Fuel 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.
Full
1/4 Full
Empty
If the low fuel warning light illuminates or
the fuel level is very low, refuel as soon as
possible.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-16.
NOTE
 After refueling, it may require some
time for the indicator to stabilize. In
addition, the indicator may deviate
while driving on a slope or curve since
the fuel moves in the tank. The display indicating a quarter or less
remaining fuel has more segments to
show the remaining fuel level in greater
detail. The direction of the arrow () indicates
that the fuel-filler lid is on the left side
of the vehicle.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 122015/03/10 9:54:51

4–14
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
Changing the Temperature Unit of the
Outside Temperature Display
The outside temperature unit can be
switched between Celsius and Fahrenheit
using the following procedure.
(Vehicles with Type B Audio)
Settings can be changed by operating the
center display screen.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9.
(Vehicles without Type B Audio)
1. Press the INFO switch with the ignition
switched off and continue pressing the
INFO switch for 5 seconds or longer
while switching the ignition ON. The
outside temperature display flashes.
2. Press the INFO switch to change the
outside temperature unit.
3. Press and hold the INFO switch for
3 seconds or longer while the outside
temperature display is flashing. The
outside temperature display illuminates.
NOTE
When the temperature unit indicated in the
outside temperature display is changed,
the temperature unit indicated in the
engine coolant gauge display changes in
conjunction with it.
Cruise Control Set Vehicle Speed
Display*
The vehicle speed preset using the cruise
control is displayed.
Trip Computer and INFO Switch
The following information can be selected
by pressing the INFO switch with the
ignition switched ON.
 Approximate distance you can travel on
the available fuel Average fuel economy Current fuel economy Average vehicle speed
If you have any problems with your trip
computer, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Distance-to-empty mode
This mode displays the approximate
distance you can travel on the remaining
fuel based on the fuel economy.
The distance-to-empty will be calculated
and displayed every second.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 142015/03/10 9:54:52

4–15
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
NOTE
 Even though the distance-to-empty
display may indicate a sufficient amount
of remaining driving distance before
refueling is required, refuel as soon as
possible if the fuel level is very low or
the low fuel warning light illuminates. The display may not change unless you
add more than approximately 9 L (2.3
US gal, 1.9 Imp gal) of fuel. The distance-to-empty is the
approximate remaining distance the
vehicle can be driven until all the
graduation marks in the fuel gauge
(indicating the remaining fuel supply)
disappear. If there is no past fuel economy
information such as after first
purchasing your vehicle or the
information is deleted when the battery
cables are disconnected, the actual
distance-to empty/range may differ from
the amount indicated.
Average fuel economy mode
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
INFO switch for more than 1.5 seconds.
After pressing the INFO switch, - - - L/100
km (- - - mpg) will be displayed for about
1 minute before the fuel economy is
recalculated and displayed.
Current fuel economy mode
This mode displays the current fuel
economy by calculating the amount of fuel
consumption and the distance traveled.
Current fuel economy will be calculated
and displayed every 2 seconds.
When you've slowed to about 5 km/h (3
mph), - - - L/100 km (- - - mpg) will be
displayed.
Average vehicle speed mode
This mode displays the average vehicle
speed by calculating the distance and the
time traveled since connecting the battery
or resetting the data.
Average vehicle speed will be calculated
and displayed every 10 seconds.
To clear the data being displayed, press the
INFO switch for more than 1.5 seconds.
After pressing the INFO switch, - - - km/h
(- - - mph) will be displayed for about
1 minute before the vehicle speed is
recalculated and displayed.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 152015/03/10 9:54:52

4–18
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
SignalWarning LightsPage
(Amber)
*High Beam Control System (HBC) Warning Light*17-33
LED Headlight Warning Light7-33
*1 The light turns on when the ignition is switched on for an operation che\
ck, and turns off a few seconds later or when the engine is started. If the light does not turn on or remains tur\
ned on, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.*2 The light turns on continuously when the parking brake is applied.
Indicator Lights
These lights turn on or flash to notify the user of the system operation status or a system
malfunction.
SignalIndicator LightsPage
*Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF Indicator Light*14-79
*Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) OFF Indicator Light*14-72
(Green)
KEY Indicator Light3-8
(Green)
*High Beam Control System (HBC) Indicator Light4-68
*Wrench Indicator Light*14-20
TCS/DSC Indicator Light*14-56, 4-57
DSC OFF Indicator Light*14-58
(Blue)Low Engine Coolant Temperature Indicator Light4-20
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 182015/03/10 9:55:02

4–19
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
SignalIndicator LightsPage
Shift Position Indication4-25
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light4-38, 4-38
Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights4-40, 4-46
Security Indicator Light*13-40
(Amber)
*Cruise Main Indicator Light4-90
(Green)
*Cruise Set Indicator Light4-90
*Select Mode Indication4-62
Lights-On Indicator Light4-35
*Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Indicator Light*12-37
*1 The light turns on when the ignition is switched on for an operation che\
ck, and turns off a few seconds later or when the engine is started. If the light does not turn on or remains tur\
ned on, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
MX-5_8EU4-EA-15D_Edition1.indb 192015/03/10 9:55:03