2017 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 Owners Manual (in English)

4–47
When Driving
Switches and Controls
*Some models.
Auto-light control *
When the headlight switch is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON, the light
sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the headlights,
other exterior lights and dashboard illumination on or off.
CAUTION
 


¾ Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a sticker or a label on the windshield. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly.

 


¾ The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the
position and the
ignition is switched ON as fi ngers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades could be
damaged when the wipers activate automatically. If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off completely when it is particularly tempting to leave the
engine running. This is particularly important when clearing ice and snow.

N O T E
 


y The headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination may not turn off
immediately even if the surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor
determines that it is night time if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several
minutes such as inside long tunnels, traf¿ c jams inside tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.

 In this case, the lights turn off if the light switch is turned to the position. 



y The dashboard illumination can be adjusted by rotating the knob in the instrument cluster.
Also, the day/night mode can be changed by rotating the knob until a beep sound is heard.
To adjust the brightness of the dashboard illumination:
  Refer to Dashboard Illumination on page 4-15 .



y The sensitivity of the auto-light control may be changed.
 Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9 .
/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–48
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Headlight High-Low Beam
The headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward.


High beam
Low beam

When the headlight high-beams are on,
the headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.



Flashing the Headlights
Can be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
T o À ash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on).


OFF
Headlight
flashing

The headlight high-beam indicator light
in the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The lever will return to the
normal position when released.



Coming Home Light
The coming home light turns on the
headlights (low beams) when the lever is
operated.
To turn on the lights
When the lever is pulled with the ignition
switched to ACC or OFF, the low beam
headlights turn on.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed after the doors
are closed.


N O T E
 


y The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
  Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 .
 


y If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pulled, the headlights
turn off.
 


y The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.

/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–49
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Leaving Home Light
The leaving home light turns on the lights
when the transmitter unlock button is
pressed while away from the vehicle.
The following lights turn on when the
leaving home light is operated.
Low beams, Parking lights, Taillights,
License lights.
To turn on the lights
When the ignition switch and the headlight
switch are in the following conditions,
the headlights will illuminate when the
transmitter unlock button is pressed and
the vehicle receives the transmitter signal.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed (30 seconds).




y Ignition switch: off



y Headlight switch: or

Lock button
Unlock
button

N O T E
 y Operation of the leaving home light can
be turned on or off.

 Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 .
 


y When the transmitter lock button is
pressed and the vehicle receives the
transmitter signal, the headlights turn
off.
 


y When the headlight switch is in a
position other than
or , the
headlights turn off.

Headlight Leveling
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.

The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
Daytime Running Lights
Some countries require moving vehicles
to have their lights on (daytime running
lights) during the daytime.

The daytime running lights turn on
automatically when the vehicle starts
moving.
They turn off when the parking brake is
operated or the shift lever is shifted to
the P position (automatic transmission
vehicle).
N O T E
(Except Canada)
The daytime running lights can be
deactivated.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9 .

/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–50
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the turn and lane-change signals.
Turn Signals
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.

If the indicator light continues to À ash
after a turn, manually return the lever to its
original position.

Right turn
Left turn Right lane change
Left lane changeOFF

The turn signal indicators in the instrument
cluster À ash according to the operation of
the turn signal lever to show which signal
is working.



N O T E
 


y If an indicator light stays on without
À ashing or if it À ashes abnormally, one
of the turn signal bulbs may be burned
out.
 


y A personalized function is available to
change the turn indicator sound volume.
(page 9-9 )

Lane-Change Signals
Move the lever halfway toward the
direction of the lane change—until the
indicator À ashes— and hold it there. It will
return to the off position when released.
Three-Flash Turn Signal
After releasing the turn signal lever, the
turn signal indicator À ashes three times.
The operation can be cancelled by moving
the lever in the direction opposite to which
it was operated.
N O T E
The three-À ash turn signal function can be
switched to operable/inoperable using the
personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9 .

/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–51
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Windshield Wipers and
Washer
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the wipers.
WARNING
Use only windshield washer fl uid or
plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fl uid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the windshield,
aff ect your visibility, and could result in
an accident.

Only use windshield washer fl uid mixed
with anti-freeze protection in freezing
weather conditions:
Using windshield washer fl uid without
anti-freeze protection in freezing
weather conditions is dangerous as
it could freeze on the windshield and
block your vision which could cause
an accident. In addition, make sure
the windshield is suffi ciently warmed
using the defroster before spraying the
washer fl uid.

N O T E
If the windshield wipers are operated
under cold weather conditions or
during snowfall, they could stop due to
accumulated snow on the windshield.
If the windshield wipers stop due to
accumulated snow on the windshield,
park the vehicle in a safe place, turn the
wiper switch off, and then remove the
accumulated snow. If the wiper switch is
turned to another position other than OFF,
the wipers will operate. If the wipers do
not operate even though the wiper switch
is turned to a position other than OFF,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.

/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–52
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Windshield Wipers
Turn the wipers on by pressing the lever
up or down.
With intermittent wiper



Switch
Position Wiper operation

Operation while pulling up lever

Stop

Intermittent

Low speed

High speed

Variable-speed intermittent wipers
Set the lever to the intermittent position
and choose the interval timing by rotating
the ring.


INT ringFast
Slow

With auto-wiper control



Switch
Position Wiper operation

Operation while pulling up lever

Stop

Auto control

Low speed

High speed

/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–53
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Auto-wiper control
When the wiper lever is in the

position, the rain sensor senses the amount
of rainfall on the windshield and turns the
wipers on or off automatically (off—
intermittent—low speed—high speed).

The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be
adjusted by turning the switch on the
wiper lever.
From the center position (normal), rotate
the switch upward for higher sensitivity
(faster response) or rotate it downward for
less sensitivity (slower response).


Higher sensitivity
Less sensitivitySwitch
Center
position

CAUTION
 


¾ Do not shade the rain sensor by
adhering a sticker or a label on the
windshield. Otherwise the rain sensor
will not operate correctly.
 


 


¾ When the wiper lever is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON,
the wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:
 


¾ If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched or wiped with a
cloth.
 


¾ If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object from either outside or
inside the vehicle.
  Keep hands and scrapers clear of the
windshield when the wiper lever is in the

position and the ignition is
switched ON as fi ngers could be pinched
or the wipers and wiper blades damaged
when the wipers activate automatically.
  If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off
completely (when it is most likely
that the engine is left running) this is
particularly important when clearing ice
and snow.

/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD

4–54
When Driving
Switches and Controls
N O T E
 


y Switching the auto-wiper lever from the

to the position while driving
activates the windshield wipers once,
after which they operate according to
the rainfall amount.
 


y The auto-wiper control may not operate
when the rain sensor temperature is
about -10 °C (14 °F) or lower, or about
85 °C (185 °F) or higher.
 


y If the windshield is coated with water
repellent, the rain sensor may not be
able to sense the amount of rainfall
correctly and the auto-wiper control
may not operate properly.
 


y If dirt or foreign matter (such as ice or
matter containing salt water) adheres
to the windshield above the rain sensor,
or if the windshield is iced, it could
cause the wipers to move automatically.
However, if the wipers cannot remove
this ice, dirt or foreign matter, the auto-
wiper control will stop operation. In
this case, set the wiper lever to the low
speed position or high speed position
for manual operation, or remove the ice,
dirt or foreign matter by hand to restore
the auto-wiper operation.
 


y If the auto-wiper lever is left in the
position, the wipers could operate
automatically from the effect of strong
light sources, electromagnetic waves, or
infrared light because the rain sensor
uses an optical sensor. It is
recommended that the auto-wiper lever
be switched to the
position other
than when driving the vehicle under
rainy conditions.
 


y The auto-wiper control functions can
be turned off. Refer to Personalization
Features on page 9-9 .

Windshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer À uid.


Washer OFF

N O T E
If the windshield washer is turned on when
the windshield wipers are not operating,
the windshield wipers operate a few times.

If the washer does not work, inspect the
À uid level (page 6-31 ). If the À uid level
is normal, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD/:A(4'#,A'FKVKQPKPFD