2017 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF parking brake

3–63
Before Driving
Driving Tips
NOTE
  Do not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transmission and to 1 or R with a
manual transmission. Block the rear
wheels.
  Remove snow before driving. Snow
left on the windscreen is dangerous
as it could obstruct vision. In
addition, if the vehicle is driven with
snow accumulated on the bonnet,
the active bonnet system may not
activate normally in an emergency.
  Do not open or close the soft top
when the temperature is 5 °C (41 °F)
or less. The material of the soft top
could be damaged by freezing.
  Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice
or frozen snow on the mirror glass
and windscreen.
  Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
  Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if
snow or ice adheres to the brake
components. If this situation occurs,
drive the vehicle slowly, releasing
the accelerator pedal and lightly
applying the brakes several times
until the brake performance returns
to normal.
Snow Tyres
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tyres
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tyres different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tyres.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tyre
pressure monitoring system (vehicle
with run-À at tyres), the system may not
function correctly when using tyres with
steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls
(page 4-146 ).
Use snow tyres on all four wheels
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for your snow tyres or legal speed
limits.
E u r o p e
When snow tyres are used, select the
speci¿ ed size and pressure (page 9-8 ).
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4–4
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Ignition Switch
Push Button Start Positions
The system operates only when the key is
within operational range.
Each time the push button start is pressed,
the ignition switches in the order of off,
ACC, and ON. Pressing the push button
start again from ON switches the ignition
off.
Indicator light
NOTE
  The engine starts by pressing
the push button start while
depressing the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) or the brake pedal
(automatic transmission). To switch
the ignition position, press the push
button start without depressing the
pedal.
  Do not leave the ignition switched
ON while the engine is not running.
Doing so could result in the battery
going dead. If the ignition is left in
ACC (For automatic transmission,
the selector lever is in the P position,
and the ignition is in ACC), the
ignition switches off automatically
after about 25 minutes. O f f
The power supply to electrical devices
turns off and the push button start indicator
light (amber) also turns off.
In this position the steering wheel is
locked.
WARNING
Before leaving the driver's seat, always
switch the ignition off, set the parking
brake, and make sure the selector lever
is in P (automatic transmission) or in
1st gear or R (manual transmission):
Leaving the driver's seat without
switching the ignition off, setting the
parking brake, and shifting the selector
lever to P (automatic transmission) or
to 1st gear or R (manual transmission)
is dangerous. Unexpected vehicle
movement could occur which could
result in an accident.
In addition, if your intention is to leave
the vehicle for even a short period, it
is important to switch the ignition off,
as leaving it in another position will
disable some of the vehicle's security
systems and run the battery down.
NOTE
(Locked steering wheel)
If the push button start indicator light
(green) is À ashing and the beep sound
is heard, this indicates that the steering
wheel is not unlocked. To unlock the
steering wheel, press the push button
start while moving the steering wheel
left and right.
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4–6
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
NOTE
  The key must be carried because the
key carries an immobilizer chip that
must communicate with the engine
controls at short range.
  The engine can be started when the
push button start is pressed from off,
ACC, or ON.
  The push button start system
functions (function which can start
the engine by only carrying the
key) can be deactivated to prevent
any possible adverse effect on a
user wearing a pacemaker or other
medical device. If the system is
deactivated, you will be unable
to start the engine by carrying the
key. Consult an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer for details. If the push
button start system functions have
been deactivated, you can start the
engine by following the procedure
indicated when the key battery goes
dead.
 Refer to Engine Start Function When
Key Battery is Dead on page 4-9 .
  After starting a cold engine, the
engine speed increases and a whining
sound from the engine compartment
can be heard.
 This is for improved exhaust gas
puri¿ cation and does not indicate any
parts defect. 1. Make sure you are carrying the key.
2. Occupants should fasten their seat
belts.
3. Make sure the parking brake is on.
4. Continue to press the brake pedal
¿ rmly until the engine has completely
started.
5. (Manual transmission)
Continue to press the clutch pedal
¿ rmly until the engine has completely
started.
(Automatic transmission)
Put the vehicle in park (P). If you must
restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into neutral (N).
NOTE
(Manual transmission)
The starter will not operate if the clutch
pedal is not depressed suf¿ ciently.
(Automatic transmission)
The starter will not operate if the
selector lever is not in P or N and the
brake pedal is not depressed suf¿ ciently.
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4–11
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Emergency Operation for Starting
the Engine
If the KEY warning light (red) illuminates,
or the push button start indicator light
(amber)À ashes, this could indicate that
the engine may not start using the usual
starting method. Have your vehicle
inspected at an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer
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.
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.
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4–44
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.
Signal Warning Lights Page
(Amber)
* High Beam Control System (HBC) Warning Indication/
Warning Light *1 7-34
* Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Warning Indication 7-34
* Retractable Fastback Warning Indication 7-34
LED Headlight Warning Light *1 7-34
Seat Belt Warning Light 7-41
* Door-Ajar Warning Light 7-41
* Door-Ajar Warning Indication 7-41
* Boot lid-Ajar Warning Indication 7-41
* Low Fuel Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-41
* 120 km/h Warning Light *1 7-41
* Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-41
*1 The light turns on when the ignition is switched on for an operation check, and turns off a few seconds later or
when the engine is started. If the light does not turn on or remains turned on, have the vehicle inspected at an
expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
*2 The light turns on continuously when the parking brake is applied.
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4–48
When Driving
Transmission
Manual Transmission
Operation
Manual Transmission Shift Pattern
Neutral position
The shift pattern of the transmission is
conventional, as shown.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a device to
prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake.
Push the shift lever downward and shift
to R.
WARNING
Do not use sudden engine braking
on slippery road surfaces or at high
speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while driving
at high speeds causes sudden engine
braking, which is dangerous. The
sudden change in tyre speed could
cause the tyres to skid. This could
lead to loss of vehicle control and an
accident.
Always leave the shift lever in 1 or
R position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended:
Otherwise the vehicle could move and
cause an accident.
CAUTION
  Keep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also, do
not use the clutch to hold the vehicle
on an upgrade. Riding the clutch
will cause needless clutch wear and
damage.
  Do not apply any excessive lateral
force to the shift lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear. This
could lead to the accidental selection
of 2nd gear, which could result in
damage to the transmission.
  Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to
R. Shifting to R while the vehicle
is still moving may damage the
transmission.
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4–52
When Driving
Transmission
Shift Position Indication
The selector position is indicated when the
ignition is switched ON.
NOTE
If one of the following actions is
performed, the selector position is
displayed for 5 minutes even if the
ignition switch is in a position other than
ON.
 
 The ignition is switched OFF. 
 The driver's door is opened.
Gear position indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift
position indication illuminates and the
numeral for the selected gear is displayed.
Warning Light
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-42 .
Transmission Ranges
 












 The shift position indicator light in the
instrument cluster illuminates. Refer
to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-42 .
 


 The selector lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transmission and prevents the
rear wheels from rotating.
WARNING
Always set the selector lever to P and
set the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the
P position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous.
If P fails to hold, the vehicle could
move and cause an accident.
CAUTION
  Shifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage your
transmission.
  Shifting into a driving gear or
reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete
stop before shifting to or from R, except
under rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-62 ).
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4–53
When Driving
Transmission
NOTE
(With parking sensor system)
When the selector lever is shifted to the
R position with the ignition switched
ON, the parking sensor system is
activated and a beep sound is heard.
Refer to Parking Sensor System on page
4-148 .
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transmission are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
If the engine is running faster than
idle, do not shift from N or P into a
driving gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine
is running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move suddenly,
causing an accident or serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which could
lead to an accident or serious injury.
CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving
the vehicle. Doing so can cause
transmission damage.
NOTE
Apply the parking brake or depress the
brake pedal before moving the selector
lever from N to prevent the vehicle from
moving unexpectedly.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transmission will automatically
shift through a 6-gear sequence.
M (Manual)


M is the manual shift mode position. Gears
can be shifted up or down by operating the
selector lever. Refer to Manual Shift Mode
on page 4-55 .
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transmission
shift points to best suit the road conditions
and driver input. This improves driving
feel. The transmission may switch to AAS
mode when driving up and down slopes,
cornering, driving at high elevations,
or depressing the accelerator pedal
quickly while the selector lever is in the
D position. Depending on the road and
driving conditions/vehicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a problem
because the AAS mode will maintain the
optimum gear position.
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