2017 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF steering

3–29
Before Driving
Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving
it can very easily cause the driver
to abruptly turn to the left or right.
This can lead to loss of control or an
accident.
Steering Wheel Adjustment
To change the angle of the steering wheel:
1. Stop the vehicle, and then pull down
the lock release lever under the steering
column.
Lock release lever
2. Tilt the steering wheel to the desired
positions, then push the lever up to lock
the column.
3. Attempt to push the steering wheel
up and down to make sure it's locked
before driving.
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3–60
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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.
Hazardous Driving
WARNING
Be extremely careful if it is necessary
to downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces 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.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
 


 Be cautious and allow extra distance for
braking.
 


 Avoid sudden braking and sudden
manoeuvring.
 


 Do not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
  Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-86 .
 


 If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the rear
wheels.
 


 For more traction in starting on slippery
surfaces such as ice or packed snow,
use sand, rock salt, chains, carpeting,
or other nonslip material under the rear
wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the rear
wheels.
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4–1*Some models.4–1
4When Driving



Information concerning safe driving and stopping.
Start/Stop Engine ................................ 4-4
Ignition Switch ............................... 4-4
Starting the Engine ......................... 4-5
Turning the Engine Off ................ 4-11
i-stop
* ........................................... 4-13
Instrument Cluster and Display ...... 4-24
Meters and Gauges ....................... 4-24
Multi-information Display and INFO
Switch
* ......................................... 4-33
Warning/Indicator Lights ............. 4-42
Transmission ...................................... 4-48
Manual Transmission
Operation ...................................... 4-48
Automatic Transmission
Controls ........................................ 4-51
Switches and Controls ...................... 4-63
Lighting Control ........................... 4-63
Rear Fog Light
* ............................ 4-70
Turn and Lane-change Signals ..... 4-71
Windscreen Wipers and
Washer .......................................... 4-72
Headlight Washer
* ........................ 4-77
Rear Window Defogger ............... 4-77
Horn ............................................. 4-79
Hazard Warning Flasher ............... 4-79
Brake .................................................. 4-81
Brake System ............................... 4-81
Emergency Stop Signal System ... 4-84
Hill Launch Assist (HLA) ............ 4-84 ABS/TCS/DSC ................................... 4-86
Antilock Brake System (ABS) ..... 4-86
Traction Control System (TCS) ... 4-87
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) ........................................... 4-88
i-ELOOP ............................................ 4-90
i-ELOOP
* ..................................... 4-90
Fuel Economy Monitor ..................... 4-93
Fuel Economy Monitor
* ............... 4-93
Drive Selection ................................... 4-97
Drive Selection
* ........................... 4-97
Power Steering................................... 4-99
Power Steering ............................. 4-99
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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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4–5
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
ACC (Accessory)
Some electrical accessories will operate
and the indicator light (amber) illuminates.
In this position the steering wheel is
unlocked.
NOTE
The keyless entry system does not
function while the push button start has
been pressed to ACC, and the doors will
not lock/unlock even if they have been
locked manually.
O N
This is the normal running position after
the engine is started. The indicator light
(amber) turns off. (The indicator light
(amber) illuminates when the ignition
is switched ON and the engine is not
running.)
Some indicator lights/warning lights
should be inspected before the engine is
started (page 4-42 ).
NOTE
When the push button start is pressed
to ON, the sound of the fuel pump
motor operating near the fuel tank can
be heard. This does not indicate an
abnormality.
Starting the Engine
WARNING
Radio waves from the key may affect
medical devices such as pacemakers:
Before using the key near people who
use medical devices, ask the medical
device manufacturer or your physician
if radio waves from the key will affect
the device.
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4–14
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Automatic transmission
1. Engine idling stops when the brake pedal is depressed while the vehicle is driven (except
for driving in the R or M position second gear ¿ xed mode) and the vehicle is stopped.
2. The engine restarts automatically when the brake pedal is released with the selector lever
in the D or M position (not in second gear ¿ xed mode).
3. If the selector lever is in the N or P position, the engine does not restart when the brake
pedal is released. The engine restarts when the brake pedal is depressed again or the
selector lever is shifted to the D, M (not in second gear ¿ xed mode) or the R position.
(For the purposes of safety, always keep the brake pedal depressed when shifting the
selector lever while engine idling is stopped.)
Operation conditions
When the system is operable
Under the following conditions, engine idling stops and the i-stop indicator light (green)
turns on.
 


 The engine is warmed up.



 The engine has been started and the vehicle is driven for a certain period.



 The engine is started with the bonnet closed.



 The battery is in good condition.



 All doors, boot lid, and bonnet are closed.



 The driver's seat belt is fastened.



(Manual Air-Conditioning) 


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in a position other than ( ).


 
 The airÀ ow amount is other than the maximum airÀ ow amount.




(Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning)


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in a position other than ( ).


 
 The temperature setting dial of the air conditioner is in a position other than maximum
heating or maximum cooling (A/C ON) position.
 

 
 The vehicle's interior temperature and the set temperature for the air conditioner are
nearly the same.
 


 The i-stop warning light (amber) is not turned on/À ashing.



 The keyless entry & push button start system functions are normal.



 The brake vacuum is suf¿ ciently high.



 The steering wheel is not being operated.



(Manual transmission)



 
 The vehicle speed is 3 km/h (1.8 mph) or less.


 
 The shift lever is in the neutral position.


 
 The clutch pedal is not depressed.
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4–15
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
 


(Automatic transmission)



 
 The vehicle is stopped.


 
 The selector lever is in the D or M position (not in second gear ¿ xed mode).


 
 The automatic transmission À uid has warmed up suf¿ ciently.


 
 The automatic transmission À uid temperature is not abnormally high.


 
 The steering wheel is almost in the straight-ahead position (idling may not stop even
with the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position if force is applied to the steering
wheel. Release the force applied to the steering wheel to stop engine idling).
 

 
 The vehicle is stopped by depressing the brake pedal.


 
 Emergency braking is not applied.
When the system is not operable
Engine idling does not stop in the following conditions:
 


 The vehicle is stopped but the engine is kept idling.



(Manual Air-Conditioning)


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in the ( ) position and the fan control
dial is in a position other than 0.
 

 
 The airÀ ow amount is the maximum airÀ ow amount.




(Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning)


 
 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in the ( ) position.


 
 The temperature setting dial of the air conditioner is in the maximum heating or
maximum cooling (A/C ON) position.
 

 
 There is a large difference between the cabin temperature and the set temperature of the
air conditioner.
 


 The ambient temperature is extremely high or low.



 The atmospheric pressure is low (when driving at high altitudes).



(Automatic transmission)



 
 The vehicle is stopped on a steep incline.


 
 The steering wheel is not in the straight-ahead position while the vehicle is stopped.




(Retractable fastback model)
 The retractable fastback is operating
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4–17
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
NOTE
Engine restarts automatically while engine idling is stopped
Under the following conditions, the engine restarts automatically.
 
 The i-stop OFF switch is pressed until the beep sounds. 
 The ambient temperature is extremely high or low. 
(Manual Air-Conditioning)



 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in the ( ) position and the fan
control dial is in a position other than 0.
 


 The airÀ ow amount is the maximum airÀ ow amount. 

(Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning)



 The airÀ ow mode dial of the air conditioner is in the ( ) position.



 The temperature setting dial of the air conditioner is in the maximum heating or
maximum cooling (A/C ON) position.
 


 The cabin temperature differs greatly from the set temperature of the air conditioner. 

 The brakes are released slightly on a slope and the vehicle begins to move. 
 Two minutes have elapsed since the idling was stopped. 
 The battery power is depleted. 
(Automatic transmission)




 The accelerator pedal is depressed with the selector lever in the D or M (not in
second gear ¿ xed mode) position.




 The selector lever is shifted to the R position.



 The selector lever is shifted from N or P position to D or M (not in second gear ¿ xed
mode) position.
 


 The steering wheel is operated with the selector lever in the D or M (not in second
gear¿ xed mode) position.




 The selector lever is in the M position and the second gear ¿ xed mode is selected. 

(Retractable fastback model) The retractable fastback switch is operated. 
(Except European model)




(Manual transmission)
 With the shift lever in the neutral position, the driver's seat belt is unfastened and the
driver's door is opened.
 


(Automatic transmission)

 With the selector lever in the N or P position, the driver's seat belt is unfastened and
the driver's door is opened.
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