2017 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 RF four wheel drive

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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4–14 0
When Driving
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
*Some models.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (Vehicle with
Conventional Tyres)
*
The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) monitors the air pressure of all four tyres. If
the air pressure of one or more tyres is too low, the system warns the driver by indicating the
tyre pressure monitoring system warning light in the instrument cluster and operating a beep
sound. The system monitors the tyre pressures indirectly using the data sent from the ABS
wheel speed sensors.
To allow the system to operate correctly, the system needs to be initialized with the speci¿ ed
tyre pressure (value on the tyre pressure label). Follow the procedure and perform the
initialization.
Refer to Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Initialization on page 4-143 .
The warning light À ashes when the system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning Lights on page 4-42 .
ABS wheel speed sensor
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4–14 3
When Driving
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Initialization
In the following cases, system
initialization must be performed so that the
system operates normally.
 


 A tyre pressure is adjusted.



 Tyre rotation is performed.



 A tyre or wheel is replaced.



 The battery is replaced or completely
drained.
 


 The tyre pressure monitoring system
warning light is illuminated.
Initialization method
1. Park the car in a safe place and ¿ rmly
apply the parking brake.
2. Let the tyres cool, then adjust the tyre
pressure of all four (4) tyres to the
speci¿ ed pressure indicated on the tyre
pressure label located on the driver's
door frame (door open).
Refer to Tyres on page 9-8 .
3. Switch the ignition ON.
4. Press and hold the tyre pressure
monitoring system set switch and
verify that the tyre pressure monitoring
system warning light in the instrument
clusterÀ ashes twice and a beep sound
is heard once.
CAUTION
If the system initialization is performed
without adjusting the tyre pressure, the
system cannot detect the normal tyre
pressure and it may not illuminate the
tyre pressure monitoring system warning
light even if a tyre pressure is low, or
it may illuminate the light even if the
pressures are normal.
Adjust the tyre pressure on all four
tyres and initialize the system when
the warning light is turned on. If the
warning light turns on for a reason other
than a À at tyre, the tyre pressure of all
four tyres may have decreased naturally.
The system initialization will not be
performed if the switch is pressed while
the vehicle is being driven.
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4–14 4
When Driving
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
*Some models.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (Vehicle with Run-À at
Ty r e s )
*
The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) monitors the pressure for each tyre.
If tyre pressure is too low in one or more tyres, the system will inform the driver via the
warning light in the instrument cluster and by the warning beep sound.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning Lights on page 4-42 .
Refer to Tyre InÀ ation Pressure Warning Beep on page 7-53 .
The tyre pressure sensors installed on each wheel send tyre pressure data by radio signal to
the receiver unit in the vehicle.
Tyre pressure sensors
NOTE
When the ambient temperature is low due to seasonal changes, tyre temperatures are also
lower. When the tyre temperature decreases, the air pressure decreases as well. The TPMS
warning light may illuminate more frequently. Visually inspect the tyres daily before
driving, and check tyre pressures monthly with a tyre pressure gauge. When checking tyre
pressures, use of a digital tyre pressure gauge is recommended.
TPMS does not alleviate your need to check the pressure and condition of all four tyres
regularly.
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7–27
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an expert repairer, we recommend
an Authorised Mazda Repairer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (rear wheels) off the ground.
If excessive damage or other conditions
prevent this, use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
  Do not tow the vehicle pointed
backward with driving wheels on
the ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transmission.
  Do not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage your
vehicle. Use wheel-lift or À atbed
equipment.
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, the vehicle may be towed with
all four wheels on the ground using the
towing hook at the front of the vehicle.
Only tow the vehicle on paved surfaces for
short distances at low speeds.
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7–44
If Trouble Arises
Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds
Vehicle with run-À at tyres
Warning Action to be taken
When the warning light illuminates, and the warning
beep sound is heard when tyre pressure is too low in
one or more tyres.
WARNING
If the tyre pressure monitoring system warning
light illuminates or À ashes, or the tyre pressure
warning beep sound is heard, decrease vehicle
speed immediately and avoid sudden manoeuvring
and braking:
If the tyre pressure monitoring system warning
light illuminates or À ashes, or the tyre pressure
warning beep sound is heard, it is dangerous to
drive the vehicle at high speeds, or perform sudden
manoeuvring or braking. Vehicle drivability could
worsen and result in an accident.
To determine if you have a slow leak or a À at, pull
over to a safe position where you can check the
visual condition of the tyre and determine if you
have enough air to proceed to a place where air
may be added and the system monitored again by
an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer or a tyre repair station.
Do not ignore the TPMS Warning Light:
Ignoring the TPMS warning light is dangerous,
even if you know why it is illuminated. Have the
problem taken care of as soon as possible before it
develops into a more serious situation that could
lead to tyre failure and a dangerous accident. Inspect the tyres and adjust to the speci¿ ed inÀ ation
pressure (page 6-34 ).
CAUTION
When replacing/repairing the tyres or wheels or both,
have the work done by an Authorised Mazda Repairer,
or the tyre pressure sensors may be damaged.
NOTE
Perform tyre pressure adjustment when the tyres are
cold. Tyre pressure will vary according to the tyre
temperature, therefore let the vehicle stand for 1
hour or only drive it 1.6 km (1 mile) or less before
adjusting the tyre pressures. When pressure is
adjusted on hot tyres to the cold inÀ ation pressure,
the TPMS warning light/beep may turn on after the
tyres cool and pressure drops below speci¿ cation.
Also, an illuminated TPMS warning light, resulting
from the tyre air pressure dropping due to cold
ambient temperature, may turn off if the ambient
temperature rises. In this case, it will also be necessary
to adjust the tyre air pressures. If the TPMS warning
light illuminates due to a drop in tyre air pressure,
make sure to check and adjust the tyre air pressures.
After adjusting the tyre air pressures, it may require
some time for the TPMS warning light to turn off. If
the TPMS warning light remains illuminated, drive
the vehicle at a speed of at least 25 km/h (16 mph)
for 10 minutes, and then verify that it turns off.
Tyres lose air naturally over time and the TPMS
cannot tell if the tyres are getting too soft over time or
you have a À at. However, when you ¿ nd one low tyre
in a set of four-that is an indication of trouble; you
should have someone drive the vehicle slowly forward
so you can inspect any low tyre for cuts and any metal
objects sticking through tread or sidewall. Put a few
drops of water in the valve stem to see if it bubbles
indicating a bad valve. Leaks need to be addressed
by more than simply re¿ lling the trouble tyre as leaks
are dangerous — take it to an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer which
has all the equipment to ¿ x tyres, TPMS systems and
order the best replacement tyre for your vehicle.
If the warning light illuminates again even after the tyre
pressures are adjusted, there may be a tyre puncture.
Refer to Vehicle with Run-À at Tyres on page 7-3 .
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