2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA automatic transmission

4 –39 When Driving
Transmission
*Some models.Manually shifting down
You can shift gears down by operating
the selector lever or the steering shift
switches *
.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1
Using selector lever
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward
once.
Using steering shift switch *
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the DOWN
switch
toward you once with your
fingers. DOWN switch (-) WARNING Do not use 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 tire speed could
cause the tires to skid. This could
lead to loss of vehicle control and an
accident.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers on the steering
shift switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous.
If the driver's air bag were to deploy
in a collision, your hands could be
impacted causing injury.
NOTE 
When driving at high speeds, the gear
may not shift down. 
During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed. 
When depressing the accelerator fully,
the transmission will shift to a lower
gear, depending on vehicle speed.
However, the gears do not kickdown
while the DSC is turned off.
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4 –41 When Driving
TransmissionShift gear (shifting) speed limit
For each gear position while in the manual mode, the speed limi t is set as follows: When the
selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is shifted.
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the vehicle speed is lower than the speed limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and the gear does not shift down, the gear
position indication flashes 2 times to notify the driver that th e gear cannot be shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is depressed fully while driving, the gear shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown while the DSC is turned off.
NOTE
The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second ge ar fixed mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle speed during deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mo de, the gear remains in
second.
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4 –44 When Driving
Transmission NOTE 
The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how
much the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown,
and functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed. 
While the selector lever is in the M
position and the DSC is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch
to automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually
accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight and
grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
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4 –49 When Driving
Switches and Controls Leaving Home LightThe 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). 
Ignition switch: off 
Headlight switch: or Lock button
Unlock
b
utton NOTE 
Operation of the leaving home light can
be turned on or off.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 . 
When the transmitter lock button is
pressed and the vehicle receives the
transmitter signal, the headlights turn
off. 
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).
NOTE
(Except Canada)
The daytime running lights can be
deactivated.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9 .
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4 –63 When Driving
Brake
*Some models.WARNING Do not drive with worn disc pads:
Driving with worn disc pads is
dangerous. The brakes could fail and
cause a serious accident. As soon as
you hear a screeching noise consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Brake AssistDuring emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the brake
pedal with greater force, the brake assist
system provides braking assistance, thus
enhancing braking performance.
When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the brakes apply
more firmly.
NOTE 
When the brake pedal is depressed hard
or depressed more quickly, the pedal
will feel softer but the brakes will apply
more firmly. This is a normal effect of
the brake assist operation and does not
indicate a malfunction. 
When the brake pedal is depressed
hard or depressed more quickly, a
motor/pump operation noise may be
heard. This is a normal effect of the
brake assist and does not indicate a
malfunction. 
The brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the
vehicle's main braking system. Hill Launch Assist (HLA) *
Hill Launch Assist (HLA) is a function
which assists the driver in accelerating
from a stop while on a slope. When
the driver releases the brake pedal and
depresses the accelerator pedal while
on a slope, the function prevents the
vehicle from rolling. The braking force is
maintained automatically after the brake
pedal is released on a steep grade.
For vehicles with a manual transmission,
Hill Launch Assist (HLA) operates on a
downward slope when the shift lever is in
the reverse (R) position, and on an upward
slope when the shift lever is in a position
other than the reverse (R) position.
For vehicles with an automatic
transmission, Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
operates on a downward slope when the
selector lever is in the reverse (R) position,
and on an upward slope when the selector
lever is in a forward gear.
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4 –86 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE NOTE 
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) will operate when all of the following conditions are
met: 
The ignition is switched ON. 
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) switch is pressed and the Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) OFF indicator light in the instrument cluster is turned off. 
The vehicle speed is about 10 km/h (6.3 mph) or faster. 
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) will not operate under the following circumstances. 
The vehicle speed falls below about 10 km/h (6.3 mph) even though the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light is turned off. 
The shift lever (manual transmission)/selector lever (automatic transmission) is shifted
to reverse (R) and the vehicle is reversing. 
In the following cases, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light turns on and
operation of the system is stopped. If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator
light remains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible. 
Some problem with the system including the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning
lights is detected. 
A large deviation in the installation position of a radar sensor (rear) on the vehicle has
occurred. 
There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a radar sensor
(rear). Remove any snow, ice or mud on the rear bumper. 
Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods. 
The temperature near the radar sensors (rear) becomes extremely hot due to driving
for long periods on slopes during the summer. 
The battery voltage has decreased. 
Under the following conditions, the radar sensors (rear) cannot detect target objects or it
may be difficult to detect them. 
A vehicle is in the detection area at the rear in an adjacent driving lane but it does not
approach. The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) determines the condition based on radar
detection data. 
A vehicle is traveling alongside your vehicle at nearly the same speed for an extended
period of time. 
Vehicles approaching in the opposite direction. 
A vehicle in an adjacent driving lane is attempting to pass your vehicle. 
A vehicle is in an adjacent lane on a road with extremely wide driving lanes. The
detection area of the radar sensors (rear) is set at the road width of expressways.
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4 –88 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE 
In the following cases, it may be difficult to view the illumina tion/flashing of the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights equipped on the door mirrors. 
Snow or ice is adhering to the door mirrors. 
The door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt. 
The system switches to the Rear Cross Traffic Alert function when the shift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever (automatic transmission) is shifted to the reverse (R)
position.
Refer to Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) on page 4-92 .
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Warning Lights/Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Warning BeepThe Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) or Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system notifies the
driver of the presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes to the rear of your vehicle using the
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights and the warning beep while the systems are
operational.
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights are equipped on the left and right door
mirrors. The warning lights turn on when a vehicle approaching from the rear in an adjacent
lane is detected.
When the ignition is switched ON, the malfunction warning light turns on momentarily and
then turns off after a few seconds.
Forward driving (Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system operation)
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system detects vehicles approac hing from the rear and
turns on the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights equippe d on the door mirrors
according to the conditions. Additionally, while a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning
light is illuminated, if the turn signal lever is operated to signal a turn in the direction
in which the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light is illum inated, the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning light flashes.
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4 –92 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) *
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system is designed to assist the driver in checking the
area to the rear of the vehicle on both sides while the vehicle is reversing by alerting the
driver to the presence of vehicles approaching the rear of the vehicle.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system detects vehicles approaching from the left and
right sides of the vehicle while the vehicle is being reversed out of a parking space, and
notifies the driver of possible danger using the Blind Spot Moni toring (BSM) warning lights
and the warning buzzer.
Detection areas Your vehicle
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) operation
1. The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system operates when the shift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever (automatic transmission) is shifted to the reverse (R)
position.
2. If there is the possibility of a collision with an approaching vehicle, the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light flashes and the warning beep is activated
simultaneously.
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