
4 –5 When Driving
Start/Stop EngineON
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 4-18 ).
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.
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 Authorized Mazda
Dealer 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 4-8 .
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 5 2016/08/11 20:28:41

4 –6 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
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
purification and does not indicate any
parts defect.
Engine-starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system.
This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard requirements regulating the
impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
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
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
5. (Manual transmission)
Continue to press the clutch pedal
firmly 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 sufficiently.
(Automatic transmission)
The starter will not operate if the selector
lever is not in P or N and the brake pedal
is not depressed sufficiently. 6. Verify that the KEY indicator light
(green) in the instrument cluster and the
push button start indicator light (green)
illuminate.
Indicator light
Push button start
KEY indicator light
(green)/ KEY
warning light (red)
NOTE
If the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes, make sure that the key is
being carried.
If the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes with the key being
carried, touch the key to the push
button start and start the engine. Refer
to Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead on page 4-8 .
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 6 2016/08/11 20:28:41

4 –7 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
CAUTION If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate a problem with the
engine starting system. This may
prevent the engine from starting or
from switching the ignition to ACC or
ON. Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
NOTE
Under the following conditions, the
KEY warning light (red) flashes after
the push button start is pressed. This
informs the driver that the push button
start will not switch to ACC even if it is
pressed from off.
The key battery is dead.
The key is out of operational range.
The key is placed in areas where it is
difficult for the system to detect the
signal (page 3-7 ).
A key from another manufacturer
similar to the key is in the
operational range.
(Forced engine starting method)
If the KEY warning light (red)
illuminates, or the push button start
indicator light (amber) flashes, this
could indicate that the engine may not
start using the usual starting method.
Have your vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer 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.
When the engine is force-started,
the KEY warning light (red) remains
illuminated and the push button
start indicator light (amber) remains
flashing.
(Automatic transmission)
When the selector lever is in the neutral
(N) position, the KEY indicator light
(green) and the push button start
indicator light (green) do not illuminate.
7. Press the push button start after both
the KEY indicator light (green) in the
instrument cluster and the push button
start indicator light (green) illuminate.
NOTE
After starting the engine, the push
button start indicator light (amber)
turns off and the ignition switches to the
ON position.
After pressing the push button start and
before the engine starts, the operation
sound of the fuel pump motor from near
the fuel tank can be heard, however, this
does not indicate a malfunction.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 7 2016/08/11 20:28:41

4 –8 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine 8. After starting the engine, let it idle for
about ten seconds.NOTE
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it
should be started without the use of the
accelerator.
If the engine does not start the first
time, refer to Starting a Flooded Engine
under Emergency Starting. If the engine
still does not start, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer (page 7-26 ).
Engine Start Function When Key
Battery is Dead
CAUTION When starting the engine by holding
the transmitter over the push button
start due to a dead key battery or a
malfunctioning key, be careful not
to allow the following, otherwise the
signal from the key will not be received
correctly and the engine may not start.
Metal parts of other keys or metal
objects touch the key.
Spare keys or keys for other
vehicles equipped with an
immobilizer system touch or come
near the key.
Devices for electronic purchases,
or security passage touch or come
near the key.
If the engine cannot be started due to a
dead key battery, the engine can be started
using the following procedure:
1. Continue to depress the brake pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
2. (Manual transmission)
Continue to depress the clutch pedal
firmly until the engine has completely
started.
3. Verify that the push button start
indication light (green) flashes.
4. Touch the push button start using the
backside of the key (as shown) while
the push button start indicator light
(green) flashes.
Transmitter
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 8 2016/08/11 20:28:42

4 –10 When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
Turning the Engine Off WARNINGDo 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. NOTE
The cooling fan in the engine
compartment could turn on for a few
minutes after the ignition is switched
from ON to OFF, whether or not the
A/C is on or off, to cool the engine
compartment quickly.
When the push button start is pressed
from ON to ACC or OFF, the KEY
indicator light (green) may flash for
approximately 30 seconds indicating
that the remaining battery power of the
key is low.
Replace with a new battery before the
key becomes unusable.
Refer to Key Battery Replacement on
page 6-38 .
(Automatic transmission)
If the engine is turned off while the
selector lever is in a position other than
P, the ignition switches to ACC.
Emergency Engine Stop Continuously pressing the push button
start or quickly pressing it any number of
times while the engine is running or the
vehicle is being driven will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 10 2016/08/11 20:28:42

4 –13 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and DisplayNOTE
(Vehicles with type B audio)
If the fuel economy data is reset using
the fuel economy monitor, or trip A
is reset using the trip meter when the
function which synchronizes the fuel
economy monitor and the trip meter is
on, the fuel economy data and trip A are
reset simultaneously.
Refer to Fuel Economy Monitor on page
4-69 .
Only the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
The trip record will be erased when:
The power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
The vehicle is driven over 9999.9 km
(mile).
TachometerThe tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute (rpm).
CAUTION Do not run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage. Striped zone
Red zone NOTE
When the tachometer needle enters the
STRIPED ZONE, this indicates to the
driver that the gears should be shifted
before entering the RED ZONE.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge (Without Multi-information
Display) Indicates engine coolant temperature.
CAUTION If the high engine coolant temperature
warning light (red) turns on, there is
a possibility of overheating. Park the
vehicle in a safe place immediately
and take appropriate measures. If the
vehicle continues to be driven, it could
cause damage to the engine.
Refer to Overheating on page 7-27 .
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 13 2016/08/11 20:28:44

4 –17 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and DisplayNOTE
Even though the distance-to-empty
display may indicate a sufficient amount
of remaining driving distance before
refueling is required, refuel as soon as
possible if the fuel level is very low or
the low fuel warning light illuminates.
The display may not change unless you
add more than approximately 9 L (2.3
US gal, 1.9 Imp gal) of fuel.
The distance-to-empty is the
approximate remaining distance the
vehicle can be driven until all the
graduation marks in the fuel gauge
(indicating the remaining fuel supply)
disappear.
If there is no past fuel economy
information such as after first
purchasing your vehicle or the
information is deleted when the battery
cables are disconnected, the actual
distance-to empty/range may differ from
the amount indicated.
Average fuel economy mode
This mode displays the average fuel
economy by calculating the total fuel
consumption and the total traveled
distance since purchasing the vehicle, re-
connecting the battery after disconnection,
or resetting the data. The average fuel
economy is calculated and displayed every
minute.
To clear the data being displayed, press the
INFO switch for more than 1.5 seconds.
After pressing the INFO switch, - - - L/100
km (- - - mpg) will be displayed for about
1 minute before the fuel economy is
recalculated and displayed. Current fuel economy mode
This mode displays the current fuel
economy by calculating the amount of fuel
consumption and the distance traveled.
Current fuel economy will be calculated
and displayed every 2 seconds.
When you've slowed to about 5 km/h (3
mph), - - - L/100 km (- - - mpg) will be
displayed.
Average vehicle speed mode
This mode displays the average vehicle
speed by calculating the distance and the
time traveled since connecting the battery
or resetting the data.
Average vehicle speed will be calculated
and displayed every 10 seconds.
To clear the data being displayed, press the
INFO switch for more than 1.5 seconds.
After pressing the INFO switch, - - - km/h
(- - - mph) will be displayed for about
1 minute before the vehicle speed is
recalculated and displayed.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 17 2016/08/11 20:28:44

4 –20 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip
Meter SelectorThe odometer is constantly displayed on
the screen when the ignition is switched
ON, and the TRIP A or TRIP B screen
can be displayed by operating the INFO
switch.
Press the INFO switch INFO switch
Trip meter A,
Odometer
Trip meter B,
Odometer
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven. Trip meter
The driving distance for a specified
interval is indicated. Two types (TRIP
A, TRIP B) of interval distance and the
average fuel economy for each can be
measured.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and
trip meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
The trip meter and average fuel economy
can be reset by pressing the INFO switch
for 1.5 second or more while in each
mode.
NOTE
Only the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
The trip record will be erased when:
The power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
The vehicle is driven over 1999 km
(mile).
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 20 2016/08/11 20:28:45