
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 –9 When Driving
Start/Stop EngineNOTE
When touching the push button start using
the backside of the key as shown in the
illustration, touch the push button start
with the lock switch side of the key facing
up.
5. Verify that the push button start
indicator light (green) turns on.
6. Press the push button start to start the
engine.
NOTE
The engine cannot be started unless the
clutch pedal is fully depressed (manual
transmission) or the brake pedal is fully
depressed (automatic transmission).
If there is a malfunction with the push
button start function, the push button
start indicator light (amber) flashes.
In this case, the engine may start,
however, have the vehicle checked at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
If the push button start indicator light
(green) does not illuminate, perform the
operation from the beginning again. If
it does not illuminate, have the vehicle
checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
To switch the ignition position without
starting the engine, perform the
following operations after the push
button start indicator light (green) turns
on.
1. Release the clutch pedal (manual
transmission) or brake pedal
(automatic transmission).
2. Press the push button start to switch
the ignition position. The ignition
switches in the order of ACC, ON,
and off each time the push button
start is pressed. To switch the
ignition position again, perform the
operation from the beginning. Emergency Operation for Starting
the Engine 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.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 9 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 –12 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display SpeedometerThe speedometer indicates the speed of the
vehicle.
Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip
Meter Selector (Without Multi-
information Display)The display mode can be changed from
odometer to trip meter A to trip meter B
and then back to odometer by pressing the
selector while one of them is displayed.
The selected mode will be displayed.
Press the selectorPress the selector
Press the selectorOdometer
Trip meter
A
Trip meter B Selector NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
off, the odometer or trip meters cannot be
displayed, however, pressing the selector
can inadvertently switch the trip meters or
reset them during an approximate ten-
minute period in the following cases:
After the ignition is switched to off from
ON.
After the driver's door is opened.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
The trip meter can record the total distance
of two trips. One is recorded in trip meter
A, and the other is recorded in trip meter
B.
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, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
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 records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter
is again reset. Return it to “0.0” by
depressing and holding the selector for
one second or more. Use this meter to
measure trip distances and to compute fuel
consumption.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 12 2016/08/11 20:28:43

4 –14 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display NOTE
The temperature unit (Centigrade/
Fahrenheit) of the engine coolant gauge
display changes in conjunction with
the temperature unit of the outside
temperature display.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 .
During normal driving, the engine
coolant temperature stabilizes at
100 °C (210 °F) or less, and the gauge
indicates a range lower than 100 °C
(210 °F).
If the engine load increases and the
engine coolant temperature exceeds
100 °C (210 °F), the gauge indicates the
engine coolant temperature. Fuel Gauge (Without Multi-
information Display) The fuel gauge shows approximately
how much fuel is remaining in the tank
when the ignition is switched ON. We
recommend keeping the tank over 1/4 full. Full
1/4 Full
Empty
If the low fuel warning light illuminates or
the fuel level is very low, refuel as soon as
possible.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-26 .
NOTE
After refueling, it may require some
time for the indicator to stabilize. In
addition, the indicator may deviate
while driving on a slope or curve since
the fuel moves in the tank.
The display indicating a quarter or less
remaining fuel has more segments to
show the remaining fuel level in greater
detail.
The direction of the arrow ( ) indicates
that the fuel-filler lid is on the left side
of the vehicle.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 14 2016/08/11 20:28:44

4 –15 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display Dashboard IlluminationWhen the position lights are turned
on with the ignition switched ON,
the brightness of the instrument panel
illumination is dimmed. NOTE
When the position lights are turned on,
the position lights indicator light in the
instrument cluster turns on.
Refer to Headlights on page 4-45 .
The brightness of the instrument cluster
and dashboard illuminations can be
adjusted by rotating the knob.
The brightness decreases by rotating the
knob to the left. A beep sound will be
heard when the knob has been rotated to
the maximum dim position.
The brightness increases by rotating the
knob to the right. Dim
Bright Function for cancelling illumination
dimmer
The illumination dimmer can be canceled
by rotating the dashboard illumination
knob to the right until a beep sound is
heard while the instrument cluster is
dimmed with the ignition switched ON.
If the instrument cluster's visibility is
reduced due to glare from surrounding
brightness, cancel the illumination
dimmer.
NOTE
When the illumination dimmer is
canceled, the instrument cluster cannot
be dimmed even if the position lights are
turned on.
When the illumination dimmer is
canceled, the screen in the center
display switches to constant display of
the daytime screen.
Outside Temperature Display
(Without Multi-information
Display) When the ignition is switched ON, the
outside temperature is displayed.
NOTE
Under the following conditions, the
outside temperature display may differ
from the actual outside temperature
depending on the surroundings and vehicle
conditions:
Significantly cold or hot
temperatures.
Sudden changes in outside
temperature.
The vehicle is parked.
The vehicle is driven at low speeds.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 15 2016/08/11 20:28:44

4 –16 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.Changing the Temperature Unit of the
Outside Temperature Display
The outside temperature unit can be
switched between Celsius and Fahrenheit
using the following procedure.
(Vehicles with Type B)
Settings can be changed by operating the
center display screen.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9 .
(Vehicles without Type B)
1. Press the INFO switch with the ignition
switched off and continue pressing the
INFO switch for 5 seconds or longer
while switching the ignition ON. The
outside temperature display flashes.
2. Press the INFO switch to change the
outside temperature unit.
3. Press and hold the INFO switch for
3 seconds or longer while the outside
temperature display is flashing. The
outside temperature display illuminates.
NOTE
When the temperature unit indicated in the
outside temperature display is changed,
the temperature unit indicated in the
engine coolant gauge display changes in
conjunction with it.
Cruise Control Set Vehicle Speed
Display (Without Multi-
information Display) *
The vehicle speed preset using the cruise
control is displayed. Trip Computer and INFO Switch
(Without Multi-information
Display) The following information can be selected
by pressing the INFO switch with the
ignition switched ON.
Approximate distance you can travel on
the available fuel
Average fuel economy
Current fuel economy
Average vehicle speed
If you have any problems with your trip
computer, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Distance-to-empty mode
This mode displays the approximate
distance you can travel on the remaining
fuel based on the fuel economy.
The distance-to-empty will be calculated
and displayed every second.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 16 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