3 –53 Before Driving
Driving Tips
Rocking the Vehicle WARNING Do not spin the wheels at more than
56 km/h (35 mph), and do not allow
anyone to stand behind a wheel when
pushing the vehicle:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning the
wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries.
CAUTION Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transmission failure, and
tire damage.
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand or mud, depress the accelerator
slightly and slowly move the shift lever
from 1 (D) to R. Winter Driving Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check
the following:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page
6-29 .
Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-27 ).
Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
Use washer fluid made with antifreeze—
but do not use engine coolant antifreeze
for washer fluid (page 6-31 ).
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 windshield is dangerous as it
could obstruct vision.
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
windshield.
Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows and
mirrors as it could result in the glass
cracking.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 53 2016/08/11 20:28:39
4 –28 When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
*Some models.Signal Warning Lights Page
Seat Belt Warning Light 7-41*
Door-Ajar Warning Light 7-41*
Door-Ajar Warning Indication 7-41*
Trunk lid-Ajar Warning Indication 7-41*
Low Fuel Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-41
Check Fuel Cap Warning Light *1
7-41*
Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Indication/Warning Light 7-41
*1 The light turns on when the ignition is switched on for an operation check, and turns off a few seconds later or
when the engine is started. If the light does not turn on or remains turned on, have the vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
*2 The light turns on continuously when the parking brake is applied.
Indication/Indicator Lights
These lights turn on or flash to notify the user of the system o peration status or a system
malfunction. Signal Indicator Lights Page*
Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Indicator Light *1
2-37
(White/Green) *
KEY Indicator/Indicator Light 3-8
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 28 2016/08/11 20:28:48
6 –16 Maintenance and Care How to keep your Mazda in top condition.
Essential Information ........................................................................ 6-2
Introduction
................................................................................... 6-2
Scheduled Maintenance ..................................................................... 6-4
Scheduled Maintenance (U.S.A., Canada, and Puerto Rico)
........ 6-4
Scheduled Maintenance (Mexico)
.............................................. 6-13
Maintenance Monitor
.................................................................. 6-20
Owner Maintenance ......................................................................... 6-22
Owner Maintenance Precautions
................................................ 6-22
Hood
............................................................................................ 6-24
Engine Compartment Overview
................................................. 6-26
Engine Oil
................................................................................... 6-27
Engine Coolant
............................................................................ 6-29
Brake/Clutch Fluid
...................................................................... 6-31
Washer Fluid
............................................................................... 6-31
Body Lubrication
........................................................................ 6-32
Wiper Blades
............................................................................... 6-33
Battery
......................................................................................... 6-36
Key Battery Replacement
........................................................... 6-38
Tires ............................................................................................. 6-41
Light Bulbs
.................................................................................. 6-45
Fuses
........................................................................................... 6-54
Appearance Care .............................................................................. 6-59
Exterior Care ............................................................................... 6-59
Interior Care
................................................................................ 6-68
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 1 2016/08/11 20:29:37
6 –9 Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance Schedule 2U.S.A. and Puerto Rico residents - Severe driving conditions maintenance interval Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first.
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
ENGINE
Drive belts I I
Engine oil & filter Flexible *1
Replace when wrench indicator light is ON. (Max interval: 12
months/16,000 km (10,000 miles))
Fixed R R R R R R R R R R R R
COOLING SYSTEM
Engine coolant *2
Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years.
Engine coolant level I I I I I I I I I I I I
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter *3
Replace when any equivalent timing of replacing engine oil.
(Max interval: 36 months or 60,000 km (37,500 miles))
Fuel lines and hoses *4
I I I
Hoses and tubes for emission *4
I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs Replace every 120,000 km (75,000 miles).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Function of all lights I I I I I I I I I I I I
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I I
Brake and clutch fluid level I I I I I I I I I I I I
Disc brakes I I I I
I I
Manual transmission oil Replace every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 2 years.
Tire (Rotation) *5
Rotate when any equivalent timing of replacing engine oil.
(Max interval: 8,000 km (5,000 miles))
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear *5
I I I I I I I I I I I I
Steering operation and linkages I I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play I I I
Rear differential oil *6
Driveshaft dust boots I I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T T
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 9 2016/08/11 20:29:38
6 –11 Maintenance and Care
Scheduled MaintenanceCanada residents Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first.
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
ENGINE
Drive belts I I
Engine oil & filter R R R R R R R R R R R R
COOLING SYSTEM
Engine coolant *1
Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years.
Engine coolant level I I I I I I I I I I I I
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter I I I I I I I I I I I I
Replace every 56,000 km (35,000 miles) or 3 years.
Fuel lines and hoses *2
I I I
Hoses and tubes for emission *2
I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs Replace every 120,000 km (75,000 miles).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Function of all lights I I I I I I I I I I I I
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I I
Brake and clutch fluid level I I I I I I I I I I I I
Disc brakes Inspect every 24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 1 years.
Manual transmission oil Replace every 48,000 km (30,000 miles) or 2 years.
Tire (Rotation) *3
Rotate every 8,000 km (5,000 miles).
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear *3
I I I I I I I I I I I I
Steering operation and linkages I I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play I I I
Rear differential oil *4
Driveshaft dust boots I I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T T
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years.
All locks and hinges L L L L L L L L L L L L
Washer fluid level I I I I I I I I I I I I
Emergency flat tire repair kit (if installed) *5
Inspect annually.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 11 2016/08/11 20:29:39
6 –14 Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance Schedule 1 Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers, whichever comes first
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
×1000 km 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 11 0 120
ENGINE
Drive belts I I I
Engine oil & filter R R R R R R R R R R R R
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system I I I
Engine coolant *1
Replace at first 200,000 km or 10 years; after that, every
100,000 km or 5 years
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter R R R R R R
Fuel lines and hoses I *2
I *2
I
Hoses and tubes for emission I *2
I *2
I
Fuel filter Replace every 60,000 km
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs I I I I I I I I I I I I
Replace every 120,000 km
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I I I I I
Brake and clutch fluid level I I I I I I I I I
Brake fluid R R R
Disc brakes I I I I I I I I I I I I
Manual transmission oil R
Tire (Rotation) *3
Rotate every 10,000 km
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear *3
I I I I I I I I I I I I
Steering operation and linkages I I I I I I I I I I I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play I I I I I I
Rear differential oil *4
Driveshaft dust boots I I I I I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T T T T T
Exhaust system and heat shields I I I I I I
All locks and hinges L L L L L L L L L L L L
Washer fluid level I I I I I I I I I I I I
Emergency flat tire repair kit (if installed) *5
Inspect annually.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 14 2016/08/11 20:29:40
6 –16 Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance Schedule 2 Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers, whichever comes first
Months 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
×1000 km 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
ENGINE
Drive belts I
Engine oil & filter R R R R R R R R R R R R
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system I
Engine coolant *1
Replace at first 200,000 km or 10 years; after that, every
100,000 km or 5 years
Engine coolant level I I I I I I I I I I I I
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter C R C R C R
Fuel lines and hoses I *2
Hoses and tubes for emission I *2
Fuel filter Replace every 60,000 km
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs I I I I I I
Replace every 120,000 km
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Function of all lights I I I I I I I I I I I I
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I I
Brake and clutch fluid level I I I I I
Brake fluid R
Disc brakes I I I I I I
Manual transmission oil R
Tire (Rotation) *3
Rotate every 10,000 km
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear *3
I I I I I I
Steering operation and linkages I I I I I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play I I I
Rear differential oil *4
Driveshaft dust boots I I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T T
Exhaust system and heat shields I I I
All locks and hinges L L L L L L
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 16 2016/08/11 20:29:40
6 –18 Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance (Cont.) Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers, whichever comes first
Months 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72
×1000 km 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 11 0 11 5 120
ENGINE
Drive belts I I
Engine oil & filter R R R R R R R R R R R R
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system I I
Engine coolant *1
Replace at first 200,000 km or 10 years; after that, every
100,000 km or 5 years
Engine coolant level I I I I I I I I I I I I
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter C R C R C R
Fuel lines and hoses I *2
I
Hoses and tubes for emission I *2
I
Fuel filter Replace every 60,000 km
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs I I I I I I
Replace every 120,000 km
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Function of all lights I I I I I I I I I I I I
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I I
Brake and clutch fluid level I I I I
Brake fluid R R
Disc brakes I I I I I I
Manual transmission oil R R
Tire (Rotation) *3
Rotate every 10,000 km
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear *3
I I I I I I
Steering operation and linkages I I I I I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play I I I
Rear differential oil *4
Driveshaft dust boots I I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T T
Exhaust system and heat shields I I I
All locks and hinges L L L L L L
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 18 2016/08/11 20:29:41