2 –4 Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Seat Seat Operation
Seat Slide
To move a seat forward or backward, raise the lever and slide the seat to the desired position
and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
Height Adjustment for Front Edge of Seat Bottom (Driver's Seat)
To adjust the height for front edge of the seat bottom, rotate the dial to the desired position.
Seat Recline
To change the seatback angle, lean forward slightly while raising the lever. Then lean back
to the desired position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seatback is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 4 2016/08/11 20:28:20
2 –26 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags Sit in the center of the seat and wear seat belts properly:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them, or sleeping up
against the door or hanging out the windows is extremely dangerous. The side air bags
inflate with great force and speed directly expanding along the door on the side the car is
hit. Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door. Give the side air
bags room to work by sitting in the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat
belts worn properly.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and passenger air bags
deploy:
Attaching an object to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing something in
front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere with air bag inflation
and injure the occupants.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the seat in any
way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air bag, which
inflates from the outboard side of the seats, impeding the added protection of the side air
bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag
could be cut open releasing the gas.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the seats. Never use
seat covers on the seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your seats free to deploy
in the event of a side collision.
Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags
have inflated:
Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have
inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation, they are very hot. You could get burned.
Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull
bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air bag
crash sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate unexpectedly,
or it could prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident. Occupants could be
seriously injured.
Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the suspension is
modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision resulting in incorrect
or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 26 2016/08/11 20:28:25
4 –76 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.High Beam Control System (HBC) *
The High Beam Control System (HBC) determines the conditions in front of the vehicle
using the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) while driving in darknes s to automatically switch
the headlights between high and low beams.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-18 .
While driving the vehicle at a speed of about 30 km/h (19 mph) or more, the headlights are
switched to high beams when there are no vehicles ahead or approaching in the opposite
direction.
The system switches the headlights to low beams when one of the following occurs:
The system detects a vehicle or the headlights/lights of a vehicle approaching in the
opposite direction.
The vehicle is driven on roads lined with streetlamps or on roads in well-lit cities and
towns.
The vehicle is driven at less than about 20 km/h (12 mph).
Forward Sensing
Camera (FSC)The recognition distance of the
Forward Sensing Camera (FSC)
varies according to the
surrounding conditions.
The warning light turns on when the system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning Lights on page 4-26 .
CAUTION
Do not adjust the vehicle height, modify the headlight units, or remove the camera,
otherwise the system will not operate normally.
Do not rely excessively on the High Beam Control System (HBC) and drive the vehicle while
paying sufficient attention to safety. Switch the headlights between the high beams and
low beams manually if necessary.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 76 2016/08/11 20:29:00
4 –80 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
CAUTION Do not modify the suspension. If the vehicle height or the damping force of the
suspensions is changed, the LDWS may not operate correctly.
NOTE
If your vehicle deviates from its traffic lane, the LDWS operates (warning sound and
indicator light). Steer the vehicle adequately to drive the vehicle to the center of the lane.
When the turn signal lever is operated for a lane change, the LDWS warning is
automatically canceled. The LDWS warning becomes operable when the turn signal lever
is returned and the system detects the white or yellow lines.
If the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal is operated abruptly and the
vehicle moves close to a white or yellow line, the system determines that the driver is
making a lane change and the LDWS warning is automatically canceled.
The LDWS may not operate during the period immediately after the vehicle has deviated
from its lane and the LDWS has operated, or the vehicle deviates from its lane repeatedly
within a short period of time.
The LDWS does not operate if it does not detect the white or ye llow lines of the traffic
lane.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 80 2016/08/11 20:29:01
4 –87 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
In the following cases, the activation of the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights
and the warning beep may not occur or they may be delayed.
A vehicle makes a lane change from a driving lane two lanes over to an adjacent lane.
Driving on steep slopes.
Crossing the summit of a hill or mountain pass.
The turning radius is small (making a sharp turn, turning at intersections).
When there is a difference in the height between your driving lane and the adjacent
lane.
Directly after pressing the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) switch and the system
becomes operable.
If the road width is extremely narrow, vehicles two lanes over may be detected.
The detection area of the radar sensors (rear) is set according to the road width of
expressways.
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights may turn on in reaction to stationary
objects on the road or the roadside such as guardrails, tunnels, sidewalls, and parked
vehicles. Objects such as guardrails and concrete walls
running alongside the vehicle. Places where the width between guardrails or
walls on each side of the vehicle narrows.
The walls at the entrance and exits of tunnels,
turnouts.
A Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light may flash or the warning beep may be
activated several times when making a turn at a city intersection.
Turn off the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) while pulling a trailer or while an accessory
such as a bicycle carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radar’s
radio waves will be blocked causing the system to not operate normally.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 87 2016/08/11 20:29:02
4 –97 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSENOTE
In the following cases, the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) cannot detect target objects
correctly, and each system may be unable to operate normally.
The height of the vehicle ahead is low.
You drive your vehicle at the same speed as the vehicle ahead.
Headlights are not turned on during the night or when going through a tunnel.
In the following cases, the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) may not be able to detect
target objects correctly.
When driving next to walls with no patterning (including fences and longitudinally
striped walls).
The taillights of the vehicle ahead are turned off.
A vehicle is outside the illumination range of the headlights.
The vehicle is making a sharp turn, or ascending or descending a steep slope.
Entering or exiting a tunnel.
Heavy luggage is loaded causing the vehicle to tilt.
Strong light is shone at the front of the vehicle (back light or high-beam light from on-
coming vehicles).
There are many light emitters on the vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead is not equipped with taillights or the taillights are turned off at
nighttime.
The vehicle ahead has a special shape. For example, a vehicle towing a trailer house
or a boat, or a vehicle carrier carrying a vehicle with its front pointed rearward.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 97 2016/08/11 20:29:03
4 –99 When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSENOTE
The detection ability of the radar sensors (rear) has limitations. In the following cases,
the detection ability may lower and the system may not operate normally.
The rear bumper near the radar sensors (rear) has become deformed.
Snow, ice or mud adheres to the radar sensors (rear) on the rear bumper.
Under bad weather conditions such as rain, snow and fog.
Under the following conditions, the radar sensors (rear) cannot detect target objects or it
may be difficult to detect them.
Stationary objects on a road or a road side such as small, two-wheeled vehicles,
bicycles, pedestrians, animals, and shopping carts.
Vehicle shapes which do not reflect radar waves well such as empty trailers with a low
vehicle height and sports cars.
Vehicles are shipped with the direction of the radar sensors (rear) adjusted for each
vehicle to a loaded vehicle condition so that the radar sensors (rear) detect approaching
vehicles correctly. If the direction of the radar sensors (rear) has deviated for some
reason, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
For repairs or replacement of the radar sensors (rear), or bumper repairs, paintwork,
and replacement near the radar sensors, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Turn off the system while pulling a trailer or while an accessory such as a bicycle carrier
is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radio waves emitted by the radar will
be blocked causing the system to not operate normally.
The radar sensors are regulated by the relevant radio wave laws of the country in which
the vehicle is driven. If the vehicle is driven abroad, authorization from the country in
which the vehicle is driven may be required.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 99 2016/08/11 20:29:04
6 –25 Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance Closing the Hood1. Check under the hood area to make
certain all filler caps are in place and all
loose items (e.g. tools, oil containers,
etc.) have been removed.
2. Lift the hood, grasp the padded area on
the support rod, and secure the support
rod in the clip. Verify that the support
rod is secured in the clip before closing
the hood.
ClipPa d
3. Lower the hood slowly to a height of
about 20 cm (7.9 in) above its closed
position and then let it drop.
CAUTION When closing the hood, do not push
it excessively such as by applying your
weight. Otherwise, the hood could be
deformed.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 25 2016/08/11 20:29:42