2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA tow

3 –1 *Some models.3 Before Driving Use of various features, including keys, doors, mirrors and windows.
Keys ...................................................... 3-2
Keys
............................................... 3-2
Keyless Entry System
.................... 3-3
Advanced Keyless Entry System ....... 3-8
Advanced Keyless Entry
System *
........................................... 3-8
Operational Range
......................... 3-9
Doors and Locks ................................ 3-10
Door Locks
................................... 3-10
Trunk Lid
..................................... 3-18
Inside Trunk Release Lever *
........ 3-20
Fuel and Emission ............................. 3-22
Fuel and Engine Exhaust
Precautions
................................... 3-22
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
................ 3-25
Steering Wheel ................................... 3-27
Steering Wheel
............................. 3-27
Mirrors ............................................... 3-28
Mirrors
......................................... 3-28
Windows ............................................. 3-31
Power Windows
........................... 3-31
Convertible Top (Soft Top) ............... 3-34
Convertible Top (Soft Top)
.......... 3-34 Convertible Top
(Retractable Fastback)
..................... 3-39
Convertible Top (Retractable
Fastback)
...................................... 3-39
Security System ................................. 3-47
Modification and Add-On
Equipment
.................................... 3-47
Immobilizer System
..................... 3-47
Theft-Deterrent System *
............... 3-49
Driving Tips ....................................... 3-51
Break-In Period
............................ 3-51
Saving Fuel and Protection of the
Environment
................................. 3-51
Hazardous Driving
....................... 3-52
Floor Mat
..................................... 3-52
Rocking the Vehicle
..................... 3-53
Winter Driving
............................. 3-53
Driving In Flooded Area
.............. 3-55
Overloading
.................................. 3-55
Driving on Uneven Road
............. 3-56
Towing ................................................ 3-57
Trailer Towing
.............................. 3-57
Recreational Towing
.................... 3-57
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 1 2016/08/11 20:28:27

3 –12 Before Driving
Doors and Locks Locking, Unlocking with Auxiliary
KeyBoth doors and the fuel-filler lid lock
automatically when the driver's door is
locked using the auxiliary key.
Both doors and the fuel-filler lid unlock
when the driver's door is unlocked and the
auxiliary key is held in the unlock position
for one second or longer.
Turn the auxiliary key toward the front to
lock, toward the back to unlock.
Lock Unlock
NOTE
Holding the auxiliary key in the unlocked
position in the driver's door lock for about
a second unlocks both doors. To unlock the
driver's door and the fuel-filler lid, insert
the auxiliary key into the driver's door
lock and turn the auxiliary key briefly to
the unlock position and then immediately
return it to the center position. Locking, Unlocking with Request
Switch (With the advanced keyless
function) Both doors and the fuel-filler lid can be
locked/unlocked by pressing the request
switch while the key is being carried.
Request switch
To lock
To lock the doors and the fuel-filler lid,
press the request switch and the hazard
warning lights will flash once.
A beep sound will be heard once.
To unlock
Driver's door request switch
To unlock the driver's door and the fuel-
filler lid, press the request switch. A beep
sound will be heard twice and the hazard
warning lights will flash twice.
To unlock both doors and the fuel-filler
lid, press the request switch again within
3 seconds and two more beep sounds will
be heard.
Front passenger door request switch
To unlock both doors and the fuel-filler
lid, press the request switch. A beep sound
will be heard twice and the hazard warning
lights will flash twice.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 12 2016/08/11 20:28:30

3 –36 Before Driving
Convertible Top (Soft Top) Lowering the Convertible Top
CAUTION Do not sit on the folded convertible
top. Otherwise, the convertible top
could be damaged or you may fall off
and be injured.
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. If the engine is running, turn it off.
3. Make sure there are no objects which
have been placed in the area where the
convertible top is to be retracted.
4. With the lock release button depressed
forward, pull back the top latch lever to
unlock it.

Top latchLock release button
5. Remove the striker from the anchor.

Anchor
Striker NOTE
If the power windows do not go down
automatically, fully open the windows or
open the doors.
6. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold
the convertible top along the front edge
and pull it toward the vehicle rear.
Front edge
NOTE
To lower the convertible top from inside
the vehicle, use the convertible top's
handles.
Convertible top's handles
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 36 2016/08/11 20:28:35

3 –37 Before Driving
Convertible Top (Soft Top)7. Move the convertible top rearward and
fold it while pressing the rear glass
lightly with your hand.

8. With the back end of the convertible
top pressed, press the front end until a
latch sound is heard.
Lightly rock the retracted convertible
top to make sure it is securely locked.

Raising the Convertible Top
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. If the engine is running, turn it off. 3. Pull up the unlock lever to disengage
the lock.
Unlock Le ve r
4. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold
the convertible top along the front edge
and pull it towards the vehicle front.
Front edge
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 37 2016/08/11 20:28:35

3 –57 Before Driving
Towing
Trailer TowingYour Mazda is not designed for towing.
Never tow a trailer with your Mazda.
Recreational Towing An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer
to "Towing Description" (page 7-30 )
and "Tiedown Hooks" (page 7-31 ) and
carefully follow the instructions.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 57 2016/08/11 20:28:40

4 –38 When Driving
Transmission
*Some models.Manually shifting up
You can shift gears up by operating
the selector lever or the steering shift
switches *
.
M1 → M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6
Using selector lever
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the
selector lever back
once.
Using steering shift switch *
To shift up to a higher gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the UP switch
(
) toward you once with your
fingers. UP switch (+/OFF) WARNING 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 slowly, the gears may not
shift up. 
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE
while in manual shift mode. In
addition, manual shift mode switches
to automatic shift mode while the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed.
This function is canceled while the DSC
is turned off. However, if the vehicle
is continuously driven at a high rpm,
the gears may automatically shift up to
protect the engine. 
The steering shift switch can be used
temporarily even if the selector lever is
in the D position while driving. In
addition, it returns to automatic shift
mode when the UP switch (
) is
pulled rearward for a sufficient amount
of time.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 38 2016/08/11 20:28:51

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 –48 When Driving
Switches and Controls Headlight High-Low BeamThe headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward. High beam
Low beam
When the headlight high-beams are on,
the headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.
Flashing the HeadlightsCan be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on). OFF
Headlight
flashing The headlight high-beam indicator light
in the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The lever will return to the
normal position when released.
Coming Home Light The coming home light turns on the
headlights (low beams) when the lever is
operated.
To turn on the lights
When the lever is pulled with the ignition
switched to ACC or OFF, the low beam
headlights turn on.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed after the doors
are closed.
NOTE 
The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9 . 
If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pulled, the headlights
turn off. 
The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
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