2018 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA ignition

ON
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 4-26).
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 indi cate an abnormality.
Starting the Engine
WA R N I N G
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 w ill 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.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-5
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

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 instr ument 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.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-6
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

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.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-7
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

NOTE
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 indica tor 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 toswitch 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 st art 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 Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-9
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

Turning the Engine Off
WA R N I N G
Do 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 an d 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 i gnition 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 6-33.
(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 pressi
ng it any number of
times while the engin e is running or the
vehicle is being drive n will turn the engine
off immediately. The ignition switches to
ACC.
When Driving
Start/Stop Engine
4-10
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

▼Speedometer
The 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 selector Press the selector
Press the selector
Odometer
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.
Tr i p m e t e r
The trip meter can record the total distance
of two trips. One is r ecorded in trip meter
A, and the other is re corded 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 s elected, 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. Wh en 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.
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
4-12
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

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 warnin g light illuminates or
the fuel level is very low, refuel as soon as
possible.
Refer to Taking Action on page 7-41.
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 fu el level in greater
detail.
The direction of the arrow () indicates
that the fuel-filler lid is on the left side
of the vehicle.
▼ Dashboard Illumination
(Without auto-light control)
When the position lights are turned on
with the ignition switched ON, the
brightness of the dash
board illumination is
dimmed.
(With auto-light control)
When the position lights are turned on
with the ignition switched ON, the
brightness of the dash board illumination is
dimmed. However, when the light sensor
detects that the surrounding area is bright
such as when the position lights are turned
on in the daytime, the dashboard
illumination does not dim.
NOTE
(With auto-light control)
When the ignition is switched ON in the
early evening or at dusk, the dashboard
illumination is dimmed for several
seconds until the light sensor detects the
brightness of the surrounding area,
however, the dimmer may cancel after
the brightness is detected.
When the position lights are turned on,
the position lights i ndicator light in the
instrument cluster turns on.
Refer to Headlights on page 4-44.
The brightness of the instrument cluster
and dashboard illuminations can be
adjusted by rotating the knob.
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
4-14
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

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 illumina tion dimmer is
canceled, the instrument cluster cannot
be dimmed even if the position lights are
turned on.
When the illumina tion dimmer is
canceled, the screen in the center
display switches to constant display of
the daytime screen.
▼ Outside Tempera
ture 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.
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 audio)
Settings can be changed by operating the
center display screen.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9.
(Vehicles without Type B audio)
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.
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
4-15
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27