2019 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF light

The BSM switch is pressed and the BSM OFF indicator light in the instrument cluster is
turned off.
The vehicle speed is about 10 km/h (6.3 mph) or faster.
The BSM will not operate under the following circumstances.
The vehicle speed falls below about 10 km/h (6.3 mph) even though the BSM OFF
indicator light is turned off.
The shift lever (manual transmission)/selector lever (automatic transmission) is shifted
to reverse (R) and the vehicle is reversing.
In the following cases, the BSM OFF indicator light turns on and operation of the system
is stopped. If the BSM OFF indicator light re mains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Some problem with the system including the BSM warning lights is detected.
A large deviation in the installation position of a radar sensor (rear) on the vehicle has
occurred.
There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a radar sensor
(rear). Remove any snow, ice or mud on the rear bumper.
Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods.
The temperature near the radar sensors (rear) becomes extremely hot due to driving for
long periods on slopes during the summer.
The battery voltage has decreased.
Under the following conditions, the radar sensors (rear) cannot detect target objects or it
may be difficult to detect them.
A vehicle is in the detection area at the rear in an adjacent driving lane but it does not
approach. The BSM determines the condition based on radar detection data.
A vehicle is traveling alongside your vehicle at nearly the same speed for an extended
period of time.
Vehicles approaching in the opposite direction.
A vehicle in an adjacent driving lane is attempting to pass your vehicle.
A vehicle is in an adjacent lane on a road with extremely wide driving lanes. The
detection area of the radar sensors (rear) is set at the road width of expressways.
In the following cases, the activation of the 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 the BSM system becomes operable by changing the setting.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-87
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

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 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 BSM warning light may flash or the warnin
g beep may be activated several times when
making a turn at a city intersection.
Turn off the BSM while pulling a trailer or while an accessory such as a bicycle carrier is
installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwis e, the radar’s radio waves will be blocked
causing the system to not operate normally.
In the following cases, it may be difficult to view the illumination/flashing of the BSM
warning lights equipped on the door mirrors.
Snow or ice is adhering to the door mirrors.
The door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt.
The system switches to the Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) function when the shift lever
(manual transmission) or the selector lever ( automatic transmission) is shifted to the
reverse (R) position.
Refer to Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) on page 4-97.
▼ Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Warni
ng Lights/Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Warning Beep
The BSM or Rear Cross Traffic Al ert (RCTA) system notifies the driver of the presence of
vehicles in adjacent lanes to the rear of your vehicle using th e BSM warning lights and the
warning beep while the s ystems are operational.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-88
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

BSM warning lights
The BSM warning lights are equipped on the left and right door mirrors. The warning lights
turn on when a vehicle approaching from the rear in an adjacent lane is detected.
When the ignition is switched ON, the malfunction warning light turns on momentarily and
then turns off after a few seconds.
Forward driving (BSM system operation)
The BSM system detects vehicles approaching from the rear and t urns on the BSM warning
lights equipped on the door mirro rs according to the conditions. Additionally, while a BSM
warning light is illum inated, if the turn signal lever is operated to signal a turn in the
direction in which the BSM warning light is illuminated, the BS M warning light flashes.
Reverse driving (Rear Cross Traf fic Alert (RCTA) system operation)
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system detects vehicles app roaching from the left and
right of your vehicle and flashes the BSM warning lights.
Function for cancelling illumination dimmer
If the BSM warning lights turn on when the parking lights are t urned on, the brightness of
the BSM warning lights is dimmed.
If the BSM warning lights are difficult to see due to glare fro m surrounding brightness when
traveling on snow-covered roads or under foggy conditions, pres s the dimmer cancellation
button to cancel the dimmer and increase the brightness of BSM warning lights when they
turn on.
Refer to Dashboard Illumination on page 4-15.
BSM warning beep
The BSM warning beep is activated simultaneously with the flash ing of a BSM warning
light.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-89
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

▼Canceling Operation of Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM)
The BSM system can be set to inoperable.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-9.
When the BSM is set to inoperable, the
BSM and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
(RCTA) systems are turned off and the
BSM OFF indicator light in the instrument
cluster turns on.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched OFF, the
system status before it was turned off is
maintained. For exampl
e, if the ignition is
switched OFF while the BSM and Rear
Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) systems are
operational, the BSM and Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA) systems remain
operational the next time the ignition is
switched ON.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-90
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

The illumination of the headlights is weakened because of dirt or the optical axis is
deviated.
The windshield is dirty or foggy.
The windshield and camera are fogged (water droplets).
Strong light is directed at the front of the vehicle (such as backlight or high-beam
headlights of on-coming vehicles).
The vehicle is making a sharp turn.
Strong light reflects off the road.
A traffic sign is in a position which makes it difficult to reflect the light from the
vehicle's headlights, such as when the vehicle is driven at night or in a tunnel.
The vehicle is driven under weather conditions such as rain, fog, or snow.
The stored map data for the navigation system is not current.
A traffic sign is obscured by mud or snow.
A traffic sign is concealed by trees or a vehicle.
A traffic sign is partially shaded.
A traffic sign is bent or warped.
A traffic sign is too low or too high.
A traffic sign is too bright or too dark (including electronic traffic signs).
A traffic sign is too big or too small.
There is an object similar to the traffic sign being read (such as another traffic sign or
other signs resembling it).
The TSR can be set to inoperable.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
▼Traffic Sign Display Indication
The following traffic signs are d
isplayed on the multi-information display.
Speed limit signs
Do not enter signs
Stop signs
NOTE
Speed limit signs
When the vehicle speed is about 1 km/h (0.6 mph) or faster, the speed limit sign is
displayed when any one of the following conditions are met.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-93
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)*
The RCTA system is designed to assist the driver in checking the area to the rear of the
vehicle on both sides while the vehicle is reversing by alertin g the driver to the presence of
vehicles approaching the rear of the vehicle.
The RCTA system detects vehicles approaching from the rear left and right sides of the
vehicle, and the rear of the vehicle while the vehicle is being reversed out of a parking
space, and notifies the driver of possible danger using the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
warning indicator lights and the warning buzzer.
Detection areas
Your vehicle
RCTA operation
1. The RCTA system operates when the shift lever (manual transmi ssion) or the selector
lever (automatic transmission) is shifted to the reverse (R) position.
2. If there is the po ssibility of a collision with an approachin g vehicle, the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights flashes and the warni ng beep is activated
simultaneously.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.4-97
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

(With rear view monitor)
The RCTA warning indication in the rearview monitor also synchronizes with the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning ind icator light on the door mirrors.
(With rear view monitor)
WA R N I N G
Always check the surrounding area visually before actually putting the vehicle in reverse:
The system is only designed to assist you in ch ecking for vehicles at the rear when putting the
vehicle in reverse. Due to certain limitations wi th the operation of this system, the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights may not flash or it might be delayed even though
a vehicle is behind your vehicle. Always make it your responsibility as a driver to check the
rear.
NOTE
In the following cases, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF Indicator Light turns on
and operation of the system is stopped. If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF Indicator
Light remains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.
Some problem with the system including the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning
indicator lights has occurred.
A large deviation in the installation position of a radar sensor (rear) on the vehicle has
occurred.
There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a radar sensor
(rear).
Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods.
The temperature near the radar sensors becomes extremely hot due to driving for long
periods on slopes during the summer.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-98
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16

The battery voltage has decreased.
Under the following conditions, the radar sensors (rear) cannot detect target objects or it
may be difficult to detect them.
The vehicle speed when reversing is about 10 km/h (6 mph) or faster.
The radar sensor (rear) detection area is obstructed by a nearby wall or parked vehicle.
(Reverse the vehicle to a position where the radar sensor detection area is no longer
obstructed.)
Your vehicle
A vehicle is approaching directly from the rear of your vehicle.
Your vehicle
The vehicle is parked on a slant.
Your vehicle
Directly after the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system becomes operable using the
personalization feature.
Radio wave interference from a radar sensor equipped on a nearby parked vehicle.
In the following cases, it may be difficult to view the illumination/flashing of the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights equipped on the door mirrors.
Snow or ice adheres to the door mirrors.
The door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt.
Turn off the RCTA system while pulling a trailer or while an accessory such as a bicycle
carrier is installed to the rear of the vehic le. Otherwise, the radio waves emitted by the
radar will be blocked causing the system to not operate normally.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
4-99
MX-5_8GV5-EA-18E_Edition3 2018-7-17 15:48:16