2020 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF Owners Manual

The following conditions indicate that the
battery power is low:
The KEY indicator light (green) flashes
in the instrument cluster for about 30
seconds after the engine is switched
OFF (for vehicles with a type A
instrument cluster (page 4-27), messages
are displayed in the instrument cluster).
The system does not operate and the
operation indicator light on the
transmitter does not flash when the
buttons are pressed.
The system's operational range is
reduced.
Replacing the battery at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer, is recommended to prevent
damage to the key. If replacing the battery
by yourself, follow the instruction.
Replacing the key battery
Ty p e A
1. Press the knob and pull out the auxiliary key.
Knob
2. Twist a tape-wrapped flatheadscrewdriver in the direction of the
arrow and open the cover slightly.
Cover
3. Insert the tape-wrapped flatheadscrewdriver into the gap and slide it in
the direction of the arrow.
Cover
Gap
4. Twist the flathead s crewdriver in the
direction of the arrow and remove the
cover.
Cover
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-35
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

5. Remove the battery cap, then removethe battery.
CAUTION
Be careful not to allow the rubber
ring shown in the figure to be
scratched or damaged.
 If the rubber ring detaches, reattach
it before inserting a new battery.
Rubber ring
6. Insert a new battery with the positive
pole facing up, and then cover the
battery with the battery cap.
7. Close the cover.
8. Reinsert the auxiliary key.
Ty p e B
1. Remove the lower cover whilepressing the knob in the direction of
the arrow.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-36
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

2. Press in the tab to unlock the uppercover.
3. Insert a tape-wrapped flatheadscrewdriver into the gap and slide it in
the direction of the arrow.
4. Twist the flathead screwdriver in the direction of the arrow and remove the
upper cover.
5. Remove the cap using thetape-wrapped flathead screwdriver.
6. Remove the battery usingtape-wrapped flathead screwdriver.
7. Insert a new battery into the transmitter
so that the positive pole is facing up.
8. Install the cap.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-37
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

9. Install the upper cover.
10. Insert the tabs of the lower cover intothe slots of the transmitter and install
the lower cover.
Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WA R N I N G
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different types of
tires is dangerous. It could cause poor
handling and poor braking; leading to loss
of control.
Except for the limited use of the temporary
spare tire, use only the same type tires
(radial, bias-belted, bias-type) on all four
wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for the vehicle (page 9-8) is
dangerous. It could seriously affect ride,
handling, ground clearance, tire clearance,
and speedometer calibration. This could
cause you to have an accident. Use only
tires that are the correct size specified for
the vehicle.
▼ Tire Inflation Pressure
WA R N I N G
Always
inflate the tires to the correct
pressure:
Overinflation or underinflation of tires is
dangerous. Adverse handling or
unexpected tire failure could result in a
serious accident.
Refer to Tires on page 9-8.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-38
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

Use only a Mazda-genuine tire valve cap:
Use of a non-genuine part is dangerous as
the correct tire air pressure cannot be
maintained if the tire valve becomes
damaged. If the vehicle is driven under this
condition, the tire air pressure will decrease
which could result in a serious accident. Do
not use any part for the tire valve cap that
is not a Mazda-genuine part.
Inspect all tire pressures monthly when the
tires are cold. Maintain recommended
pressures for the best ride, handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page
9-8).
NOTE
Always check tire pressure when tires
are cold.
Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Do not release
air from warm tires to adjust the
pressure.
Underinflation can cause reduced fuel
economy, uneven and accelerated tire
wear, and poor sealing of the tire bead,
which will deform the wheel and cause
separation of tire from rim.
Overinflation can produce a harsh ride,
uneven and accelerated tire wear, and a
greater possibility of damage from road
hazards.
Keep your tire pressure at the correct
levels. If one frequently needs inflating,
have it inspected.
▼Tire Rotation
WA R N I N G
Rotate tires periodically:
Irregular tire wear is dangerous. To
equalize tread wear for maintaining good
performance in handling and braking,
rotate the tires every 12,000 km (7,500
miles). However Mazda recommends to
rotate every 8,000 km (5,000 miles) to help
increase tire life and distribute wear more
evenly.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance on page
6-4.

During rotation, inspect them for correct
balance.

Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-39
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old
2019-8-29 16:18:06

Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:

Incorrect tire pressure
Improper wheel alignment
Out-of-balance wheel
Severe braking

After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 9-8) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial tires
that have an asymmetrical tread pattern or
studs only from front to rear, not from side
to side. Tire performance will be reduced if
rotated from side to side.
(With limited-slip differential)
Do not use the following:
 Tires not of the designated size
 Tires of
different sizes or types at the
same time
 Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions are not followed, the
rotation of the left and right wheels will be
different and will thus apply a constant
load on the limited-slip differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
▼ Replacing a Tire
WA R N I N G
Always use tires that are in good condition:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and traction
could result in an accident.
Replace all four tires at the same time:
Replacing just one tire is dangerous. It
could cause poor handling and poor
braking resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Mazda strongly recommends that you
replace all four tires at the same time.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace the tire before the band
crosses the entire tread.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-40
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they
are not being used on the road. It is
recommended that tires generally be
replaced when they are 6 years or older.
Heat caused by hot climates or frequent
high loading conditions can accelerate the
aging process. The period in which the tire
was manufactured (both week and year) is
indicated by a 4-digit number.
Refer to Tire Labeling on page 8-25.
▼Replacing a Wheel
WA R N I N G
Always use wheels of the correct size on
your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is dangerous.
Braking and handling could be affected,
leading to loss of control and an accident.
CAUTION
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
 Tire fit
 Wheel and bearing life
 Ground clearance
 Snow-chain clearance
 Speedometer calibration
 Headlight aim
 Bumper height
 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
NOTE
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original
factory wheel in diameter, rim width,
and offset (inset/outset).
For details, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.

Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-41
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

Light Bulbs
Overhead lightSide turn signal lights
High-mount brake light
Trunk light
Front side-marker lights
Front turn signal lights
Headlights (Low/High beam)
P
arking lights
Daytime running lights
License plate lights
Brake lights
Taillights
Rear side-marker lights
Reverse lights
Rear turn signal lights
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-42
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06