2020 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 Owners Manual (in English)

Jump-Starting
Jump-starting is dangerous if done incorrectly. So follow the procedure carefully. If you feel
unsure about jump-starting, we strongly recommend that you have a competent service
technician do the work.
WARNING
Follow These Precautions Carefully:
To ensure safe and correct handling of the ba ttery, read the following precautions carefully
before using the battery or inspecting it.
Keep flames and sparks away from open battery cells and do not allow metal tools to
contact the positive (
) or negative () terminal of the battery when working near a battery.
Do not allow the positive (
) terminal to contact the vehicle body:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced during
normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An exploding battery
can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep al l flames including cigarettes and sparks away
from open battery cells.
Keep all flames and sparks away from open battery cells because hydrogen gas is
produced from open battery cells while charging the battery or adding battery fluid:
Flames and sparks near open battery cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced during
normal battery operation, could ignite and cause the battery to explode. An exploding battery
can cause serious burns and injuries. Keep al l flames including cigarettes and sparks away
from open battery cells.
Do not jump-start a frozen battery or one with a low fluid level:
Jump-starting a frozen battery or one with a low fluid level is dangerous. It may rupture or
explode, causing serious injury.
Connect the negative cable to a good ground point away from the battery:
Connecting the end of the second jumper cable to the negative (
) terminal of the discharged
battery is dangerous.
A spark could cause the gas around the battery to explode and injure someone.
If Trouble Arises
Battery Runs Out
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Route the jumper cables away from parts that will be moving:
Connecting a jumper cable near or to moving parts (cooling fans, belts) is dangerous. The
cable could get caught when the engine starts and cause serious injury.
CAUTION
Use only a 12 V booster system. You can damage a 12 V starter, ignition system, and other
electrical parts beyond repair with a 24 V power supply (two 12 V batteries in series or a 24 V
motor generator set).
1. Move the booster vehicle so that its battery is as close as p ossible to your vehicle's
battery.
2. Make sure that the power such as for the headlights and air c onditioner is turned off.
3. Remove the battery cover.
4. Turn off the booster vehicle's engine and connect the jumper cables in the following order.
Make sure that the jumper cables are securely connected so that they do not disconnect
due to engine vibrations.
1st lead
Positive (+) terminal on the discharged battery
Positive (+) terminal on booster vehicle's battery
If Trouble Arises
Battery Runs Out
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2nd lead
Negative (-) terminal on booster vehicle's battery
Location shown in the figure (do not connect to the negative (-) terminal of the
battery)
Jumper cables
Booster battery Discharged battery
5. Start the booster vehicle's engine and rev the engine.
6. Start the engine of your vehicle. Run the engines for about 3
minutes to temporarily
charge the battery of your vehicle.
7. Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order of their connection.
8. Install the battery cover.
9. Have your vehicle inspected by an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
If Trouble Arises
Battery Runs Out
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Starting a Flooded Engine
If the engine fails to start, it may be
flooded (excessive fuel in the engine).

Follow this procedure:

1. If the engine does not start within 5seconds on the first try, wait 10
seconds and try again.
2. Make sure the parking brake is on.
3. Depress the accelerator all the way and hold it there.
4. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual transmission) or the brake pedal
(Automatic transmission), then press
the push button start. If the engine
starts, release the accelerator
immediately because the engine will
suddenly rev up.
5. If the engine fails to start, crank it
without depressing the accelerator.

If the engine still does not start using the
previous procedure, have your vehicle
inspected by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Push-Starting
Do not push-start your Mazda.
WARNING
Never tow a vehicle to start it:
Towing a vehicle to start it is dangerous.
The vehicle being towed could surge
forward when its engine starts, causing the
2 vehicles to collide. The occupants could
be injured.
CAUTION
Do not push-start a vehicle that has a
manual transmission. It can damage the
emission control system.
NOTE
You cannot start a vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing it.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Starting
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Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating or the high engine coolant
temperature warning light turns on, the
vehicle loses power, or you hear a loud
knocking or pinging noise, the engine is
probably too hot.
WARNING
Pull over to a safe location, then switch
the ignition off and make sure the fan is
not running before attempting to work
near the cooling fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it is
running is dangerous. The fan could
continue running indefinitely even if the
engine has stopped and the engine
compartment temperature is high. You
could be hit by the fan and seriously
injured.
Do not remove either cooling
system cap when the engine and radiator
are hot:
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
Open the hood ONLY after steam is no
longer escaping from the engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you.
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating or the high engine coolant
temperature warning light turns on:

1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Turn off the air conditioner.
5. Check whether coolant or steam is escaping from the engine
compartment.

If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine.
Wait until the steam dissipates, then
open the hood and start the engine.

If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine
until it cools.
CAUTION
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the engine
temperature will increase. Stop the
engine and call an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
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6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating,then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.
7. When cool, check the coolant level. If it is low, look for coolant leaks from
the radiator and hoses.

If you find a leak or other damage, or if
coolant is still leaking:
Stop the engine and call an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Coolant reservoir
Cooling fan
Cooling system cap
If you find no problems, the engine is
cool, and no leaks are obvious:
Carefully add coolant as required (page
6-25).
CAUTION
If the engine continues to overheat or
frequently overheats, have the cooling
system inspected. The engine could be
seriously damaged unless repairs are
made. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
If Trouble Arises
Overheating
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When Fuel-Filler LidCannot be Opened
If the battery is dead, the fuel-filler lid
cannot be opened.
In this case, the fuel-filler lid can be
opened by taking care of the dead battery
situation.
Refer to Jump-Starting on page 7-23.
If the fuel-filler lid cannot be opened even
if the dead battery situation has been
resolved, the electrical system may have a
malfunction.
In this case, the fuel-filler lid can be
opened using the following procedure as
an emergency measure.
1. Open the trunk lid.
Refer to Opening and Closing the
Trunk Lid on page 3-22.
2. Pull the center section of the plastic fastener and remove the fasteners.

3. Partially peel back the cover inside thetrunk, then pull the emergency release
lever.

Emergency release
lever
If Trouble Arises
When Fuel-Filler Lid Cannot be Opened
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Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.

Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.

A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (rear wheels) off the ground.
If excessive damage or other conditions
prevent this, use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies

When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Do not tow the vehicle pointed backward
with driving wheels on the ground. This
may cause internal damage to the
transmission.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
If Trouble Arises
Emergency Towing
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