2021 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF light

Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting out
of P unless the brake pedal is depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched to ACC or
the ignition is switched off, the selector
lever cannot be shifted from P position.
The ignition cannot be switched to OFF
if the selector lever is not in P position.
▼ Shift-Lock Override
If the selector lever will not move from P
using the proper shift procedure, continue
to hold down the brake pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
using a cloth-wrapped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
Cover
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer to have the system checked.
Transmission Ranges
The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-27.
The selector lever must be in P or N
position to operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transmissi on and prevents the
rear wheels from rotating.
WA R N I N G
Always set the selector lever to P position
and set the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the P
position without using the parking brake to
hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P fails to
hold, the vehicle could move and cause an
accident.
CAUTION
 Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transmission.
 Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster than
idle can damage the transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except under
rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-50).
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transmission are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
If the engine is running faster than idle, do
not shift from N or P into a driving gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P into a
driving gear when the engine is running
faster than idle. If this is done, the vehicle
could move suddenly, causing an accident
or serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is dangerous.
Engine braking cannot be applied when
decelerating which could lead to an
accident or serious injury.
CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause transmission
damage.
NOTE
Apply the parking brake or depress the
brake pedal before moving the selector
lever from N position to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transmission will automatically
shift through a 6-gear sequence.
M (Manual)
M is the manual shift mode position.
Gears can be shifted up or down by
operating the selector lever. Refer to
Manual Shift Mode on page 4-38.
▼ Shift Position Indication
The selector position is indicated when the
ignition is switched ON.
Gear position indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift
position indication illuminates and the
numeral for the selected gear is displayed.
▼Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transmission
shift points to best suit the road conditions
and driver input. This improves driving
feel. The transmission may switch to AAS
mode when driving up and down slopes,
cornering, driving at high elevations, or
depressing the accelerator pedal quickly
while the selector lever is in the D
position. Depending on the road and
driving conditions/ve
hicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a problem
because the AAS mode will maintain the
optimum gear position.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Driving Tips
WA R N I N G
Do not let the vehicle move in a direction
opposite to the direction selected by the
selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward with
the selector lever in a forward position, or
do not let the vehicle move forward with
the selector lever in the reverse position.
Otherwise, the engine may stop, causing
the loss of the power brake and power
steering functions, and make it difficult to
control the vehicle which could result in an
accident.
Passing
For extra power wh en passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
NOTE
The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how much
the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown, and
functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed.
While the selector lever is in the M
position and the DSC is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.
Climbing steep gra des from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight and
grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Lighting Control
▼Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to turn
the headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
When the lights are turned on, the lights-on indicator light in the instrument cluster turns on.

NOTE
If the light switch is left on, the lights will automatically switch off approximately 30
seconds after switching the ignition off.
The time setting can be changed.
Refer to the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while the engine is off unless
safety requires them.
Without auto-light control
Switch Position OFF
Ignition PositionONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off Off Off On
On
*2
Daytime running lightsOn*1OffOn*1Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off Off On
On
*2OnOn*2
*1 The lights are turned on wh ile the vehicle is driven.*2 The lights are turned on for the specified period by the auto headlight off function.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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With auto-light control
(Except Canada)
Switch PositionOFFAUTO
Ignition Position ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off
Auto
*2Auto*3Off Off On On*5
Daytime running lights On*1OffOn*4OffOn*1Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off Off
Auto
*2Auto*3OnOn*5OnOn*5
*1 The lights are turned on wh ile the vehicle is driven.*2 The lights are turned on by the auto light function.*3 The lights are turned on continuously if the ignition is switc hed from ON to any other position with the lights
turned on. The lights are turned on for the specified period by the auto headlight off function.
*4 The lights are turned on while t he vehicle is driven, and turned off when the headlights are turned on by the
auto light function.
*5 The lights are turned on for th e specified period by the auto headlight off function.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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(Canada)
Ignition PositionACC or OFF ON
Switch Position OFF
*1AUTOOFF*1AUTO
Headlights Off Off Off Off
Auto
*2*4Auto*3*4
On
Daytime running
lights Off Off Off Off
Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off
On
*5OnOn*5On
*1 The light switch returns to t he AUTO position automatically.*2 During the daytime, the daytime running lights turn on automatically. During the nighttime, the headlights,
parking lights, taillights, and th e license plate lights turn on automatically.
*3 During the daytime, the dayti me running lights, parking lights, taillights, and the licen se plate lights turn on
automatically. During the nighttim e, the headlights, parking lights, taillights, and the license plate lights turn
on automatically.
*4 When the light switch is switche d to the OFF position while the vehicle is stopped, all of the lights that are
turned on turn off. When the lig ht switch is switched from a position other than
to the position
while the vehicle is stopped, the daytime running lights or the headlights turn off. When starting to drive the
vehicle, the lights that are turned off turn on again.
*5 The lights are turned on for the specified period by the auto headlight off function.
Auto-light control*
(Except Cnnada)
When the headlight switch is in the AUTO position and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the
headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
(Canada)
When the headlight switch is in a position other than
and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the
headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
*Some models.4-47
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CAUTION
Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a st icker or a label on the windshield. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly.
 The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the AUTO position and the
ignition is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades could be
damaged when the wipers activate automaticall y. If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off completely wh en it is particularly tempting to leave the
engine running. This is particularly important when clearing ice and snow.
NOTE
The headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination may not turn off
immediately even if the surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor
determines that it is night time if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several
minutes such as inside long tunnels, traffic jams inside tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the lights turn off if the li ght switch is turned to the OFF position.
If the headlight switch and the windshield wiper switch are in AUTO, and the wipers are
operated at low or high speed by the auto wiper control for several seconds, bad weather
conditions are determined and the headlights may be turned on.
The sensitivity of the auto-light control may be changed.
Refer to the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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▼Headlight High-Low Beam
The 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 Headlights
Can be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (th
e 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 all of the
doors are closed.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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