2021 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF tow

Adjusting the steering wheel position
Adjust the steering wheel to the position where it can be opera ted easily and the gauges can
be viewed easily.
1. With your back resting against the seatback, extend both arms , place them on the top of
the steering wheel, and pull the steering wheel towards you to the position of your
wrists.
2. Adjust the steering wheel height so that the gauges can be vi ewed easily.
3. Raise the lever to securely lock the steering wheel.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-9
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01

3Before Driving
Use of various features, including keys, doors, mirrors and windows.
Keys.................................................... 3-2 Keys.............................................. 3-2
Keyless Entry System................... 3-4
Advanced Keyless Entry
System...............................................3-10 Advanced Keyless Entry System
*.....
.................................................... 3-10
Operational Range...................... 3-11
Doors and Locks.............................. 3-12 Door Locks................................. 3-12
Trunk Lid................. ................... 3-19
Inside Trunk Release Lever
*...... 3-21
Fuel and Emission........................... 3-22 Fuel and Engine Exhaust
Precautions................................. 3-22
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap.............. 3-25
Mirrors............................................. 3-27 Mirrors........................................ 3-27
Windows........................................... 3-30 Power Windows..........................3-30
Convertible Top (Soft Top)............. 3-33 Convertible Top (Sof t Top).........3-33
Convertible Top (Hardtop)............. 3-38
Convertible Top (Har dtop)......... 3-38
Security System............................... 3-44 Modification and Add-On
Equipment...................................3-44
Immobilizer System....................3-44
Theft-Deterrent System
*.............3-46
Driving Tips..................................... 3-48 Break-In Period.......................... 3-48
Saving Fuel and Protection of the
Environment............................... 3-48
Hazardous Driving.... ..................3-49
Floor Mat.................................... 3-49
Rocking the Vehicle....................3-50
Winter Driving............................3-50
Driving In Flooded Area............ 3-52
Overloading................................ 3-53
Driving on Uneven Road............ 3-54
Towing.............................................. 3-55 Trailer Towing............................ 3-55
Recreational Towing................... 3-55
*Some models.3-1
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01

▼Locking, Unlocking with Auxiliary
Key
Both doors and the fuel-filler lid lock
automatically when th
e driver's door is
locked using the auxiliary key.
Both doors and the fuel-filler lid unlock
when the driver's door is unlocked and the
auxiliary key is held in the unlock position
for one second or longer.
Turn the auxiliary key toward the front to
lock, toward the back to unlock.
Lock
Unlock
NOTE
Holding the auxiliary key in the unlocked
position in the driver's door lock for about
a second unlocks both doors. To unlock
the driver's door and the fuel-filler lid,
insert the auxiliary key into the driver's
door lock and turn the auxiliary key
briefly to the unlock position and then
immediately return it to the center
position.
▼ Locking, Unlocking with Request
Switch (With the advanced keyless
function)
Both doors and the fuel-filler lid can be
locked/unlocked by pressing the request
switch while the key is being carried.
Request switch
To l o c k
To lock the doors and the fuel-filler lid,
press the request switch and the hazard
warning lights will flash once.
A beep sound will be heard once.
To u n l o c k
Driver's door request switch
To unlock the driver's door and the
fuel-filler lid, press the request switch. A
beep sound will be heard twice and the
hazard warning lights will flash twice.
To unlock both doors and the fuel-filler
lid, press the request switch again within 3
seconds and two more beep sounds will be
heard.
Front passenger door request switch
To unlock both doors and the fuel-filler
lid, press the request switch. A beep sound
will be heard twice and the hazard
warning lights will flash twice.
Before Driving
Doors and Locks
3-14
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old
2020-8-28 13:50:01

▼Emission Control System
This vehicle is equipp
ed with an emission co ntrol system (the catalytic converter is part of
this system) that enables the ve hicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions
requirements.
WARNING
Never park over or near anything flammable:
Parking over or near anything flammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with the
engine turned off, the exhaust system remains very hot after normal use and could ignite
anything flammable. A resulting fire could cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside the
converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the converter
and cause poor performance.
 USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
 Do not drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
 Do not coast with the ignition switched off.
 Do not descend steep grades in ge ar with the ignition switched
off.
 Do not operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes.
 Do not tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must be
made by a qualified technician.
 Do not push-start or tow-start this vehicle.
NOTE
Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control
system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some
states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
While the engine is off, the sound of a valve opening and closing can be heard at the rear
of the vehicle, however this does not indicate an abnormality. The vehicle has a
self-checking device and it operates while the engine is off.
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
3-23
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01

▼Lowering the Convertible Top
CAUTION
Do not sit on the folded convertible top.
Otherwise, the convertible top could be
damaged or you may fall
off and be
injured.
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. If the engine is running, turn it off.
3. Make sure there are no objects which have been placed in the area where the
convertible top is to be retracted.
4. With the lock release button depressed
forward, pull back the top latch lever
to unlock it.

Top latch
Lock release button
5. Remove the striker from the anchor.

Anchor Striker
NOTE
If the power windows do not go down
automatically, fully open the windows
or open the doors.
6. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold
the convertible top along the front edge
and pull it toward the vehicle rear.

Front edge
NOTE
To lower the convertible top from
inside the vehicle, use the convertible
top's handles.

Convertible top's handles
Before Driving
Convertible Top (Soft Top)
3-35
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01

7. Move the convertible top rearward andfold it while pressing the rear glass
lightly with your hand.

8. With the back end of the convertibletop pressed, press the front end until a
latch sound is heard.
Lightly rock the retracted convertible
top to make sure it is securely locked.

▼Raising the Convertible Top
1. Make sure the parking brake is
applied.
2. If the engine is running, turn it off.
3. Pull up the unlock lever to disengage the lock.

Unlock Lever
4. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold
the convertible top along the front edge
and pull it towards the vehicle front.

Front edge
NOTE
If the power windows do not go
down automatically, fully open the
windows or open the doors.
Before Driving
Convertible Top (Soft Top)
3-36
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01

Trailer Towing
Your Mazda is not designed for towing.
Never tow a trailer with your Mazda.
Recreational Towing
An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
"Towing Description " (page 7-30) and
"Tiedown Hooks" (page 7-31) and
carefully follow the instructions.
Before Driving
To w i n g
3-55
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01

Using steering shift switch*
To shift up to a higher gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the UP switch
(
) toward you once with your
fingers.

UP switch (+/OFF)
WARNING
Keep your hands on the steering wheel rim
when using fingers on the steering shift
switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of the
steering wheel when using the steering
shift switches is dangerous. If the driver's
air bag were to deploy in a collision, your
hands could be impacted causing injury.
NOTE
When driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE
while in manual shift mode. In addition,
manual shift mode switches to automatic
shift mode while the accelerator pedal is
completely depressed.
This function is canceled while the DSC
is turned off. However, if the vehicle is
continuously driven at a high rpm, the
gears may automatically shift up to
protect the engine.
The steering shift switch can be used
temporarily even if the selector lever is
in the D position while driving. In
addition, it returns to automatic shift
mode when the UP switch (
) is
pulled rearward for a sufficient amount
of time.
▼ Manually Shifting Down
You can shift gears down by operating the
selector lever or
the steering shift
switches
*.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1
Using selector lever
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward
once.

When Driving
Automatic Transmission
*Some models.4-39
MX-5_8JS9-EA-20K_Edition1_old 2020-8-28 13:50:01