Mazda MX-5 PRHT (2015 year). Instruction

Black plate (152,1)

qBrake System Warning Light

This warning has the following functions:

Parking brake warning/Warning light
inspection

The light illuminates when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switched
to START or ON. It turns off when the
parking brake is fully released.

Low brake fluid level warning

If the brake warning light remains
illuminated even though the parking brake
is released, the brake fluid may be low or
there could be a problem with the brake
system. Park the vehicle in a safe place
immediately and contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.

WARNING

Do not drive with the brake system
warning light illuminated. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible:

Driving with the brake system
warning light illuminated is
dangerous. It indicates that your
brakes may not work at all or that
they could completely fail at any
time. If this light remains
illuminated, after checking that the
parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.

CAUTION

In addition, the effectiveness of the
braking may diminish so you may
need to depress the brake pedal more
strongly than normal to stop the
vehicle.

qAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If one
wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing and
reapplying that wheel's brake.

The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal ABS system operation. Continue
to depress the brake pedal without
pumping the brakes.

WARNING

Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for
safe driving:

The ABS cannot compensate for
unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another
vehicle too closely), driving on ice and
snow, and hydroplaning (reduced tire
friction and road contact because of
water on the road surface). You can
still have an accident.

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NOTE

Braking distances may be longer on loose
surfaces (snow or gravel, for example)
which usually have a hard foundation. A
vehicle with a normal braking system may
require less distance to stop under these
conditions because the tires will build up a
wedge of surface layer when the wheels
skid.

The sound of the ABS operating may be
heard when starting the engine or
immediately after starting the vehicle,
however, it does not indicate a malfunction.

qABS Warning Light

The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.

If the ABS warning light stays on while
you're driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function normally
as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.

NOTE

When the engine is jump-started to charge
the battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light may illuminate. If this occurs,
it is the result of the weak battery and does
not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.

(With DSC vehicles)
The brake assist system does not operate
while the ABS warning light is illuminated.

qElectronic Brake Force

Distribution System Warning

If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may illuminate the brake
system warning light and the ABS
warning light on simultaneously. The
problem is likely to be the electronic
brake force distribution system.

WARNING

Do not drive with both the ABS warning
light and brake warning light
illuminated. Have the vehicle towed to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have
the brakes inspected as soon as
possible:

Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are illuminated simultaneously is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.

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qBrake Assist (with DSC vehicles)

During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the brake
pedal with greater force, the brake assist
system provides braking assistance, thus
enhancing braking performance.

When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the brakes apply
more firmly.

NOTE

When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, the pedal will feel
softer but the brakes will apply more firmly.
This is a normal effect of the brake assist
operation and does not indicate a
malfunction.

When the brake pedal is depressed hard or
depressed more quickly, a motor/pump
operation noise may be heard. This is a
normal effect of the brake assist and does
not indicate a malfunction.

The brake assist equipment does not
supersede the functionality of the vehicle's
main braking system.

qBrake Pad Wear Indicator

When the disc brake pads become worn,
the built-in wear indicators contact the
disc plates. This causes a loud screeching
noise to warn that the pads should be
replaced.

When you hear this noise, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.

WARNING

Do not drive with worn disc pads:

Driving with worn disc pads is
dangerous. The brakes could fail and
cause a serious accident. As soon as
you hear a screeching noise consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

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Manual Transmission
Operation

qManual Transmission Shift Pattern

5-speed transmission

6-speed transmission

Neutral position

The vehicle is equipped with either a 5-
speed or 6-speed manual transmission.
The shift pattern for each is shown above.

Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.

(5-speed transmission)
A safety feature prevents accidental
shifting from 5 to R (reverse). The shift
lever must be put in neutral before being
shifted to R.

(6-speed transmission)
Vehicles with 6-speed transmission are
equipped with a device to prevent shifting
to R (reverse) by mistake. Push the shift
lever downward and shift to R.

WARNING

Do not use sudden engine braking on
slippery road surfaces or at high
speeds:

Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which is dangerous.
The sudden change in tire speed
could cause the tires to skid. This
could lead to loss of vehicle control
and an accident.

Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or R
position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended:

Otherwise the vehicle could move
and cause an accident.

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CAUTION

Ø Keep your foot off the clutch pedal

except when shifting gears. Also,
do not use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.

Ø Do not apply any excessive lateral

force to the gear lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear.
This could lead to the accidental
selection of 2nd gear, which can
result in damage to the
transmission.

Ø Make sure the vehicle comes to a

complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
still moving may damage the
transmission.

NOTE

If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.

qRecommendations for Shifting

Upshifting

For normal acceleration, we recommend
these shift points.

Gear

5-speed

transmission

6-speed

transmission

1 to 2

24 km/h (15 mph) 23 km/h (14 mph)

2 to 3

42 km/h (26 mph) 37 km/h (23 mph)

3 to 4

55 km/h (34 mph) 50 km/h (31 mph)

4 to 5

66 km/h (41 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)

5 to 6

―

66 km/h (41 mph)

For cruising

Gear

5-speed

transmission

6-speed

transmission

1 to 2

15 km/h (9 mph)

18 km/h (11 mph)

2 to 3

29 km/h (18 mph) 32 km/h (20 mph)

3 to 4

47 km/h (29 mph) 44 km/h (27 mph)

4 to 5

61 km/h (38 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)

5 to 6

―

68 km/h (42 mph)

Downshifting

When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
reduces the chance of stalling and gives
better acceleration when you need more
speed.
On a steep downgrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.

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Automatic Transmission Controls

Indicates the shift lever can be shifted freely into any position.

Various Lockouts:

Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal to shift (The ignition
must be switched to ACC or ON).

NOTE

The Sport AT has an option that is not included in the traditional automatic transmission giving the
driver the option of selecting each gear instead of leaving it to the transmission to shift gears. Even if
you intend to use the automatic transmission functions as a traditional automatic, you should also be
aware that you can inadvertently shift into manual shift mode and an inappropriate gear may be
retained as the vehicle speed increases. If you notice the engine speed going higher or hear the
engine racing, confirm you have not accidentally slipped into manual shift mode (page 5-15).

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qTransmission Ranges

The shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.

P (Park)

P locks the transmission and prevents the
rear wheels from rotating.

WARNING

Always set the shift lever to P and set
the parking brake:

Only setting the shift 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

Ø Shifting into P, N or R while the

vehicle is moving can damage
your transmission.

Ø 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 4-8).

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 shift lever from N 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.
Temporary use of the direct mode is
possible.
Refer to Direct Mode on page 5-20.

M (Manual)

M is the manual shift mode position.
Gears can be shifted up or down by
operating the shift lever or steering shift
switches.
Refer to Manual Shift Mode (page 5-15).

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qActive 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.
If the driver accelerates rapidly, or
accelerates and decelerates rapidly by
operating the accelerator and brake pedal
for a certain period of time while the shift
lever is in the D position, AAS mode
could activate.
When cornering the vehicle, AAS mode
will hold the transmission in the gear the
vehicle was in before entering the curve,
allowing the vehicle to be accelerated
from the same gear after exiting the curve.
AAS mode will maintain the transmission
in the optimum gear and the driver may
sense that the transmission is not shifting,
however this does not indicate an
abnormality.

qShift-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. Move the shift lever.

NOTE

When the ignition is switched off, the shift
lever cannot be shifted from P.

To be sure the vehicle is in park, the
ignition key cannot be removed unless the
shift lever is in P.

(With Advanced Key)
The ignition cannot be switched from ACC
to OFF when the shift lever is not in P.

qManual Shift Mode

This mode gives you the feel of driving a
manual transmission vehicle by operating
the shift lever and allows you to control
engine rpm and torque to the rear wheels
much like a manual transmission when
more control is desired.

To change to manual shift mode, shift the
lever from D to M.

NOTE

Changing to manual shift mode while driving
will not damage the transmission.

To return to automatic shift mode, shift
the lever from M to D.

NOTE

If you change to manual shift mode when
the vehicle is stopped, the gear will shift to
M1.

If you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 5th gear, the gear will
shift to M4.

If you change to manual shift mode without
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 6th gear, the gear will
shift to M5.

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Indicators

Manual shift mode indicator

In manual shift mode, the

“M” of the shift

position indicator in the instrument panel
illuminates.

Gear position indicator

The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.

Shift position
indicator

Gear position
indicator

NOTE

If the gears cannot be shifted down when
driving at higher speeds, the gear position
indicator will flash twice to signal that the
gears cannot be shifted down (to protect the
transmission).

Shifting

You can shift gears up and down by
operating the shift lever or the steering
shift switches.

NOTE

If the steering shift switches on both sides
(left and right) are operated simultaneously,
the gear will shift once.

The gear will not shift if the UP switch and
DOWN switch are operated simultaneously.

Manually Shifting up

(M1

→ M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6)

To shift up to a higher gear, move the shift
lever back (

) once.

To shift up to a higher gear with the
steering shift switches, tap either of the
UP switches toward you once with your
fingers.

UP switches

WARNING

Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers or thumbs 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.

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NOTE

When driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.

In manual shift mode, gears do not shift up
automatically. Do not run the engine with
the tachometer needle in the RED ZONE. If
the tachometer needle enters the RED
ZONE, you may feel engine-braking.
However, this does not indicate an
abnormality.

When depressing the accelerator fully, the
transmission will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed (Except M2

→

M1).

Manually Shifting down

( M6

→ M5 → M4 → M3 → M2 →

M1)
To shift down to a lower gear, move the
shift lever forward (

) once.

To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, press either of the
DOWN switches away from you once
with your thumb.

DOWN switches

WARNING

Do not use engine braking on slippery
road surfaces or at high speeds:

Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers or thumbs on
the steering shift switches:

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NOTE

When driving at high speeds, the gear may
not shift down.

During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.

When depressing the accelerator fully, the
transmission will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed (Except M2

→

M1).

Second gear fixed mode

When the selector lever is tapped back
(

) while the vehicle speed is about 10

km/h (6 mph) or less, the transmission is
set in the second gear fixed mode. The
gear is fixed in second while in this mode
for easier acceleration from a stop and
driving on slippery roads such as snow-
covered roads.
If the selector lever is tapped back (

) or

forward (

) while in the second gear

fixed mode, the mode will be canceled.

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Shift gear (shifting) speed limit

For each gear position while in the manual mode, the speed limit is set as follows: When
the selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is shifted.

Shift up

The gear does not shift up while the vehicle speed is lower than the speed limit.

Shift down

The gear does not shift down while the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and the gear does not shift down, the gear
position indication flashes 2 times to notify the driver that the gear cannot be shifted.

Kickdown

When the accelerator pedal is depressed fully while driving, the gear shifts down.

NOTE

The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second gear fixed mode.

Auto-shift down

The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle speed during deceleration.

NOTE

If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains in second.

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Recommendations for shifting

Upshifting

For normal acceleration and cruising, we
recommend these shift points.

Gear

Vehicle speed

M1 to M2

24 km/h (15 mph)

M2 to M3

40 km/h (25 mph)

M3 to M4

53 km/h (33 mph)

M4 to M5

59 km/h (37 mph)

M5 to M6

78 km/h (49 mph)

For cruising

Gear

Vehicle speed

M1 to M2

22 km/h (14 mph)

M2 to M3

27 km/h (17 mph)

M3 to M4

41 km/h (26 mph)

M4 to M5

56 km/h (35 mph)

M5 to M6

64 km/h (40 mph)

Downshifting

When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
gives better acceleration when you need
more speed.

On a steep downgrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.

qDirect Mode

Direct mode can be used for temporarily
switching gears by operating the steering
shift switch while the vehicle is being
driven with the selector lever in the D
range.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indicator lights illuminate and the gear
position in use is illuminated.
Direct mode is canceled (released) under
the following conditions.

The vehicle is driven at a constant
speed.

The needle in the tachometer
approaches the red zone.

The vehicle is driven at a constant
speed and the accelerator pedal is
heavily depressed.

The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.

Gear position indicator

Direct mode indicator

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NOTE

Shifting up and down while in direct mode may
not be possible depending on the vehicle
speed. In addition, because direct mode is
canceled (released) depending on the rate of
acceleration or if the accelerator is fully
depressed, use of the manual shift mode is
recommended if you need to drive the vehicle
in a particular gear for long periods.

qDriving Tips

WARNING

Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position.

Otherwise, the engine will 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 when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.

Climbing steep grades 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.

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Power Steering

Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or if
the power steering system is inoperable,
you can still steer, but it requires more
physical effort.

If the steering feels stiffer than usual
during normal driving, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

CAUTION

Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than 5
seconds with the engine running.
This could damage the power
steering system.

Cruise Control

With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 30 km/h (19 mph).

WARNING

Do not use the cruise control under the
following conditions:

Using the cruise control under the
following conditions is dangerous
and could result in loss of vehicle
control.

Ø Hilly terrain

Ø Steep inclines

Ø Heavy or unsteady traffic

Ø Slippery or winding roads

Ø Similar restrictions that require

inconsistent speed

qCruise Main Indicator Light

(Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator
Light (Green)

The indicator light has two colors.

Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)

The indicator light illuminates amber
when the ON/OFF switch is pressed and
the cruise control system is activated.

Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green)

The indicator light illuminates green when
a cruising speed has been set.

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qActivation/Deactivation

To activate the system, press the ON/OFF
switch.
The cruise main indicator light
illuminates.

To deactivate the system, press the switch
again.
The cruise main indicator light turns off.

WARNING

Keep the ON/OFF switch off when
cruise control is not in use:

Leaving the ON/OFF switch on when
not using the cruise control is
dangerous as you may hit one of the
other buttons and put the vehicle in
cruise control unexpectedly. This
could result in loss of vehicle control.

NOTE

Head of the cruise ON/OFF switch is not kept
at depressed position even when it is ON
position. Height of its head is unchanged at
ON or OFF position.

qTo Set Speed

1. Activate the cruise control system by

pressing the ON/OFF switch.

2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which

must be more than 30 km/h (19 mph).

3. Press down the cruise control SET/-

switch and release it at the desired
speed. Release the accelerator
simultaneously.

Cruise
control
switch

Do not continue to hold the switch. Until
you release it, the speed will continue to
decrease (unless you continue to
accelerate) and you will miss the desired
speed.

NOTE

On a steep grade, the vehicle may
momentarily slow down while ascending,
or speed up while descending.

Cruise control will turn off if the vehicle
speed decreases below 30 km/h (19 mph)
when cruise is activated, such as when
climbing a steep grade.

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Mazda MX-5 PRHT (2015 year). Instruction - part 10