Mazda MX-5 (2018 year). Manual

When the wiper lever is in the

position and the ignition is switched ON,
the wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:

If the windshield above the rain sensor

is touched or wiped with a cloth.

If the windshield is struck with a hand

or other object from either outside or
inside the vehicle.

Keep hands and scrapers clear of the
windshield when the wiper lever is in the

position and the ignition is

switched ON as fingers could be pinched
or the wipers and wiper blades damaged
when the wipers activate automatically.
If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off
completely (when it is most likely that the
engine is left running) this is particularly
important when clearing ice and snow.

NOTE



Switching the auto-wiper lever from the

to the

position while driving

activates the windshield wipers once,
after which they operate according to
the rainfall amount.



The auto-wiper control may not operate
when the rain sensor temperature is
about

－

10 °C (14 °F) or lower, or

about 85 °C (185 °F) or higher.



If the windshield is coated with water
repellent, the rain sensor may not be
able to sense the amount of rainfall
correctly and the auto-wiper control
may not operate properly.



If dirt or foreign matter (such as ice or
matter containing salt water) adheres to
the windshield above the rain sensor, or
if the windshield is iced, it could cause
the wipers to move automatically.
However, if the wipers cannot remove
this ice, dirt or foreign matter, the
auto-wiper control will stop operation.
In this case, set the wiper lever to the
low speed position or high speed
position for manual operation, or
remove the ice, dirt or foreign matter by
hand to restore the auto-wiper
operation.



If the auto-wiper lever is left in the
position, the wipers could operate
automatically from the effect of strong
light sources, electromagnetic waves, or
infrared light because the rain sensor
uses an optical sensor. It is
recommended that the auto-wiper lever
be switched to the

position other

than when driving the vehicle under
rainy conditions.



If the headlight switch and the
windshield wiper switch are in

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 auto-wiper control functions can be
turned off. Refer to Personalization
Features on page 9-9.

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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▼ Windshield Washer

Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid.

Washer

OFF

NOTE
If the windshield washer is turned on when
the windshield wipers are not operating,
the windshield wipers operate a few times.

If the washer does not work, inspect the
fluid level (page 6-26). If the fluid level
is normal, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.

Rear Window Defogger

The rear window defogger clears fog from
the rear window.

The ignition must be switched ON to use
the defogger.

Press the switch to turn on the rear
window defogger. The rear window
defogger operates for about 15 minutes
and then turns off automatically.
The indicator light illuminates when the
defogger is operating.

To turn off the rear window defogger
before the 15 minutes has elapsed, press
the switch again.
Manual Climate Control

Indicator light

Fully Automatic Climate Control

Indicator light

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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CAUTION

Do not use sharp instruments or window

cleaners with abrasives to clean the
inside of the rear window surface. They
may damage the defogger grid inside the
window.

Before opening the convertible top, make

sure the rear window defogger switch is
turned off. Otherwise the heat generated
from the defogger could damage the
convertible top and the internal material.

NOTE



This defogger is not designed for
melting snow. If there is an
accumulation of snow on the rear
window, remove it before using the
defogger.

▼ Mirror Defogger

The mirror defoggers defrost the outside
mirrors.

The mirror defoggers operate in
conjunction with the rear window
defogger.
To turn on the mirror defoggers, switch the
ignition ON and press the rear window
defogger switch (page 4-53).

Manual Climate Control

Indicator light

Fully Automatic Climate Control

Indicator light

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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Horn

To sound the horn, press the mark on
the steering wheel.

Hazard Warning Flasher

The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.

The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.

Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash. The hazard
warning indicator lights in the instrument
cluster flash simultaneously.

NOTE



The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.



Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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HomeLink Wireless

Control System

NOTE
HomeLink and HomeLink house icon are
registered trademarks of Gentex
Corporation.

The HomeLink system replaces up to 3
hand-held transmitters with a single
built-in component in the auto-dimming
mirror. Pressing the HomeLink button on
the auto-dimming mirror activates garage
doors, gates and other devices surrounding
your home.

HomeLink button

Indicator light

WARNING

Do not use the HomeLink system with any
garage door opener that lacks the safety
stop and reverse feature:
Using the HomeLink system with any
garage door opener that lacks the safety
stop and reverse feature as required by
federal safety standards is dangerous. (This
includes garage doors manufactured
before April 1, 1982.)
Using these garage door openers can
increase the risk of serious injury or death.
For further information, contact HomeLink
at 1-800-355-3515 or www.homelink.com
or an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Always check the areas surrounding
garage doors and gates for people or
obstructions before programming or
during operation of the HomeLink system:
Programming or operating the HomeLink
system without verifying the safety of areas
surrounding garage doors and gates is
dangerous and could result in an
unexpected accident and serious injury if
someone were to be hit.

NOTE
The programming will not be erased even
if the battery is disconnected.

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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▼ Pre-programming the HomeLink

System

NOTE
It is recommended that a new battery be
placed in the hand-held transmitter of the
device being programmed to HomeLink
for quicker training and accurate
transmission of the radio-frequency signal.



Verify that there is a remote control
transmitter available for the device you
would like to program.



Disconnect the power to the device.

▼ Programming the HomeLink

System

CAUTION

When programming a garage door opener
or a gate, disconnect the power to these
devices before performing programming.
Continuous operation of the devices could
damage the motor.

The HomeLink system provides 3 buttons
which can be individually selected and
programmed using the transmitters for
current, on-market devices as follows:
1. Disconnect the power to the garage

door opener or gate programmed to the
hand-held transmitter.

2. Position the end of your hand-held

transmitter 2.5―7.5 cm (1―3 inches)
away from the HomeLink button you
wish to program while keeping the
indicator light in view.

3. Simultaneously press and hold both the

chosen HomeLink and hand-held
transmitter buttons. Do not release the
buttons until step 3 has been
completed.

NOTE
Some gate operators and garage door
openers may require you to replace
this Programming Step 2 with
procedures noted in the “Gate
Operator/Canadian Programming”
section.

4. After the HomeLink indicator light

changes from a slow to a rapidly
blinking light, release both the
HomeLink and hand-held transmitter
buttons.

When Driving

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NOTE
If the HomeLink indicator light does
not change to a rapidly blinking light,
contact HomeLink at
www.homelink.com or call
1-800-355-3515 for assistance.

5. Connect the power to the garage door

opener or gate programmed to the
hand-held transmitter.

6. Firmly press and hold the programmed

HomeLink button for five seconds, and
then release it. Perform this operation
two times to activate the door or gate.
If the door or gate does not activate,
press and hold the just-trained
HomeLink button and observe the
indicator light.
If the indicator light stays on
constantly, programming is complete
and your device should activate when
the HomeLink button is pressed and
released.

NOTE
To program the remaining two
HomeLink buttons, begin with
“Programming”― step 1

If the indicator light blinks rapidly for
two seconds and then turns to a
constant light, continue with
“Programming” steps 7―9 to
complete the programming of a rolling
code equipped device (most commonly
a garage door opener).

7. At the garage door opener receiver

(motor-head unit) in the garage, locate
the “learn” or “smart” button. This can
usually be found where the hanging
antenna wire is attached to the
motor-head unit.

8. Firmly press and release the “learn” or

“smart” button. (The name and color
of the button may vary by
manufacturer.)

NOTE
Complete the programming within 30
seconds.

9. Return to the vehicle and firmly press,

hold for two seconds and release the
programmed HomeLink button. Repeat
the “press/hold/release” sequence a
second time, and, depending on the
brand of the garage door opener (or
other rolling code equipped device),
repeat this sequence a third time to
complete the programming process.

HomeLink should now activate your
rolling code equipped device.

NOTE
To program the remaining two HomeLink
buttons, begin with “Programming”―
step 1

For questions or comments, please contact
HomeLink at www.homelink.com or
1-800-355-3515.

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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▼ Gate operator/Canadian

Programming

Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or quit)
after several seconds of transmission ―
which may not be long enough for
HomeLink to pick up the signal during
programming. Similar to this Canadian
law, some U.S. gate operators are designed
to “time-out” in the same manner.

If you live in Canada or you are having
difficulties programming a gate operator
by using the “Programming” procedures
(regardless of where you live), replace
“Programming HomeLink” step 3 with
the following:

NOTE
If programming a garage door opener or
gate operator, it is advised to unplug the
device during the “cycling” process to
prevent possible overheating.

Continue to press and hold the HomeLink
button while you press and release ―
every two seconds (“cycle”) your
hand-held transmitter until the frequency
signal has successfully been accepted by
HomeLink. (The indicator light will flash
slowly and then rapidly.)
Proceed with “Programming” step 4 to
complete.

▼ Operating the HomeLink System

Press the programmed HomeLink button
to operate a programmed device. The code
will continue being transmitted for a
maximum of 20 seconds.

▼ Reprogramming the HomeLink

system

To program a device to HomeLink using a
HomeLink button previously trained,
follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the desired HomeLink

button. DO NOT release the button.

2. The indicator light will begin to flash

after 20 seconds. Without releasing the
HomeLink button, proceed with
“Programming” - step 1.

▼ Erasing Programmed HomeLink

Buttons

To erase the existing programming from
all three operating channels, press and
hold the two outside buttons (

) on

the auto-dimming mirror until the
HomeLink indicator light begins to flash
after approximately 10 seconds.
Verify that the programming has been
erased when you resell the vehicle.

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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Brake System

▼ Foot Brake

This vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
use.

Should power-assist fail, you can stop by
applying greater force than normal to the
brake pedal. But the distance required to
stop will be greater than usual.

WARNING

Do not coast with the engine stalled or
turned off, find a safe place to stop:
Coasting with the engine stalled or turned
off is dangerous. Braking will require more
effort, and the brake's power-assist could
be depleted if you pump the brake. This will
cause longer stopping distances or even an
accident.

Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep hills:
Driving with your foot continuously on the
brake pedal or steadily applying the brakes
for long distances is dangerous. This causes
overheated brakes, resulting in longer
stopping distances or even total brake
failure. This could cause loss of vehicle
control and a serious accident. Avoid
continuous application of the brakes.

Dry off brakes that have become wet by
driving slowly, releasing the accelerator
pedal and lightly applying the brakes
several times until the brake performance
returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the vehicle
pulling to one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light braking
will indicate whether the brakes have been
affected.

CAUTION

Do not drive with your foot held on the

clutch pedal or brake pedal, or hold the
clutch pedal depressed halfway
unnecessarily. Doing so could result in
the following:

The clutch and brake parts will wear

out more quickly.

The brakes can overheat and adversely

affect brake performance.

Always depress the brake pedal with the

right foot. Applying the brakes with the
unaccustomed left foot could slow your
reaction time to an emergency situation
resulting in insufficient braking
operation.

When Driving

Brake

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Wear shoes appropriate for driving in

order to avoid your shoe contacting the
brake pedal when depressing the
accelerator pedal.

▼ Parking Brake

CAUTION

Driving with the parking brake on will
cause excessive wear of the brake parts.

NOTE
For parking in snow, refer to Winter
Driving (page 3-52) regarding parking
brake use.

Setting the parking brake

Depress the brake pedal and then firmly
pull the parking brake lever fully upwards
with sufficient force to hold the vehicle in
a stationary position.

Releasing the parking brake

Depress the brake pedal and pull the
parking brake lever upwards, then press
the release button. While holding the
button, lower the parking brake lever all
the way down to the released position.

Button

▼ Warning Light

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Lights on page 4-26.

▼ Brake Pad Wear Indicator

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

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

When Driving

Brake

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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.

▼ Brake Assist

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.

Hill Launch Assist (HLA)

HLA is a function which assists the driver
in accelerating from a stop while on a
slope. When the driver releases the brake
pedal and depresses the accelerator pedal
while on a slope, the function prevents the
vehicle from rolling. The braking force is
maintained automatically after the brake
pedal is released on a steep grade.
For vehicles with a manual transmission,
HLA operates on a downward slope when
the shift lever is in the reverse (R)
position, and on an upward slope when the
shift lever is in a position other than the
reverse (R) position.
For vehicles with an automatic
transmission, HLA operates on a
downward slope when the selector lever is
in the reverse (R) position, and on an
upward slope when the selector lever is in
a forward gear.

WARNING

Do not rely completely on HLA:
HLA is an auxiliary device for accelerating
from a stop on a slope. The system only
operates for about two seconds and
therefore, relying only on the system, when
accelerating from a stop is dangerous
because the vehicle may move (roll)
unexpectedly and cause an accident.
The vehicle could roll depending on the
vehicle's load or if it is towing something. In
addition, for vehicles with a manual
transmission, the vehicle could still roll
depending on how the clutch pedal or the
accelerator pedal is operated.
Always confirm the safety around the
vehicle before starting to drive the vehicle.

When Driving

Brake

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NOTE



HLA does not operate on a gentle slope.
In addition, the gradient of the slope on
which the system will operate changes
depending on the vehicle's load.



HLA does not operate if the parking
brake is applied, the vehicle has not
stopped completely, or the clutch pedal
is released.



While HLA is operating, the brake pedal
may feel stiff and vibrate, however, this
does not indicate a malfunction.



HLA does not operate while the
TCS/DSC indicator light is illuminated.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on
page 4-26.



HLA does not turn off even if the DSC
OFF switch is pressed to turn off the
TCS/DSC.

When Driving

Brake

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Antilock 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.

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-26.

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.

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.

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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Traction Control System

(TCS)

The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by controlling
engine torque and braking. When the TCS
detects driving wheel slippage, it lowers
engine torque and operates the brakes to
prevent loss of traction.

This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin and loss of traction.

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-26.

WARNING

Do not rely on the Traction Control System
(TCS) as a substitute for safe driving:
The Traction Control System (TCS) cannot
compensate for unsafe and reckless
driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.

Use snow tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are covered
with ice and/or snow:
Driving without proper traction devices on
snow and/or ice-covered roads is
dangerous. The Traction Control System
(TCS) alone cannot provide adequate
traction and you could still have an
accident.

NOTE
To turn off the TCS, press the DSC OFF
switch (page 4-67).

▼ TCS/DSC Indicator Light

This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.

If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC or the
brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

NOTE



In addition to the indicator light
flashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This indicates
that the TCS/DSC is operating properly.



On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to achieve
high rpm when the TCS is on.

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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Dynamic Stability Control

(DSC)

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and engine
torque in conjunction with systems such as
ABS and TCS to help control side slip
when driving on slippery surfaces, or
during sudden or evasive maneuvering,
enhancing vehicle safety.

Refer to ABS (page 4-64) and TCS (page
4-65).

DSC operation is possible at speeds
greater than 20 km/h (12 mph).

The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-26.

WARNING

Do not rely on the Dynamic Stability
Control as a substitute for safe driving:
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
cannot compensate for unsafe and reckless
driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.

CAUTION

The DSC may not operate correctly

unless the following are observed:

Use tires of the correct size specified for

your Mazda on all four wheels.

Use tires of the same manufacturer,

brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels.

Do not mix worn tires.

The DSC may not operate correctly when

tire chains are used or a temporary spare
tire is installed because the tire diameter
changes.

▼ TCS/DSC Indicator Light

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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▼ DSC OFF Indicator Light

This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
It also illuminates when the DSC OFF
switch is pressed and TCS/DSC is
switched off.
Refer to DSC OFF Switch on page 4-67.

If the light remains illuminated and the
TCS/DSC is not switched off, take your
vehicle to an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The DSC may have a malfunction.

▼ DSC OFF Switch

Press the DSC OFF switch to turn off the
TCS/DSC. The DSC OFF indicator light
in the instrument cluster will illuminate.

Press the switch again to turn the
TCS/DSC back on. The DSC OFF
indicator light will turn off.

NOTE



When DSC is on and you attempt to free
the vehicle when it is stuck, or drive it
out of freshly fallen snow, the TCS (part
of the DSC system) will activate.
Depressing the accelerator will not
increase engine power and freeing the
vehicle may be difficult. When this
happens, turn off the TCS/DSC.



If the TCS/DSC is off when the engine is
turned off, it automatically activates
when the ignition is switched ON.



Leaving the TCS/DSC on will provide
the best traction.



If the DSC OFF switch is pressed and
held for 10 seconds or more, the DSC
OFF switch malfunction detection
function operates and the DSC system
activates automatically. The DSC OFF
indicator light turns off while the DSC
system is operative.

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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Mazda MX-5 (2018 year). Manual - part 11