Mazda MX-5 (2018 year). Instruction - part 29

▼ Locking Lug Nuts

*

If your vehicle has Mazda optional
antitheft wheel lug nuts, one on each
wheel will lock the tires and you must use
a special key to unlock them. This key will
attach to the lug wrench. Register them
with the lock manufacturer by filling out
the card provided in the glove
compartment and mailing it in the
accompanying envelope. If you lose this
key, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
or use the lock manufacturer's order form,
which is with the registration card.
Accessory wheel locks cannot be used on
steel wheels. This includes situations when
the spare tire is installed. If the spare tire is
installed, one of the original lug nuts
(which should still be in the vehicle) must
be installed in place of the wheel lock.

Special key

Antitheft lug nut

To remove an antitheft lug nut

1. Obtain the special key for the antitheft

lug nut.

2. Place the special key on top of the

antitheft lug nut, and be sure to hold
the key square to it. If you hold the key
at an angle, you may damage both key
and nut. Do not use a power impact
wrench.

3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key

and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.

To install the antitheft lug nut

1. Place the special key on top of the nut,

and be sure to hold the key square to it.
If you hold the key at an angle, you
may damage both key and nut. Do not
use a power impact wrench.

2. Place the lug wrench on top of the

special key, apply pressure, and turn it
clockwise.

Nut tightening torque

N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf)

108―147 (12―14,

80―108)

▼ Mounting the Tire

1. Remove dirt and grime from the

mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
 

If Trouble Arises

Flat Tire

7-20

*Some models.

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WARNING

Make sure the mounting surfaces of the
wheel, hub and lug nuts are clean
before changing or replacing tires:
When changing or replacing a tire, not
removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident.

2. Mount the tire.
3. Install the lug nuts with the beveled

edge inward; tighten them by hand.
 

WARNING

Do not apply oil or grease to lug nuts
and bolts and do not tighten the lug
nuts beyond the recommended
tightening torque:
Applying oil or grease to lug nuts and
bolts is dangerous. The lug nuts could
loosen while driving and cause the tire
to come off, resulting in an accident. In
addition, lug nuts and bolts could be
damaged if tightened more than
necessary.

4. Turn the lug wrench counterclockwise

and lower the vehicle.

5. Use the lug wrench to tighten the nuts

in the order shown.
 

If you are unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Nut tightening torque

N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf)

108―147 (12―14,

80―108)

WARNING

Always securely and correctly tighten
the lug nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result in
loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident.

If Trouble Arises

Flat Tire

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Be sure to reinstall the same nuts you
removed or replace them with metric
nuts of the same configuration:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip off
and cause an accident.

6. Remove the tire blocks and store the

tools and jack.

7. Check the inflation pressure. Refer to

Tires on page 9-8.

WARNING

Do not drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air pressure
is dangerous. Tires with incorrect pressure
could affect handling and result in an
accident. When you check the regular tires'
air pressure, check the spare tire, too.

NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from rattling,
store them properly.

If Trouble Arises

Flat Tire

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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 battery, 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 all 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 all 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).

 

Jumper cables

Booster battery

Discharged battery

If Trouble Arises

Battery Runs Out

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1. Remove the battery cover.

 

2. Make sure the booster battery is 12 V

and that its negative terminal is
grounded.

3. If the booster battery is in another

vehicle, do not allow both vehicles to
touch. Turn off the engine of the
vehicle with the booster battery and all
unnecessary electrical loads in both
vehicles.

4. Connect the jumper cables in the exact

sequence as in the illustration.



Connect one end of a cable to the
positive terminal on the discharged
battery (1).



Attach the other end to the positive
terminal on the booster battery (2).



Connect one end of the other cable
to the negative terminal of the
booster battery (3).



Connect the other end to the ground
point indicated in the illustration
away from the discharged battery
(4).

5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle

and run it a few minutes. Then start the
engine of the other vehicle.

6. When finished, carefully disconnect

the cables in the reverse order
described in the illustration.

7. If the battery cover has been removed,

install it in the reverse order of
removal.

NOTE
Verify that the covers are securely
installed.

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 five

seconds on the first try, wait ten
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
two 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 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 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.

6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating,

then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.

If Trouble Arises

Overheating

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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
6-24).

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 Lid

Cannot 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 3-20.

2. Pull the center section of the plastic

fastener and remove the fasteners.
 

3. Partially peel back the cover inside the

trunk, 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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Tiedown Hooks

*

CAUTION

Do not use the front and rear tiedown
eyelets for towing the vehicle.
They have been designed only for securing
the vehicle to a transport vessel during
shipping.
Using the eyelets for any other purpose
could result in the vehicle being damaged.

▼ Tiedown Hooks

1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug

wrench from the luggage compartment
(page 7-3).

2. Wrap a flathead screwdriver or similar

tool with a soft cloth to prevent
damage to a painted bumper, and open
the cap located on the front or rear
bumper.
Front

Rear

CAUTION

Do not use excessive force as it may
damage the cap or scratch the painted
bumper surface.

NOTE
Remove the cap completely and store it
so as not to lose it.

3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet

using the lug wrench or equivalent.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Front

Lug wrench

Tiedown eyelet

If Trouble Arises

Emergency Towing

*Some models.

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Rear

Lug wrench

Tiedown eyelet

4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown

eyelet.

CAUTION

If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying the
vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown
eyelet is securely tightened to the
bumper.

If Trouble Arises

Emergency Towing

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If a Warning Light Turns On or Flashes

If any warning light turns on/flashes, take appropriate action for each light. There is no
problem if the light turns off, however if the light does not turn off or turns on/flashes again,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
(Vehicles with type B audio)
The details for some warnings can be viewed on the center display.
1. If the warning light is turned on, select   icon on the home screen to display the

application screen.

2. Select “Vehicle Status Monitor”.
3. Select “Warning Guidance” to display the current warnings.
4. Select the applicable warning to view the warning details.

▼ Stop Vehicle in Safe Place Immediately

If any of the following warning lights turns on, the system may have a malfunction. Stop the
vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Signal

Warning

Brake 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 re-
leased, 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.

If Trouble Arises

Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds

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Signal

Warning

Electronic Brake Force

Distribution System

Warning

If the electronic brake force distribution control unit determines that some compo-
nents are operating incorrectly, the control unit may illuminate the brake system
warning light and the ABS warning light 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 emer‐
gency stop than under normal circumstances.

Charging System Warn-

ing Indication/Warning

Light

If the warning light illuminates while driving, it indicates a malfunction of the alter-
nator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.

CAUTION

Do not continue driving when the charging system warning light is illuminated be‐
cause the engine could stop unexpectedly.

Engine Oil Warning

Light

This warning light indicates low engine oil pressure.

CAUTION

Do not run the engine if the oil pressure is low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.

If the light illuminates or the warning indication is displayed while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way on level ground.
2. Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan.
3. Inspect the engine oil level (page 6-24). If it's low, add the appropriate amount of

engine oil while being careful not to overfill.

CAUTION

Do not run the engine if the oil level is low. Otherwise, it could result in extensive
engine damage.

4. Start the engine and check the warning light.
 
If the light remains illuminated even though the oil level is normal or after adding oil,
stop the engine immediately and have your vehicle towed to an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.

If Trouble Arises

Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds

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Signal

Warning

(Red)

High Engine Coolant

Temperature Warning

Indication/Warning

Light

The light flashes when the engine coolant temperature is extremely high, and illumi-
nates when the engine coolant temperature increases further.
Handling Procedure
Flashing light
Drive slowly to reduce engine load until you can find a safe place to stop the vehicle
and wait for the engine to cool down.
Illuminated light
This indicates the possibility of overheating. Park the vehicle in a safe place immedi-
ately and stop the engine.
Refer to Overheating on page 7-27.

CAUTION

Do not drive the vehicle with the high engine coolant temperature warning light illumi‐
nated. Otherwise, it could result in damage to the engine.

Power Steering Mal-

function Indicator Light

The light illuminates if the electric power steering has a malfunction.
If the light illuminates, stop the vehicle in a safe place and do not operate the steering
wheel. There is no problem if the light turns off after a while. Contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer if the light illuminates continuously.

NOTE



If the indicator light illuminates, the power steering will not operate normally. If this
happens, the steering wheel can still be operated, however, the operation may feel
heavy compared to normal, or the steering wheel could vibrate when turning.



Repeatedly jerking the steering wheel left and right while the vehicle is stopped or
moving extremely slowly will cause the power steering system to go into protective
mode which will make the steering feel heavy, but this does not indicate a problem. If
this occurs, park the vehicle safely and wait several minutes for the system to return
to normal.

If Trouble Arises

Warning/Indicator Lights and Warning Sounds

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