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MANUAL

Mazda MX-5 (ND Roadster / Miata) Operation Manual

This page is designed to be read from inside the car. If you are unsure how to operate something, check this page before you drive or during a break.

Starting & Stopping

The MX-5 will not start unless you press the clutch pedal. After you stop, shift to neutral before turning off the engine.

  1. Press the clutch pedal

    Press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. The engine will not start if you press the start button without pressing the clutch.

  2. Press the start button

    While holding the clutch down, press the start button at the lower right of the dashboard to start the engine.

  3. Turn off the engine

    Come to a complete stop, shift into neutral, then press the start button to turn off the engine.

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Shifting

This is a 6-speed manual transmission. To engage reverse, push the shift knob down and move it to the R position marked on top of the knob.

The ND Roadster shift knob, with the pattern marked on top and a red downward arrow overlaid above the knob
To select R, push the knob down in the direction of the arrow while moving it to the R position.
  1. Press the clutch fully before shifting

    Press the clutch pedal all the way down before moving the shift lever. Shifting with the clutch half-engaged makes gear changes harder.

  2. Check the shift pattern

    The gear layout is marked on top of the shift knob. Follow the marked layout to select a gear.

  3. Engage reverse

    Push the shift knob down and move it to the R position marked on top of the knob. If it does not engage, do not force it.

  • Moving the lever without pushing the knob down will not engage reverse. If it does not engage, do not force it.
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Opening & Closing the Soft Top

The MX-5 has a manual soft top. It cannot be operated while driving, so always stop the car first and use both hands.

The latch handle at the top center of the windshield, with a finger pressing and sliding the switch in the middle so the red part shows
1. Press the switch in the middle of the handle and slide it until the red part shows.
The latch handle pulled toward the cabin and hanging down, released
2. Pull the handle toward you to release the latch.
A hand in the recess at the front edge of the top, pulling it backward
3. Put your hand in the recess on the top and pull it backward to open.
The soft top stowed in the space in front of the trunk, seen from behind the car
4. The top stowed in the space in front of the trunk.
The lever at the center behind the seats that releases the stowed top
5. To close, pull the lever at the center behind the seats to release the stowed top.
  1. Release the top latch

    On the latch handle at the top center of the windshield, press the switch in the middle of the handle and slide it. When the red part shows, pull the handle toward you to release the latch.

  2. Fold the top back

    Put your hand in the recess at the front edge of the top and pull it backward to open it. Keep folding it back and down until it sits in the space in front of the trunk.

  3. Close the top

    Pull the lever at the center behind the seats to release the stowed top, then lift it and bring it forward to the windshield. Finally, push the latch handle back to lock it.

  • Do not open or close the top while driving.
  • Do not press the fabric down by hand when folding it. Pushing it in outside the normal steps can tear it.
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Lights

The lights are controlled with the left stalk. The headlights are manual. There is no auto position, so turn them on when it gets dark and off when you leave the car.

  1. Turn on the headlights

    Turn the left stalk to the on position.

  2. Signal a turn

    Move the left stalk up or down to flash the turn signal.

  3. Turn off the headlights

    Turn the left stalk back to the off position. Remember to switch them off before you leave the car.

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Refueling

The fuel filler is on the left rear of the car. The filler door is push-to-open: with the car unlocked, press the flap and it opens. The fuel is premium unleaded (high-octane, called "high-oku" in Japan).

A hand pressing the round fuel filler door on the left rear of the car
With the car unlocked, press the flap and it opens.
The inside of the open filler door, with an orange label reading 無鉛プレミアム
The label inside the door: 無鉛プレミアム means premium unleaded (high-octane).
  1. Open the fuel filler door

    The fuel filler is on the left rear of the car. There is no release lever in the cabin. With the car unlocked, press the flap and it opens. If it does not open, check that the doors are unlocked.

  2. Remove the cap

    Open the filler door and turn the cap counterclockwise to remove it.

  3. Refuel

    Fill with premium unleaded (high-octane). In Japan it is labelled ハイオク (high-oku), and the label inside the filler door reads 無鉛プレミアム. At a self-service pump, always choose the high-octane nozzle.

  • Never fill with regular gasoline (レギュラー) or diesel (軽油).
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ETC Card

The ETC unit is mounted behind the passenger seat backrest.

Behind the passenger seat backrest, with the ETC unit visible past the seat belt
The ETC unit is behind the passenger seat backrest.
The front of the ETC unit, showing the card slot
The card slot on the unit. Push the card in until it clicks.
  1. Insert the ETC card

    Reach behind the passenger seat backrest to find the slot, check the card's orientation, and push it in until it clicks into place.

  2. Remove the ETC card

    Press the button on the unit behind the passenger seat backrest to eject the card before you return the car, and remember to take it with you.

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Trunk

The trunk cannot be opened from the driver's seat. Unlock the car, then press the button near the licence plate to open it.

The small black trunk release button at the upper right of the licence plate, circled in red
Press the circled button to open the trunk. The car must be unlocked.
  1. Unlock the car

    The trunk will not open while the car is locked. Check that the doors are unlocked first.

  2. Press the button near the licence plate

    Press the small rubber button at the upper right of the licence plate at the rear of the car to open the trunk.

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