Mazda MX-5 RF (2017 year). Instruction — part 14

4–74

When Driving

Switches and Controls

With auto-wiper control

Switch Position

Wiper operation

No.

Type A Type B

Operation while pulling
up lever

Stop

Auto control

Low speed

High speed

Auto-wiper control

When the wiper lever is in the
position, the rain sensor senses the amount
of rainfall on the windscreen and turns the
wipers on or off automatically (off—
intermittent—low speed—high speed).

The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be
adjusted by turning the switch on the
wiper lever.
From the centre position (normal), rotate
the switch upward for higher sensitivity
(faster response) or rotate it downward for
less sensitivity (slower response).

Higher sensitivity

Less sensitivity

Switch

Centre
position

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4–75

When Driving

Switches and Controls

CAUTION

Do not shade the rain sensor by

adhering a sticker or a label on the
windscreen. Otherwise the rain
sensor will not operate correctly.

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 windscreen above the rain

sensor is touched or wiped with a
cloth.

If the windscreen is struck with a

hand or other object from either
outside or inside the vehicle.

Keep hands and scrapers clear of the

windscreen when the wiper lever is
in the

position and the ignition

is switched ON as

¿ ngers could be

pinched or the wipers and wiper
blades damaged when the wipers
activate automatically.

If you are going to clean the

windscreen, 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 windscreen
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 windscreen is coated with

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

If dirt or foreign matter (Such as

ice or matter containing salt water)
adheres to the windscreen above
the rain sensor or if the windscreen
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.

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4–76

When Driving

Switches and Controls

NOTE

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.

The auto-wiper control functions can

be turned off.

Refer to Personalisation Features on

page 9-10 .

Windscreen Washer

Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer

À uid.

Washer

OFF

NOTE

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

If the washer does not work, inspect the
À uid level (page 6-23 ). If the À uid level
is normal, consult an expert repairer,
we recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer.

NOTE

(With headlight washers)
When the headlights are on, the
headlight washers operate automatically
once every

¿ fth time the windscreen

washer operates.
Refer to Headlight Washer on page
4-77 .

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4–77

When Driving

Switches and Controls

*Some models.

Headlight Washer

*

The ignition must be switched ON and the
headlights must be turned on.

The headlight washers operate
automatically once every

¿ fth time the

windscreen washer operates.

If you want to operate headlight washers,
double

À ick the wiper lever.

Washer

OFF

NOTE

If air enters the headlight washer

À uid

pipe under conditions such as when
the vehicle is brand-new or after an
empty washer tank is replenished with
washer

À uid, washer À uid will not spray

even when the wiper lever is operated.
If this occurs, perform the following
procedure:

1. Start the engine.
2. Turn on the headlights.
3. Double

À ick the wiper lever several

times until the washer

À uid sprays.

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 Air-Conditioning

Indicator light

Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning

Indicator light

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4–78

When Driving

Switches and Controls

*Some models.

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 4-77 ).
Manual Air-Conditioning

Indicator light

Fully Automatic Air-Conditioning

Indicator light

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4–79

When Driving

Switches and Controls

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 traf

¿ c hazard

and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.

Depress the hazard warning

À asher and

all the direction indicators will

À ash. The

hazard warning indicator lights in the
instrument cluster

À ash simultaneously.

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4–80

When Driving

Switches and Controls

NOTE

The direction indicators 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.

If the brake pedal is depressed

while driving on slippery roads, the
emergency stop signal system could
operate causing all the turn and lane
change signals to

À ash. Refer to

Emergency Stop Signal System on
page 4-84 .

While the emergency stop signal

system is operating, all the direction
indicators automatically

À ash rapidly

to caution the driver of a vehicle
following behind your vehicle of a
sudden braking situation. Refer to
Emergency Stop Signal System on
page 4-84 .

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4–81

When Driving

Brake

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,

¿ nd 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.

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4–82

When Driving

Brake

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
insuf

¿ cient braking operation.

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 3-62 ) regarding parking
brake use.

Setting the parking brake

Depress the brake pedal and then

¿ rmly

pull the parking brake lever fully upwards
with suf

¿ cient force to hold the vehicle in

a stationary position.

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4–83

When Driving

Brake

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 Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-42 .

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 expert
repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer 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 expert repairer, we recommend an
Authorised Mazda Repairer.

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

¿ rmly.

NOTE

When the brake pedal is depressed

hard or depressed more quickly,
the pedal will feel softer but the
brakes will apply more

¿ rmly. 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.

/:A

4–84

When Driving

Brake

Emergency Stop Signal
System

Your Mazda is equipped with an
emergency stop signal system that is
designed to determine whether you are
depressing the brake pedal with greater
force than during normal braking such
as in a situation requiring emergency
braking. If the system determines that such
a situation is occurring, it

À ashes all the

direction indicators rapidly to caution the
driver of the vehicle following behind your
vehicle of the sudden braking situation.
The system turns off when it determines
that the brake pedal is released or that an
emergency braking situation no longer
exists based on the reduced vehicle speed.

NOTE

If you bring your vehicle to a

complete stop while all the direction
indicators are

À ashing rapidly, the

rapid

À ashing of all the direction

indicators changes back to the
normal

À ashing pattern.

The emergency stop signal system

does not operate at vehicle speeds
under about 60 km/h (37 mph).

If the brake pedal is depressed

while driving on slippery roads, the
emergency stop signal system could
operate causing all the turn and lane
change signals to

À ash.

Hill Launch Assist (HLA)

Hill Launch Assist (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,
Hill Launch Assist (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, Hill Launch Assist (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.

/:A

4–85

When Driving

Brake

WARNING

Do not rely completely on Hill Launch
Assist (HLA):
Hill Launch Assist (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 con

¿ rm the safety around the

vehicle before starting to drive the
vehicle.

NOTE

Hill Launch Assist (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.

Hill Launch Assist (HLA) does

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

While Hill Launch Assist (HLA) is

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

Hill Launch Assist (HLA) does not

operate while the TCS/DSC indicator
light is illuminated.

Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on

page 4-42 .

Hill Launch Assist (HLA) does not

turn off even if the DSC OFF switch
is pressed to turn off the TCS/DSC.

(Automatic Transmission)

Although the Hill Launch Assist

(HLA) does not operate during idling
stop, the vehicle roll prevention
function operates to prevent vehicle
roll.

/:A

4–86

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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 4-42 .

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 tyre 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 tyres 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.

/:A

4–87

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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 4-42 .

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
tyre friction and road contact because
of water on the road surface). You can
still have an accident.

Use snow tyres or tyre 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 4-89 ).

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

À ashes.

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 expert
repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer.

NOTE

In addition to the indicator light

À ashing, a slight labouring 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.

/:A

4–88

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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 manoeuvring,
enhancing vehicle safety.

Refer to ABS (page 4-86 ) and TCS
(page 4-87 ).

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 4-42 .

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
tyre 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 tyres of the correct size

speci

¿ ed for your Mazda on all

four wheels.

Use tyres of the same

manufacturer, brand and tread
pattern on all four wheels.

Do not mix worn tyres.

The DSC may not operate correctly

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

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

À ashes.

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 expert
repairer, we recommend an Authorised
Mazda Repairer.

/:A

4–89

When Driving

ABS/TCS/DSC

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 4-89 .

If the light remains illuminated and
the TCS/DSC is not switched off, take
your vehicle to an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer. 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 dif

¿ cult.

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.

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