Transmission; Manual Transmission Operation - Mazda MX-5 Owner's Manual

When Driving

Transmission

Manual Transmission
Operation
Manual Transmission Shift Pattern
The shift pattern of the transmission is
conventional, as shown.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down
while shifting; then release it slowly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a device to
prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake.
Push the shift lever downward and shift
to R.
4–48
Neutral position
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 tyre speed could
cause the tyres to skid. This could
lead to loss of vehicle control and an
accident.
Always 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.
CAUTION
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.
Do not apply any excessive lateral
force to the shift lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear. This
could lead to the accidental selection
of 2nd gear, which could result in
damage to the transmission.
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.