Dash warning light - what does it mean ?

1600Dave · Postby **1600Dave** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:53 pm

In an NB8B, noticed a red warning light flashing on the right hand side of the dash, above the temp gauge. Looked to have a car symbol with what looked like a key symbol in side the car symbol ?? and was flashing every few seconds.

I pulled over when I could, turned the car off, tried turning it back on and the light doesn't flash anymore.

Any idea what it was trying to tell me ?

PS I really should get an owners manual for it....

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:00 pm

Immobilser warning?

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:17 pm

That light is usually to say that the immobiliser is working.
Usually if that's flashing the car won't start (since well...... that's the point of the immobiliser)

1600Dave · Postby **1600Dave** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:50 pm

Hmm, starts and runs fine. Only symptom was the flashing light for a few k's on the highway doing 110.

I guess I'll wait and see if it happens again.

r3395 · Postby **r3395** » Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:26 pm

Sounds like the immobilizer mine comes on when i start my nb i think

1600Dave · Postby **1600Dave** » Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:30 pm

Well, it did it again. Not sure what it's trying to tell me, but it came on again yesterday under the same circumstances as last weekend - when I am teaching my daughter to drive (ie lots of stalling / restarting / etc ) Once the light starts flashing, turning the car right off, removing the key from the ignition and then restarting it from scratch clears the error light.

Maybe the poor thing is just getting confused.

r3395 · Postby **r3395** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 7:52 pm

Key head sounds like it maybe dying maybe speak to Mazda see if they will program you a spare before yours dies and leaves you stranded

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 7:54 pm

Might need a new battery in the key.

Postby **beavis** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 11:11 am

I doubt there is a battery in the NB immobiliser key chip. And if there is, it cannot be replaced.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:22 pm

You're right Beavis. I was thinking of the BMW key....must have been off on another planet :roll:

Yes, the NB8B remote has a battery but that has nothing to do with the immobiliser.

kalt · Postby **kalt** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 1:19 pm

1600Dave wrote:- when I am teaching my daughter to drive (ie lots of stalling / restarting / etc )

Hi Dave, can I ask if you teach with the roof up or down, since there's a massive difference in driving experience between the two (ie open top high visibility, aural sensitivity, high environmental awareness, vs roof up claustrophobia enducing, blindspot mecca)?

If someone is taught in an open top car, would they have better skillset than someone in a conventional hardtop; or inversely would that person lack estimation and lower approximation skills?

Sorry for the off-topic, but genuinely interested to know.

1600Dave · Postby **1600Dave** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:06 pm

Learning with the roof up at the moment, mainly because she is only 15 and the only bit of private road I can find locally is dirt. Roof up tends to cut down on dust getting all over everything :shock:

The reason she is learning before being old enough to be on a learner's permit is because she wants to get into motorsport. The MG Car Club up here in Newcastle has a Young Driver's training program which she will be doing, just trying to teach her the absolute basics of driving (ie operate clutch, gears and throttle) before her first training day with the club.

Here's the course - http://www.mgcarclub.com.au/Driver_training.htm

As to the question of whether it is better to learn with the roof up or down, I've pondered that myself without coming to any real conclusion. I believe that an MX5 is a good first car though - good handling, not too powerful, fairly easy to drive, ABS and only two seats (so less risk of peer pressure from a carload of friends).