I have a 2010 Mazda MX-5 NC, and I’m experiencing an issue with the dashboard warning light for the foldable roof. The light stays on constantly, and there’s a persistent beeping sound that won’t stop.
The roof itself operates perfectly, whether it’s up or down. However, the red warning light remains illuminated, and the beeping starts as soon as I put the car into gear. The sound continues regardless of the roof’s position and only stops when the car is either in neutral or turned off.
I have tried disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes to see if it would reset any errors but no joy
I know it sounds daft but if it’s prht make sure you have clipped it in, and make sure nothing in the space it folds into which is stopping it fully retract.
Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, it is a prht. I have double-checked what you suggested. Still no luck. It beeps with the roof down and up and clipped in
Yes, I have.
One other thing to mention is that normally when the roof goes down there is one single bleep to confirm the roof is down also when raising the roof there’s also a single bleep to confirm it’s all the way up this is not happening anymore.
There are a number of micro switches involved in checking the roofs movement, it’s possible one of these has got dust on it and is sticking. Open the deck and switch the ignition off before the main roof moves and leave it off. when standing along side the drivers side of the car look below the main roof and look for a couple of green/blue micro switches… if you have some brake or carb aerosol cleaner, try a quick blast to clean them. There is another micro switch up behind the release handle cover which is telling the roof control module if the handle is open or closed. I’ve read that this can become misaligned. I’m sure there are two more but can’t remember where and I’m miles from my car so can’t check!
Do you have a smart top module in series with your roof electrics. ( it allows roof operation at slow driving speeds). It seems these can become confused although mine has never caused any problem.
I did have a MX5 things roof control fitted. When I developed this fault I removed it. I also disconnected the battery for 15 minutes thinking it would reset if this was the problem. No joy.
The beeping usually indicates an incomplete open or close cycle. Mine only does this if I interrupt the roof opening or closing operation midway through the sequence. I have an MX5 Things controller and you can stop the cycle mid-sequence by pressing the button for opposite direction before the process has completed. Without the MX5T controller, the same can be achieved by releasing the button mid-operation.
I mention this because it sounds to me like the roof control unit has become confused and no longer knows the status of the roof position. You mentioned you have removed the MX5T unit. As the windows are part of the standard operation when operating the roof, my first thing to try would be to switch on the ignition, hold down both window switches so they open fully and keep the buttons pressed for a good ten seconds. Next, do the same in reverse to raise the windows continuing to hold the switches up for a further ten seconds after they have closed. Switch off the ignition, wait thirty seconds and switch back on. Try the roof, ensuring you hold in the open switch through the entire operation and don’t release until you hear the single long confirmation beep.
If none of that has any effect, I would then take a good look at the microswitches - they are located on the side and detect the motion of the deck as well as the raising and lowering of the roof, as well as in the latch. Also ensure the latch is closing fully and the release button is clicking back out when closed.
Also, make absolutely certain that the boot is properly closed. In fact, do this first before anything else lol. Slam it shut, not enough to damage anything but be sure it is fully closed tight.
I’m also curious to know what the lights on the roof switches are telling you, usually whichever incomplete cycle needs to be finished has a corresponding flashing icon on the buttun until you complete the cycle successfully and then the light will go off.
I tried what you suggested unfortunately it has not worked. I was hopful because about 5 to 6 seconds into holding the window buttons down. There was a click it also clicked 5 to 6 seconds into holding the both window buttons up. But unfortunately, I still have the same problem. At no point do I get a long bleep to confirm that the roof operation is complete.
I also made sure that the boot was closed 100% and it was however I have noticed that the button to release the boot that is next to the bonnet release is not working. I wonder if this could be anything to do with it.
I’ve had this problem myself… a friend advised opening and closing boot and when I say closing l really mean… closing, not slam but a definite “drop”
It worked… I believe there are sensors which will automatically stop the roof from deploying if it thinks the boot lid is open. I appreciate your roof opens and closes but it’s got to be worth a try…?
My PRHT is a slightly newer model I think, rather than a single roof operation icon like yours, the icons on my switches flash to indicate which sequence is in process. I do think you may be on to something with the boot release not working, although with mine if there is an issue with it detecting the boot being open the roof will not operate at all until the boot has been closed. Does yours open/close OK just with the constant warning beep?
If it does still operate the movement, have you tried continuing to hold in the the direction switch for a significant length of time after the cycle seems to have finished?
I do you remember sometime back that the roof wouldn’t go down at all? This did end up being the boot was still open so I think you’re right if the boot wasn’t closed it wouldn’t work at all.
Yes, the roof works perfectly. Just has the warning light constantly lit and starts to bleep as soon as I put the car in gear.
I will give it a go by holding down the roof swich is for some time.
You should definitely check the microswitches. With the deck open but before the roof starts to move, they are pretty easy to identify. From memory there is a switch which confirms the deck is fully open, a switch which then detects the movement of the roof as it lowers into the space or rises out of the space, then the first switch confirms the deck has closed. Assuming your roof is still going up and down, my guess would be the deck switch is not properly detecting that the deck has closed and the cycle is complete.
I’m kind of guessing a bit, on my model I’m pretty sure you need to finish whichever sequence is underway before you can activate the opposite direction. I can’t start a close cycle until the open cycle has fully completed (I think).
Another long shot as well, but if you can’t easily spot any glaring issues with the microswitches, maybe try giving the deck a gentle nudge from behind pushing towards the front. Perhaps it’s just not travelling a couple of mm far enough and that’s enough for the system to throw a hissy fit
I tried holding the roof switches down for some time, but still no joy.
I can’t remember hundred percent if when pressing the button to open the catch to release the roof a red light came on button. I might be wrong on that one, but there is no light when the button is pressed to release the catch.
I will have a good look at the micro switches tomorrow.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. One last suggestion, is your car battery in tip top condition and holding a full charge? Strange things can happen when the battery is playing up, so worth considering as well.
Yes, I had a new battery fitted on its last service around six months ago. Can you remember if a red light comes on the button that opens the catch to release the roof on your car?
When I release the latch one of the icons lights solid red on the dashboard to indicate that the latch is open (off the top of my head I think it’s the roof closing icon). During an open or close operation, the relevant icon flashes until the cycle has finished and the long beep has sounded. When closing, after the beep the closing icon stops flashing and remains solid red until the latch is closed.
I’m pretty convinced that your issue lies with the microswitch that detects the deck is closed. The fact you are not getting the long confirmation beep confirms that the system hasn’t completed the cycle (or doesn’t realise it has), so the warning beeps are to tell you it thinks the roof cycle hasn’t finished.
