2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 Owners Manual (in English)

3-22
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Maintenance
If you have a problem with the
immobilizer system or the key, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
•If the warning light comes on and
stays on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, the
engine will not start.
•Signals from a TV or radio station,
or from a transceiver or a mobile
telephone, could interfere with your
immobilizer system. If you are using
the proper key and your engine fails
to start, check the warning light. If it
is flashing, remove the ignition key
and wait 2 seconds or more, then
reinsert it and try starting the engine
again. If it doesn’t start after 3 or
more tries, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
•If the warning light flashes
continuously while you are driving,
don’t shut off the engine. Go to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer and have
it checked. If you shut off the
engine while the light is flashing
you won’t be able to restart it.
•To avoid damage to the key, do not:
Drop the key.
Get the key wet.
Expose the key to any kind of
magnetic field.
Expose the key to high
temperatures on places such as
the dashboard or hood, under
direct sunlight.
•When starting the engine, do not let
the following materials touch or
come near the key grip. The engine
may not start:
Spare keys.
Keys for other vehicles equipped
with an immobilizer system.
Metal objects that touch or pass
through the hole in the key.
Devices for electronic purchases,
and security passage.
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 22 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

3-23
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Modification and Add-On
Equipment
Mazda cannot guarantee the system’s
operation if the system has been modified
or if any add-on equipment has been
installed to it.The optional theft-deterrent system is
designed to prevent your vehicle or its
contents from being stolen when all the
doors, hood, and trunk lid are locked.
If forcible entry is attempted, the system
sounds the horn and flashes the hazard
warning lights.
The system won’t function unless it’s
properly armed. So when you leave the
vehicle, lock all the doors, close all the
windows, take your key, your transmitter.

Operation
What turns it on:
•Forcing open a door, the hood or the
trunk lid.
•Opening a door, the hood or the trunk
lid by operating an inside door-lock
knob, the hood release handle or the
trunk lid release button.
What it does:
•The horn sounds intermittently and the
hazard warning lights flash.
•The alarm continues for about 3 minutes,
then stops.
If the system is triggered again, the lights
and horn will activate until a door is
unlocked or the trunk lid is opened with
the key or with the transmitter.
NOTE
•The keys carry a unique electronic
code. For this reason, and to assure
your safety, replacement keys
require some waiting time to obtain.
They are only available through an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
•Always keep a replacement key, in
case one is lost. If a key is lost,
contact an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
•If you lose a key, an Authorized
Mazda Dealer will reset the
electronic codes of your remaining
keys and immobilizer system.
Starting the vehicle with a key that
has not been reset is not possible.
To avoid damage to your vehicle, do
not modify the system or install any
add-on equipment to it.
CAUTION
Theft-Deterrent System*
NOTE
The theft-deterrent system operates
with the key or the keyless entry
system transmitter.
*Some models.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 23 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

3-24
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

How to Arm the System
1. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
2. Close the hood and the trunk lid. Then
close and lock all doors from the
outside using the key. If you have the
keyless entry system, press the LOCK
button on the transmitter. The hazard
warning lights will flash once to
indicate that the system is armed.
The following method will also arm the
theft-deterrent system:
Close the hood and the trunk lid. Press
the area on the door-lock switch
marked "LOCK" once. Close all doors.

To Tu r n o f f a n A r m e d S y s t e m
An armed system can be turned off by any
one of the following methods:
•Unlock a door with the key.
•Press the UNLOCK button on the
keyless entry system transmitter.
•Insert the key into the ignition switch
and turn it to the ON position.
The hazard warning lights will flash twice
to indicate that the system is turned off.

To Stop an Alarm
A triggered alarm can be turned off by any
one of the following methods:
•Unlock a door or the trunk lid with the
key.
•Press the UNLOCK button or
button on the keyless entry system
transmitter.

Theft-Deterrent Labels
Labels indicating that your vehicle is
equipped with a Theft-Deterrent System
are in the glove box.
Mazda recommends that you affix them to
the lower rear corner of the front door
windows.
NOTE
Locking the doors with the inside
door-lock knob will not arm the
system.
NOTE
The trunk lid can be opened with the
key or the transmitter even when the
system is armed. The alarm will not
come on and the system will remain
armed.
NOTE
If you have any problem with the theft-
deterrent system, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 24 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

3-25
Knowing Your Mazda
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Steering Wheel and Mirrors

Tilt Steering Wheel
To change the angle of the steering wheel,
stop the vehicle, pull the tilt wheel release
lever under the steering column down,
adjust the wheel, then push the release
lever up to lock the column.
After adjusting, push the wheel up and
down to be certain it’s locked before
driving.

Outside Mirrors
Check the mirrors’ angles before driving.
Power control mirror
The ignition switch must be in the ACC or
ON position.
To a d j u s t :
1. Press the left or right side of the
selector switch to choose the mirror.
2. Depress the mirror switch in the
appropriate direction.
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control
or an accident. Never adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is
moving.
WARNING
Tilt wheel release
lever
Mirrors
Convex Mirror (Passenger Side):
Changing lanes without taking into
account the actual distance of the
vehicle in the convex mirror is
dangerous. You could have a serious
accident. What you see in the convex
mirror is closer than it appears. Be
sure to look over your shoulder or to
check your inside mirror before
changing lanes.
WARNING
Selector switch
Mirror switchOutside mirror
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 25 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

3-26
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
After adjusting the mirror, lock the
control by placing the selector switch in
the middle position.
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
locked.
Mirror defroster*
If your vehicle has mirror defrosters, turn
them on by turning the ignition switch to
the ON position and pushing the rear
window defroster switch (page 5-53).

Rearview Mirror
Rearview mirror adjustment
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window.
Reducing glare from headlights
Manual day/night mirror*
Push the day/night lever forward for day
driving. Pull it back to reduce glare of
headlights from cars at the rear.
Driving with Mirrors Folded In:
Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident. Always return the
outside mirrors to the driving position
before you start driving.
WARNING
Blocked View:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes. Don’t stack
things higher than the seatbacks.
NOTE
For the manual day/night mirror,
perform the adjustment with the day/
night lever in the day position.
WARNING
Day/Night lever
Day
Night
*Some models.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 26 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

3-27
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Auto-dimming mirror*
The auto-dimming mirror automatically
reduces glare of headlights from cars at
the rear when the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
Press the OFF button ( ) to cancel the
automatic dimming function. The
indicator light will go off.
To reactivate the automatic dimming
function, press the ON button ( ). The
indicator light will illuminate.
OFF button
ON button
Indicator light
NOTE
•Do not use glass cleaner or suspend
objects on or around the light
sensor. Otherwise, light sensor
sensitivity will be affected and may
not operate normally.
•For information regarding the
3 buttons ( , , ) on the
auto-dimming mirror, refer to
HomeLink Wireless Control
System (page 5-55).
Light sensor
Light sensor
*Some models.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 27 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

3-28
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 28 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

4-1
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
......................................... 4-2
Fuel Requirements ..................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-5
Before Starting the Engine
........................................................... 4-6
Before Getting In ....................................................................... 4-6
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-6
Driving Tips
................................................................................... 4-7
Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-7
Money-Saving Suggestions ....................................................... 4-7
Hazardous Driving ..................................................................... 4-8
Rocking the Vehicle ................................................................... 4-8
Winter Driving ........................................................................... 4-9
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-10
Overloading ............................................................................. 4-11
To w i n g
.......................................................................................... 4-12
Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-12
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 1 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM