2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 check engine light

5-35
Driving Your Mazda
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Warning/Indicator Lights
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-37
Charging System Warning Light 5-38
Engine Oil Level Warning Light 5-38
Engine Coolant Level Warning Light 5-39
Check Engine Light 5-39
ABS Warning Light 5-40
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light 5-40
Warning/Indicator lights will appear in any of the highlighted areas
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5-37
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Brake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It goes off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning/
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
Low brake fluid level warning
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-14).
2. After adding fluid, check the light
again.If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes off, have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible.
Electronic brake force distribution
system warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light on.
In this case, the ABS warning light comes
on at the same time (page 5-40).Brake Warning Light:
Driving with the brake system
warning light on is dangerous. It
indicates that your brakes may not
work at all or that they could
completely fail at any time. If this
light remains on, after checking that
the parking brake is released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
Don’t drive with this light on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
WARNING
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5-38
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Charging System Warning Light
This warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and goes off when the engine is
started.
If the warning light comes on while
driving, it indicates a malfunction of the
alternator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.

Engine Oil Level Warning Light
This warning light indicates low engine
oil level.
If the light illuminates while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park
off the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the
engine oil level (page 8-10). If it’s low,
add oil.
3. Check the light.
If the light remains illuminated even after
you add oil, have your vehicle checked at
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
ABS Warning Light and Brake
Warning Light on at the Same Time:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are on at the same time is dangerous.
When both lights are on, the rear
wheels could lock more quickly in an
emergency stop than under normal
circumstances.
Don’t drive with both lights on, and
contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer
to have the brakes inspected as soon
as possible.
Don’t continue driving when the
charging system warning light is
illuminated.
WARNING
CAUTION
Don’t run the engine if the oil level is
low. It could result in extensive engine
damage.
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 38 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

5-39
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Engine Coolant Level Warning
Light
This warning light indicates low engine
coolant level.
If the light illuminates while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park
off the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the
engine coolant level (page 8-12). If it’s
low, add engine coolant.
3. Check the light.
If the light remains illuminated even after
you add engine coolant, have your vehicle
towed to an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Check Engine Light
If this light comes on while driving, the
vehicle may have a problem. It is
important to note the driving conditions
when the light came on and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The check engine light may come on in
the following cases:
•The fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty.
•The engine’s electrical system has a
problem.
•The emission control system has a
problem.
•The fuel-filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
If the check engine light remains on or
flashes continuously, do not drive at high
speeds and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
NOTE
The Mazda RX-8 requires regular
inspection of the engine oil level. The
compact, high performance RENESIS
rotary engine in your vehicle consumes
a small amount of engine oil due to its
structural design.
Although your vehicle is equipped
with an engine oil level warning light
and an engine oil pressure gauge, it is
best to keep the engine oil level in the
range between full and low by
checking the oil dipstick regularly.
Inspect the level when refueling.Don’t run the engine if the engine
coolant level is low. It could result in
extensive engine damage.
CAUTION
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6-2
Interior Comfort
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Climate Control System

Operating the Climate Control
System
Operate the climate control system with
the engine running.

Clearing the Air Inlet
Clear all obstructions like leaves, snow
and ice from the hood and the air inlet in
the cowling grille to improve the system
efficiency.

Foggy Windows
The windows may fog up easily in humid
weather. Use the climate control system to
defog the windows.
To help defog the windows, operate the air
conditioner to dehumidify the air.

Outside/Recirculated Air
Position
Use the outside air position in normal
conditions. The recirculated air position
can be used temporarily when driving on
dusty roads or for quick cooling of the
interior.

Parking in Direct Sunlight
If the vehicle has been parked in direct
sunlight during hot weather, open the
windows to let warm air escape, then run
the climate control system.

Not Using for a Long Period
Run the air conditioner at least once a
month to keep internal parts lubricated.

Check the Refrigerant before the
Weather Gets Hot
Have the air conditioner checked before
the weather gets hot. Lack of refrigerant
may make the air conditioner less
efficient. Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for refrigerant inspection.
The air conditioner is filled with
HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that will
not damage the ozone layer.
If the air conditioner is low on refrigerant
or has a malfunction, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Replacement of the Cabin Air
Filter
If your vehicle is equipped with an air
filter for the air conditioner, it is necessary
to change the filter periodically as
indicated in scheduled maintenance (page
8-3). Consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for replacement of the cabin air
filter.
Operating Tips
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8-9
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Recommended Oil
Oil container labels provide important
information.
The quality designation SL
or ILSAC

must be on the label.Engine oil viscosity, or thickness, has an
effect on fuel economy and cold-weather
operation (starting and oil flow).
Low-viscosity engine oils can provide
improved fuel economy and cold-weather
performance.
But high-temperature weather conditions
require higher-viscosity engine oils for
satisfactory lubrication.
When choosing an oil, consider the
temperature range your vehicle will
operate in before the next oil change.
Then select the recommended viscosity
from this chart.
Energy conserving oils are recommended.
A chief contribution they make to fuel
economy is reducing the amount of fuel
necessary to overcome engine friction.
Engine Oil
NOTE
The Mazda RX-8 requires regular
inspection of the engine oil level. The
compact, high performance RENESIS
rotary engine in your vehicle consumes
a small amount of engine oil due to its
structural design.
Although your vehicle is equipped
with an engine oil level warning light
and an engine oil pressure gauge, it is
best to keep the engine oil level in the
range between full and low by
checking the oil dipstick regularly.
Inspect the level when refueling.
FORGASOLINEENGINES
(ILSAC)
Using oils of viscosity besides those
recommended for specific temperature
ranges could result in engine damage.
–30–20–100 1020304050
–20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
5W-20
CAUTION
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11-6
Index
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
S
Sunroof ............................................ 3-19
Sunshade
.......................................... 3-20
Sunvisors
.......................................... 6-37
T
Tachometer ...................................... 5-31
Temporary Spare Tire
...................... 8-25
Theft-Deterrent System
................... 3-23
Tiedown
Hook
......................................... 7-24
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
.... 5-24
System error activation
............. 5-26
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light
............................. 5-25
Tires and wheels
....................... 5-27
Tires
Flat tire
........................................ 7-3
Inflation pressure
...................... 8-23
Replacement
............................. 8-24
Rotation
.................................... 8-24
Snow tires
................................... 4-9
Spare tire and tool storage
.......... 7-3
Specifications
........................... 10-7
Tire chains
................................ 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading
system (UTQGS)
...................... 9-15
Tool
.................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description
............................... 7-23
Emergency towing
.................... 7-23
Recreational towing
.................. 7-26
Trailer towing
........................... 4-12
Traction Control System (TCS)
....... 5-20
TCS/DSC indicator light
.......... 5-21
Trailer Towing
................................. 4-12
Trip Meter
........................................ 5-30
Trunk Lid
......................................... 3-11
T
Trunk Light ...................................... 3-12
Trunk Release Slide Lever
............... 3-13
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
........ 5-50
V
Vanity Mirrors .................................. 6-37
Vehicle Information Labels
............. 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................ 5-35
ABS
........................................... 5-40
Air bag system
.......................... 5-40
Automatic transmission
............ 5-42
Brake system
............................. 5-37
Charging system
....................... 5-38
Check engine
............................. 5-39
Door-ajar
................................... 5-41
Engine coolant level
.................. 5-39
Engine oil level
......................... 5-38
Front seat belt pretensioner
system
....................................... 5-40
Low fuel
.................................... 5-41
Low washer fluid level
............. 5-41
Seat belt
..................................... 5-41
Tire pressure monitoring
system
....................................... 5-42
Warranty
............................................. 9-8
Washer Fluid
.................................... 8-17
Weights
............................................ 10-6
Wheel Replacement
......................... 8-26
Windows
Power windows
......................... 3-14
Rear quarter windows
............... 3-16
Windshield Washer
.......................... 5-52
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 6 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM