2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 tow

7-2
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Parking in an Emergency
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning flasher and
all four turn signals will flash at once.
Parking in an Emergency
NOTE
•The turn signals don’t work when
the hazard warning lights are on.
•Check local regulations about the
use of hazard warning lights while
the vehicle is being towed. They
may forbid it.
Hazard warning flasher
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 2 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-22
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
7. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
and run it a few minutes. Then start the
engine of the other vehicle.
8. When finished, carefully disconnect
the cables in the reverse order
described in Step 6.You can’t start a vehicle with an automatic
transmission by pushing it.
Connecting to Negative Terminal:
Connecting the end of the second
cable to the negative ( ) terminal of
the discharged battery is dangerous.
A spark could cause the gas around
the battery to explode and injure
someone. Connect the cable to a point
away from the battery.
Connecting Jumper Cable to Moving
Par ts:
Connecting a jumper cable near or to
moving parts (cooling fans, belts) is
dangerous. The cable could get
caught when the engine starts and
cause serious injury. Never connect a
jumper cable to or near any part that
moves.
NOTE
Verify that the engine cover is securely
installed.
WARNINGPush-Starting
Towing a Vehicle to Start It:
Towing a vehicle to start it is
dangerous. The vehicle being towed
could surge forward when its engine
starts, causing the two vehicles to
collide. The occupants could be
injured. Never tow a vehicle to start it.
You shouldn’t push-start a vehicle that
has a manual transmission. It can
damage the emission control system.
WARNING
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 22 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-23
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Emergency Towing
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
rear wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
Towing Description
Wheel dollies
Don’t tow the vehicle pointed forward
with driving wheels on the ground.
This may cause internal damage to the
transmission.
Don’t tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
CAUTION
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 23 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-24
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Tiedown Hooks
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug
wrench from the trunk (page 7-3).
2. Wrap a lug wrench with a soft cloth to
prevent damage to the bumper and
open the cap located on the front and
rear bumper.
Tiedown Hooks
Don’t use the tiedown hooks under the
front and rear for towing.
They are designed ONLY for tying
down the vehicle when it’s being
transported. Using them for towing
will damage the bumper.
CAUTION
The cap cannot be completely
removed. Do not use excessive force as
it may damage the cap or scratch the
painted bumper surface.
Cap Front
Cap Rear
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 24 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-25
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet
using the lug wrench.4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown
eyelet.
Tiedown eyelet
Lug wrench Front
Tiedown eyelet
Lug wrench Rear
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying down the
vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown
eyelet is securely tightened to the
bumper.
Tiedown eyelet Front
Tiedown eyelet Rear
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 25 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-26
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
An example of “ recreational towing ” is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to “
Towing Description ” (page 7-23) and “
Tiedown Hooks ” (page 7-24) and
carefully follow the instructions.
Recreational Towing
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 26 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-21
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse older of removal. •Don’t bend the stiffeners. You need
to use them again.
•If the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade’s wiping efficiency could
be reduced.
So don’t use the driver’s side metal
stiffeners on the passenger’s side, or
vice versa.
•Be sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was
in the old blade rubber.
NOTE
Install the blade so that the tabs are
toward the bottom of the wiper arm.
CAUTION
Ta b
Battery
Battery-Related Lead Materials:
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer
and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Spilled Battery Fluid:
Spilled battery fluid is dangerous.
Battery fluid contains SULFURIC
ACID which could cause serious
injuries, if it gets in your eyes or on
your skin. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with
water for 15 minutes or wash your
skin thoroughly and get medical
attention. Be careful not to get battery
fluid on yourself.
Battery-Related Explosion:
Flames and sparks near open battery
cells are dangerous. Hydrogen gas,
produced during normal battery
operation, could ignite and cause the
battery to explode. An exploding
battery can cause serious burns and
injuries. Keep all flames, including
cigarettes, and sparks away from
open battery cells.
Children and Batteries:
Allowing children to play near
batteries is dangerous. Battery fluid
could cause serious injuries if it gets
in the eyes or on the skin. Always
keep batteries out of the reach of
children.
WARNING
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 21 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

11-3
Index
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
D
Dashboard Illumination ................... 5-34
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-49
Defroster
Rear window
............................. 5-53
Dimensions
...................................... 10-5
Door Locks
......................................... 3-7
Driving In Flooded Area
.................. 4-10
Driving Tips
....................................... 4-7
Automatic transmission
............ 5-15
Break-in period
........................... 4-7
Driving in flooded area
............. 4-10
Hazardous driving
....................... 4-8
Money-saving suggestions
.......... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle
.................... 4-8
Winter driving
............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
.... 5-21
DSC OFF indicator light
........... 5-22
DSC OFF switch
....................... 5-23
TCS/DSC Indicator light
.......... 5-22
E
Emergency Starting .......................... 7-20
Flooded engine
.......................... 7-20
Jump-starting
............................ 7-20
Push-starting
............................. 7-22
Emergency Towing
.......................... 7-23
Emission Control System
................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant
...................................... 8-12
Exhaust gas
................................. 4-5
Hood release
............................. 3-18
Oil
............................................... 8-9
Overheating
............................... 7-18
Starting
........................................ 5-3
Engine Compartment Overview
........ 8-8
Engine Coolant
Overheating
............................... 7-18
E
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
...............................................5-32
Exhaust Gas
........................................4-5
Exterior Care
....................................8-41
F
Flasher
Hazard warning
.........................5-55
Headlights
.................................5-48
Flat Tire
..............................................7-3
Changing
...................................7-13
Instant Mobility System (IMS)
Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit
................................................7-5
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Fluids
Classification
.............................10-5
Owner maintenance
.....................8-6
Fog Lights
........................................5-50
Foot Brake
..........................................5-4
Front seats
..........................................2-2
Fuel
Filler lid and cap
.......................3-16
Gauge
........................................5-33
Requirements
..............................4-2
Tank capacity
............................10-5
Fuses
.................................................8-33
Panel description
.......................8-36
Replacement
..............................8-33
G
Gauges ..............................................5-29
Glove Box
........................................6-45
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 3 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM