2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 light

5-33
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately how
much fuel is in the tank. We recommend
keeping the tank over 1/4 full. When the
low fuel warning light illuminates or
when the needle is near E, refuel as soon
as possible.
37

Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
Engine oil pressure is normal when the
engine oil pressure gauge needle points
halfway between L and H with the engine
running.
If the needle on the gauge doesn’t move
after starting the engine, follow steps 1
through 3.If the engine oil pressure gauge moves to
L (low) while you are driving, drive to the
side of the road and park off the right-of-
way. Set the parking brake. Then follow
steps 1 through 3.
1. Turn off the engine and inspect the
engine oil level (page 8-10). If it’s low,
add oil.
2. Start the engine.
3. If the needle still doesn’t move, have
your vehicle checked at an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Low fuel warning lightDon’t run the engine if the oil pressure
is low. It could result in extensive
engine damage.
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.
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 33 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

5-34
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Dashboard Illumination
Rotate the thumb wheel to adjust the
brightness of the instrument cluster and
other illuminations in the dashboard.
Canceling the illumination dimmer
When the headlight switch is in the or
position, the illumination of the
instrument cluster and the information
display dims (the instrument cluster
illumination color turns to red).
When driving on snowy or foggy roads, or
in other situations when the instrument
cluster or information display’s visibility
is reduced due to glare from surrounding
brightness, cancel the illumination
dimmer and increase the illumination
intensity.To cancel the illumination dimmer, rotate
the thumb wheel upward fully. You may
hear a click sound and the illumination
dimmer will be canceled (instrument
cluster illumination color turns to white).
NOTE
•The brightness of dashboard
illuminations (except instrument
cluster) can be adjusted when the
headlight switch is in the or
position.
•The brightness of the instrument
cluster illumination can be adjusted
when the headlight switch is in any
position.
Bright
Dim
NOTE
If the dashboard illumination switch is
kept at the illumination dimmer cancel
position, the instrument cluster and the
information display will not dim when
the headlight switch is turned to the
or position again.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 34 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

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
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 35 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

5-36
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Low Fuel Warning Light 5-41
Seat Belt Warning Light 5-41
Door-Ajar Warning Light 5-41
Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Light 5-41
Automatic Transmission Warning Light 5-42
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light 5-42
Security Indicator Light 5-43
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light 5-43
Shift Position Indicator Light 5-44
TCS/DSC Indicator Light 5-44
DSC OFF Indicator Light 5-44
Cruise Main Indicator Light 5-45
Cruise Set Indicator Light 5-45
Light-On Indicator Light 5-45
Power Steering Malfunction Indicator Light 5-45
Headlight Auto-Leveling Malfunction Indicator Light 5-46
Turn-Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights 5-46
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 36 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

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
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 37 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

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
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 39 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

5-40
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

ABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you’re driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function
normally as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning
Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is OK, the warning light comes on
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position or after the engine is cranked.
After about 6 seconds it goes out.
A system malfunction is indicated when
the warning light constantly flashes, stays
on or doesn’t come on at all when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. If any of these occur, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. The system may not work in an
accident.
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.
WARNING
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to
charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs
and the ABS warning light comes on.
This is due to a weak battery, not a
malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 40 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM