2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 traction control

4-8
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
•Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
•Avoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
•If your vehicle is not equipped with
ABS, brake with the pedal by using a
light up-down motion. Don’t hold the
pedal down constantly.
If your vehicle is equipped with ABS,
don’t pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
•If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Don’t spin the rear
wheels.
•For more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or packed
snow, use sand, rock salt, chains,
carpeting, or other nonslip material
under the rear wheels.If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from 1 (D) to R.
Hazardous Driving
Downshifting on Slippery Surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident. If it is
necessary to downshift on slippery
surfaces, be very careful.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the rear
wheels.
WARNING
Rocking the Vehicle
Spinning the Wheels:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries. Don’t spin the wheels at
more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and
don’t allow anyone to stand behind a
wheel when pushing the vehicle.
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transmission failure, and
tire damage.
WARNING
CAUTION
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 8 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

5-1
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
5Driving Your Mazda
Explanation of instruments and controls.
Starting and Driving
..................................................................... 5-2
Ignition Switch .......................................................................... 5-2
Starting the Engine .................................................................... 5-3
Brake System ............................................................................. 5-4
Manual Transmission Operation ............................................... 5-8
Automatic Transmission Controls ........................................... 5-10
Power Steering ......................................................................... 5-16
Cruise Control ......................................................................... 5-17
Traction Control System (TCS)* ............................................. 5-20
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)* ......................................... 5-21
Tire Pressure Monitoring System* .......................................... 5-24
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
............................................ 5-29
Meters and Gauges .................................................................. 5-29
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beeps
........................................ 5-35
Warning/Indicator Lights ......................................................... 5-35
Beeps ....................................................................................... 5-47
Switches and Controls
................................................................. 5-48
Lighting Control ...................................................................... 5-48
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ............................................... 5-50
Fog Lights* .............................................................................. 5-50
Windshield Wipers and Washer ............................................... 5-51
Headlight Washer* .................................................................. 5-53
Rear Window Defroster ........................................................... 5-53
Horn ......................................................................................... 5-54
Hazard Warning Flasher .......................................................... 5-55
HomeLink Wireless Control System* ..................................... 5-55
*Some models.
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5-20
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

To Cancel
To turn off the system, use one
of these
methods:
•Press the ON/OFF switch.
•Slightly depress the brake pedal.
•Depress the clutch pedal. (Manual
transmission only)
•Press the CANCEL button.
The system is off when the ignition is off.The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by regulating
engine torque and breaking. When the
TCS detects driving wheel slippage, it
lowers engine torque and operates the
brakes to prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels
without causing them to spin and lose
traction.
NOTE
Cruise control will cancel at about
15 km/h (9 mph) below the preset
speed or below 30 km/h (19 mph).
Traction Control System
(TCS)*
TCS and Unsafe Driving:
The traction control system (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an
accident. So don’t rely on the traction
control system as a substitute for safe
driving.
TCS and Snow and Ice:
Driving without proper traction
devices on snow and ice-covered
roads is dangerous. The traction
control system (TCS) alone cannot
provide adequate traction and you
could still have an accident. Use snow
tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and snow.
WARNING
*Some models.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 20 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

9-15
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
This information relates to the tire grading system developed by the U.S. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration for grading tires by tread wear, traction, and
temperature performance.

Tre a d We a r
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one-and-a-half times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm because of variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction-AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. These grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.

Temperature-A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, represent the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction
tests and does not include acceleration cornering (turning), hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
WARNING
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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