2005 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 brake fluid

Black plate (252,1)
NOTE
Because this procedure requires
technical expertise, we recommend that
it be done by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Brake/Clutch Fluid
qInspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid
Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
8-18
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page252
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (253,1)
qAdding Brake/Clutch Fluid
WARNING
Spilled Brake Fluid:
Spilled brake fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with water
and get medical attention. Brake fluid
spilled on a hot engine could cause a
fire. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on yourself or on the engine.
Low Brake/Clutch Fluid Levels:
Low brake/clutch fluid levels are
dangerous. Low levels could signal
brake lining wear or a brake system
leak. Your brakes could fail and cause
an accident. If you find a low fluid
level, have the brakes and clutch
inspected.
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
CAUTION
lBrake and clutch fluid will damage
painted surfaces. If brake or clutch
fluid does get on a painted surface,
wipe it off immediately.
lUsing nonspecified brake and clutch
fluids (page 10-4) will damage the
systems. Mixing different fluids will
also damage them.
If the brake/clutch system frequently
requires new fluid, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (ATF)
qInspecting Automatic
Transmission Fluid Level
The automatic transmission fluid level
should be inspected regularly. Measure it
as described below.
The volume of fluid changes with the
temperature. Fluid must be checked at idle
without driving at normal operating
temperature.
CAUTION
lLow fluid level causes transmission
slippage. Overfilling can cause
foaming, loss of fluid, and
transmission malfunction.
lUse specified fluid (page 10-4). A
nonspecified fluid could result in
transmission malfunction and failure.
1. Park on a level surface and set the
parking brake firmly.
2. Idle the engine about two minutes.
Push down on the brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever through all ranges
and set it at P.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-19
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (254,1)
WARNING
Sudden Vehicle Movement:
Shifting the shift lever without first
depressing the brake pedal is
dangerous. The vehicle could move
suddenly and cause an accident.
Make sure the brake pedal is applied
before shifting the shift lever.
4. Remove the engine cover.
5. With the engine still idling, pull out the
dipstick, wipe it clean, and put it back.
6. Pull it out again.
The proper fluid level is marked on the
dipstick as follows.
Full
A
Low
Full
B
Low
Fluid hot scale A
When the vehicle has been driven and the
fluid is at normal operating temperature,
about 65°C (150°F), the level must be
between Full and Low.
Fluid cold scale B
When the engine has not been running
and the outside temperature is about 20°C
(70°F), the level must be between Full
and Low.
CAUTION
lUse the cold scale only as a
reference.
lIf outside temperature is lower than
about 20°C (70°F), start the engine
and inspect the fluid level after the
engine reaches operating
temperature.
lIf the vehicle has been driven for an
extended period at high speeds or in
city traffic in hot weather, inspect the
level only after stopping the engine
and allowing the fluid to cool for 30
minutes.
Fully insert the dipstick. When adding
fluid, inspect with the dipstick to make
sure it doesn't pass full.
NOTE
lInspect the fluid on both sides of the
dipstick in a well lit area for an
accurate reading.
lVerify that the engine cover is
securely installed.
8-20
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (310,1)
Specifications
qEngine
Item Model
Type Rotary engine
Displacement 654 ml × 2 (654 cc × 2, 40.0 cu in × 2)
Compression ratio 10.0
qElectrical System
Item Model
BatteryManual transmission
12V-52AH/5HR
Automatic transmission
Alternator 12 V - 100 A
StarterManual transmission 12 V - 1.4 kW
Automatic transmission 12 V - 1.8 kW
Spark-plug numberTrailing side N3H1 18 110C
*1*2
Leading side N3Y3 18 110, N3H2 18 110C*1*2
Spark-plug gap 1.15―1.25mm (0.045―0.049 in)
*1 Standard
*2 ex factory
CAUTION
When cleaning the iridium plugs, do not use a wire brush. The fine particulate coating on
the iridium alloy and platinum tips could be damaged.
qLubricant Quality
Lubricant Classification
Engine oil Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on page 8-12.
Manual transmission oil API Service GL-4 or GL-5 (SAE 75W-90)
Automatic transmission fluid ATF M-III or equivalent (e.g. Dexron
®III)
Rear differential oilAPI Service GL-5 (SAE 90)
API Service GL-5 (SAE 80W-90)
API Service GL-5 (SAE 75W-90)
*
Brake/Clutch fluid SAE J1703 or FMVSS116 DOT-3
* Not available from Mazda
10-4
Specifications
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (316,1)
A
Accessory Socket .............................. 6-50
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories ....................................... 9-13
Air Bag Systems ............................... 2-29
Air Filter ............................................ 8-22
Ambient Temperature Display .......... 6-43
Antenna ............................................. 6-10
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ......... 5-7
Warning light ............................... 5-7
Appearance Care ............................... 8-45
Ashtray .............................................. 6-45
Audio System ................................... 6-10
Audio control switch .................. 6-36
Operating tips for audio
system ........................................ 6-10
Safety certification ..................... 6-38
Automatic Transmission
Driving tips ................................ 5-16
Fluid ........................................... 8-19
Manual shift mode ..................... 5-12
Shift-lock system ........................ 5-11
Transmission ranges ................... 5-10
B
Battery
Emergency starting .................... 7-20
Maintenance ............................... 8-26
Specifications ............................. 10-4
Beep Sounds
Engine overrev warning beep .... 5-48
Ignition key reminder ................. 5-48
Lights-on reminder ..................... 5-48
Seat belt warning beep ............... 5-48
Tire inflation pressure warning
beep ............................................ 5-48
B
Before Starting the Engine .................. 4-6
After getting in ............................. 4-6
Before getting in .......................... 4-6
Body Lubrication .............................. 8-22
Brake/Clutch
Fluid ........................................... 8-18
Brakes
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ..... 5-7
Foot brake .................................... 5-4
Pad wear indicator ........................ 5-8
Parking brake ............................... 5-5
Warning light ............................... 5-6
Break-In Period ................................... 4-7
Bulb Replacement ............................. 8-33
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-5
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-3
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-14
Center Console .................................. 6-48
Child Restraint
Child restraint precautions ......... 2-20
Installing child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-23
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-27
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 6-44
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2
Gas specifications ...................... 10-5
Clock ................................................. 6-43
Coin Box ........................................... 6-47
Courtesy Lights ................................. 6-41
Cruise Control ................................... 5-17
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-46
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
11-2
Index
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (317,1)
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-35
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-50
Defroster
Rear window .............................. 5-54
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ......................................... 3-8
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-11
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-7
Automatic transmission .............. 5-16
Break-in period ............................ 4-7
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-11
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-8
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-8
Winter driving .............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-22
DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-23
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-24
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-23
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-20
Flooded engine ........................... 7-20
Jump-starting .............................. 7-21
Push-starting .............................. 7-24
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-25
Emission Control System .................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant ....................................... 8-15
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-5
Hood release .............................. 3-21
Oil .............................................. 8-12
Overheating ................................ 7-18
Starting ......................................... 5-3
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-11
Engine Coolant
Overheating ................................ 7-18
E
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-33
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-5
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-47
F
Flasher
Hazard warning .......................... 5-56
Headlights .................................. 5-49
Flat Tire ............................................... 7-3
Changing .................................... 7-12
Instant Mobility System
(IMS) Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit ................................................ 7-5
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Fluids
Classification .............................. 10-4
Owner maintenance ..................... 8-8
Fog Lights ......................................... 5-51
Foot Brake .......................................... 5-4
Front Seats
(Electrically Operated Seats) ............... 2-5
Front Seats
(Manually Operated Seats) ................. 2-2
Fuel
Filler lid and cap ........................ 3-19
Gauge ......................................... 5-34
Requirements ............................... 4-2
Tank capacity ............................. 10-5
Fuses ................................................. 8-40
Panel description ........................ 8-42
Replacement ............................... 8-40
G
Gauges .............................................. 5-30
Glove Box ......................................... 6-47
Index
11-3
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (320,1)
S
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-29
Horn ........................................... 5-55
Storage Box ...................................... 6-48
Storage Compartments ...................... 6-47
Center console ............................ 6-48
Coin box ..................................... 6-47
Glove box ................................... 6-47
Overhead console ....................... 6-47
Storage box ................................ 6-48
Sunshade ........................................... 3-23
Sunvisors .......................................... 6-39
T
Tachometer ........................................ 5-32
Temporary Spare Tire ....................... 8-31
Theft-Deterrent System ..................... 3-27
Tiedown
Hook .......................................... 7-26
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 5-25
System error activation .............. 5-27
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light .............................. 5-26
Tires and wheels ......................... 5-28
Tires
Flat tire ......................................... 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-28
Replacement ............................... 8-30
Rotation ...................................... 8-29
Snow tires .................................... 4-9
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ............................. 10-6
Tire chains .................................. 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-16
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
T
Towing
Description ................................. 7-25
Emergency towing ..................... 7-25
Recreational towing ................... 7-27
Trailer towing ............................. 4-12
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-21
TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-22
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-12
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-31
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-12
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-14
Trunk Release Slide Lever ................ 3-15
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-51
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-39
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-36
ABS ............................................ 5-41
Air bag system ........................... 5-41
Automatic transmission .............. 5-42
Brake system .............................. 5-38
Charging system ......................... 5-39
Check engine .............................. 5-40
Door-ajar .................................... 5-42
Engine coolant level ................... 5-40
Engine oil level .......................... 5-39
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-41
Low fuel ..................................... 5-42
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-42
Seat belt ...................................... 5-42
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-43
11-6
Index
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G