Black plate (63,1)
CAUTION
Before closing a front door make sure
other passengers are not operating a
rear door and a rear passenger's head or
hands are away from the rear door. If
the front door is closed while a
passenger is operating the rear door
handle, a hand or fingers could be
injured if the handle is forced back.
Also, a rear passenger could hit their
head against the door during access to
the rear seat.
NOTE
lThe rear door cannot be opened
while the front door is closed.
lMake sure the front seatbelt is
unfastened before the rear door is
opened. The rear door can't be
opened with the front seatbelt
fastened because the front seatbelt
may lock.
lIf any door is left open for more than
about an hour, the front seatbelt will
lock, and the rear door cannot be
opened. If this happens, close all
doors and open the rear door again.
lThis vehicle is not equipped with
child safety locks due to the design
of the front and rear doors. The rear
doors must be closed before the front
doors, and the rear doors cannot be
opened until the front doors are
opened.
Closing the freestyle doors
1. Close the rear door first, and then close
the front door.
Front door
Rear door
CAUTION
Before closing a front door make sure
other passengers are not operating a
rear door and a rear passenger's head or
hands are away from the rear door. If
the front door is closed while a
passenger is operating the rear door
handle, a hand or fingers could be
injured if the handle is forced back.
Also, a rear passenger could hit their
head against the door during access to
the rear seat.
NOTE
The front door cannot latch or lock
while the rear door is opened.
2. Make sure the freestyle doors are
securely closed.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-11
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page63
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (65,1)
qOpening and Closing the Trunk
WARNING
Open Trunk Lid and Children:
Leaving the trunk lid open or leaving
children in the vehicle with the keys is
dangerous. Children could open the
trunk lid and climb inside resulting in
possible injury or death from heat
exposure. Close the trunk lid and do
not allow children to play inside the
vehicle.
Unattended Children and Pets:
Leaving children or animals
unattended in a parked vehicle is
dangerous. Babies left sleeping and
kids who lock themselves in cars or
trunks can die very quickly from heat
prostration. Don't leave your children
or pets alone in a car at any time.
Don't leave the car or the trunk
unlocked. Always keep the car from
being a tempting place to play by
locking doors and the trunk, and
keeping the keys where children won't
play with them.
Opening the trunk lid with the key
Insert the master key into the slot and turn
it clockwise.
The valet key will not operate this lock
(page 3-2).
Open
Opening the trunk lid with the
transmitter
The trunk lid can be opened by operating
the keyless entry system transmitter, refer
to Keyless Entry System (page 3-3).
Opening the trunk lid with the remote
release button
Push the release button.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-13
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page65
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (67,1)
Inside Trunk Release Slide
Lever
Your vehicle is equipped with an inside
trunk release slide lever that provides a
means of escape for children and adults in
the event they become locked inside the
trunk.
No matter how careful adults might be
with keys and locking their cars, parents
should be aware that children may be
tempted to play around vehicles and use
the trunk as a hiding place.
Adults are advised to familiarize
themselves with the operation and
location of the inside trunk release slide
lever so that all children can be told about
it in an appropriate way, keeping in mind
that most vehicles don't have such levers.
WARNING
Open Trunk Lid and Children:
Leaving the trunk lid open or leaving
children in the vehicle with the keys is
dangerous. Children could open the
trunk lid and climb inside resulting in
possible injury or death from heat
exposure. Close the trunk lid and do
not allow children to play inside the
vehicle.
Unattended Children and Pets:
Leaving children or animals
unattended in a parked vehicle is
dangerous. Babies left sleeping and
kids who lock themselves in cars or
trunks can die very quickly from heat
prostration. Don't leave your children
or pets alone in a car at any time.
Don't leave the car or the trunk
unlocked. Always keep the car from
being a tempting place to play by
locking doors and the trunk, and
keeping the keys where children won't
play with them.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-15
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page67
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (68,1)
qOpening the Trunk Lid from the
Inside
Slide the illuminated inside trunk release
slide lever in the direction of the arrow.
The lever is made of material that will
glow for hours in the darkness of the
trunk following a brief exposure to
ambient light.
The inside trunk release slide lever is
located on the inside of the trunk end trim.
Power Windows
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position for the power windows to
operate.
WARNING
Closing Power Windows:
Closing power windows are
dangerous. A person's hands, head, or
even neck could be caught by the
window and result in serious injury or
even death.
This warning applies especially to
children. Make sure the opening is
clear before closing a window.
Children and Power Windows:
Leaving the power window switches
unlocked while children are in the
vehicle is dangerous. Power window
switches that are not locked with the
power window lock switch would allow
children to operate power windows
unintentionally which could result in
serious injury if a child's hands, head
or neck becomes caught by the
window. Always lock all passenger
power windows with the power
window lock switch on the driver's
side while children are in the vehicle,
and never allow children to play with
power window switches.
3-16
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page68
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (74,1)
Moonroofí
The moonroof can be opened or closed
electrically only when the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
Tilt switch Slide switch
WARNING
Extending the Head or Arms Through
the Moonroof:
Extending the head, arms, or other
parts of the body through the
moonroof is dangerous. The head or
arms could hit something while the
vehicle is moving. This could cause
death or serious injury. Don't let
passengers stand up or extend
anything through the open moonroof
while the vehicle is moving.
Closing the Moonroof:
A closing moonroof is dangerous. The
hands, head, or even neck of a person
―especially a child―could be caught
in it as it closes, causing serious injury
or even death. Make sure the opening
is clear before closing the moonroof.
NOTE
After washing your Mazda or after a
rain, wipe the water off the moonroof
before operating it to avoid water
penetration which could cause rust and
water damage to your headliner.
qTilt Operation
The rear of the moonroof can be tilted
open to provide more ventilation.
To fully tilt automatically, push the rear of
the tilt switch.
To stop tilting partway, push any part of
the tilt or slide switch.
To close to the desired position, push the
front of the tilt or slide switch.
CloseTilt up
Close
qSlide Operation
To fully open automatically, push the rear
of the slide switch.
To stop sliding partway, push any part of
the tilt or slide switch.
3-22
Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Doors and Locks
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page74
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (268,1)
Your Mazda's headlights and fog lights
have replaceable halogen bulbs.
WARNING
Xenon Fusion Bulb Replacement:
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs by
yourself is dangerous. Because the
xenon fusion bulbs require high
voltage, you could receive an electric
shock if the bulbs are handled
incorrectly. Do not replace the xenon
fusion bulbs by yourself. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer when the
replacement is necessary.
Handling Halogen Bulbs:
When a halogen bulb breaks, it is
dangerous. These bulbs contain
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it
will explode and serious injuries could
be caused by the flying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with
bare hands, body oil could cause the
bulb to overheat and explode when lit.
Never touch the glass portion of the
bulb with your bare hands and always
wear eye protection when handling or
working around halogen bulbs.
Children and Halogen Bulbs:
Playing with a halogen bulb is
dangerous. Serious injuries could be
caused by dropping a halogen bulb or
breaking it some other way.
Always keep halogen bulbs out of the
reach of children.
qReplacing a Headlight Bulb
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned
off and the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood and find the high and low
beam bulbs in the rear of the headlight
unit.
The outboard bulb is the LOW beam,
and the inboard one is the HIGH beam.
Refer to Light Bulbs on page 8-33.
3. If you are changing the right headlight
bulb, start the engine, turn the steering
wheel all the way to the right, and turn
off engine. If you are changing the left
headlight bulb, turn the steering wheel
to the left.
4. Turn the center section of the plastic
retainer counterclockwise and remove
the retainers and partially peel back the
mudguard.
Removal
Installation
8-34
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page268
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:13 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (269,1)
High-beam bulb
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
Carefully remove the headlight bulb
from its socket in the reflector by
gently pulling it straight backward out
of the socket.
2. Disconnect the bulb from the electrical
connector by pressing the tab on the
connector with your finger and pulling
the bulb upward.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of removal.
NOTE
Use the protective cover and carton of
the replacement bulb to dispose of the
old bulb promptly out of the reach of
children.
Low-beam bulb
(Xenon fusion bulb)
You cannot replace the low beam bulbs by
yourself.
The bulbs must be replaced at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.(Halogen bulbs)
1. Detach the electrical connector from
the sealing cover by pulling it to the
rear.
2. Detach the sealing cover from the bulb.
3. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.
4. Swing the retaining spring out and
away to free the headlight bulb.
5. Carefully remove the headlight bulb
from the socket by pulling it straight
back.
6. Replace the bulb.
7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of removal.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-35
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page269
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (270,1)
NOTE
Use the protective cover and carton of
the replacement bulb to dispose of the
old bulb promptly out of the reach of
children.
qReplacing a Fog Light Bulbí
Due to the complexity and difficulty of
the procedure, the bulbs should be
replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qReplacing a Bulb (Front)
1. If you are changing the right bulb, start
the engine, turn the steering wheel all
the way to the right, and turn off
engine. If you are changing the left
bulb, turn the steering wheel to the left.
2. Turn the center section of the plastic
retainer counterclockwise and remove
the retainers and partially peel back the
mudguard.
Removal
Installation
Front turn signal lights, Parking lights,
Front side-marker lights
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
2. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
Front turn signal
lights
Parking lights
Front side-marker lights
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of removal.
8-36
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page270
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:13 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G