Black plate (50,1)
lVehicle roll-over may not provide
enough side force to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.
lSide impacts with two-wheeled
vehicles may not provide enough force
to deploy the side and curtain air bags.
Non-activation of side and curtain air
bags
The side and curtain air bags will not
normally inflate in the following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lCollision from the front, but it may
deploy the front air bags.
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
lSAS unit
lFront air bag sensor
lAir bag modules
lSide and curtain air bag crash sensor
lFront seat belt pretensioners
lRelated wiring
lDriver's seat slide position sensor
lFront seat belt buckle switches
A diagnostic module continuously
monitors the systems' readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning
Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is normal, the warning light
illuminates when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position or after the
engine is cranked. After about 6 seconds
it goes out.
2-38
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page50
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (51,1)
A system malfunction is indicated when
the warning light constantly flashes,
illuminates or doesn't illuminate 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.
WARNING
Self-Servicing the Air Bag/
Pretensioner Systems:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled. This
could cause serious injuries. Never
tamper with the systems and always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
performs all servicing and repairs.
qMaintenance
The air bag systems do not require regular
maintenance. But if any of the following
occurs, take your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:
lThe air bag system warning light
flashes.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains illuminated.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains off when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
lThe air bags inflate.
WARNING
Damaged Air Bag Sensors:
Driving with damaged air bag sensors
is dangerous. A collision, even one not
strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the sensors. If there was
a subsequent collision, a damaged
sensor would not inflate the air bags.
Always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer inspect the air bag systems
after a collision.
Removing Interior Parts:
Removing any components such as the
front seat, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts on the front
and rear window pillars and along the
roof edge, containing air bag parts or
sensors is dangerous. These parts
contain essential air bag parts. The air
bag could accidentally activate and
cause serious injuries. Always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer remove
these parts.
Air Bag Disposal:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a
vehicle with live air bags in it can be
extremely dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury can
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of an air
bag or how to scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-39
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page51
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (56,1)
NOTE
lThe keyless entry system is designed
to operate up to about 2.5 m (8 ft)
from the center of the vehicle, but
this may vary because of local
conditions.
lThe system doesn't operate when the
key is in the ignition switch.
lDoors cannot be locked by pressing
the LOCK button while any other
door is open. The hazard warning
lights will also not flash.
lIf the transmitter does not operate
when pressing a button or the
operation range becomes too small,
the battery may be dead. To install a
new battery, refer to Maintenance
(page 3-6).
lAdditional transmitters can be
obtained at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer. Up to 3 transmitters can be
used with the keyless entry system
per vehicle. Bring all transmitters to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer when
the electronic codes need to be reset.
qTransmitter
Lock button
Unlock button
Trunk buttonPanic button
NOTE
l(U.S.A.)
This device complies with part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1)
This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
l(CANADA)
This device complies with RSS-210
of Industry CANADA. Operation is
subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not
cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
NOTE
If the lock and unlock buttons are
pressed sequentially, the hazard
warning lights may not flash correctly.
3-4
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page56
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (57,1)
Lock button
To lock the doors, press the lock button
and the hazard warning lights will flash
once.
To confirm that all the doors have been
locked, press the lock button again within
5 seconds. If they are closed and locked,
the horn will sound and the hazard
warning lights will flash once.
NOTE
lAll doors cannot be locked when any
door is open and the key is in the
ignition switch.
lConfirm that all the doors are locked
visually or audibly by use of the
double click.
Unlock button
To unlock the driver's door, press the
unlock button and the hazard warning
lights will flash twice.
To unlock all the doors, press the unlock
button again within 5 seconds and the
hazard warning lights will flash twice.
NOTE
After unlocking with the transmitter, all
doors will automatically lock if one of
the doors is not opened within about 30
seconds.
Trunk button
To open the trunk, press the trunk button.
NOTE
The trunk button is disabled when the
glove box-mounted trunk lid release
lock-out button is in the OFF position.
Refer to Remote Trunk Lid Release
Lock-Out on page 3-14.
Panic button
You can use the panic button to turn on
the alarm, which allows you to signal for
attention in an emergency.
NOTE
The alarm will work whether any door
is open or closed.
Turning on the alarm
Pressing the panic button for about a
second will trigger the alarm for about 2
minutes and 30 seconds, and do the
following:
lThe horn sounds intermittently.
lThe hazard warning lights flash.
Turning off the alarm
Press any button on the transmitter or
insert the key into the ignition switch.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-5
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page57
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 (71,1)
qClosing a Window
Pull the latch inward and then push it
backward until it snaps shut. Make sure
the window is securely closed.
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
WARNING
Fuel Spray:
Fuel spray is dangerous. Fuel can
burn skin and eyes and cause illness if
ingested. Fuel spray is released when
there is pressure in the fuel tank and
the fuel cap is removed too quickly.
When removing the fuel cap, loosen
the cap slightly and wait for any
hissing to stop. Then remove it.
Fuel Vapor:
Fuel vapor is dangerous. It could be
ignited by sparks or flames causing
serious burns and injuries. Before
refueling, stop the engine, and always
keep sparks and flames away from the
filler neck. Additionally, use of the
incorrect fuel filler cap or not using a
fuel filler cap may result in fuel leak,
which could result in serious burns or
death in an accident.
CAUTION
Always use only a genuine Mazda fuel
cap or an approved equivalent,
available at an Authorized Mazda
Dealer. The wrong cap can result in a
serious malfunction of the fuel and
emission control systems. It may also
cause the check engine light in the
instrument cluster to illuminate.
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
3-19
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page71
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (79,1)
Theft-Deterrent Systemí
The optional theft-deterrent system is
designed to prevent your vehicle or its
contents from being stolen when all the
doors, hood, and trunk lid are locked.
If forcible entry is attempted, the system
sounds the horn and flashes the hazard
warning lights.
NOTE
lThe theft-deterrent system operates
with the key or the keyless entry
system transmitter.
lThe system will not function unless
it is properly armed. To properly
secure the vehicle, always make sure
all the windows are completely
closed and all doors and the trunk lid
are locked before leaving the vehicle.
Remember to take your key and
transmitter.
qOperation
System triggering conditions
The horn sounds intermittently and the
hazard warning lights flash for about 3
minutes when the system is triggered by
any one of the following:
lForcing open a door, the hood or the
trunk lid.
lOpening a door, the hood or the trunk
lid by operating an inside door-lock
knob, the hood release handle or the
trunk lid release button.
If the system is triggered again, the lights
and horn will activate until a door is
unlocked or the trunk lid is opened with
the key or with the transmitter.
qHow to Arm the System
1. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
2. Close the hood. Then close and lock all
doors and the trunk lid from the outside
using the key or press the LOCK
button on your keyless entry system
transmitter. The hazard warning lights
will flash once to indicate that the
system is armed.
The following method will also arm the
theft-deterrent system:
Close the hood and the trunk lid . Press
the area on the door-lock switch
marked“LOCK”once. Close all doors.
NOTE
Locking the doors with the inside door-
lock knob will not arm the system.
qTo Turn off an Armed System
An armed system can be turned off by any
one of the following methods:
lUnlock a door with the key.
lPress the UNLOCK button on the
keyless entry system transmitter.
lInsert the key into the ignition switch
and turn it to the ON position.
The hazard warning lights will flash twice
to indicate that the system is turned off.
NOTE
The trunk lid can be opened with the
key or the transmitter even when the
system is armed. The alarm will not
come on and the system will remain
armed.
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
3-27íSome models. RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page79
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (82,1)
After adjusting the mirror, lock the control
by placing the selector switch in the
middle position.
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
locked.
WARNING
Driving with Mirrors Folded In:
Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident. Always return the outside
mirrors to the driving position before
you start driving.
Mirror defrosterí
If your vehicle has mirror defrosters, turn
them on by turning the ignition switch to
the ON position and pushing the rear
window defroster switch (page 5-54).
qRearview Mirror
WARNING
Blocked View:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes. Don't stack
things higher than the seatbacks.
Rearview mirror adjustment
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window.
NOTE
For the manual day/night mirror,
perform the adjustment with the day/
night lever in the day position.
Reducing glare from headlights
Manual day/night mirror
Push the day/night lever forward for day
driving. Pull it back to reduce glare of
headlights from cars at the rear.
Night DayDay/Night lever
3-30
Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page82
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Form No.8T69-EA-04G