2005 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 ignition

Black plate (78,1)
NOTE
lIf the security indicator light comes
on and stays on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position,
the engine will not start.
lSignals from a TV or radio station, or
from a transceiver or a mobile
telephone, could interfere with your
immobilizer system. If you are using
the proper key and your engine fails
to start, check the security indicator
light. If it is flashing, remove the
ignition key and wait 2 seconds or
more, then reinsert it and try starting
the engine again. If it doesn't start
after 3 or more tries, contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
lIf the security indicator light flashes
continuously while you are driving,
don't shut off the engine. Go to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer and have
it checked. If you shut off the engine
while the light is flashing you won't
be able to restart it.
lSince the electronic codes are reset
when repairing the immobilizer
system, the keys are needed. Bring
all the existing keys to the
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qMaintenance
If you have a problem with the
immobilizer system or the key, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
lThe keys carry a unique electronic
code. For this reason, and to assure
your safety, obtaining replacement
key requires some waiting time.
They are only available through an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
lAlways keep a spare key, in case one
is lost. If a key is lost, contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
lIf you lose a key, an Authorized
Mazda Dealer will reset the
electronic codes of your remaining
keys and immobilizer system. Bring
all the remaining keys to the
Authorized Mazda Dealer to reset.
Starting the vehicle with a key that
has not been reset is not possible.
qModification and Add-On
Equipment
Mazda cannot guarantee the immobilizer
system's operation if the system has been
modified or if any add-on equipment has
been installed to it.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to your vehicle, do
not modify the system or install any
add-on equipment to it.
3-26
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page78
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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 (81,1)
Steering Wheel
WARNING
Adjusting the Steering Wheel:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control
or an accident. Never adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is
moving.
qTilt Steering Wheel
To change the angle of the steering wheel,
stop the vehicle, pull the tilt wheel release
lever under the steering column down,
adjust the wheel, then push the release
lever up to lock the column.
Tilt wheel release
lever
After adjusting, push the wheel up and
down to be certain it's locked before
driving.
Mirrors
qOutside Mirrors
Check the mirrors' angles before driving.
WARNING
Convex Mirror (Passenger Side):
Changing lanes without taking into
account the actual distance of the
vehicle in the convex mirror is
dangerous. You could have a serious
accident. What you see in the convex
mirror is closer than it appears. Be
sure to look over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Power control mirror
The ignition switch must be in the ACC
or ON position.
To adjust:
1. Press the left or right side of the
selector switch to choose the left or
right side mirror.
2. Depress the mirror switch in the
appropriate direction.
Selector switch
Mirror switchOutside mirror
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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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
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (83,1)
Auto-dimming mirror
The auto-dimming mirror automatically
reduces glare of headlights from cars at
the rear when the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
Press the OFF button (
) to cancel the
automatic dimming function. The
indicator light will go off.
To reactivate the automatic dimming
function, press the ON button (
). The
indicator light will illuminate.
Indicator lightOFF button
ON button
NOTE
lDo not use glass cleaner or suspend
objects on or around the light sensor.
Otherwise, light sensor sensitivity
will be affected and may not operate
normally.
Light sensor
Light sensor
lFor information regarding the 3
buttons (
,,) on the auto-
dimming mirror, refer to HomeLink
Wireless Control System (page
5-56).
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (87,1)
Emission Control System
Your vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is part of
this system) that enables your vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions
requirements.
WARNING
Parking Over Flammable Objects:
Parking over or near anything flammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with
the engine turned off, the exhaust system could ignite it because the exhaust system
gets very hot during normal use. A resulting fire could cause serious injury or death.
Never park over or near anything flammable.
CAUTION
Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside
the converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the
converter and cause poor performance.
lUSE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
lDon't drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
lDon't coast with the ignition switch turned off.
lDon't descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switch turned off.
lDon't operate the engine at high idle for more than 5 minutes.
lDon't tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must
be made by a qualified technician.
lDon't try to push-start or pull-start your vehicle.
NOTE
Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control
system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some
states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (90,1)
Before Getting In
lBe sure the windows, outside mirrors,
and outside lights are clean.
lInspect inflation pressures and
condition of tires.
lLook under the vehicle for any sign of
a leak.
lIf you plan to back up, make sure
nothing will be in your way.
NOTE
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake/clutch
fluid, washer fluid, and other fluid
levels should be inspected. See
Maintenance, Section 8.
After Getting In
lAre all doors closed and locked?
lIs the seat adjusted properly?
lAre the inside and outside mirrors
adjusted?
lIs everyone's seat belt fastened?
lCheck all gauges.
lCheck all warning lights when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
lRelease the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes off.
Always be thoroughly familiar with your
Mazda.
4-6
Before Driving Your Mazda
Before Starting the Engine
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page90
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (93,1)
Winter Driving
lCarry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but don't use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-21).
lDon't use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transmission and to 1 or R
with a manual transmission. Block the
rear wheels.
qSnow Tires
WARNING
Mixing Tire Types:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident. Use only the same size
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system
may not function correctly when using
tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls (page 5-27).
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Don't go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi)
more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver's door), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
summer tires designed for optimum
traction on wet and dry roads. If your
vehicle is to be used on snow and ice
covered roads, you may find it necessary
to replace the original equipment tires
with snow tires, during the winter months.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G