2005 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 tow

Black plate (208,1)
Parking in an Emergency
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
four turn signals will flash.
NOTE
lThe turn signals don't work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
lCheck local regulations about the use
of hazard warning lights while the
vehicle is being towed. They may
forbid it.
7-2
In Case of an Emergency
Parking in an Emergency
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page208
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (230,1)
8. When finished, carefully disconnect the
cables in the reverse order described in
Step 6.
NOTE
Verify that the engine cover is securely
installed.
Push-Starting
WARNING
Towing a Vehicle to Start It:
Towing a vehicle to start it is
dangerous. The vehicle being towed
could surge forward when its engine
starts, causing the two vehicles to
collide. The occupants could be
injured. Never tow a vehicle to start it.
You can't start a vehicle with an automatic
transmission by pushing it.
CAUTION
You shouldn't push-start a vehicle that
has a manual transmission. It can
damage the emission control system.
7-24
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (231,1)
Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
rear wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
CAUTION
Don't tow the vehicle pointed forward
with driving wheels on the ground. This
may cause internal damage to the
transmission.
CAUTION
Don't tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-25
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (232,1)
Tiedown Hooks
CAUTION
Don't use the tiedown hooks under the
front and rear for towing.
They are designed ONLY for tying
down the vehicle when it's being
transported. Using them for towing will
damage the bumper.
qTiedown Hooks
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug
wrench from the trunk (page 7-3).
2. Wrap the lug wrench with a soft cloth
to prevent damage to the bumper and
open the cap located on the front and
rear bumper.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
The cap cannot be completely removed.
Do not use excessive force as it may
damage the cap or scratch the painted
bumper surface.
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet
using the lug wrench.
Front
Rear
7-26
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (233,1)
4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown
eyelet.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying down the
vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown
eyelet is securely tightened to the
bumper.
Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“Towing Description”(page 7-25) and
“Tiedown Hooks”(page 7-26) and
carefully follow the instructions.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-27
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (259,1)
CAUTION
lDon't bend or discard the stiffeners.
You need to use them again.
lIf the metal stiffeners are switched,
the blade's wiping efficiency could
be reduced.
So don't use the driver's side metal
stiffeners on the passenger's side, or
vice versa.
lBe sure to reinstall the metal
stiffeners in the new blade rubber so
that the curve is the same as it was in
the old blade rubber.
4. Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
NOTE
Install the blade so that the tabs are
toward the bottom of the wiper arm.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-25
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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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Black plate (319,1)
M
Manual Transmission Operation ......... 5-8
Recommendations for shifting ..... 5-9
Map Lights ........................................ 6-40
Meters and Gauges ........................... 5-30
Mirrors
Outside mirrors .......................... 3-29
Rearview mirror ......................... 3-30
Money-Saving Suggestions ................ 4-7
Moonroof .......................................... 3-22
O
Odometer and Trip Meter .................. 5-31
Outside Mirrors ................................. 3-29
Overhead Console ............................. 6-47
Overhead Lights ................................ 6-40
Overheating ....................................... 7-18
Overloading ...................................... 4-11
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-45
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-5
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Power Door Locks .............................. 3-9
Power Steering .................................. 5-16
Power steering malfunction indicator
light ............................................ 5-16
Power Windows ................................ 3-16
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-24
R
Rear Quarter Windows ..................... 3-18
Rear Seat ............................................. 2-8
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-54
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-30
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-27
R
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-12
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-8
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................. 9-18
Seat Belt System
3-point type ................................ 2-14
Automatic locking ...................... 2-12
Emergency locking .................... 2-12
Extender ..................................... 2-17
Location of seat belt ................... 2-13
Pregnant women ........................ 2-12
Pretensioner and load limiting .... 2-15
Seat belt precautions .................. 2-10
Warning beep ............................. 2-19
Warning light ............................. 2-18
Seats
Front seat
(Electrically operated seats) ......... 2-5
Front seat
(Manually operated seats) ............ 2-2
Rear seat ....................................... 2-8
Security System
Immobilizer system .................... 3-24
Theft-deterrent system ............... 3-27
Service Publications .......................... 9-19
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ................ 7-3
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speed Unit Selector ........................... 5-31
Speedometer ...................................... 5-31
SRS Air Bags
Air bag system description ......... 2-34
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions ................................. 2-29
Warning light ............................. 2-38
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-3
Index
11-5
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G