2005 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 maintenance

Black plate (282,1)
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
WARNING
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been affected.
Dry the brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for
metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle doesn't need it.
qRepairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced, make
sure the body shop applies anti-
corrosion materials to all parts, both
repaired and new. This will prevent
them from rusting.
qBright-Metal Maintenance
lUse tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
lTo prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
lDuring cold weather or in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Don't use steel wool, abrasive cleaners,
or strong detergents containing highly
alkaline or caustic agents on chrome-
plated or anodized aluminum parts.
This may result in damage to the
protective coating and cause
discoloration or paint deterioration.
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Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (283,1)
qUnderbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also
to do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt.It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped
there will cause rusting.
WARNING
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been affected.
Dry the brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal.
qAluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
NOTE
lDon't use a wire brush or any
abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, or solvent on aluminum
wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lOnly use a mild soap or neutral
detergent and always use a sponge or
soft cloth to clean the wheels.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or
cold water. Also, be sure to clean the
wheels after driving on dusty or
salted roads. This helps prevent
corrosion.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an
automatic car wash that uses high-
speed or hard brushes.
lIf your aluminum wheels lose luster,
wax the wheels.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (284,1)
Interior Care
qDashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They'll damage and discolor it.
If these solutions get on the dashboard,
wipe them off immediately.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
qCleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl with a leather-and-vinyl
cleaner.
Leatherí
Real leather isn't uniform and may have
scars, scratches, and wrinkles. Clean it
with a leather cleaner or mild soap.
If the leather gets wet from rain, remove
the moisture as soon as possible and dry
in a shaded area.
If the seats get wet, promptly remove
moisture with a dry cloth and allow it to
further dry in a shaded area.
If moisture is not removed, it will cause
hardening and shrinkage of the leather.
Do not leave vinyl products on the seats
for long periods as they may affect the
leather quality and coloring.
Fabricí
Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean it with a mild soap solution good
for upholstery and carpets. Remove fresh
spots immediately with a fabric spot
cleaner.
To keep the fabric looking clean and
fresh, take care of it. Otherwise its color
will be affected, it can be stained easily,
and its fire-resistance may be reduced.
CAUTION
Use only recommended cleaners and
procedures. Others may affect
appearance and fire-resistance.
Suede-like materialí
Stains which are not treated immediately
will be difficult to remove later, and may
cause fading or discoloration.
Remove stains as soon as possible.
To clean,wipe with a soft, damp cloth.
Then buff with a soft, dry cloth.
If stains cannot be removed, using plain
water, try wiping with soapy water or a
mild detergent.
CAUTION
Don't clean the suede with leather
cleaner, a detergent, or soap. It will
cause discoloration.
To dry away any water,wipe with a soft,
dry cloth.
8-50
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (285,1)
CAUTION
Sharp or pointed metal objects can
damage the suede beyond repair.
Piano black panel
The center panel and door switch panels
have been treated with a special coating
that resists scratching.
When the panel needs to be cleaned, use a
soft cloth to wipe off dirt from the surface.
NOTE
Scratches or nicks on the center and
door switch panels resulting from the
use of a hard brush or cloth may not be
repairable.
qCleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt
Webbing
Clean the webbing with a mild soap
solution recommended for upholstery or
carpets. Follow instructions. Don't bleach
or dye the webbing; this may weaken it.
After cleaning the belts, thoroughly dry
the belt webbing and make sure there is
no remaining moisture before retracting
them.
WARNING
Damaged Seat Belt:
Using damaged seat belts is
dangerous. In a collision, damaged
belts cannot provide adequate
protection. Have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer replace damaged belts
immediately.
qCleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with an
oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean them
with glass cleaner. Follow the directions
on the container.
CAUTION
lDon't scrape or scratch the inside of
the rear window. You may damage
the rear window defroster grid.
lWhen washing the inside rear
window, use a soft cloth dampened
in lukewarm water, gently wiping
the antenna lines.
Use of glass cleaning products could
damage the antenna.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G

Black plate (305,1)
Service Publications
Factory-authorized Mazda service publications are available for owners who wish to do
some of their own maintenance and repair.
When requesting any of our publications through an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to the
chart below.
If they don't have what you need in stock, they can order it for you.
PUBLICATION ORDER NUMBER PUBLICATION DESCRIPTION
9999-95-064B-05 2005 WORKSHOP MANUAL (English)
99999-95-040G-05 2005 WIRING DIAGRAM (English)
9999-95-079C-05 (U.S.A. only) 2005 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-EC-079C-05 (Canada only) 2005 OWNER'S MANUAL
9999-PR-079C-05 (Puerto Rico only) 2005 OWNER'S MANUAL
qWORKSHOP MANUAL:
Covers recommended maintenance and repair procedures of the drive train, body and
chassis.
qWIRING DIAGRAM:
Provides electrical schematics as well as component location for the entire electrical
system.
qOWNER'S MANUAL:
This booklet contains information regarding the proper care and operation of your vehicle.
This is not a technician's manual.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Service Publications
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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
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Black plate (318,1)
H
Hazard Warning Flasher .................... 5-56
Hazardous Driving .............................. 4-8
Headlight Washer .............................. 5-54
Headlights
Control ....................................... 5-49
Flashing ...................................... 5-50
High-low beam .......................... 5-49
Leveling ..................................... 5-50
On reminder ............................... 5-49
HomeLink Wireless Control
System .............................................. 5-56
Hood Release .................................... 3-21
Horn .................................................. 5-55
I
Ignition
Keys ............................................. 3-2
Switch .......................................... 5-2
Illuminated Entry System ................. 6-39
Immobilizer System .......................... 3-24
Indicator Lights ................................. 5-36
Cruise main ................................ 5-46
Cruise set .................................... 5-46
DSC OFF .................................... 5-45
Headlight auto-leveling
malfunction ................................ 5-47
Headlight high-beam .................. 5-44
power steering malfunction ........ 5-46
Security ...................................... 5-44
Shift position .............................. 5-45
TCS/DSC ................................... 5-45
Turn-signal/hazard warning ....... 5-47
I
Information Display .......................... 6-42
Ambient temperature display ..... 6-43
Audio display ............................. 6-44
Climate control display .............. 6-44
Clock .......................................... 6-43
Information display functions .... 6-42
Instrument Cluster ............................. 5-30
Interior Care ...................................... 8-50
Interior Lights ................................... 6-39
J
Jump-Starting .................................... 7-21
K
Keyless Entry System ......................... 3-3
Keys .................................................... 3-2
L
Label Information ............................. 10-2
Lane-Change Signals ........................ 5-51
Light Bulbs
Replacement ............................... 8-33
Specifications ............................. 10-6
Lighter ............................................... 6-44
Lighting Control ............................... 5-49
Lubricant Quality .............................. 10-4
M
Maintenance
Introduction .................................. 8-2
Owner maintenance precautions ... 8-9
Owner maintenance schedule ....... 8-8
Scheduled ..................................... 8-3
11-4
Index
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G