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Thank you for choosing a Mazda. We at Mazda design and build vehicles with complete
customer satisfaction in mind.
To help ensure enjoyable and trouble-free operation of your Mazda, read this manual
carefully and follow its recommendations.
An Authorized Mazda Dealer knows your vehicle best. So when maintenance or service is
necessary, that's the place to go.
Our nationwide network of Mazda professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best
possible service.
We assure you that all of us at Mazda have an ongoing interest in your motoring pleasure
and in your full satisfaction with your Mazda product.
Mazda Motor Corporation
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
Important Notes About This Manual
Keep this manual in the glove box as a handy reference for the safe and enjoyable use of your Mazda. Should you
resell the vehicle, leave this manual with it for the next owner.
All specifications and descriptions are accurate at the time of printing. Because improvement is a constant goal at
Mazda, we reserve the right to make changes in specifications at any time without notice and without obligation.
Air Conditioning and the Environment
Your Mazda's genuine air conditioner is filled with HFC134a (R134a), a refrigerant that has been found not to
damage the earth's ozone layer. If the air conditioner does not operate properly, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Please be aware that this manual applies to all models, equipment and options. As a result, you may find
some explanations for equipment not installed on your vehicle.
©2004 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed in Japan June 2004(Print1)
A Word to Mazda Owners
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G
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Rear seat .............................................................................................................. page 2-8
Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2
Seat belt ............................................................................................................. page 2-10
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-29
Power door lock switch ....................................................................................... page 3-9
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-18
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-17
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-21
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-13
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-29
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-29
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-30
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-5
MT shift lever ...................................................................................................... page 5-8
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-10
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-30
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-49
Fog light switch ................................................................................................. page 5-51
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-52
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-56
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-10
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-36
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-39
Map light ........................................................................................................... page 6-40
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-47
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-48
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-39
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-39
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-44
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-45
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-46
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-42
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3
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Keys
WARNING
Keys and Children:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the
key is dangerous. This could result in
someone being badly injured or even
killed. They could play with power
windows or other controls, or even
make the vehicle move. Don't leave the
keys in your vehicle with children and
keep them in a place where your
children will not find or play with
them.
NOTE
Refer to Immobilizer System (page
3-24) for information regarding keys
and engine starting on vehicles
equipped with the immobilizer system.
Your Mazda has two kinds of keys.
Valet key Master key
Key code number plate
Here's what the keys are used for:
Lock Operates Master key Valet key
Ignition switch and
steering column lockYe s Ye s
Driver's door Yes Yes
Glove box Yes No
Storage box Yes No
Trunk lid Yes No
If you must leave your vehicle with
another person, such as a parking
attendant, protect items by locking the
glove box, storage box and trunk lid with
the master key. Keep that key and give the
other person only the valet key.
A code number is stamped on the plate
attached to the key set; detach this plate
and store it in a safe place (not in the
vehicle) for use if you need to make a
replacement key.
Also write down the code number and
keep it in another safe and handy place,
but not in the vehicle.
If your key is lost, consult your
Authorized Mazda Dealer with the code
number ready.
3-2
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page54
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Form No.8T69-EA-04G
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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
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qTo Stop an Alarm
A triggered alarm can be turned off by
any one of the following methods:
lUnlock a door or the trunk lid with the
key.
lPress the UNLOCK button or
button on the keyless entry system
transmitter.
NOTE
If you have any problem with the theft-
deterrent system, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
qTheft-Deterrent Labels
Labels indicating that your vehicle is
equipped with a Theft-Deterrent System
are in the glove box.
Mazda recommends that you affix them to
the lower rear corner of the front door
windows.
3-28
Knowing Your Mazda
Security System
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Storage Compartments
WARNING
Open Storage Boxes:
Driving with the storage boxes open is
dangerous. To reduce the possibility of
injury in an accident or a sudden stop,
keep the storage boxes closed when
driving.
CAUTION
Don't leave eyeglasses or lighters in the
storage boxes while parked under the
sun. A lighter could explode or the
plastic material in eyeglasses could
deform and crack from high
temperature.
qOverhead Console
This console box is designed to store
accessories. Push and release to open.
qCoin Box
To open, press the release catch down and
pull the lid downward.
qGlove Box
To open the glove box, pull the latch
toward you.
Insert the master key and turn it clockwise
to lock, counterclockwise to unlock.
Unlock
Lock
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
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qLocking Lug Nuts
If your vehicle has optional antitheft
wheel lug nuts, one on each wheel will
lock the tires and you must use a special
key to unlock them. This key is attached
to the lug wrench and is stored with the
spare tire. Register them with the lock
manufacturer by filling out the card
provided in the glove box and mailing it
in the accompanying envelope. If you lose
your key, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer or use the lock manufacturer's
order form, which is with the registration
card.
Special key Antitheft lug nut
To remove an antitheft lug nut
1. Get the key for the locking lug nut.
2. Place it on top of the nut, and be sure
to hold the key square to it. If you hold
the key at an angle, you may damage
both key and nut. Don't use a power
impact wrench.
3. Place the lug wrench on top of the key
and apply pressure. Turn the wrench
counterclockwise.
To replace the nut
1. Place the key on top of the nut.
2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key,
apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.
qMounting the Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
WARNING
Removing Dirt and Grime from
Wheels, Hubs and Hub Bolts:
When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident. Make sure the mounting
surfaces of the wheel, hub and lug
nuts are clean before changing or
replacing tires.
2. Mount the tire.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
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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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