2006 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 steering

Black plate (113,1)
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 mirror angles before driving.
Mirror type
Flat type (driver's side)
Flat surface mirror.
Convex type (front passenger side)
The mirror has single curvature on its
surface.
WARNING
Convex Mirror:
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.
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (114,1)
2. Depress the mirror switch in the
appropriate direction.
Mirror switchSelector switch Outside mirror
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
To turn on the mirror defrosters, turn the
ignition switch to the ON position and
push the rear window defroster switch
(page 5-59).
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.
Manual day/night mirror
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Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (115,1)
Auto-dimming mirror
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
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
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (116,1)
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
5-61).
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Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page116
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (123,1)
Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a few
precautions in the first 1,000 km (600
miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of your Mazda.
lDon't race the engine.
lDon't maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time.
lDon't drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm (over 7,000 rpm) for
extended periods of time.
lAvoid unnecessary hard stops.
lAvoid full-throttle starts.
Money-Saving Suggestions
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
lAvoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving.
lAvoid fast starts.
lKeep the engine tuned. Follow the
maintenance schedule (page 8-3) and
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
perform inspections and servicing.
lUse the air conditioner only when
necessary.
lSlow down on rough roads.
lKeep the tires properly inflated.
lDon't carry unnecessary weight.
lDon't rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
lKeep the wheels in correct alignment.
lKeep windows closed at high speeds.
lSlow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING
Coasting:
Stopping the engine when going down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident. Never stop the engine when
going down a hill.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Black plate (124,1)
Hazardous Driving
WARNING
Downshifting on Slippery Surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces is
dangerous. The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident. If it is
necessary to downshift on slippery
surfaces, be very careful.
ABS:
The ABS cannot compensate for
unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another
vehicle too closely), driving on ice and
snow, and hydroplaning (reduced tire
friction and road contact because of
water on the road surface). You can
still have an accident. So do not rely
on ABS as a substitute for safe
driving.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazard:
lBe cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
lAvoid sudden braking and quick
steering.
lDo not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
lIf you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the rear
wheels.
lFor more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or packed
snow, use sand, rock salt, chains,
carpeting, or other nonslip material
under the rear wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the rear
wheels.
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Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
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Black plate (131,1)
5Driving Your Mazda
Explanation of instruments and controls.
Starting and Driving ..................................................................... 5-2
Ignition Switch .......................................................................... 5-2
Starting the Engine .................................................................... 5-4
Brake System ............................................................................ 5-5
Manual Transmission Operation ............................................... 5-9
Automatic Transmission Controls ........................................... 5-11
Power Steering ........................................................................ 5-18
Cruise Control ......................................................................... 5-19
Traction Control System (TCS)
í........................................... 5-22
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)í........................................ 5-23
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemí......................................... 5-26
Instrument Cluster and Indicators ............................................ 5-32
Meters and Gauges .................................................................. 5-32
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds ............................ 5-38
Warning/Indicator Lights ........................................................ 5-38
Beep Sounds ........................................................................... 5-52
Switches and Controls ................................................................ 5-54
Lighting Control ..................................................................... 5-54
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ............................................... 5-56
Fog Lights
í............................................................................ 5-56
Windshield Wipers and Washer .............................................. 5-57
Headlight Washer
í................................................................. 5-59
Rear Window Defroster ........................................................... 5-59
Horn ........................................................................................ 5-60
Hazard Warning Flasher .......................................................... 5-61
HomeLink Wireless Control System
í.................................... 5-61
5-1íSome models.
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (132,1)
Ignition Switch
(With advanced key)
NOTE
When starting the engine using the
advanced key, refer to Starting the
Engine (page 3-10).
When starting the engine with the
auxiliary key, perform the following
procedure.
1. Remove the auxiliary key from the
advanced key (page 3-16).
2. Make sure the start knob is in LOCK
position.
3. Remove the start knob by pulling it
outward while pressing the buttons on
both the left and right sides.
qIgnition Switch Positions
With advanced
key
Without advanced
key
LOCK
The steering wheel locks to protect
against theft. Only in this position can the
key be removed.
Manual transmission
To turn the key from the ACC to the
LOCK position, push the key in at the
ACC position, then turn it to the LOCK
position.
Push the key
5-2
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page132
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J