Black plate (161,1)
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System
í
The tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) monitors the pressure for each
tire.
If tire pressure is too low in one or more
tires, the system will inform the driver via
the warning light in the instrument panel
and by the warning beep sound.
The tire pressure sensors installed on each
wheel send tire pressure data by radio
signal to the receiver unit in the vehicle.
Tire pressure sensors
NOTE
When the ambient temperature is low
due to seasonal changes, tire
temperatures are also lower. If the tire
temperature lowers, the air pressure
lowers as well, and the TPMS warning
light illuminates more frequently.
Inspect the tire pressure dailybefore
driving, and check the tire pressures
monthly with a tire pressure gauge.
When checking the tire pressures, use
of a digital tire pressure gauge is
recommended.TPMS does not alleviate your need to
check the pressure and condition of all
four tires before you drive each day.
CAUTION
lEach tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
5-27íSome models. RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page161
Friday, May 19 2006 9:51 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (168,1)
qSpeedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.
qSpeed Unit Selector
In some countries, you may have to
change the speed units between km/h and
mph.
Press the speed unit selector for 2 second
or more.
The speed units for the speedometer will
change between km/h and mph.
Speedometer
Speed unit selector
NOTE
Odometer and trip meter distance units
will change between kilometers and
miles in accordance with the speed unit.
qOdometer, Trip Meter and Trip
Meter Selector
The display mode can be changed
between trip meter A and trip meter B by
pressing the selector while one of them is
displayed. The selected mode will be
displayed.
Trip meter
Trip meter selector
Odometer
Odometer
OdometerTrip meter A
Press the selector
Press the selector Trip meter B
5-34
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (169,1)
NOTE
When the ignition switch is in the ACC
or LOCK position, the odometer or trip
meters cannot be displayed, however,
pressing the selector button can
inadvertently switch the trip meters or
reset them during an approximate ten-
minute period in the following cases:
lAfter the ignition switch is turned to
the ACC or LOCK position from the
ON position.
lAfter any door is opened.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
trip meter A, and the other is recorded in
trip meter B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and trip
meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter is
again reset. Return it to“0.0”by holding
the selector depressed for more than 1
second. Use this meter to measure trip
distances and to compute fuel
consumption.
NOTE
lOnly the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
lThe trip record will be erased when:
lThe power supply is interrupted
(blown fuse or the battery is
disconnected).
lThe vehicle is driven over 999.9
km (mile).
qTachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
Automatic transmission
Red zone Striped zone
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
5-35
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page169
Friday, May 19 2006 9:51 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (180,1)
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period has passed.
qDoor-Ajar Warning Light
This warning light comes on when any
door isn't securely closed.
qLow Washer Fluid Level
Warning Lightí
This warning light indicates that little
washer fluid remains. Add fluid (page
8-17).
qAutomatic Transmission Warning
Light
This warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
The light illuminates when the
transmission has a problem.
CAUTION
If the automatic transmission warning
light illuminates, the transmission has
an electrical problem. Continuing to
drive your Mazda in this condition
could cause damage to your
transmission. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
qTire Pressure Monitoring System
Warning Lightí
This warning light illuminates for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
Thereafter, the warning light illuminates
when tire pressure is too low in one or
more tires, and flashes when there is a
system malfunction.
5-46
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page180
Friday, May 19 2006 9:51 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (185,1)
Gear position indicator
When the shift lever is in the D or M
position, the numeral for the selected gear
displays.
qTCS/DSC Indicator Lightí
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position. If the TCS or DSC is
operating, the indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS or DSC may
have a malfunction and they may not
operate correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qDSC OFF Indicator Lightí
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
It also comes on when the DSC OFF
switch is pressed and TCS/DSC is
switched off (page 5-26).
If the light stays on when the TCS/DSC is
not switched off, take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer. The dynamic
stability control may have a malfunction.
NOTE
If the battery is disconnected or a fuse is
replaced, the DSC will be inoperable. In
this case, the DSC OFF indicator light
flashes and the TCS/DSC indicator light
illuminates.
To make the DSC operable, do the
following procedure with the battery
connected.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON
position.
2. Turn the steering clockwise fully,
then turn it counterclockwise fully.
3. Make sure the DSC OFF indicator
goes off.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position, then turn it to the ON
position again.
5. Make sure the TCS/DSC indicator
light goes off.
If the TCS/DSC indicator light and the
DSC OFF indicator light remain
illuminated even after turning the
ignition switch to the ON position,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qCruise Main Indicator Light
(Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator
Light (Green)
The indicator light has two colors.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-51íSome models. RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page185
Friday, May 19 2006 9:51 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (186,1)
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)
The indicator light illuminates amber
when the ON/OFF switch is pressed and
the cruise control system is activated.
Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green)
The indicator light illuminates green when
a cruising speed has been set.
qLight-On Indicator Light
This indicator light comes on when the
exterior lights and dashboard illumination
are on.
qPower Steering Malfunction
Indicator Light
This indicator light illuminates when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and goes off when the engine is
started.
If this light illuminates while driving, it
indicates a malfunction of the power
steering system. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
The power steering system is inoperable
when the power steering malfunction
indicator light illuminates. Steering is
possible, but requires more physical
effort.
qHeadlight Auto-Leveling
Malfunction Indicator Lightí
This indicator light stays on far a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
Thereafter, the indicator light will
illuminate when the headlight auto-
leveling system has a malfunction.
If the indicator light illuminates, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qTurn-Signal/Hazard Warning
Indicator Lights
When operating the turn signal lights, the
left or right turn signal indicator light
flashes to indicate which turn signal light
is operating (page 5-57).
5-52
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page186
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (188,1)
qEngine Overrev Warning Beep
The beep sounds to indicate engine
overrev when the tachometer needle
enters the striped zone (page 5-35).
qTire Inflation Pressure Warning
Beepí
The warning beep sound will be heard for
about 3 seconds when there is any
abnormality in tire inflation pressures
(page 5-27).
qAdvanced Keyless Warning (with
Advanced Key)
Warning indicators for the advanced key,
such as“the advanced key removed from
vehicle warning”, use a beep sound and
warning/indicator lights in the instrument
cluster.
Refer to Warning and Beep Sounds on
page 3-18.
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Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page188
Friday, May 19 2006 9:51 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (190,1)
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Push the lever forward for high beam.
Pull back to original position for low
beam.
High beam
Low beam
qFlashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
toward you. The headlight switch does
not need to be on, and the lever will return
to the normal position when released.
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
Headlight auto-leveling malfunction
indicator light
This indicator light stays on far a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
Thereafter, the indicator light will
illuminate when the headlight auto-
leveling system has a malfunction.
If the indicator light illuminates, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qDaytime Running Lights (Canada)
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with
the headlights on during daytime
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights
automatically turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position.
NOTE
The Daytime Running Lights turn off
when the parking brake is applied.
5-56
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page190
Friday, May 19 2006 9:51 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F