2007 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 steering wheel

Black plate (150,1)
Manually Shifting down
(M6→M5→M4→M3→M2→M1)
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the shift
lever forward (
) once.
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, press either of the
DOWN switches away from you once
with your thumb.
DOWN switches
WARNING
Do not use engine braking on slippery
road surfaces or at high speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which 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.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers or thumbs on
the steering shift switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous. If
the driver air bag were to deploy in a
collision, your hands could be
impacted causing injury.
NOTE
lWhen driving at high speeds, the
gear may not shift down depending
on vehicle speed.
lDuring deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending
on vehicle speed.
lWhen depressing the accelerator
fully, the transmission will shift to a
lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
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Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (158,1)
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)
í
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and engine
torque in conjunction with systems such
as ABS and TCS to help control side slip
when driving on slippery surfaces, or
during sudden or evasive maneuvering,
enhancing vehicle safety.
Refer to ABS (page 5-7) and TCS (page
5-23).
WARNING
Do not rely on the dynamic stability
control as a substitute for safe driving:
The dynamic stability control (DSC)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning
(reduced tire friction and road contact
because of water on the road surface).
You can still have an accident.
CAUTION
lThe DSC may not operate correctly
unless the following are observed:
lUse tires of the correct size
specified for your Mazda on all
four wheels.
lUse tires of the same
manufacturer, brand and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
lDo not mix worn tires.
lThe DSC may not operate correctly
when tire chains are used or a
temporary spare tire is installed
because the tire diameter changes.
lIf repair or replacement of the
steering or other surrounding
equipment is necessary, have it done
at an Authorized Mazda Dealer. If
the center position of the steering
deviates, the DSC may not operate
correctly because there is a sensor in
the steering which detects driving
conditions.
qTCS/DSC Indicator Light
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.
5-24
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (195,1)
NOTE
This defroster is not designed for
melting snow. If there is an
accumulation of snow on the rear
window, remove it before using the
defroster.
Horn
To sound the horn, press themark on
the steering wheel.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (210,1)
Antenna
qRear Window Antenna
The rear window antenna receives both
AM and FM signals.
CAUTION
When 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.
Operating Tips for Audio
System
WARNING
Do not adjust the audio control
switches while driving the vehicle:
Adjusting the audio while driving the
vehicle is dangerous as it could
distract your attention from the vehicle
operation which could lead to a
serious accident. Always adjust the
audio while the vehicle is stopped.
Even if the audio control switches are
equipped on the steering wheel, learn
to use the switches without looking
down at them so that you can keep
your maximum attention on the road
while driving the vehicle.
CAUTION
For the purposes of safe driving, adjust
the audio volume to a level that allows
you to hear sounds outside of the
vehicle.
NOTE
lDo not use the audio for long periods
of time while the engine is off.
Otherwise the battery could go dead.
lIf a cellular phone or CB radio is
used in or near the vehicle, it could
cause noise to occur from the audio
system, however, this does not
indicate that the system has been
damaged.
6-10
Interior Comfort
Audio System
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (240,1)
Audio Control Switch
Operation
When the audio unit is turned on,
operation of the audio unit from the
steering wheel is possible.
NOTE
Because the audio unit will be turned
off under the following conditions, the
switches will be inoperable.
lWhen the ignition switch is turned to
the LOCK position.
lWhen the power button on the audio
unit is pressed and the audio unit is
turned off.
lWhen a cassette tape/CD being
played is ejected. (For the In-dash
CD changer, when all CDs are
ejected.)
NOTE
Mazda has installed this system to
prevent distraction while driving the
vehicle and using audio controls on the
dashboard.
Always make safe driving your first
priority.
qAdjusting the Volume
To increase the volume, press the volume
button (
).
To decrease the volume, press the volume
button (
).
6-40
Interior Comfort
Audio System
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (263,1)
10. Hold the bottom of the bottle upright,
squeeze the bottle with your hands,
and inject the entire amount of tire
sealant into the tire.
Valve
NOTE
The tire sealant cannot be reused.
Purchase a new tire sealant kit at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
11. Pull out the injection hose from the
valve. Reinsert the valve core into the
valve and turn it clockwise to install
it.
12. Attach the sticker that indicates
completion of the tire repair on a flat
outer surface of the repaired tire.
NOTE
Do not throw away the empty tire
sealant bottle after use. Return the
empty tire sealant bottle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer when
replacing the tire. The empty tire sealant
bottle will need to be used to extract
and dispose of the used sealant from the
tire.
13. Attach the vehicle speed restriction
sticker in a place where the driver can
easily see it.
WARNING
Do not attach the vehicle speed
restriction sticker to the instrument
panel, as it would obstruct vision of
areas such as warning light indicators
or the speedometer:
Attaching the vehicle speed restriction
sticker to the steering wheel pad is
dangerous. The sticker could interfere
with air bag inflation and cause
serious injury.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
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Black plate (286,1)
qSchedule 1
Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
×1000 km 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
×1000 miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
ENGINE
Engine oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRR
Drive belt I I
AIR FILTER
Air filter C C R C
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs R
FUEL SYSTEM
Fuel filter Replace every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
Fuel lines, hoses and connections
*1II
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system I I
Engine coolantFL22 type
*2Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years
OthersReplace at first 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 4 years; after that,
every 2 years
CHASSIS AND BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I
Disc brakesIIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)
Steering operation and linkages I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial playII
Manual transmission oilR
Rear differential oilR
Driveshaft dust boots I I
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLL
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T
Flat tire repair kit
*3Inspect every year
8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (289,1)
Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
CHASSIS AND BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I
Brake and clutch fluid levelIIIII IIIII
Brake fluid R R
Disc brakesIIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 8,000 km (5,000 miles)
Tire inflation pressure and tire wearIIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial playII
Manual transmission oil R R
Rear differential oil R R
Driveshaft dust boots I I
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid levelIIIIIIIIIIII
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body T T
Flat tire repair kit
*3Inspect every year
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
Cabin air filter (If installed) Replace every 40,000 km (25,000 miles) or 2 years
Chart symbols:
I:Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R:Replace
L:Lubricate
C:Clean
T:Tighten
Remarks:
*1 According to state/provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not
void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or mileage/kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*2 Use FL22 type coolant in vehicles with the inscription“FL22”on the radiator cap itself or the surrounding
area. Use FL22 when replacing the coolant.
*3 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F