Black plate (278,1)
8. When finished, carefully disconnect the
cables in the reverse order described in
Step 6.
NOTE
Verify that the engine cover is securely
installed.
Push-Starting
Do not push-start your Mazda.
WARNING
Never tow a vehicle to start it:
Towing a vehicle to start it is
dangerous. The vehicle being towed
could surge forward when its engine
starts, causing the two vehicles to
collide. The occupants could be
injured.
CAUTION
Do not push-start a vehicle that has a
manual transmission. It can damage the
emission control system.
NOTE
You can't start a vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing it.
7-24
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page278
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (280,1)
Tiedown Hooks
CAUTION
Don't use the tiedown hooks under the
front and rear for towing.
They are designed ONLY for tying
down the vehicle when it's being
transported. Using them for towing will
damage the bumper.
qTiedown Hooks
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug
wrench from the trunk (page 7-3).
2. Wrap the lug wrench with a soft cloth
to prevent damage to the bumper and
open the cap located on the front and
rear bumper.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
The cap cannot be completely removed.
Do not use excessive force as it may
damage the cap or scratch the painted
bumper surface.
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet
using the lug wrench.
Front
Rear
7-26
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page280
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (281,1)
4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown
eyelet.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying down the
vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown
eyelet is securely tightened to the
bumper.
Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“Towing Description”(page 7-25) and
“Tiedown Hooks”(page 7-26) and
carefully follow the instructions.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-27
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (296,1)
5. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
reinsert it fully.
Full
Low OK
6. Pull it out again and examine the level.
It's OK between L and F.
But if it's near or below L, add enough
oil to bring the level to F.
CAUTION
Don't add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
The distance between L and F on the
dipstick represents the following:
Oil capacity
L (US qt, Imp qt) 1.7 (1.8, 1.5)
NOTE
lEach mark from the F mark equates
to about 0.5 L (US 0.5 qt, Imp 0.4
qt).
There are 3 marks between L and F.
lVerify that the engine cover is
securely installed.
Engine Coolant
qInspecting Coolant Level
WARNING
Do not use a match or live flame in the
engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS
HOT:
A hot engine is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, parts of the
engine compartment can become very
hot. You could be burned. Carefully
inspect the engine coolant in the
coolant reservoir, but do not open it.
Turn the ignition switch off and
remove the key from the ignition
switch when inspecting the engine:
Working near the electrical cooling
fan when it is running is dangerous.
You could be hit by the fan and
seriously injured.
Do not remove the cooling
system cap when the engine and
radiator are hot:
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot
out under pressure and cause serious
injury.
8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page296
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (305,1)
NOTE
lRemove the engine and battery
covers before performing battery
maintenance.
Engine cover
Battery cover
lIf the cover has been removed,
install it in the reverse order of
removal.
qBattery Maintenance
To get the best service from a battery:
lKeep it securely mounted.
lKeep the top clean and dry.
lKeep terminals and connections clean,
tight, and coated with petroleum jelly
or terminal grease.
lRinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda.
lIf the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
cables.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-23
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page305
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (319,1)
CAUTION
Always replace a fuse with one of the
same rating. Otherwise you may
damage the electric system.
Replacing the fuses under the hood
If the headlights or other electrical
components do not work and the fuses in
the cabin are normal, inspect the fuse
block under the hood. If a fuse is blown, it
must be replaced. Follow these steps:
1. Turn off the ignition switch and all
other switches.
2. Remove the fuse block cover.
Next to air filter
Engine cover
Near battery
Batter
y cover
NOTE
Remove the engine and battery covers
before removing the fuse block cover
near the battery.
3. If any fuse but the MAIN fuse is
blown, replace it with a new oneof the
same amperage rating.
Normal
Blown
WARNING
Do not replace the main fuse by
yourself. Have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer perform the replacement:
Replacing the fuse by yourself is
dangerous because the MAIN fuse is a
high current fuse. Incorrect
replacement could cause an electrical
shock or a short circuit resulting in a
fire.
NOTE
Verify that the engine cover is securely
installed.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-37
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page319
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (382,1)
F
Front Seats
(Manually Operated Seats) ................. 2-2
Fuel
Filler lid and cap ........................ 3-40
Gauge ......................................... 5-37
Requirements ............................... 4-2
Tank capacity ............................. 10-5
Fuses ................................................. 8-36
Panel description ........................ 8-38
Replacement ............................... 8-36
G
Gauges .............................................. 5-33
Glove Box ......................................... 6-51
H
Hazard Warning Flasher .................... 5-62
Hazardous Driving .............................. 4-8
Headlight Washer .............................. 5-60
Headlights
Control ....................................... 5-55
Flashing ...................................... 5-56
High-low beam .......................... 5-56
Leveling ..................................... 5-56
On reminder ............................... 5-55
HomeLink Wireless Control
System .............................................. 5-62
Hood Release .................................... 3-42
Horn .................................................. 5-61
I
Ignition
Keys ........................................... 3-22
Switch .......................................... 5-2
Illuminated Entry System ................. 6-44
I
Immobilizer System
(with Advanced Key) ........................ 3-45
Immobilizer System
(without Advanced Key) ................... 3-48
Indicator Lights ................................. 5-39
Cruise ......................................... 5-51
DSC OFF .................................... 5-51
Headlight auto-leveling
malfunction ................................ 5-52
Headlight high-beam .................. 5-50
power steering malfunction ........ 5-52
Security ...................................... 5-50
Shift position .............................. 5-50
TCS/DSC ................................... 5-51
Turn-signal/hazard warning ....... 5-52
Information Display .......................... 6-46
Ambient temperature display ..... 6-47
Audio display ............................. 6-48
Climate control display .............. 6-48
Clock .......................................... 6-47
Information display functions .... 6-46
Inside Trunk Release Lever ............... 3-36
Instrument Cluster ............................. 5-33
Interior Care ...................................... 8-46
Interior Lights ................................... 6-44
J
Jump-Starting .................................... 7-21
K
Keyless Entry System ....................... 3-23
Keys .................................................. 3-22
L
Label Information ............................. 10-2
11-4
Index
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page382
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (384,1)
S
Seats
Front seat
(Electrically operated seats) ......... 2-5
Front seat
(Manually operated seats) ............ 2-2
Rear seat ....................................... 2-8
Security System
Immobilizer system
(with advanced key) ................... 3-45
Immobilizer system
(without advanced key) .............. 3-48
Service Publications .......................... 9-40
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ................ 7-3
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speed Unit Selector ........................... 5-34
Speedometer ...................................... 5-34
SRS Air Bags
How the Air Bags Work ............. 2-40
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions ................................. 2-32
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-4
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-53
Horn ........................................... 5-61
Storage Box ...................................... 6-52
Storage Compartments ...................... 6-51
Center console ............................ 6-52
Coin box ..................................... 6-51
Glove box ................................... 6-51
Overhead console ....................... 6-51
Storage box ................................ 6-52
Sunshade ........................................... 3-44
Sunvisors .......................................... 6-44
T
Tachometer ........................................ 5-35
Temporary Spare Tire ....................... 8-27
Theft-Deterrent System ..................... 3-51
T
Tiedown
Hook .......................................... 7-26
Tire Information ................................ 9-18
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 5-27
System error activation .............. 5-30
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light .............................. 5-28
Tires and wheels ......................... 5-30
Tires
Flat tire ......................................... 7-3
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-24
Replacement ............................... 8-26
Rotation ...................................... 8-25
Snow tires .................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ............................. 10-6
Tire chains .................................. 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-16
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description ................................. 7-25
Emergency towing ..................... 7-25
Recreational towing ................... 7-27
Trailer towing ............................. 4-13
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-23
TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-23
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-13
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-34
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-33
Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-36
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-35
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-57
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-44
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
11-6
Index
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page384
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F