Black plate (125,1)
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide)
WARNING
Do not drive your vehicle if you smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle:
Engine exhaust gas is dangerous. This gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), which is
colorless, odorless, and poisonous. When inhaled, it can cause loss of consciousness
and death. If you smell exhaust gas inside your vehicle, keep all windows fully open
and contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer immediately.
Do not run the engine when inside an enclosed area:
Running the engine inside an enclosed area, such as a garage, is dangerous. Exhaust
gas, which contains poisonous carbon monoxide, could easily enter the cabin. Loss of
consciousness or even death could occur.
Open the windows or adjust the heating or cooling system to draw fresh air when
idling the engine:
Exhaust gas is dangerous. When your vehicle is stopped with the windows closed and
the engine running for a long time even in an open area, exhaust gas, which contains
poisonous carbon monoxide, could enter the cabin. Loss of consciousness or even
death could occur.
Clear snow from underneath and around your vehicle, particularly the tail pipe,
before starting the engine:
Running the engine when a vehicle is stopped in deep snow is dangerous. The exhaust
pipe could be blocked by the snow, allowing exhaust gas to enter the cabin. Because
exhaust gas contains poisonous carbon monoxide, it could cause loss of
consciousness or even death to occupants in the cabin.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
4-5
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (129,1)
Rocking the Vehicle
WARNING
Do not spin the wheels at more than
56 km/h (35 mph), and do not allow
anyone to stand behind a wheel when
pushing the vehicle:
When the vehicle is stuck, spinning
the wheels at high speed is dangerous.
The spinning tire could overheat and
explode. This could cause serious
injuries.
CAUTION
Too much rocking may cause engine
overheating, transmission failure, and
tire damage.
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
shift lever from 1 (D) to R.
Winter Driving
lCarry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-14.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but don't use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-17).
lDon't use the parking brake in freezing
weather as the parking brake may
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transmission and to 1 or R
with a manual transmission. Block the
rear wheels.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
4-9
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (152,1)
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steepupgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
gives better acceleration when you need
more speed.
On a steepdowngrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
qDriving Tips
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while
gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.
Power Steering
Power steering is only operable when the
engine is running. If the engine is off or if
the power steering system is inoperable,
you can still steer, but it requires more
physical effort.
If the steering feels stiffer than usual
during normal driving, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
The steering may feel rigid if you
continuously attempt to steer when the
vehicle is stopped or moving extremely
slowly. This has been designed to
protect the system and doesn't indicate a
malfunction. If you don't attempt to
steer for a minute, power steering will
be restored.
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.
5-18
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (170,1)
Manual transmission
Red zone Striped zone
CAUTION
Don't run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
NOTE
lThe beep sounds to indicate engine
overrev when the tachometer needle
enters the striped zone.
lTo protect the engine, when the
engine coolant temperature is low,
the engine does not run at high
speeds. The fuel supply will be cut at
an rpm lower than the red zone.
qEngine Coolant Temperature Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge
shows the temperature of the engine
coolant.
If the needle is near H, it indicates
overheating.
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine can
cause serious engine damage (page
7-18).
5-36
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page170
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (192,1)
Windshield Wipers and
Washer
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
WARNING
Use only windshield washer fluid or
plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the windshield,
affect your visibility, and could result
in an accident.
Do not use the washer without first
warming the windshield and never use
plain tap water:
Using windshield washer fluid without
anti-freeze protection in freezing
temperatures is dangerous. The
washer fluid could freeze on the
windshield and block your vision. You
could have an accident.
NOTE
Because heavy ice and snow can jam
the wiper blades, the wiper motor is
protected from motor breakdown,
overheating and possible fire by a
circuit breaker. This mechanism will
automatically stop operation of the
blades, but only for about 5 minutes.
If this happens, turn off the wiper
switch and park off the right-of-way,
and remove the snow and ice.
After 5 minutes, turn on the switch and
the blades should operate normally. If
they don't resume functioning, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible. Drive to the side of the road
and park off the right-of-way. Wait until
the weather clears before trying to drive
with the wipers inoperative.
qWindshield Wipers
Turn the wipers on by pulling the lever
down.
MIST―Mist
INT―Intermittent
1―Low speed
2―High speed
For a single wiping cycle, push the lever
up to MIST.
5-58
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page192
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (199,1)
7. Firmly press and release the“learn”or
“smart”button. (The name and color of
the button may vary by manufacturer.)
NOTE
There are 30 seconds in which to
initiate step 8.
8. Return to the vehicle and firmlypress,
hold for two seconds and releasethe
programmed HomeLink button. Repeat
the“press/hold/release”sequence a
second time, and, depending on the
brand of the garage door opener (or
other rolling code equipped device),
repeat this sequence a third time to
complete the programming process.
HomeLink should now activate your
rolling code equipped device.
NOTE
To program the remaining two
HomeLink buttons, begin with
“Programming”―step 2. Do not
repeat step 1.
For questions or comments, please contact
HomeLink atwww.homelink.comor1-
800-355-3515.
qGate operator/Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to“time-out”(or quit)
after several seconds of transmission―
which may not be long enough for
HomeLink to pick up the signal during
programming. Similar to this Canadian
law, some U.S. gate operators are
designed to“time-out”in the same
manner.
If you live in Canada or you are having
difficulties programming a gate operator
by using the“Programming”procedures
(regardless of where you live),replace
“Programming HomeLink”step 3with
the following:
NOTE
If programming a garage door opener or
gate operator, it is advised to unplug the
device during the“cycling”process to
prevent possible overheating.
Continue to press and hold the HomeLink
button while youpress and release―
every two seconds(“cycle”) your hand-
held transmitter until the frequency signal
has successfully been accepted by
HomeLink. (The indicator light will flash
slowly and then rapidly.)
Proceed with“Programming”step 4 to
complete.
qOperating the HomeLink System
Press the programmed HomeLink button
to operate a programmed device. The
code will continue being transmitted for a
maximum of 20 seconds.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-65
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (206,1)
Mode selector switch
Press the mode selector switch to select
airflow mode (page 6-4).
NOTE
To set the air vent to, press the
windshield defroster switch.
A/C switch
Push the A/C switch to turn the air
conditioner on. The indicator light on the
switch will illuminate when the fan
control dial is set at position 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Push the switch once again to turn the air
conditioner off.
NOTE
The air conditioner may not function
when the outside temperature
approaches 0 °C (32 °F).
Air intake selector
This switch controls the source of air
entering the vehicle.
Press the switch to alternate between the
andpositions. The indicator
light for the selected mode will illuminate.
It is recommended that under normal
conditions the switch be kept in the
outside air position.
Outside air position (
)
Outside air is taken into the vehicle. Use
this position for normal ventilation and
heating.
Recirculated air position (
)
Outside air is shut off. Air within the
vehicle is recirculated.
This position can be used when driving on
a dusty road or in similar conditions. It
also helps to provide quicker cooling of
the interior.
6-6
Interior Comfort
Climate Control System
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (207,1)
WARNING
Do not use theposition in cold
or rainy weather:
Using the
position in cold or
rainy weather is dangerous as it will
cause the windows to fog up. Your
vision will be hampered, which could
lead to a serious accident.
Windshield defroster switch
Press the switch to defrost the windshield
and front door windows.
qHeating
1. Press the mode selector switch to the
position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the
hot position.
3. Set the fan control dial to the desired
speed.
NOTE
lIf the windshield fogs up easily, set
the mode selector switch to the
position.
lIf cooler air is desired at face level,
set the mode selector switch at the
position and adjust the
temperature control dial to maintain
maximum comfort.
lThe air to the floor is warmer than
air to the face (except when the
temperature control dial is set at the
extreme hot or cold position).
lIn the,,orposition, the
air conditioner is automatically
turned on (however, the indicator
light does not illuminate) and the
position is automatically
selected to defrost the windshield.
In the
orposition, the
position cannot be changed to
the
position.
qCooling (With Air Conditioner)
1. Press the mode selector switch to the
position.
2. Set the temperature control dial to the
cold position.
3. Set the fan control dial to the desired
speed.
4. Turn on the air conditioner by pressing
the A/C switch.
5. Adjust the fan control dial and
temperature control dial to maintain
maximum comfort.
Interior Comfort
Climate Control System
6-7
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Form No.8V89-EA-06F