2007 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 roof

Black plate (11,1)
Trunk lid ............................................................................................................ page 3-33
Rear window defroster ....................................................................................... page 5-60
Antenna ............................................................................................................. page 6-10
Power windows ................................................................................................. page 3-37
Outside mirror .................................................................................................... page 3-53
Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-24
Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-29
Hood .................................................................................................................. page 3-42
Windshield wiper blades .................................................................................... page 8-19
Moonroof ........................................................................................................... page 3-43
Fuel-filler lid ...................................................................................................... page 3-40
Doors and keys .................................................................................................. page 3-29
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Exterior Overview
1-5
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page11
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (34,1)
WARNING
Do not allow a child to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle with side and
curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of
the front passenger seat, the front and rear window pillars and the roof edge along
both sides from which the side and curtain air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint
system is used. If the vehicle is equipped with side and curtain air bags, the impact of
inflation could cause serious injury or death to the child. Furthermore, leaning over
or against the front door could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the
advantages of supplemental protection. With the front air bag and the additional side
air bag that comes out of the front seat, the rear seat is always a better location for
children. Do not allow a child to lean over or against the side window, even if the child
is seated in a child-restraint system.
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could be
crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more
than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly
restrained.
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during
warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child
touches them.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially
designed LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seat. When using these anchors to
secure a child-restraint system, refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint Systems”(page 2-29).
2-22
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page34
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (38,1)
NOTE
lTo check if your front seats have side
air bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with side
air bag will have a“SRS AIRBAG”
tag on the outboard shoulder of the
front seats.
lTo check if your vehicle has curtain
air bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with
curtain air bag will have an“SRS
AIRBAG”marking on the front and
rear window pillars along the roof
edge.
WARNING
Always move the front passenger seat
as far back as possible if installing a
front-facing child-restraint system on
it is unavoidable:
As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so if your vehicle has side air
bags, a front-facing child-restraint
system should be put on the front
passenger seat only when it is
unavoidable.
Even if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light
illuminates, always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the force
of a deploying air bag could cause
serious injury or death to the child.
Always move the seat as far back as
possible, because the force of a
deploying air bag could cause serious
injury or death to the child.
WARNING
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat with an air bag
that could deploy:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on
the front seat are particularly
dangerous.
Even in a moderate collision, the
child-restraint system can be hit by a
deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury
or death to the child.
Do not allow a child to lean over or
against the side window of a vehicle
with side and curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean
over or against the side window, the
area of the front passenger seat, the
front and rear window pillars and the
roof edge along both sides from which
the side and curtain air bags deploy,
even if a child-restraint system is used.
If the vehicle is equipped with side and
curtain air bags, the impact of
inflation could cause serious injury or
death to the child. Furthermore,
leaning over or against the front door
could block the side and curtain air
bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. With the
front air bag and the additional side
air bag that comes out of the front
seat, the rear seat is always a better
location for children. Do not allow a
child to lean over or against the side
window, even if the child is seated in a
child-restraint system.
2-26
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page38
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (44,1)
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 6 air bags (verify
“SRS AIRBAG”location indicator marks).
They are located in:
lThe steering wheel hub (driver air bag)
lThe front passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)
lThe outboard sides of the front seatbacks (side air bags)
lThe front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides (curtain air bags)
These systems operate independently depending on the type of accident encountered; if
you have side and curtain air bags, the side and curtain air bags are not likely to deploy on
both sides in the same accident because a vehicle is not often hit from both sides. The side
and curtain air bags and the frontal air bag system will not normally deploy during the
same type of accident unless a combination of frontal and side impacts occur.
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
only in the front seats in certain situations and the rear outside passenger positions only in
same-side collisions, so seat belts are always important in the following ways:
Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an accident.
Seat belt usage is necessary to:
lKeep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag.
lReduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
lReduce the possibility of injuries in frontal or side collisions that are not severe enough
to activate the air bags.
lReduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.
lReduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body.
lHold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.
Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-19).
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow the
installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
2-32
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page44
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (46,1)
WARNING
Sit in the center of the seat and wear seat belts properly:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. The side air bags inflate with great force and speed directly out of the
outboard side of the front seat and expand along the front door on the side the car is
hit. Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning
against a window, or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the front seatbacks.
Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the windows in the vehicle
could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. Give the side and curtain air bags room to work by sitting in
the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and front passenger air bags
deploy:
Attaching an object to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing
something in front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere with
air bag inflation and injure the occupants.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:
Attaching things to the front seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the
seat in any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air
bag, which inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added
protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is
dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front seats.
Never use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your
front seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a curtain air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the
windshield glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof
edge and assist grips is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the
curtain air bag, which inflates from the front and rear window pillars and along the
roof edge, impeding the added protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting
the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open
releasing the gas.
Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes,
hang them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free to
deploy in the event of a side collision.
2-34
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page46
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (49,1)
Supplemental Restraint System Components
The supplemental restraint systems (SRS) have two basic subsystems:
lThe air bag system with inflators and air bags.
lThe electrical system with crash sensors and diagnostic module.
The air bags are mounted in the following locations:
lThe steering wheel hub
lThe front passenger dashboard
lThe outboard sides of the front seatbacks
lThe front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides
The air bags are out of sight until activated.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-37
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page49
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (55,1)
WARNING
Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:
When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 42 kg (93 lb) required for air bag deployment is dangerous. The front
passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total seated weight condition and
the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not
deploy during an accident. The front passenger will not have the supplementary
protection of the air bag, which could result in serious injury. Decreasing the total
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of
approximately 42 kg (93 lb) could result in an air bag not deploying under the
following conditions, for example:
lA rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with the feet.lLuggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the front
passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat bottom.
lThe front passenger seat occupant sits in a manner that does not place the entire
weight of the occupant on the seat such as by sitting too close to the door, grasping
the assist grip or the rim of the moonroof and sitting with the seatback reclined too
far.
lAny accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.
lTension in the upward direction is placed on the seat belt slide bar such as by
pulling up on the seat belt.
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will
deactivate if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66 lb)
and they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lb).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-43
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page55
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F

Black plate (62,1)
A system malfunction is indicated if the
warning light constantly flashes,
constantly illuminates or does not
illuminate at all when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position. If either of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/
pretensioner systems and always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform
all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.
qMaintenance
The air bag systems do not require regular
maintenance. But if any of the following
occurs, take your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:
lThe air bag system warning light
flashes.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains illuminated.
lThe air bag system warning light does
not illuminate when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position.
lThe air bags have deployed.
lFront passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position or does not illuminate
as indicated in the chart. For more
details about this indicator light and
this chart, refer to“Front passenger
seat weight sensors”(page 2-40).
WARNING
Do not operate a vehicle with damaged
air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
components:
Expended or damaged air bag/seat
belt pretensioner system components
must be replaced after any collision
which caused them to deploy or
damage them. Only a trained
Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully
evaluate these systems to see that they
will work in any subsequent accident.
Driving with an expended or damaged
air bag or pretensioner unit will not
afford you the necessary protection in
the event of any subsequent accident
which could result in serious injury or
death.
Do not remove interior air bag parts:
Removing any components such as the
front seats, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts on the front
and rear window pillars and along the
roof edge, containing air bag parts or
sensors is dangerous. These parts
contain essential air bag components.
The air bag could accidentally activate
and cause serious injuries. Always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
remove these parts.
2-50
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page62
Friday, May 19 2006 9:50 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F