Page 305 of 432

Black plate (305,1)
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 allother 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 isblown, replace it with a new one of 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
8-35
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G
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Black plate (306,1)
qFuse Panel Description
Fuse block (Engine compartment)
(Next to air filter)
(Near battery)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATING PROTECTED COMPONENT
1 MAIN 120A For protection of all circuits
2 HEATER 40A Heater
3 AIR PUMP 60A Air pump
4 BTN 30APower windows, Power door locks, Illuminated entry system,
Moonroof
í
5
DEFOG 50A Rear window defroster
6 FAN 40A Electric fan
7 ABS/DSC 60A ABS, DSC
í
8ACC 30A Lighter, Power control mirror, Accessory socket, Audio system
9 HEAD 15A Headlight high beamsí, Headlight cleanerí
10 HEAD LOW R 15A Headlight low beam (RH)
11 HEAD LOW L 15A Headlight low beam (LH)
12 DRL 15A DRL
í(Headlight high beams)
13 DSC 30A DSCí
14 SEAT WARM 20A Seat warmerí
15 H/CLEAN 20A Headlight cleanerí
16R.FOG ――
8-36
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G
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Black plate (307,1)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATING PROTECTED COMPONENT
17 FOG 15A Fog lights
í
18 A/C MAG 10A Air conditioner
19 IG 30A For protection of various circuits
20 IG KEY 15A For protection of various circuits
21 STOP 15A Brake lights
22 FUEL PUMP 20A Fuel pump
23 HORN 15A Horn
24 HAZARD 15A Hazard warning flashers, Turn signals
25 ETV 15A Electric throttle valve
26 WIPER 20A Windshield wiper and washer
27 P.WIND ――
28 ENGINE 15AEngine control system, Supplemental restraint system, ABS,
Power steering
29 TAIL 10ATaillights, License plate light, Parking lights, Front side-maker
lights, Rear side-marker lights
30 ILLUMI 10A Illuminated entry system
31 EGI COMP1 10A Engine control system
32 EGI COMP2 10A Engine control system
33 EGI INJ 15A Fuel injector
34 EPS 60A Power steering
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-37íSome models.
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 308 of 432
Black plate (308,1)
Fuse panel (Driver's side)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATING PROTECTED COMPONENT
1 CIGAR 15A Lighter
2 ACC 7.5A Audio system, Power control mirror
3 AUX PWR 20A Accessory socket
4 A/C 7.5A Air conditioner
5 METER 10A Instrument cluster
6 TCM 10A Transmission control system
7 SPARE ――
8 SPARE ――
9 M.DEF 10A Mirror defroster
í
10DSC 7.5A DSCí
11 AUDIO 20A Audio systemí
12 D.LOCK 30A Power door locks, Moonroofí
13 P.WIND30A Power windows
14 ROOM 15A Interior lights
15 SPARE ――
16 SPARE ――
8-38
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page308
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 312 of 432

Black plate (312,1)
WARNING
Dry wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal:Driving with wet brakes is
dangerous. Increased stopping
distance or the vehicle pulling to one
side when braking could result in a
serious accident. Light braking will
indicate whether the brakes have
been affected.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar
materials will usually also take off the wax.
Rewax these areas even if the rest of the
vehicle doesn't need it.
q Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced,
make sure the body shop applies
anti-corrosion materials to all parts,
both repaired and new. This will
prevent them from rusting.
qBright-Metal Maintenance
lUse tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
lTo prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
lDuring cold weather or in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Don't use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or anodized
aluminum parts. This may result in
damage to the protective coating and
cause discoloration or paint
deterioration.
8-42
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 313 of 432

Black plate (313,1)
qUnderbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also
to do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped
there will cause rusting.
WARNING
Dry wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal: Driving with wet brakes is
dangerous. Increased stopping
distance or the vehicle pulling to one
side when braking could result in a
serious accident. Light braking will
indicate whether the brakes have
been affected.
qAluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
NOTE
lDon't use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent on
aluminum wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lOnly use a mild soap or neutral detergent
and always use a sponge or soft cloth to
clean the wheels.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or cold
water. Also, be sure to clean the wheels
after driving on dusty or salted roads. This
helps prevent corrosion.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an automatic
car wash that uses high-speed or hard
brushes.
lIf your aluminum wheels lose luster, wax
the wheels.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
8-43
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G
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Black plate (335,1)
11. Tread wear, traction and temperature grades
12. Max. permissible inflation pressure
13. SAFETY WARNING
P215/65R15 95H is an example of a tire size and load index rating. Here is an explanation
of the various components of that tire size and load index rating. Note that the tire size and
load index rating may be different from the example.
P
Indicates a tire that may be installed on cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks as designated
by the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA).
NOTE
If your tire size does not begin with a letter this may mean it is designated by either ETRTO
(European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) or JATMA (Japan Tire Manufacturing Association).
215
“215 ”is the nominal width of the tire in millimeters. This three-digit number gives the
width in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger
the number, the wider the tire.
65
“ 65 ”is the aspect ratio. This two-digit number indicates the tire's ratio of height to width.
R
“R” is the tire construction symbol. R indicates “Radial ply construction ”.
15
“15 ”is the wheel rim diameter in inches.
95
“95 ”is the Load Index. This two-or three-digit number indicates how much weight each
tire can support.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-19
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Black plate (338,1)
qInformation on Temporary Tires
Please refer to the diagram below.
1. Temporary tires
2. Nominal width of tire in millimeters
3. Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
4. Diagonal
5. Rim diameter code
6. Load index&speed symbol
T115/70D 16 90M is an example of a tire size and load index rating. Here is an explanation
of the various components of that tire size and load index rating. Note that the tire size and
load index rating may be different from the example.
T
Indicates a tire that may be installed on cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks as designated
by the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA).
115
“115 ”is the nominal width of the tire in millimeters. This three-digit number gives the
width in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger
the number, the wider the tire.
9-22
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page338
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Form No.8X44-EA-07G