Page 169 of 432
Black plate (169,1)
2. Turn off the engine and inspect theengine oil level (page 8-12). If it's low,
add oil.
3. Check the light.
If the engine oil level warning light is
illuminated and you are unable to
immediately add engine oil, do not drive
at high speed, keep the engine speed low
and get to a location where oil can be
added as soon as possible. We recommend
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If the light remains illuminated even after
you add oil, have your vehicle checked at
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Don't run the engine if the oil level is
low. It could result in extensive
engine damage.
NOTE
The Mazda RX-8 requires regular checking of
the engine oil level. The compact, high
performance RENESIS rotary engine in your
vehicle consumes a small amount of engine oil
due to its structural design. An oil pump
optimizes the amount of oil injected to
lubricate the rotor seals in the combustion
cycle. Although your vehicle is equipped with
an engine oil level warning light and an
engine oil pressure gauge, it is best to keep the
engine oil level in the range between full and
low by checking the oil dipstick regularly.
Mazda recommends checking the oil level at
every second fuel filling. The oil consumption
of the engine depends on engine speed and
engine load. Under extreme driving conditions,
oil consumption can be higher.
qEngine Coolant Level Warning Light
This warning light indicates low engine
coolant level.
If the light illuminates while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the engine coolant level (page 8-13). If it's
low, add engine coolant.
3. Check the light.
If the light remains illuminated even after
you add engine coolant, have your vehicle
towed to an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Don't run the engine if the engine
coolant level is low. It could result in
extensive engine damage.
q Check Engine Light
This indicator light illuminates when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and goes off when the engine is
started.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-43
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page169
Friday, May 11 2007 5:3 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 182 of 432
Black plate (182,1)
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Push the lever forward for high beam.
Pull back to original position for low
beam.
High beam
Low beam
q Flashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
toward you. The headlight switch does
not need to be on, and the lever will return
to the normal position when released.
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
Headlight auto-leveling malfunction
indicator light
This indicator light stays on far a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
Thereafter, the indicator light will
illuminate when the headlight auto-
leveling system has a malfunction.
If the indicator light illuminates, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qDaytime Running Lights (Canada)
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with
the headlights on during daytime
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights
automatically turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position.
NOTE
The Daytime Running Lights turn off when the
parking brake is applied.
5-56
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page182
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 183 of 432
Black plate (183,1)
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
qTurn Signal
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to
its original position.
Right turn
Left turn OFF
Right lane
change
Left lane
change
Green indicators on the dashboard show
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the
direction of the change ―until the
indicator flashes ―and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without flashing
or if it flashes abnormally, one of the turn
signal bulbs may be burned out.
Fog Lightsí
Use this switch to turn on the fog lights.
They help you to see as well as to be seen.
To turn the front fog lights on, rotate the
fog light switch to the
position.
The headlight switch must be in the
position to turn on the front fog lights.
Fog light switch
To turn them off, rotate the fog light
switch to the OFF position or turn the
headlight switch to the
or OFF
position.
NOTE
The fog lights will turn off when the headlights
are set at high beam.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-57íSome models.
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page183
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 185 of 432
Black plate (185,1)
qWindshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid.
OFF
Washer
NOTE
With the wiper lever in the OFF or INT
position, the wipers will operate continuously
until the lever is released.
If the washer doesn't work, inspect the
fluid level (page 8-16). If it's OK, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
(With headlight washers)
When the headlights are on, the headlight
washers operate automatically once every fifth
time the windshield washer operates.
Refer to Headlight Washer (page 5-59).
Headlight Washerí
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position and the headlights must be turned
on.
The headlight washers operate
automatically once every fifth time the
windshield washer operates.
If you want to operate only the headlight
washers, pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you twice rapidly.
OFF
Washer
NOTE
When you pull the windshield wiper lever
twice, the windshield washer may spray a
little.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-59íSome models.
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page185
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 187 of 432
Black plate (187,1)
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Hazard warning flasher
Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash.
NOTE
lThe turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
lCheck local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle is
being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
HomeLink Wireless
Control System
í
NOTE
HomeLink and HomeLink house are registered
trademarks of Johnson Controls.
The HomeLink system replaces up to 3
hand-held transmitters with a single built-
in component in the auto-dimming mirror.
Pressing the HomeLink button on the
auto-dimming mirror activates garage
doors, gates and other devices
surrounding your home.
Indicator light
HomeLink button
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-61íSome models.
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page187
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 202 of 432
Black plate (202,1)
Flutter/Skip noise
Signals from an FM transmitter move in
straight lines and become weak in valleys
between tall buildings, mountains, and
other obstacles. When a vehicle passes
through such an area, the reception
conditions may change suddenly, resulting
in annoying noise.
Weak signal noise
In suburban areas, broadcast signals
become weak because of distance from
the transmitter. Reception in such fringe
areas is characterized by sound breakup.
Strong signal noise
This occurs very close to a transmitter
tower. The broadcast signals are
extremely strong, so the result is noise and
sound breakup at the radio receiver.
Station drift noise
When a vehicle reaches the area of two
strong stations broadcasting at similar
frequencies, the original station may be
temporarily lost and the second station
picked up. At this time there will be some
noise from this disturbance.
Station 2
88.3 MHz
Station 1
88.1 MHz
6-12
Interior Comfort
Audio System
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page202
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 240 of 432
Black plate (240,1)
Storage Compartments
WARNING
Keep storage boxes closed when
driving:Driving with the storage boxes open
is dangerous. To reduce the
possibility of injury in an accident or
a sudden stop, keep the storage
boxes closed when driving.
CAUTION
Do not leave lighters or eyeglasses in
the storage boxes while parked under
the sun. A lighter could explode or
the plastic material in eyeglasses
could deform and crack from high
temperature.
qOverhead Console
This console box is designed to store
accessories. Push and release to open.
qCoin Box
To open, press the release catch down and
pull the lid downward.
qGlove Box
To open the glove box, pull the latch
toward you.
Insert the key (auxiliary key
*) and turn it
clockwise to lock, counterclockwise to
unlock.
* Advanced key equipped vehicle
Unlock
Lock
6-50
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page240
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 245 of 432
Black plate (245,1)
7In Case of an Emergency
Helpful information on what to do in an emergency.
Parking in an Emergency ............................................................. 7-2Parking in an Emergency .......................................................... 7-2
Flat Tire ......................................................................................... 7-3 Spare Tire and Tool Storage ...................................................... 7-3
Instant Mobility System (IMS) Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit ............................................................................................. 7-5
Changing the Tire .................................................................... 7-11
Overheating ................................................................................. 7-16 Overheating ............................................................................. 7-16
Emergency Starting .................................................................... 7-18 Starting a Flooded Engine ....................................................... 7-18
Jump-Starting .......................................................................... 7-19
Push-Starting ........................................................................... 7-22
Emergency Towing ..................................................................... 7-23 Towing Description ................................................................. 7-23
Tiedown Hooks ....................................................................... 7-24
Recreational Towing ............................................................... 7-25
7-1
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page245
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
