Black plate (9,1)
Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-28
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-48
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-37
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-24
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-55
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-40
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-33
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-33
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-58
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-20
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-45
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-61
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-10
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-50
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-51
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-49
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-6
MT shift lever .................................................................................................... page 5-10
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-12
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-47
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-48
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-48
Coin box ............................................................................................................ page 6-50
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-38
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-32
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-36
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-35
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-43
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-43
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-49
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-43
Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2
Rear seat .............................................................................................................. page 2-8
Seat belt ............................................................................................................... page 2-9
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page9
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (20,1)
qSeat Warmer
The front seats are electrically heated. The
ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Press the switch to turn the seat warmer
on or off. When the switch is in the ON
position, the indicator light will come on.
NOTE
The seat temperature is regulated
automatically by a thermostat. Other than
turning it on or off, it cannot be adjusted.
Rear Seat
WARNING
Make sure luggage and cargo is
secured before driving:
Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as it could move or be
crushed during sudden braking or a
collision and cause injury.
Do not allow anyone to sit on the
center console between the rear seats: Allowing someone to sit on the rear
center console between the rear seats
is dangerous. The rear center console
is not designed for occupant seating.
During a collision, occupants not
wearing a seat belt could be thrown
from the vehicle and seriously injured
or even killed.
2-8
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page20
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (28,1)
Properly dispose of the pretensioner
system:Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is
dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of the
pretensioner system or how to scrap
a pretensioner-equipped vehicle.
NOTE
lThe pretensioner system will activate in a
moderate or greater frontal or near-frontal
collision. The pretensioner system for the
front passenger is designed to only deploy
in accordance with the total seated weight
on the front passenger seat. It will not
activate in most rollovers, side or rear
impacts.
lSome smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not indicate
a fire. This gas normally has no effect on
occupants, however, those with sensitive
skin may experience light skin irritation. If
residue from the deployment of the air bags
or the front pretensioner system gets on the
skin or in the eyes, wash it off as soon as
possible.
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is working properly, the warning
light illuminates when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position or after the
engine is cranked. The warning light turns
off after a specified period of time.
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 any 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.
2-16
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page28
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (30,1)
NOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt extender
and store it in the vehicle. If the seat belt
extender is left connected, the seat belt
extender might get damaged as it will not
retract with the rest of the seat belt and can
easily fall out of the door when not in use and
be damaged. In addition, the seat belt warning
light will not illuminate and function properly.Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep
The seat belt warning light illuminates
and a beep sound will be heard if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
Conditions of operation
ConditionResult
The driver's seat belt is not
fastened when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position. The warning light
flashes illuminates for
about 1 minute and a
beep sound will be
heard for about 6
seconds.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened while the warning
light and the beep sound are
activated. The warning light
turns off and the beep
sound stops.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position. The warning light will
not illuminate and the
beep sound will not be
heard.
q
Belt Minder
NOTE
The belt minder can be deactivated. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to deactivate and
restore the seat belt minder.
2-18
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page30
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (31,1)
The belt minder is a supplemental
warning to the seat belt warning function.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, the warning light/beep
operates to give you further reminders
according to the chart below.
ConditionVehicle speed
Between 0 ―20
km/h
(0 ― 12 mph) 20 km/h
(12 mph) or
more
Seat belt
Indicator
Beep
: Fastened: Unfastened: Illuminated: Flashing: Beep
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period has passed.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-19
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page31
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (53,1)
Front passenger seat weight sensors
Your vehicle is equipped with the front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-27). These
sensors are located under both of the front passenger seat rails. These sensors determine the
total seated weight on the front passenger seat. The SAS unit is designed to prevent the
front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from deploying if
the total seated weight is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when:
lThere is no passenger in the front passenger seat. (The front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not illuminate.)
lThe total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66
lb). (The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)
This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
according to the following table.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible
malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air
bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. After a specified period of time it
goes out.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page53
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (54,1)
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:Total seated weight on the front passenger seat Front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light Front passenger front and
side air bags Front passenger seat
belt pretensioner
system
Empty (Not occupied)
*OFF Deactivated Deactivated
Less than approx.30kg
(661b) ON
Deactivated Deactivated
Approx.42 kg (931b) or
more OFF
ReadyReady
* If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, however this does not indicate a malfunction.
Curtain air bag is ready for inflating despite the chart above.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position and does not illuminate as indicated in the
above chart, do not allow a child to sit in the front passenger seat and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an
accident.
2-42
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page54
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Black plate (61,1)
The diagnostic module continuously
monitors the system's readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is working properly, the warning
light illuminates when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position or after the
engine is cranked. The warning light turns
off after a specified period of time.
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 any 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).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-49
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page61
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G