Page 5 of 432

Black plate (5,1)
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page5
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Table of Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Interior, exterior views and part identification of your Mazda.1
Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint
systems and SRS air bags.2
Knowing Your Mazda
Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and adjustment
of various parts.3
Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.4
Driving Your Mazda
Explanation of instruments and controls.5
Interior Comfort
Use of various features for drive comfort, including air-conditioning and audio
system.6
In Case of an Emergency
Helpful information on what to do in an emergency.7
Maintenance and Care
How to keep your Mazda in top condition.8
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Important consumer information including warranties and add-on equipment.9
Specifications
Technical information about your Mazda.10
Index11
Page 16 of 432

Black plate (16,1)
CAUTION
When returning a rear-reclined
seatback to its upright position,
make sure you hold onto the
seatback with your other hand while
operating the lever. If the seatback is
not supported, it will flip forward
suddenly and could cause injury.
qHeight Adjustment (Driver's Seat)
By moving the seat lever up or down, the
seat bottom height can be adjusted.
Up
Down
q Folding the Passenger's Seat
WARNING
Do not drive with the seatback
unlocked:
The seatback plays an important role
in your protection in a vehicle.
Leaving the seatback unlocked is
dangerous as it can allow passengers
to be ejected or thrown around and
baggage to strike occupants in a
sudden stop or collision, resulting in
severe injury. After adjusting the
seatback at any time, even when
there are no other passengers, rock
the seatback to make sure it is locked
in place. To fold the seatback, pull the lever and
lower the seatback forward.
To return it to the upright position, lift the
seatback and push it into place. Rock the
seatback to make sure it is locked.
2-4
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page16
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 17 of 432

Black plate (17,1)
Front Seats (Electrically
Operated Seats)
WARNING
Do not modify or replace the front
seats:Modifying or replacing the front seats
such as replacing the upholstery or
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The
front seats contain air bag
components essential to the
supplemental restraint system. Such
modifications could damage the
supplemental restraint system and
result in serious injury. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is
any need to remove or reinstall the
front seats.
Do not drive with damaged front seats: Driving with damaged front seats is
dangerous. A collision, even one not
strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the front seats which
contain essential air bag
components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may
not deploy which could lead to
injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,
front seat belt pretensioners and air
bags after a collision.
CAUTION
ØThe seat-bottom power
adjustment is operated by motors.
Avoid extended operation because
excessive use can damage the
motors.
Ø To prevent the battery from
running down, avoid using the
power adjustment when the
engine is stopped. The adjuster
uses a large amount of electrical
power.
Ø Don't use the switch to make more
than one adjustment at a time.
qSeat Slide
To slide the seat, move the slide lifter
switch on the outside of the seat to the
front or back and hold it. Release the
switch at the desired position.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-5
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page17
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 18 of 432

Black plate (18,1)
qSeat Recline
WARNING
Do not drive with the seats reclined:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don't get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you
can slide under the lap belt and
suffer serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back
and upright.
Always sit in a front passenger seat
properly with the seatback upright and
feet on the floor: If your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors,
sitting in the front passenger seat
improperly out of position or with the
seatback reclined too far while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous as it
can take off weight from the seat
bottom and affect the weight
determination of the front passenger
sensing system. As a result the front
passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air
bag and seat belt pretensioner, which
could cause result in serious injury.
Always sit upright against your
seatback, with your feet on the floor. Change the seatback angle by pressing the
front or rear side of the reclining switch.
Release the switch at the desired position.
q
Height Adjustment
Front of seat bottom
To adjust the front height of the seat
bottom, raise or lower the front of the
slide lifter switch on the left side of the
seat.
2-6
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page18
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 19 of 432

Black plate (19,1)
Rear of seat bottom
Raise or lower the back of the switch to
adjust the rear height of the seat bottom.
qLumbar Support Adjustment
The amount of lumbar support can be
adjusted by pressing the switch.
To increase the seat firmness, press and
hold the front part of the switch to the
desired position, then release it.
Press the rear part of the switch to
decrease firmness.
qFolding the Passenger's Seat
WARNING
Do not drive with the seatback
unlocked:
The seatback plays an important role
in your protection in a vehicle.
Leaving the seatback unlocked is
dangerous as it can allow passengers
to be ejected or thrown around and
baggage to strike occupants in a
sudden stop or collision, resulting in
severe injury. After adjusting the
seatback at any time, even when
there are no other passengers, rock
the seatback to make sure it is locked
in place.
To fold the seatback, pull the lever and
lower the seatback forward.
To return it to the upright position, lift the
seatback and push it into place. Rock the
seatback to make sure it is locked.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-7
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page19
Friday, May 11 2007 5:2 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G
Page 111 of 432

Black plate (111,1)
2. Depress the mirror switch in theappropriate direction.
Mirror switchSelector switch
Outside mirror
After adjusting the mirror, lock the control
by placing the selector switch in the
middle position.
Folding the mirror
Fold the outside mirror rearward until it is
locked.
WARNING
Always return the outside mirrors to
the driving position before you start
driving:
Driving with the outside mirrors
folded in is dangerous. Your rear view
will be restricted, and you could have
an accident.
Mirror defrosterí
To turn on the mirror defrosters, turn the
ignition switch to the ON position and
push the rear window defroster switch
(page 5-60).
qRearview Mirror
WARNING
Do not stack cargo or objects higher
than the seatbacks:
Cargo stacked higher than the
seatbacks is dangerous. It can block
your view in the rearview mirror,
which might cause you to hit another
car when changing lanes.
Rearview mirror adjustment
Before driving, adjust the rearview mirror
to center on the scene through the rear
window.
Manual day/night mirror
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
3-49íSome models.
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page111
Friday, May 11 2007 5:3 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G