2009 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (9,1)
Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-28
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-54
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-38
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-26
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-56
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-54
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-35
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-38
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-60
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-21
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-79
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-66
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-15
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-84
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-85
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-83
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-6
MT shift lever .................................................................................................... page 5-10
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-13
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-81
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-82
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-54
Coin box ............................................................................................................ page 6-84
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-43
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-32
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-38
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-35
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-77
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-77
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-55
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-77
Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2
Rear seat ............................................................................................................ page 2-11
Seat belt ............................................................................................................. page 2-14
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page9
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (10,1)
The equipment and installation position varies by model.
1-4
Your Vehicle at a Glance
The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
Exterior Overview
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page10
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (11,1)
Trunk lid ............................................................................................................ page 3-32
Rear window defroster ....................................................................................... page 5-65
Antenna ............................................................................................................. page 6-15
Power windows ................................................................................................. page 3-35
Outside mirror .................................................................................................... page 3-54
Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-23
Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-28
Hood .................................................................................................................. page 3-43
Windshield wiper blades .................................................................................... page 8-19
Moonroof ........................................................................................................... page 3-45
Fuel-filler lid ...................................................................................................... page 3-42
Doors and keys .................................................................................................. page 3-27
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Exterior Overview
1-5The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page11
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (12,1)
1-6
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page12
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (13,1)
2Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint
systems and SRS air bags.
Seats ............................................................................................... 2-2Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats) ..................................... 2-2
Driver's Seat (Electrically Operated Seat) ................................. 2-6
Rear Seat ................................................................................. 2-11
Seat Warmer
í......................................................................... 2-12
Seat Belt Systems ........................................................................ 2-14 Seat Belt Precautions .............................................................. 2-14
Location of Seat Belt ............................................................... 2-17
Seat Belt .................................................................................. 2-18
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ....... 2-19
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-22
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-23
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-25 Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-25
Installing Child-Restraint Systems .......................................... 2-29
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ............................................ 2-35
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-38 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-38
Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-42
How the Air Bags Work .......................................................... 2-44
2-1íSome models.
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page13
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (14,1)
Front Seats (Manually
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. Make sure the adjustable components
of a seat are locked in place:
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that
are not securely locked are
dangerous. In a sudden stop or
collision, the seat or seatback could
move, causing injury. Make sure the
adjustable components of the seat
are locked in place by attempting to
slide the seat forward and backward
and rocking the seatback.
qSeat Slide
WARNING
Adjust the driver seat only when the
vehicle is stopped:
Adjusting the driver's seat while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. The
driver could lose control of the vehicle
and have an accident.
To move a seat forward or backward, raise
the lever and slide the seat to the desired
position and release the lever.
(Standard)
2-2
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page14
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (15,1)
(Recaro manufactured bucket seats)í
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and
backward.
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.
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-3íSome models.
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page15
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (16,1)
(Dial type)
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while rotating the dial to
the desired position.
(Lever type)
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while raising the lever.
Then lean back to the desired position and
release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seatback is locked in
place by attempting to push it forward and
backward.
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 or dial. 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
2-4
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page16
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:22 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C