2009 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 engine

Black plate (173,1)
Meters and Gauges
When the ignition switch is in the ON position, the dashboard gauges illuminate.
Speedometer ...................................................................................................... page 5-36
Speed Unit Selector ........................................................................................... page 5-36
Odometer, Trip Meter and Trip Meter Selector .................................................. page 5-36
Tachometer ........................................................................................................ page 5-37
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge .................................................................. page 5-38
Fuel Gauge ........................................................................................................ page 5-38
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
5-35
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page173
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (175,1)
NOTE
When the ignition switch is in the ACC or
LOCK position, the odometer or trip meters
cannot be displayed, however, pressing the
selector button can inadvertently switch the
trip meters or reset them during an
approximate ten-minute period in the following
cases:
lAfter the ignition switch is turned to the
ACC or LOCK position from the ON
position.
lAfter the driver's door is opened.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance
the vehicle has been driven.
Trip meter
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
trip meter A, and the other is recorded in
trip meter B.
For instance, trip meter A can record the
distance from the point of origin, and trip
meter B can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
When trip meter A is selected, pressing
the selector again within one second will
change to trip meter B mode.
When trip meter A is selected, TRIP A
will be displayed. When trip meter B is
selected, TRIP B will be displayed.
The trip meter records the total distance
the vehicle is driven until the meter is
again reset. Return it to“0.0 ”by holding
the selector depressed for 1 second or
more. Use this meter to measure trip
distances and to compute fuel
consumption. NOTE
lOnly the trip meters record tenths of
kilometers (miles).
lThe trip record will be erased when:lThe power supply is interrupted (blown
fuse or the battery is disconnected).
lThe vehicle is driven over 999.9 km
(mile).
q
Tachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
Automatic transmission
Variable red zones Striped zone
Red zone
Manual transmission
Variable red zones Striped zone
Red zone
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
5-37
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page175
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (176,1)
CAUTION
Don't run the engine with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine
damage.
NOTE
lThe beep sounds to indicate engine overrev
when the tachometer needle enters the
striped zone.
lThe display of the variable red zone in the
tachometer changes according to the
temperature of the engine coolant. To
protect the engine, when the engine coolant
temperature is low, the engine does not run
at high speeds. The fuel supply will be cut
at an rpm lower than the red zone.
qEngine Coolant Temperature Gauge
The engine coolant temperature gauge
shows the temperature of the engine
coolant.
If the needle is near H, it indicates
overheating.
CAUTION
Driving with an overheated engine
can cause serious engine damage
(page 7-16).
q Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows approximately how
much fuel is remaining in the tank when
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
We recommend keeping the tank over 1/4
full. When the low fuel warning light
illuminates or when the needle is near E,
refuel as soon as possible.
Low fuel warning light
NOTElAfter refueling, it may require some time for
the needle to stabilize. In addition, the
needle may deviate while driving on a slope
or curve since the fuel moves in the tank.
lThe direction of the arrow () shows that
the fuel-filler lid is on the left side of the
vehicle.
q Dashboard Illumination
Rotate the thumb wheel to adjust the
brightness of the instrument cluster and
other illuminations in the dashboard.
NOTE
lThe brightness of dashboard illuminations
(except instrument cluster) can be adjusted
when the headlight switch is in the
or
position.lThe brightness of the instrument cluster
illumination can be adjusted when the
headlight switch is in any position.
5-38
Driving Your Mazda
Instrument Cluster and Indicators
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page176
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (178,1)
Warning/Indicator Lights
Warning/Indicator lights will appear in any of the highlighted areas
SignalWarning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-42
Charging System Warning Light5-43
Engine Oil Level Warning Light5-43
Engine Coolant Level Warning Light5-44
Check Engine Light5-45
ABS Warning Light5-42
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light5-45
Low Fuel Warning Light5-46
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep5-46
5-40
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page178
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (180,1)
qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. It turns off
when the parking brake is fully released.
Low brake fluid level warning
If the light stays on after the parking brake
is fully released, you may have a brake
problem.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push or that it may go closer to the floor.
In either case, it will take longer to stop
the vehicle.
1. With the engine stopped, check the
brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required (page 8-16).
2. After adding fluid, check the light again.
If the warning light remains on, or if the
brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Even if the light goes out have your brake
system inspected as soon as possible by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer. NOTE
Having to add brake fluid is sometimes an
indicator of leakage. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible even if the
brake light is no longer illuminated.
WARNING
Do not drive with the brake system
warning light illuminated. Contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the
brakes inspected as soon as possible:
Driving with the brake system
warning light illuminated is
dangerous. It indicates that your
brakes may not work at all or that
they could completely fail at any
time. If this light remains
illuminated, after checking that the
parking brake is fully released, have
the brakes inspected immediately.
qABS Warning Light
The warning light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
If the ABS warning light stays on while
you're driving, the ABS control unit has
detected a system malfunction. If this
occurs, your brakes will function normally
as if the vehicle had no ABS.
Should this happen, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
5-42
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page180
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (181,1)
NOTE
When the engine is jump-started to charge the
battery, uneven rpm occurs and the ABS
warning light comes on. This is due to a weak
battery, not a malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
qElectronic Brake Force
Distribution System Warning
If the electronic brake force distribution
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may turn the brake system
warning light and the ABS warning light
on at the same time. The problem is likely
to be the electronic brake force
distribution system.
WARNING
Do not drive with both the ABS warning
light and brake warning light
illuminated. Have the vehicle towed to
an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have
the brakes inspected as soon as
possible:
Driving when the brake system
warning light and ABS warning light
are illuminated at the same time is
dangerous.
When both lights are illuminated, the
rear wheels could lock more quickly
in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
qCharging System Warning Light
This warning light illuminates when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and turns off when the engine is
started.
If the warning light illuminates while
driving, it indicates a malfunction of the
alternator or of the charging system.
Drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
CAUTION
Don't continue driving when the
charging system warning light is
illuminated because the engine could
stop unexpectedly.
qEngine Oil Level Warning Light
This warning light indicates a low engine
oil level while the engine is running by
briefly flashing the light and then fully
illuminating it.
If there is a problem with the system, the
light flashes continuously.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-43
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page181
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (182,1)
NOTE
When the engine oil level is low, the warning
beep is also heard while the engine oil level
warning light is flashing.
Refer to Engine Oil Level Warning Beep on
page 5-55.
If the light flashes and then illuminates
If the light illuminates while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and parkoff the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the engine oil level (page 8-13). 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, 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.
If the light flashes continuously
If the warning light continues to flash, do
not drive at high speeds, drive the vehicle
at low engine rpm, and have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the
system.
NOTE
If the engine is turned off while the oil level
indicator is flashing due to a system
malfunction, it may take a few minutes until the
indicator starts flashing again after the engine
is started.
qEngine Coolant Level Warning Light
This warning light indicates low engine
coolant level.
5-44
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page182
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (183,1)
If the light illuminates while driving:
1. Drive to the side of the road and parkoff the right-of-way.
2. Turn off the engine and inspect the engine coolant level (page 8-14). 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.
If this light comes on while driving, the
vehicle may have a problem. It is
important to note the driving conditions
when the light came on and consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The check engine light may come on in
the following cases:
lThe fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty.
lThe engine's electrical system has a
problem.
lThe emission control system has a
problem.
lThe fuel-filler cap is missing or not
tightened securely.
If the check engine light remains on or
flashes continuously, do not drive at high
speeds and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer 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.
Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
5-45
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page183
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C