Page 137 of 438

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Winter Driving
lCarry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
perform the following precautions:
lHave the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-14.
lInspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
lInspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
lFor improved engine starting
performance the next time you start the
engine after only driving the vehicle a
short distance, turn off the engine after
1 or more of the variable red zone
lamps in the tachometer have turned
off.
In addition, it is recommended that
short trips be avoided to ensure that the
engine reaches operating temperature
before turning off the engine.
lUse washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid
(page 8-17).
lDo not use the parking brake in
freezing weather as it may freeze.
Instead, shift to P with an automatic
transmission and to 1 or R with a
manual transmission. Block the rear
wheels.
lDo not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
lNever use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
qSnow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with snow tires. Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi)
more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (rear door on the driver's
side), but never more than the maximum
cold-tire pressure shown on the tires.
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
summer tires designed for optimum
traction on wet and dry roads. If your
vehicle is to be used on snow and ice
covered roads, Mazda recommends that
you replace the tires originally equipped
on your vehicle with snow tires during the
winter months.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four
wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result
in an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system, the system may
not function correctly when using tires with
steel wire reinforcement in the sidewalls (page
5-33).
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
4-9
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 208 of 438

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Rear Window Defroster
The rear window defroster clears frost,
fog, and thin ice from the rear window.
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Press the switch to turn on the rear
window defroster. The rear window
defroster operates for about 15 minutes
and turns off automatically.
The indicator light illuminates during
operation.
To turn off the rear window defroster
before the 15 minutes has elapsed, press
the switch again.
Indicator light
CAUTION
Do not use sharp instruments or
window cleaners with abrasives to
clean the inside of the rear window
surface. They may damage the
defroster grid inside the window.
NOTE
This defroster is not designed for melting snow.
If there is an accumulation of snow on the rear
window, remove it before using the defroster.
qMirror Defrosterí
To turn on the mirror defrosters, turn the
ignition switch to the ON position and
press the rear window defroster switch
(page 5-66).
5-66
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page208
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 210 of 438

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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
WARNING
Do not use the HomeLink system with
any garage door opener that lacks the
safety stop and reverse feature:
Using the HomeLink system with any
garage door opener that lacks the
safety stop and reverse feature as
required by federal safety standards
is dangerous. (This includes garage
doors manufactured before April 1,
1982.)
Using these garage door openers can
increase the risk of serious injury or
death. For further information,
contact HomeLink at 1-800-355-3515
or www.homelink.com or your
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Always check the areas surrounding
garage doors and gates for people or
obstructions before programming or
during operation of the HomeLink
system:
Programming or operating the
HomeLink system without verifying
the safety of areas surrounding
garage doors and gates is dangerous
and could result in an unexpected
accident and serious injury if
someone were to be hit.
CAUTION
HomeLink has been tested and
complies with FCC and Industry
Canada rules. Changes or
modifications not expressly approved
by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the device.
5-68
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page210
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 213 of 438

Black plate (213,1)
Continue to press and hold the HomeLink
button while youpress and release―
every two seconds(“cycle”) your hand-
held transmitter until the frequency signal
has successfully been accepted by
HomeLink. (The indicator light will flash
slowly and then rapidly.)
Proceed with“Programming”step 4 to
complete.
qOperating the HomeLink System
Press the programmed HomeLink button
to operate a programmed device. The
code will continue being transmitted for a
maximum of 20 seconds.
qReprogramming the HomeLink
system
To program a device to HomeLink using a
HomeLink button previously trained,
follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the desired HomeLink
button.DO NOTrelease the button.
2. The indicator light will begin to flash
after 20 seconds. Without releasing the
HomeLink button, proceed with
“Programming”- step 2.
qErasing Programmed HomeLink
Buttons
To erase the existing programming from
all three operating channels, press and
hold the two outside buttons (
,)
on the auto-dimming mirror until the
HomeLink indicator light begins to flash
after approximately 20 seconds.
Verify that the programming has been
erased when you resell the vehicle.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-71
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 291 of 438

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Sunvisors
When you need a sunvisor, lower it for
use in front or swing it to the side.
Sunvisor
qVanity Mirrors
To use the vanity mirror, lower the
sunvisor.
The vanity mirror light will illuminate
when you open the cover.
Interior Lights
qIlluminated Entry System
When the illuminated entry system
operates, the overhead light (switch is in
the DOOR position) and the courtesy
lights turn on for:
lAbout 30 seconds after the driver's
door is unlocked and the ignition
switch is in the LOCK position (with
the ignition key removed).
lAbout 15 seconds after all doors are
closed.
(With Advanced key)
About 5 seconds after all doors are
closed when the advanced key is
outside of the vehicle.
lAbout 15 seconds after the ignition
switch is in the LOCK position (with
the ignition key removed) with all
doors closed.
The light also turns off when:
lThe ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and all doors are closed.
lThe driver's door is locked.
NOTE
Battery saver
If any door is left opened, the light turns off
after about 30 minutes to save the battery.
The light turns on again when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position, or when
any door is opened after all doors have been
closed.
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
6-77
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 358 of 438
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Light Bulbs
Overhead light/Map lights (Front)
Headlights (High beam)
Fog lights
Headlights (Low beam)Parking lights/Front turn signal lightsSide turn signal lightsCourtesy lights Vanity mirror lights Rear turn signal lightsRear side-marker lightsOverhead light (Rear)
Brake lights/Taillights
Trunk light
High-mount brake light
License plate light
Reverse lights
Some models.
8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page358
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 365 of 438
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qReplacing Interior Light Bulbs
Overhead light/Map lights (Front)
1. Remove the screws with a Phillips
screwdriver.
2. Wrap a flathead screwdriver with a soft
cloth to prevent damage to the trim and
gently insert it in the overhead light as
shown in the figure, and then remove
the overhead light unit.
3. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
4. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of removal.
Overhead light (Rear), Courtesy lights,
Vanity mirror lights
1. Wrap a small flathead screwdriver with
a soft cloth to prevent damage to the
lens and remove the lens by carefully
prying on the edge of the lens with the
screwdriver.
2. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-35
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page365
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Page 369 of 438

Black plate (369,1)
qFuse Panel Description
Fuse block (Engine compartment)
1
2
3
4
5
1013
14
15
16
17
18
19 11
12620
21
2229
30
31
32
33
34
35
3637
38
28
23
24
25
26
27
7
8
9
(Next to air filter)
(Next to battery)
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATINGPROTECTED COMPONENT
1 MAIN 120A For protection of all circuits
2 HEATER 40A Heater
3 AIR PUMP 60A Air pump
4 BTN 30A Power door locks, Illuminated entry system, Moonroof
í
5 DEFOG 50A Rear window defroster
6 FAN 1 30A Electric fan 1
7 ABS/DSC 40A ABS, DSC
í
8 ACC 30A Lighter, Power control mirror, Accessory socket, Audio system
9 FAN 2 30A Electric fan 2
10 HEAD 15A Headlight high beams
í, Headlight cleanerí
11 HEAD LOW R 15A Headlight low beam (RH)
12 HEAD LOW L 15A Headlight low beam (LH)
13 DRL 15A DRL
í(Headlight high beams)
14 DSC 30A DSCí
15 SEAT WARM 20A Seat warmerí
16 H/CLEAN 20A Headlight cleanerí
17 R.FOG――
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-39íSome models. RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page369
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E