2010 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (177,1)
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
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Instrument Cluster and Indicators
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qSpeedometer
The speedometer indicates the speed of
the vehicle.
qSpeed Unit Selector
In some countries, you may have to
change the speed units between km/h and
mph.
Press the speed unit selector for 2 second
or more.
The speed units for the speedometer will
change between km/h and mph.
Speedometer
Speed unit selector
NOTE
Odometer and trip meter distance units will
change between kilometers and miles in
accordance with the speed unit.
qOdometer, Trip Meter and Trip
Meter Selector
The display mode can be changed
between trip meter A and trip meter B by
pressing the selector while one of them is
displayed. The selected mode will be
displayed.
Odometer
Trip meter Trip meter selector
Odometer
OdometerTrip meter A
Press the selector
Press the selector Trip meter B
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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).
qTachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
Automatic transmission
Variable red zonesStriped zone
Red zone
Manual transmission
Variable red zonesStriped zone
Red zone
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Instrument Cluster and Indicators
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CAUTION
Do not 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 7-17).
qFuel 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.
qDashboard 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.
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Bright
Dim
Canceling the illumination dimmer
When the headlight switch is in the
orposition, the illumination of the
instrument cluster and the information
display dims.
When driving on snowy or foggy roads,
or in other situations when the instrument
cluster or information display's visibility
is reduced due to glare from surrounding
brightness, cancel the illumination
dimmer and increase the illumination
intensity.
To cancel the illumination dimmer, rotate
the thumb wheel upward fully. You may
hear a click sound and the illumination
dimmer will be canceled.
NOTE
lThis symbol () indicates the thumb wheel
to adjust the brightness of the dashboard
illumination.
lIf the dashboard illumination switch is kept
at the illumination dimmer cancel position,
the instrument cluster and the information
display will not dim when the headlight
switch is turned to the
orposition
again.
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Warning/Indicator Lights
Warning/Indicator lights will appear in any of the highlighted areas
Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Brake System Warning Light 5-42
Charging System Warning Light 5-44
Engine Oil Level Warning Light 5-44
Engine Coolant Level Warning Light 5-45
Check Engine Light 5-45
ABS Warning Light 5-43
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light 5-46
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Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
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Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Low Fuel Warning Light 5-46
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep 5-46
Door-Ajar Warning Light 5-48
Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Light 5-48
Automatic Transmission Warning Light 5-48
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light 5-48
KEY Warning Light (Red)/KEY Indicator Light (Green) 5-51
Security Indicator Light 5-52
Headlight High-Beam Indicator Light 5-52
Shift Position Indicator Light 5-53
TCS/DSC Indicator Light 5-53
DSC OFF Indicator Light 5-53
Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green) 5-54
Lights-On Indicator Light 5-54
Power Steering Malfunction Indicator Light 5-54
Headlight Auto-Leveling Malfunction Indicator Light 5-55
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Signal Warning/Indicator Lights Page
Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Indicator Lights 5-55
qBrake System Warning Light
This warning has the following functions:
Parking brake warning
The light illuminates 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
depress 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, open the
hood and check the brake fluid level
immediately, and then add fluid if
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 turns off 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.
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