2010 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 tow

Black plate (410,1)
qSafety Practices
The way you drive has a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety. So cultivate
good driving habits for your own benefit.
lObserve posted speed limitslAvoid fast starts, stops and turnslAvoid potholes and objects on the roadlDo no run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking
CAUTION
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving or you suspect your
tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your speed. Drive with caution
until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and inspect the tire for damage. If the tire
is under-inflated or damaged, deflate it, remove the tire and rim and replace it with
your spare tire. If you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest
vehicle or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
9-32
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page410
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (411,1)
Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle,
familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings,
from the vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's
suspension system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure,
handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the
distance required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail
completely, particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation
pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-33
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page411
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (415,1)
SAMPLE
WARNING
Exceeding Axle Weight Rating Limits:
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits is dangerous and
could result in death or serious injury as a result of substandard vehicle handling,
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, or loss of control.
Always keep the vehicle within the axle weight rating limits.
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-37
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page415
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (419,1)
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada)
Canadian customers who wish to report a safety-related defect to Transport Canada, Defect
Investigations and Recalls, may telephone the toll free hotline 1-800-333-0510, or contact
Transport Canada by mail at: Transport Canada, ASFAD, Place de Ville Tower C, 330
Sparks Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0N5.
For additional road safety information, please visit the Road Safety website at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/menu.htm
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects
9-41
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page419
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (433,1)
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-4
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-3
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-16
Center Console .................................. 6-85
Child Restraint
Installing child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-29
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-35
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 6-81
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2
Gas specifications ...................... 10-5
Clock ................................................. 6-80
Coin Box ........................................... 6-84
Courtesy Lights ................................. 6-78
Cruise Control ................................... 5-22
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-83
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-38
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-60
Defroster
Mirror ......................................... 5-66
Rear window .............................. 5-66
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ....................................... 3-28
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-11
Driving on Uneven Road .................. 4-12
D
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-6
Automatic transmission .............. 5-20
Break-in period ............................ 4-6
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-11
Driving on uneven road ............. 4-12
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-7
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-6
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-8
Winter driving .............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-26
DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-27
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-28
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-27
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-19
Jump-starting .............................. 7-20
Push-starting .............................. 7-23
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-24
Emission Control System .................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant ....................................... 8-14
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-4
Hood release .............................. 3-45
Oil .............................................. 8-12
Overheating ................................ 7-17
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-11
Engine Coolant
Overheating ................................ 7-17
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-38
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-4
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-44
Index
11-3
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page433
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (435,1)
I
Inside Trunk Release Lever ............... 3-35
Instrument Cluster ............................. 5-35
Interior Care ...................................... 8-47
Interior Lights ................................... 6-77
J
Jump-Starting .................................... 7-20
K
Keyless Entry System ....................... 3-23
Keys .................................................. 3-22
L
Label Information ............................. 10-2
Lane-Change Signals ........................ 5-60
Light Bulbs
Replacement ............................... 8-28
Specifications ............................. 10-6
Lighter ............................................... 6-81
Lighting Control ............................... 5-57
Lubricant Quality .............................. 10-4
M
Maintenance
Introduction .................................. 8-2
Owner maintenance precautions ... 8-9
Owner maintenance schedule ....... 8-8
Scheduled ..................................... 8-3
Manual Transmission Operation ....... 5-10
Recommendations for shifting .... 5-11
Map Lights ........................................ 6-78
Meters and Gauges ........................... 5-35
Mirror Defroster ................................ 5-66
M
Mirrors
Outside mirrors .......................... 3-56
Rearview mirror ......................... 3-57
Money-Saving Suggestions ................ 4-6
Moonroof .......................................... 3-46
O
Odometer and Trip Meter .................. 5-36
Outside Mirrors ................................. 3-56
Overhead Console ............................. 6-84
Overhead Lights ................................ 6-78
Overheating ....................................... 7-17
Overloading ...................................... 4-11
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-42
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-6
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Power Door Locks ............................ 3-29
Power Steering .................................. 5-21
Power steering malfunction indicator
light ............................................ 5-21
Power Windows ................................ 3-36
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-23
R
Rear Quarter Windows ..................... 3-43
Rear Seat ........................................... 2-11
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-66
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-57
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-27
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-14
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-8
Index
11-5
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page435
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (437,1)
T
Towing
Description ................................. 7-24
Emergency towing ..................... 7-24
Recreational towing ................... 7-27
Trailer towing ............................. 4-13
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-25
TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-26
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-13
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-36
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-33
Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-35
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-34
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-60
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-77
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-40
ABS ............................................ 5-43
Air bag system ........................... 5-46
Automatic transmission .............. 5-48
Brake system .............................. 5-42
Charging system ......................... 5-44
Check engine .............................. 5-45
Door-ajar .................................... 5-48
Engine coolant level ................... 5-45
Engine oil level .......................... 5-44
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-46
KEY Warning Light
(Red)/KEY Indicator Light
(Green) ....................................... 5-51
Low fuel ..................................... 5-46
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-48
Seat belt ...................................... 5-46
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-48
Warranty ............................................ 9-11
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-17
Weights ............................................. 10-5
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-26
Windows
Power windows .......................... 3-36
Rear quarter windows ................ 3-43
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-65
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-62
Blades replacement .................... 8-19
Winter Driving .................................... 4-9
Index
11-7
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page437
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E