Black plate (9,1)
Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-29
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-56
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-38
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-26
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-57
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-52
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-35
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-38
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-61
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-22
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-79
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-67
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 3-56
Coin box ............................................................................................................ page 6-84
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-45
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-33
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-40
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-37
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-77
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-77
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-57
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_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page9
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (24,1)
Seat Warmerí
The front seats are electrically heated. The
ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Press the switch to turn the seat warmer
on or off. When the switch is in the ON
position, the indicator light will come on.
WARNING
ØBe careful when using the seat
warmer. The heat from the seat
warmer may be too hot for some
people, as indicated below, and
could cause a low-temperature
burn.
ØInfants, small babies, elderly
people, and physically
challenged people
ØPeople with delicate skin
ØPeople who are excessively
fatigued
ØPeople who are drunk
ØPeople who have taken sleep-
inducing medicine such as
sleeping pills or cold medicine
ØDo not use the seat warmer with
anything having high moisture-
retention ability such as a blanket
or cushion on the seat. The seat
may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.
ØDo not use the seat warmer even
when taking a short nap in the
vehicle. The seat may be heated
excessively and cause a low-
temperature burn.
ØDo not place heavy objects with
sharp projections on the seat, or
insert needles or pins into it. This
could cause the seat to become
excessively heated and result in
injury from a minor burn.
CAUTION
Do not use organic solvents to clean
the seat. It may damage the seat
surface and the heater.
2-12
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
Seats
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page24
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (33,1)
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.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/
pretensioner systems and always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform
all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.
Seat Belt Extender
If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order
one that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-21
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (35,1)
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep
The seat belt warning light illuminates
and a beep sound will be heard if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
Conditions of operation
Condition Result
The driver's seat belt is not
fastened when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position.The warning light
flashes and a beep
sound will be heard
for about 6 seconds.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened while the warning
light and the beep sound are
activated.The warning light
turns off and the beep
sound stops.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position.The warning light will
not illuminate and the
beep sound will not be
heard.
qBelt Minder
NOTE
The belt minder can be deactivated. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer to deactivate or
restore the seat belt minder.
Driver seated/Front passenger not
seated
The belt minder is a supplemental
warning to the seat belt warning function.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, the warning light/beep
operates to give you further reminders
according to the chart below.
ConditionVehicle speed
Between 0―20
km/h
(0―12 mph)20 km/h
(12 mph) or
more
Seat belt
Indicator
Beep
: Fastened: Unfastened: Illuminated: Flashing: Beep
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period has passed.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-23
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (58,1)
If the front passenger weight sensors are working properly, the indicator light illuminates
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. After a specified period of time it
goes out.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:
Total seated weight on the
front passenger seatFront passenger air bag
deactivation indicator lightFront passenger front and
side air bagsFront passenger seat
belt pretensioner
system
Empty (Not occupied)
*OFF Deactivated Deactivated
Less than approx. 30 kg
(66 lbs)ON Deactivated Deactivated
Approx. 42 kg (93 lbs) or
moreOFF Ready Ready
* If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates,
however this does not indicate a malfunction.
The curtain air bag is always ready to inflate and is not deactivated like the front passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner systems.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position and does not illuminate as indicated in the
above chart, do not allow a child to sit in the front passenger seat; contact the Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.
2-46
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page58
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (65,1)
lVehicle roll-over may not provide
enough side force to deploy the side
and curtain air bags.
lSide impacts with two-wheeled
vehicles may not provide enough force
to deploy the side and curtain air bags.
Non-activation of side and curtain air
bag
The side and curtain air bags will not
normally inflate in the following cases:
lCollision from the rear.
lCollision from the front, but it may
deploy the front air bags.
qConstant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag
systems are monitored by a diagnostic
system:
lSAS unitlFront air bag sensorlAir bag moduleslSide crash sensorslAir bag/Front seat belt pretensioner
system warning light
lFront seat belt pretensionerslFront passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light
lRelated wiringlDriver seat slide position sensorlFront passenger seat weight sensorslDriver and front passenger seat belt
buckle switches
The diagnostic module continuously
monitors the system's readiness. This
begins when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position and continues while
the vehicle is being driven.
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-53
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (66,1)
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.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/
pretensioner systems and always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform
all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.
qMaintenance
The air bag systems do not require regular
maintenance. But if any of the following
occurs, take your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:
lThe air bag system warning light
flashes.
lThe air bag system warning light
remains illuminated.
lThe air bag system warning light does
not illuminate when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position.
lThe air bags have deployed.lFront passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position or does not illuminate
as indicated in the chart. For more
details about this indicator light and
this chart, refer to“Front passenger
seat weight sensors”(page 2-44).
WARNING
Do not operate a vehicle with damaged
air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
components:
Expended or damaged air bag/seat
belt pretensioner system components
must be replaced after any collision
which caused them to deploy or
damage them. Only a trained
Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully
evaluate these systems to see that
they will work in any subsequent
accident. Driving with an expended
or damaged air bag or pretensioner
unit will not afford you the necessary
protection in the event of any
subsequent accident which could
result in serious injury or death.
Do not remove interior air bag parts:
Removing any components such as
the front seats, front dashboard, the
steering wheel or parts on the front
and rear window pillars and along
the roof edge, containing air bag
parts or sensors is dangerous. These
parts contain essential air bag
components. The air bag could
accidentally activate and cause
serious injuries. Always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer remove
these parts.
Dispose of the air bag properly:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a
vehicle with live air bags in it can be
extremely dangerous. Unless all
safety procedures are followed, injury
can result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of an air
bag or how to scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.
2-54
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (76,1)
NOTElThe trunk is out of the operational range,
however, starting the engine may be
possible.
lThe engine may not start if the advanced
key is placed in the following areas:
lAround the dashboardlIn the storage compartments such as the
glove box
lOn the rear parcel shelflStarting the engine may be possible even if
the advanced key is outside of the vehicle
and extremely close to a door and window,
however, always start the engine from the
driver's seat.
If the vehicle is started and driven away
while the advanced key is not in the vehicle,
the vehicle will not restart after it is turned
off and the ignition switch is turned to the
Lock position.
lIf the advanced key is detected within
operational range, the operation indicator
light on the transmitter flashes
momentarily.
qLocking, Unlocking the Doors
with Request Switch
All doors can be locked/unlocked by
pressing the request switch on the front
doors while the advanced key is being
carried.
Request switch
To lock
To lock the doors, press the request
switch. A beep sound will be heard once
and the hazard warning lights will flash
once.
NOTE
The hazard warning lights flash when the theft
deterrent system is armed.
The hazard warning lights do not flash if all
the doors are locked before the theft-deterrent
system is properly armed.
When the doors are locked by pressing the
request switch on the front doors while the
theft-deterrent system is armed, the hazard
warning lights will flash once to indicate that
the system is armed.
Refer to the theft-deterrent system on page
3-53.
To unlock
Driver's door request switch
To unlock the driver's door, press the
request switch. A beep sound will be
heard twice and the hazard warning lights
will flash twice.
To unlock all doors , press the request
switch again within 3 seconds and two
more beep sounds will be heard.
NOTE
The hazard warning lights flash when the theft
deterrent system is turned off.
The hazard warning lights do not flash unless
the theft deterrent system has been properly
turned off.
When the doors are unlocked by pressing the
request switch on the front doors while the
theft-deterrent system is turned off, the hazard
warning lights will flash twice to indicate that
the system is turned off.
Refer to the theft-deterrent system on page
3-53.
3-8
Knowing Your Mazda
Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page76
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E