Page 137 of 442

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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.
lBraking performance can be adversely
affected if snow or ice adheres to the
brake equipment. If this situation
occurs, drive the vehicle slowly,
releasing the accelerator pedal and
lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
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.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
4-9
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 211 of 442
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qMirror Defrosterí
To turn on the mirror defrosters, switch
the ignition ON and press the rear window
defroster switch (page 5-68).
Horn
To sound the horn, press themark on
the steering wheel.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-69íSome models. RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page211
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 212 of 442

Black plate (212,1)
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Hazard warning flasher
Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash.
NOTE
lThe turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
lCheck local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle is
being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
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
5-70
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page212
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 215 of 442

Black plate (215,1)
HomeLink should now activate your
rolling code equipped device.
NOTE
To program the remaining two HomeLink
buttons, begin with“Programming”―step 2.
Do not repeat step 1.
For questions or comments, please contact
HomeLink atwww.homelink.comor1-
800-355-3515.
qGate operator/Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to“time-out”(or quit)
after several seconds of transmission―
which may not be long enough for
HomeLink to pick up the signal during
programming. Similar to this Canadian
law, some U.S. gate operators are
designed to“time-out”in the same
manner.
If you live in Canada or you are having
difficulties programming a gate operator
by using the“Programming”procedures
(regardless of where you live),replace
“Programming HomeLink”step 3with
the following:
NOTE
If programming a garage door opener or gate
operator, it is advised to unplug the device
during the“cycling”process to prevent
possible overheating.
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
5-73
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 294 of 442

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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 is
switched off (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 is
switched off (with the ignition key
removed) with all doors closed.
The light also turns off when:
lThe ignition is switched ON 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 is
switched ON, or when any door is opened after
all doors have been closed.
6-78
Interior Comfort
Interior Equipment
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page294
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 360 of 442
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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_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page360
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 367 of 442
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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
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Page 371 of 442

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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, Illumination, 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_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page371
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H