2011 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (201,1)
Lighting Control
qHeadlights
Turn the headlight switch to turn the headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard
illumination on or off.
NOTE
To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while the engine is off unless safety
requires them.
Without AUTO position
Switch Position
Headlights Off Off On
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights
Dashboard illuminationOff On On
With AUTO position
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Black plate (202,1)
Switch Position
Headlights Off
AutoOff On
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights
Dashboard illuminationOff On On
AUTO (Auto-light control)
When the headlight switch is in the AUTO position and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the
headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination on or off (see chart above).
CAUTION
ØDo not shade the light sensor by adhering a sticker or a label on the windshield.
Otherwise the light sensor will not operate correctly.
Light sensor
ØThe light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep
hands and scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the AUTO
position and the ignition is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers
and wiper blades damaged when the wipers activate automatically. If you are
going to clean the windshield, be sure the wipers are turned off completely―this
is particularly important when clearing ice and snow―when it is particularly
tempting to leave the engine running.
NOTE
lThe headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination may not turn off immediately
even if the surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor determines that it is
nighttime if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several minutes such as inside long
tunnels, traffic jams inside tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the light turns off if the light switch is turned to the OFF position.
lThe sensitivity of the AUTO lights may be changed by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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Black plate (203,1)
Xenon fusion headlight bulbsí
The low-beam bulbs of the headlights have xenon fusion bulbs that produce a bright white
beam over a wide area.
WARNING
Do not replace the xenon fusion bulbs yourself
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs yourself is dangerous. Because the xenon fusion
bulbs require high voltage, you could receive an electric shock if the bulbs are
handled incorrectly. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer when the replacement is
necessary.
NOTE
If the headlights flicker, or the brightness weakens, the bulb-life may be depleted and a replacement is
necessary. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qLights-On Reminderí
If lights are on and the key is removed
from the ignition switch, a continuous
beep sound will be heard when the
driver's door is opened.
NOTE
When the advanced keyless function is used
and the start knob is in the ACC position, the
Start Knob Not in Lock Warning Beep (page
3-17) overrides the lights-on reminder.
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Press the lever forward to turn on the high
beams.
Pull the lever back to its original position
for the low beams.
High beam
Low beam
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Black plate (204,1)
qFlashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does
not need to be on). The lever will return to
the normal position when released.
OFF
Flashing
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
Headlight auto-leveling malfunction
indicator light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
Thereafter, the indicator light will
illuminate when the headlight auto-
leveling system has a malfunction.If the indicator light illuminates, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qDaytime Running Lights (Canada)
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with
the headlights on during daytime
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights
automatically turn on when the ignition is
switched ON.
NOTE
The Daytime Running Lights turn off when the
parking brake is applied.
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Black plate (205,1)
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Turn Signals
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to
its original position.
Right turn
Left turn Right lane change
Left lane changeOFF
Green indicators on the dashboard show
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the
direction of the change―until the
indicator flashes―and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without flashing
or if it flashes abnormally, one of the turn
signal bulbs may be burned out.
Fog Lightsí
Use this switch to turn on the fog lights.
They help you to see as well as to be seen.
To turn the fog lights on, rotate the fog
light switch to the
position.
The headlight switch must be in the
position before turning on the fog lights.
Fog light switch
To turn them off, rotate the fog light
switch to the OFF position or turn the
headlight switch to the
or OFF
position.
NOTE
lThe fog lights will turn off when the
headlights are set at high beam.
l(With auto-light control)
If the fog light switch is in the ON position
and the headlight switch is in the AUTO
position, the fog lights will be turned on
when the headlights, the exterior lights and
dashboard illumination are automatically
turned on.
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Black plate (206,1)
Windshield Wipers and
Washer
The ignition must be switched ON.
WARNING
Use only windshield washer fluid or
plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the
windshield, affect your visibility, and
could result in an accident.
Only use windshield washer fluid
mixed with anti-freeze protection in
freezing weather conditions:
Using windshield washer fluid
without anti-freeze protection in
freezing weather conditions is
dangerous as it could freeze on the
windshield and block your vision
which could cause an accident.
In addition, make sure the
windshield is sufficiently warmed
using the defroster before spraying
the washer fluid.NOTE
Because heavy ice and snow can jam the wiper
blades, the wiper motor is protected from
motor breakdown, overheating and possible
fire by a circuit breaker. This mechanism will
automatically stop operation of the blades, but
only for about 5 minutes.
If this happens, turn off the wiper switch and
park off the right-of-way, and remove the snow
and ice.
After 5 minutes, turn on the switch and the
blades should operate normally. If they do not
resume functioning, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. Drive to
the side of the road and park off the right-of-
way. Wait until the weather clears before trying
to drive with the wipers inoperative.
qWindshield Wipers
Turn the wipers on by pressing the lever
up or down.
With INT position
Switch
PositionWiper operation
Single wipe cycle (mist)
Intermittent
Low speed
High speed
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Black plate (207,1)
With AUTO position
Switch
PositionWiper operation
Single wipe cycle (mist)
Auto control
Low speed
High speed
Variable-speed intermittent wipers
Set the lever to the intermittent position
and choose the interval timing by rotating
the ring.
INT ring
AUTO (Auto-wiper control)
When the wiper lever is in the AUTO
position, the rain sensor senses the
amount of rainfall on the windshield and
turns the wipers on or off automatically
(off―intermittent―low speed―high
speed).
The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be
adjusted by turning the switch on the
wiper lever.
From the center position (normal), rotate
the switch downward for higher
sensitivity (faster response) or rotate it
upward for less sensitivity (slower
response).
Higher sensitivity
Less sensitivity
Switch
Center
position
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Black plate (208,1)
CAUTION
ØDo not shade the rain sensor by
adhering a sticker or a label on
the windshield. Otherwise the rain
sensor will not operate correctly.
Rain sensor
ØWhen the wiper lever is in the
AUTO position and the ignition is
switched ON, the wipers may
move automatically in the
following cases:
ØIf the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched or wiped with
a cloth.
ØIf the windshield is struck with
a hand or other object from
either outside or inside the
vehicle.
Keep hands and scrapers clear of
the windshield when the wiper
lever is in the AUTO position and
the ignition is switched ON as
fingers could be pinched or the
wipers and wiper blades damaged
when the wipers activate
automatically.
If you are going to clean the
windshield, be sure the wipers are
turned off completely―this is
particularly important when
clearing ice and snow―when it is
most likely that the engine is left
running.
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