Black plate (9,1)
Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-27
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-54
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-39
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-27
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-59
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-52
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-36
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-40
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-64
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-23
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-80
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-70
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-15
Glove compartment ........................................................................................... page 6-85
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-86
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-84
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-7
MT shift lever ..................................................................................................... page 5-11
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-14
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-82
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-83
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-54
Coin box ............................................................................................................ page 6-85
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-43
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-31
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-38
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-35
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-78
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-78
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-55
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-78
Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2
Rear seat ............................................................................................................ page 2-12
Seat belt ............................................................................................................. page 2-15
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page9
Wednesday, July 14 2010 11:49 AM
Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (17,1)
qFolding the Seat (Passenger's seat
only)
WARNING
Do not drive with the seatback
unlocked:
All of the seatbacks play an
important role in your protection in a
vehicle. Leaving the seatback
unlocked is dangerous as it can allow
passengers to be ejected or thrown
around and baggage to strike
occupants in a sudden stop or
collision, resulting in severe injury.
After adjusting the seatback at any
time, even when there are no other
passengers, rock the seatback to
make sure it is locked in place.
Never lower a front seatback while an
occupant is seated in the seat, even if
the vehicle is stopped:
Lowering a front seatback while an
occupant is seated in the seat is
dangerous because the seatback
folds down suddenly when operated
which could cause an injury.
Never lower a front seatback while the
vehicle is moving:
Lowering a front seatback while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because the seatback folds down
suddenly when operated which could
result in an accident or injury.
CAUTION
ØWhen operating the seatback,
support the seatback firmly with
one hand while it folds down.
When lowering the seatback, be
careful not to pinch or injure your
hand or fingers.
ØDo not step on the lever as it could
damage it.
Because your vehicle has free-style doors
(page 3-29), the rear door cannot be
opened while the front door is closed. To
exit the rear seating area, fold the front
seatback forward using the following
procedure and open the front door first.
NOTE
The seatback folding feature is not equipped
on the manually operated driver's seat. The
feature is only available on the power seat.
Seatback folding
(Standard)
Pull the lever upward to fold the seatback
forward.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-5
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page17
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (28,1)
Have your seat belts changed immediately if the pretensioner or load limiter has
been expended:
Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer immediately inspect the front seat belt
pretensioners and air bags after any collision. Like the air bags, the front seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters will only function once and must be replaced after
any collision that caused them to deploy. A seat belt with an expended pretensioner
or load limiter is still better than wearing no seat belt at all; however, if the front
seat belt pretensioners and load limiters are not replaced, the risk of injury in a
collision will increase.
Make sure the seat belt is not caught or pinched in the door:
Wearing a seat belt that is caught or pinched in the door is dangerous. The seat belt
could become loose and not provide adequate protection in a sudden stop or
collision.
Make sure nothing is placed on the seat belt slide bar:
Placing your foot or other objects such as an umbrella on the seat belt slide bar is
dangerous. The front seat belt is built into the rear door, and the lower part of the
seat belt slides forward or backward along the seat belt slide bar as the rear door
opens or closes. If the seat belt slider is blocked, the seat belt could be improperly
positioned and would provide little or no protection in a collision.
CAUTION
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep
them clean. For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to“Cleaning the
Lap/Shoulder Belt Webbing”(page 8-49).
2-16
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page28
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (41,1)
Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle
with side and curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of
the front passenger seat, the front and rear window pillars and the roof edge along
both sides from which the side and curtain air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint
system is used. The impact of inflation from a side or curtain air bag could cause
serious injury or death to an out of position child. Furthermore, leaning over or
against the front door could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the
advantages of supplemental protection. With the front air bag and the additional
side air bag that comes out of the front seat, the rear seat is always a better location
for children. Take special care not to allow a child to lean over or against the side
window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt
used in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers
could be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for
more than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant
properly restrained.
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during
warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your
child touches them.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed LATCH
child-restraint systems in the rear seat. When using these anchors to secure a child-restraint system,
refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint Systems”(page 2-37).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-29
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (46,1)
WARNING
Always move the front passenger seat
as far back as possible if installing a
front-facing child-restraint system on it
is unavoidable:
As your vehicle has front air bags
and doubly so because your vehicle
has side air bags, a front-facing
child-restraint system should be put
on the front passenger seat only
when it is unavoidable.
Even if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light
illuminates, always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the
force of a deploying air bag could
cause serious injury or death to the
child.
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat with an air bag
that could deploy:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems
on the front seat are particularly
dangerous.
Even in a moderate collision, the
child-restraint system can be hit by a
deploying air bag and moved
violently backward resulting in
serious injury or death to the child.
Even though you may feel assured
that the front passenger air bag will
not deploy based on the fact that the
front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates.Do not allow a child or anyone to lean
over or against the side window of a
vehicle with side and curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to
lean over or against the side window,
the area of the front passenger seat,
the front and rear window pillars and
the roof edge along both sides from
which the side and curtain air bags
deploy, even if a child-restraint
system is used. The impact of
inflation from a side or curtain air
bag could cause serious injury or
death to an out of position child.
Furthermore, leaning over or against
the front door could block the side
and curtain air bags and eliminate
the advantages of supplemental
protection. With the front air bag and
the additional side air bag that
comes out of the front seat, the rear
seat is always a better location for
children. Take special care not to
allow a child to lean over or against
the side window, even if the child is
seated in a child-restraint system.
qFront Passenger's Seat Child-
Restraint System Installation
1. Switch the ignition ON.
2. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
2-34
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page46
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (54,1)
Sit in the center of the seat and wear seat belts properly:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. The side air bags inflate with great force and speed directly out of the
outboard side of the front seat and expand along the front door on the side the car is
hit. Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning
against a window, or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the front seatbacks.
Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the windows in the vehicle
could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. Give the side and curtain air bags room to work by sitting
in the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and front passenger air
bags deploy:
Attaching an object to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing
something in front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere
with air bag inflation and injure the occupants.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:
Attaching things to the front seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the
seat in any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side
air bag, which inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added
protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is
dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front
seats. Never use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules
in your front seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a curtain air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the
windshield glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof
edge and assist grips is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the
curtain air bag, which inflates from the front and rear window pillars and along the
roof edge, impeding the added protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting
the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open
releasing the gas.
Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes,
hang them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free
to deploy in the event of a side collision.
Do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The components
essential to the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of
a side collision, the appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death
or serious injury. To prevent damage to the components essential to the
supplemental restraint system, do not place luggage or other objects under the front
seats.
2-42
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page54
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (71,1)
3Knowing Your Mazda
Explanation of basic operations and controls; opening/closing and adjustment
of various parts.
Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System ................................ 3-2
Advanced Keysí...................................................................... 3-2
Operation Using Advanced Keyless Functions ......................... 3-7
Operation Using Advanced Key Functions ............................. 3-13
Advanced Key Suspend Function ........................................... 3-16
Warning and Beep Sounds ...................................................... 3-17
When Warning Indicator/Beep is Activated ............................ 3-19
Doors and Locks ......................................................................... 3-20
Keys (without Advanced Key) ................................................ 3-20
Keyless Entry System (with Retractable Type Key) ............... 3-21
Door Locks ............................................................................. 3-26
Trunk Lid ................................................................................ 3-31
Inside Trunk Release Lever ..................................................... 3-33
Power Windows ...................................................................... 3-34
Rear Quarter Windows ............................................................ 3-41
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap ........................................................... 3-41
Hood ....................................................................................... 3-43
Moonroof
í............................................................................. 3-44
Security System ........................................................................... 3-46
Immobilizer System (with Advanced Key) ............................. 3-46
Immobilizer System (without Advanced Key) ........................ 3-49
Theft-Deterrent System ........................................................... 3-51
Steering Wheel and Mirrors ...................................................... 3-54
Steering Wheel ........................................................................ 3-54
Mirrors .................................................................................... 3-54
3-1íSome models.
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page71
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H
Black plate (72,1)
Advanced Keysí
The advanced keyless functions (advanced keyless entry and start system) enable the
following operations while the advanced key is being carried (page 3-7).
lLocking/unlocking the doors, and opening the trunk lid, without operating the key.lStarting the engine without operating the key.
Additional functions are available using the buttons on the advanced key.
Refer to Operation Using Advanced Key Functions on page 3-13.
lThe following operations are possible using the transmitter of the keyless entry system
from a distance (Lock/Unlock/Trunk/Panic button):
lLocking/unlocking the doors.lOpening the trunk lid.lTurning on the alarm.lLocking/unlocking the doors, opening the trunk lid, or starting the engine using the
auxiliary key.
WARNING
Do not leave the key in your vehicle with children and keep them in a place where
your children will not find or play with them:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the key is dangerous. This could result in someone
being badly injured or even killed. Children may find these new kinds of keys to be
an interesting toy to play with and could cause the power windows or other controls
to operate, or even make the vehicle move.
Radio waves from the advanced key may affect medical equipment such as
pacemakers:
Before using the advanced key near people who use medical equipment, ask the
medical equipment manufacturer or your physician if radio waves from the
advanced key will affect the equipment.
NOTE
lThe driver must carry the advanced key to ensure the system functions properly.lRefer to Immobilizer System (page 3-46) for information regarding keys and engine starting.l(With theft-deterrent system)
Refer to Theft-Deterrent System (page 3-51) for information regarding keys and the prevention of
vehicle and vehicle contents theft.
3-2
Knowing Your Mazda
íSome models.
Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System
RX-8_8BQ7-EA-10H_Edition1 Page72
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Form No.8BQ7-EA-10H