MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2004 Owners Manual (in English)
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Replacing a Wheel
When replacing a wheel, make sure the 
new one is the same as the original factory 
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
Proper tire balancing provides the best 
riding comfort and helps reduce tread 
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause 
vibration and uneven wear, such as 
cupping and flat spots.
Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is 
dangerous. Braking and handling 
could be affected, leading to loss of 
control and an accident. Always use 
wheels of the correct size on your 
vehicle.
•A wrong-sized wheel may 
adversely affect:
Tire fit
Wheel and bearing life
Ground clearance
Snow-chain clearance
Speedometer calibration
Headlight aim
Bumper height
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Limited-Slip Differential System
•(With Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System)
 
When replacing/repairing the 
tires or wheels or both, have the 
work done by an Authorized 
Mazda Dealer, or the tire 
pressure sensors may be 
damaged.
The wheels equipped on your 
Mazda are specially designed for 
installation the tire pressure 
sensors. Do not use non-genuine 
wheels, otherwise it may not be 
possible to install the tire 
pressure sensors.
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTE
Be sure to install the tire pressure 
sensors whenever tires or wheels are 
replaced.(page 5-27)
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Light Bulbs
Headlights (High-beam)Front side-marker lights
Front turn signal lights
Headlights (Low-beam)
Fog lights*
Parking lights Overhead light/Map lights (Front)
Vanity mirror lights
Courtesy lights
Overhead light (Rear)
Trunk light
High-mount brake light
License plate light
Brake lights/Taillights
Reverse lights
Rear side-marker lights
Rear turn signal lights
*Some models.
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Your Mazda’s headlights and fog lights 
have replaceable halogen bulbs.Replacing a Headlight Bulb
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned 
off and the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood and find the high and low 
beam bulbs in the rear of the headlight 
unit.
The outboard bulb is the LOW beam, 
and the inboard one is the HIGH 
beam.(page 8-27)
3. If you are changing the right headlight 
bulb, start the engine, turn the steering 
wheel all the way to the right, and turn 
off engine. If you are changing the left 
headlight bulb, turn the steering wheel 
to the left.
4. Turn the center section of the plastic 
retainer counterclockwise and remove 
the retainers and partially peel back the 
mudguard.
Xenon Fusion Bulb Replacement:
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs by 
yourself is dangerous. Because the 
xenon fusion bulbs require high 
voltage, you could receive an electric 
shock if the bulbs are handled 
incorrectly. Do not replace the xenon 
fusion bulbs by yourself. Consult an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer when the 
replacement is necessary.
Handling Halogen Bulbs:
When a halogen bulb breaks, it is 
dangerous. These bulbs contain 
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it 
will explode and serious injuries 
could be caused by the flying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with 
bare hands, body oil could cause the 
bulb to overheat and explode when lit. 
Never touch the glass portion of the 
bulb with your bare hands and always 
wear eye protection when handling or 
working around halogen bulbs.
Children and Halogen Bulbs:
Playing with a halogen bulb is 
dangerous. Serious injuries could be 
caused by dropping a halogen bulb or 
breaking it some other way.
Always keep halogen bulbs out of the 
reach of children.
WARNING
Removal
Installation
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
High-beam bulb
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly 
counterclockwise and remove it. 
Carefully remove the headlight bulb 
from its socket in the reflector by 
gently pulling it straight backward out 
of the socket.
2. Disconnect the bulb from the electrical 
connector by pressing the tab on the 
connector with your finger and pulling 
the bulb upward.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.Low-beam bulb(Xenon fusion bulb)
You cannot replace the low beam bulbs by 
yourself.
The bulbs must be replaced at an 
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
(Halogen bulbs)
1. Detach the electrical connector from 
the sealing cover by pulling it to the 
rear.
2. Detach the sealing cover from the bulb.
3. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.
4. Swing the retaining spring out and 
away to free the headlight bulb.
NOTE
Use the protective cover and carton of 
the replacement bulb to dispose of the 
old bulb promptly out of the reach of 
children.
Ta b
Socket
Sealing
cover
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
5. Carefully remove the headlight bulb 
from the socket by pulling it straight 
back.
6. Replace the bulb.
7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.
Replacing a Fog Light Bulb*
Due to the complexity and difficulty of 
the procedure, the bulbs should be 
replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Replacing a Bulb (Front)
1. If you are changing the right bulb, start 
the engine, turn the steering wheel all 
the way to the right, and turn off 
engine. If you are changing the left 
bulb, turn the steering wheel to the left.
2. Turn the center section of the plastic 
retainer counterclockwise and remove 
the retainers and partially peel back the 
mudguard.Front turn signal lights, Parking lights, 
Front side-marker lights
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly 
counterclockwise and remove it.
2. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.
NOTE
Use the protective cover and carton of 
the replacement bulb to dispose of the 
old bulb promptly out of the reach of 
children.
Removal
Installation
Front turn signal 
lights
Parking lights
Socket
Socket
Front side-marker lightsSocket
*Some models.
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Replacing a Bulb (Interior)
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.
Socket
Edge
Overhead light (Rear)
Courtesy lights
Edge
Vanity mirror lights
Edge
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.
Trunk light
1. Press both sides of the lens cap to 
remove it.
2. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.
3. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.
Replacing a Bulb (Rear)
Rear turn signal lights, Brake lights/
Taillights, Reverse lights
1. Pull the center section of the plastic 
retainer and remove the retainers and 
partially open the trunk side trim.2. Turn the socket and bulb assembly 
counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.
Rear side-marker lights
Due to the complexity and difficulty of 
the procedure, the bulbs should be 
replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
High-mount brake light
1. Turn the center section of the plastic 
retainer counterclockwise and remove 
the retainers and trunk rear trim.
2. Turn the socket and bulb assembly 
counterclockwise and remove it.
Removal
InstallationTrunk side trim
Rear turn signal lights
Brake lights/Taillights
Reverse lights
Socket
Removal
Installation
Trunk rear trim
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.
License plate light
1. Press the front of the lens to detach the 
front tabs.
2. Wrap a 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 a flathead 
screwdriver.
3. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order 
of removal.Yo u r  v e h i c l e’s electrical system is 
protected by fuses.
If any lights, accessories, or controls don’t 
work, inspect the appropriate circuit 
protector. If a fuse has blown, the inside 
element will be melted.
If the same fuse blows again, avoid using 
that system and consult an Authorized 
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Fuse Replacement
If the electrical system doesn’t work, first 
inspect fuses on the driver’s side.
1. Turn off the ignition switch and other 
switches.
2. Open the fuse panel cover.
Socket
Edge
Fuses
Fuse panel cover
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3. Pull the fuse straight out with the fuse 
puller provided on the inside of the 
engine compartment fuse block cover.
4. Inspect it and replace if it’s blown.
5. Push in a new fuse of the same rating, 
and make sure it fits tightly. If it 
doesn’t, have an Authorized Mazda 
Dealer install it.
If you have no spare fuses, borrow one 
of the same rating from a circuit not 
essential to vehicle operation, such as 
the SPARE circuit.If the headlights or other electrical 
components don’t work and the fuses in 
the cabin are OK, inspect the fuse block 
under the hood. If a fuse is blown, it must 
be replaced. Follow these steps:
1. Turn off the ignition switch and all 
other switches.
2. Remove the fuse block cover.
Always replace a fuse with one of the 
same rating. Otherwise you may 
damage the electric system.
Fuse puller
Fuse block cover 
(next to air filter)
Normal Blown
CAUTION
NOTE
Remove the engine and battery covers 
before removing the fuse block cover 
near the battery.
Fuse block cover
Ta bNext to air filter
Engine cover
Near battery
Battery cover
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3. If a fuse is blown, replace it with a new 
one of the same rating
 .
NOTE
•To replace the MAIN fuse, contact 
an Authorized Mazda Dealer (page 
8-36).
•Verify that the engine cover is 
securely installed.
Normal Blown
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