warning light MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2004 (in English) Repair Manual

8-9
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Recommended Oil
Oil container labels provide important
information.
The quality designation SL
or ILSAC

must be on the label.Engine oil viscosity, or thickness, has an
effect on fuel economy and cold-weather
operation (starting and oil flow).
Low-viscosity engine oils can provide
improved fuel economy and cold-weather
performance.
But high-temperature weather conditions
require higher-viscosity engine oils for
satisfactory lubrication.
When choosing an oil, consider the
temperature range your vehicle will
operate in before the next oil change.
Then select the recommended viscosity
from this chart.
Energy conserving oils are recommended.
A chief contribution they make to fuel
economy is reducing the amount of fuel
necessary to overcome engine friction.
Engine Oil
NOTE
The Mazda RX-8 requires regular
inspection of the engine oil level. The
compact, high performance RENESIS
rotary engine in your vehicle consumes
a small amount of engine oil due to its
structural design.
Although your vehicle is equipped
with an engine oil level warning light
and an engine oil pressure gauge, it is
best to keep the engine oil level in the
range between full and low by
checking the oil dipstick regularly.
Inspect the level when refueling.
FORGASOLINEENGINES
(ILSAC)
Using oils of viscosity besides those
recommended for specific temperature
ranges could result in engine damage.
–30–20–100 1020304050
–20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
5W-20
CAUTION
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8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
3. With the drain plug loose but not fully
removed, flush out the system with
running water.
4. Drain the system completely and
retighten the plug. Add as much
ethylene-glycol-based coolant and
water as necessary to provide freezing
and corrosion protection.
5. In extremely cold climates, add the
amount recommended in the coolant
manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Reinstall the cooling system cap.
7. Run the engine at idle for about
10 minutes, then turn it off. If the
coolant level warning light comes on
during this time, turn the engine off.
After turning off the engine, inspect
the drain plug and the water hoses for
leaks.
8. After the engine has cooled, remove
the cooling system cap and inspect the
coolant level. If it’s low, repeat steps 5
to 7.

Inspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid
Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and clutch
linings. If it is excessively low, have the
brake/clutch system inspected by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
Because this procedure requires
technical expertise, we recommend
that it be done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Tighten Loosen Loosen
Tighten
Cooling system cap
Drain plug
Brake/Clutch Fluid
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8-26
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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8-28
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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8-37
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
DESCRIPTIONFUSE
RATINGPROTECTED
COMPONENT
19 IG 30AFor protection
of various
circuits
20 IG KEY 15AFor protection
of various
circuits
21 STOP 15A Brake lights
22 FUEL PUMP 20A Fuel pump
23 HORN 15A Horn
24 HAZARD 15AHazard warning
flashers, Turn
signals
25 ETV 15AElectric throttle
valve
26 WIPER 20AWindshield
wiper and
washer
27 P.WIND 20A Power windows
28 ENGINE 15AEngine control
system,
Supplemental
restraint
system, ABS,
Power steering
29 TAIL 10ATaillights,
License plate
light,
Parking lights,
Front side-
maker lights,
Rear side-
marker lights
30 ILLUMI 10AIlluminated
entry system
31 EGI COMP1 10AEngine control
system
32 EGI COMP2 10AEngine control
system
33 EGI INJ 15A Fuel injector
34 EPS 60A Power steering
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8-42
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material from
the underside of the fenders, and make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges of
the doors and rocker panels are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Don’t allow soap
to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for
metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.

Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance is
normal.
WARNING
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle doesn’t need it.
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced, make
sure the body shop applies anti-
corrosion materials to all parts, both
repaired and new. This will prevent
them from rusting.
CAUTION
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8-43
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Bright-Metal Maintenance
•Use tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
•To prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
•During cold weather or in coastal
areas, cover bright-metal parts with a
coating of wax or preservative heavier
than usual. It would also help to coat
them with noncorrosive petroleum jelly
or some other protective compound.

Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also to
do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.

The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped
there will cause rusting. Don’t use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or anodized
aluminum parts. This may result in
damage to the protective coating and
cause discoloration or paint
deterioration.
CAUTION
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
affected. Dry the brakes by driving
very slowly and applying the brakes
lightly until brake performance is
normal.
WARNING
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11-2
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Index
A
Accessory Socket ............................. 6-48
Add-On Non-Genuine Parts and
Accessories
...................................... 9-12
Air Bag Systems
.............................. 2-27
Air Filter
.......................................... 8-18
Ambient Temperature Display
........ 6-41
Antenna
............................................ 6-10
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
........ 5-7
Warning light
.............................. 5-7
Appearance Care
.............................. 8-39
Ashtray
............................................. 6-43
Audio System
................................... 6-10
Audio control switch
................ 6-34
Audio set
................................... 6-17
Operating tips for audio
system
....................................... 6-10
Safety certification
.................... 6-36
Automatic Transmission
Driving tips
............................... 5-15
Fluid
.......................................... 8-15
Manual shift mode
.................... 5-11
Shift-lock system
...................... 5-11
Transmission ranges
................. 5-10
B
Battery
Emergency starting
................... 7-20
Maintenance
............................. 8-21
Specifications
........................... 10-4
Beeps
Engine overrev warning
beep
........................................... 5-47
Ignition key reminder
............... 5-47
Lights-on reminder
................... 5-47
Seat belt warning beep
.............. 5-47
Tire inflation pressure warning
beep
........................................... 5-47
B
Before Starting the Engine ................. 4-6
After getting in
............................ 4-6
Before getting in
......................... 4-6
Body Lubrication
............................. 8-18
Brake/Clutch
Fluid
.......................................... 8-14
Brakes
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
....5-7
Foot brake
................................... 5-4
Pad wear indicator
...................... 5-8
Parking brake
.............................. 5-5
Warning light
.............................. 5-5
Break-In Period
.................................. 4-7
Bulb Replacement
............................ 8-27
C
Capacities ......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide
.............................. 4-5
Catalytic Converter
............................ 4-3
Cell Phones
...................................... 9-13
Center Console
................................. 6-46
Child Restraint
Child restraint precautions
........ 2-17
Installing child-restraint
systems
...................................... 2-20
LATCH child-restraint
systems
...................................... 2-25
Cigarette Lighter
.............................. 6-42
Climate Control System
.....................6-2
Gas specifications
..................... 10-6
Clock
................................................ 6-41
Coin Box
.......................................... 6-45
Courtesy Lights
................................ 6-39
Cruise Control
.................................. 5-17
Cup Holder
....................................... 6-44
Customer Assistance
.......................... 9-2
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11-3
Index
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
D
Dashboard Illumination ................... 5-34
Daytime Running Lights
.................. 5-49
Defroster
Rear window
............................. 5-53
Dimensions
...................................... 10-5
Door Locks
......................................... 3-7
Driving In Flooded Area
.................. 4-10
Driving Tips
....................................... 4-7
Automatic transmission
............ 5-15
Break-in period
........................... 4-7
Driving in flooded area
............. 4-10
Hazardous driving
....................... 4-8
Money-saving suggestions
.......... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle
.................... 4-8
Winter driving
............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
.... 5-21
DSC OFF indicator light
........... 5-22
DSC OFF switch
....................... 5-23
TCS/DSC Indicator light
.......... 5-22
E
Emergency Starting .......................... 7-20
Flooded engine
.......................... 7-20
Jump-starting
............................ 7-20
Push-starting
............................. 7-22
Emergency Towing
.......................... 7-23
Emission Control System
................... 4-3
Engine
Coolant
...................................... 8-12
Exhaust gas
................................. 4-5
Hood release
............................. 3-18
Oil
............................................... 8-9
Overheating
............................... 7-18
Starting
........................................ 5-3
Engine Compartment Overview
........ 8-8
Engine Coolant
Overheating
............................... 7-18
E
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
...............................................5-32
Exhaust Gas
........................................4-5
Exterior Care
....................................8-41
F
Flasher
Hazard warning
.........................5-55
Headlights
.................................5-48
Flat Tire
..............................................7-3
Changing
...................................7-13
Instant Mobility System (IMS)
Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit
................................................7-5
Spare tire and tool storage
...........7-3
Fluids
Classification
.............................10-5
Owner maintenance
.....................8-6
Fog Lights
........................................5-50
Foot Brake
..........................................5-4
Front seats
..........................................2-2
Fuel
Filler lid and cap
.......................3-16
Gauge
........................................5-33
Requirements
..............................4-2
Tank capacity
............................10-5
Fuses
.................................................8-33
Panel description
.......................8-36
Replacement
..............................8-33
G
Gauges ..............................................5-29
Glove Box
........................................6-45
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11-4
Index
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
H
Hazard Warning Flasher .................. 5-55
Hazardous Driving
............................. 4-8
Headlight Washer
............................ 5-53
Headlights
Control
...................................... 5-48
Flashing
.................................... 5-49
High-low beam
......................... 5-48
Leveling
.................................... 5-49
On reminder
.............................. 5-48
HomeLink Wireless Control
System
.............................................. 5-55
Hood Release
................................... 3-18
Horn
................................................. 5-54
I
Ignition
Keys
............................................ 3-2
Switch
......................................... 5-2
Illuminated Entry System
................ 6-37
Immobilizer System
......................... 3-21
Indicator Lights
................................ 5-35
Cruise Main
.............................. 5-45
Cruise set
.................................. 5-45
DSC OFF
.................................. 5-44
Headlight auto-leveling
malfunction
............................... 5-46
Headlight high-beam
................ 5-43
Power steering malfunction
...... 5-45
Security
..................................... 5-43
Shift position
............................ 5-44
TCS/DSC
.................................. 5-44
Turn-signal/hazard warning
...... 5-46
Information Display
......................... 6-40
Ambient temperature display
... 6-41
Audio display
............................ 6-42
Climate control display
............. 6-42
Clock
......................................... 6-41
I
Information display
functions
.................................... 6-40
Instrument Cluster
............................ 5-29
Interior Care
..................................... 8-44
Interior Lights
.................................. 6-37
J
Jump-Starting ................................... 7-20
K
Keyless Entry System ........................ 3-3
Keys
................................................... 3-2
L
Label Information ............................ 10-2
Lane-Change Signals
....................... 5-50
Light Bulbs
Replacement
.............................. 8-27
Specifications
............................ 10-6
Lighter
.............................................. 6-42
Lighting Control
............................... 5-48
Lubricant Quality
............................. 10-5
M
Maintenance
Introduction
................................. 8-2
Owner maintenance
precautions
.................................. 8-7
Owner maintenance schedule
..... 8-6
Scheduled
.................................... 8-3
Manual Transmission Operation
........ 5-8
Recommendations for shifting
....5-9
Map Lights
....................................... 6-39
Meters and Gauges
........................... 5-29
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