light MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2006 Owners Manual (in English)

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Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-30
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-53
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-37
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-23
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-54
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-34
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-32
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-30
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-57
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-19
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-41
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-61
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-10
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-46
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-47
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-45
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-5
MT shift lever ...................................................................................................... page 5-9
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-11
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-43
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-44
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-53
Coin box ............................................................................................................ page 6-46
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-42
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-34
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-39
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-38
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-38
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-38
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-54
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-38
Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2
Rear seat .............................................................................................................. page 2-8
Seat belt ............................................................................................................... page 2-9
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
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Trunk lid ............................................................................................................ page 3-33
Rear window defroster ....................................................................................... page 5-59
Antenna ............................................................................................................. page 6-10
Power windows ................................................................................................. page 3-37
Outside mirror .................................................................................................... page 3-53
Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-27
Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-32
Hood .................................................................................................................. page 3-42
Windshield wiper blades .................................................................................... page 8-22
Moonroof ........................................................................................................... page 3-43
Fuel-filler lid ...................................................................................................... page 3-40
Doors and keys .................................................................................................. page 3-29
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Exterior Overview
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Form No.8U58-EA-05J

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2Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint
systems and SRS air bags.
Seats ............................................................................................... 2-2
Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats) ..................................... 2-2
Front Seats (Electrically Operated Seats) .................................. 2-5
Rear Seat ................................................................................... 2-8
Seat Belt Systems .......................................................................... 2-9
Seat Belt Precautions ................................................................ 2-9
Location of Seat Belt ............................................................... 2-12
Seat Belts ................................................................................ 2-13
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ....... 2-14
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-16
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-17
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-19
Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-19
Installing Child-Restraint Systems .......................................... 2-23
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ............................................ 2-28
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-30
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-30
Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-34
How the Air Bags Work .......................................................... 2-37
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Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and
backward.
qSeat Recline
WARNING
Do not drive with the seats reclined:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don't get the full
protection from seat belts. During
sudden braking or a collision, you can
slide under the lap belt and suffer
serious internal injuries. For
maximum protection, sit well back and
upright.
Always sit in a passenger seat properly
with the seatback upright and feet on
the floor:
If your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors, sitting
in the front passenger seat improperly
out of position or with the seatback
reclined too far while the vehicle is
moving is dangerous as it can take off
weight from the seat bottom and affect
the weight determination of the front
passenger sensing system. As a result
the front passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air
bag and seat belt pretensioner, which
could cause result in serious injury.
Always sit upright against your
seatback, with your feet on the floor.
WARNING
Do not drive with the seatback
unlocked:
The seatback plays 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.
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while raising the lever.
Then lean back to the desired position and
release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seatback is locked in
place by attempting to push it forward and
backward.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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qSeat Warmer
The front seats are electrically heated. The
ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Press the switch to turn the seat warmer
on or off. When the switch is in the ON
position, the indicator light will come on.
NOTE
The seat temperature is regulated
automatically by a thermostat. Other
than turning it on or off, it cannot be
adjusted.
Rear Seat
WARNING
Make sure luggage and cargo is
secured before driving:
Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as it could move or be
crushed during sudden braking or a
collision and cause injury.
Do not allow anyone to sit on the
center console between the rear seats:
Allowing someone to sit on the rear
center console between the rear seats
is dangerous. The rear center console
is not designed for occupant seating.
During a collision, occupants not
wearing a seat belt could be thrown
from the vehicle and seriously injured
or even killed.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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WARNING
Expended Seat Belt Pretensioners:
One or both front air bags may deploy,
and the corresponding pretensioner(s)
will also deploy at the same time. Use
of front seat belts with the
pretensioner system expended is
dangerous. Like the air bags, the seat
belt pretensioners will only function
once. After they are expended, they
will not function again and must be
replaced immediately. If the seat belt
pretensioners are not replaced, the
risk of injury in a collision will
increase. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the seat belt
pretensioners and air bags after any
collision. Expended seat belt
pretensioners and air bags must be
replaced after any collision which
caused them to deploy. Additionally,
the load limiter will only limit loads on
the chest once in a collision and is
another reason to have the front seat
belts inspected.
Modification or Testing of the
Pretensioner System:
Modifying the components or wiring
of the pretensioner system, including
the use of electronic testing devices is
dangerous. You could accidentally
activate it or make it inoperable which
would prevent it from activating in an
accident. The occupants or repairers
could be seriously injured. Never
modify the components or wiring, or
use electronic testing devices on the
pretensioner system.
WARNING
Pretensioner System Disposal:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is
dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of the
pretensioner system or how to scrap a
pretensioner-equipped vehicle.
NOTE
lThe pretensioner system will only
activate in a moderate or greater
frontal or near-frontal collision. It
will not activate in most rollovers,
side or rear impacts.
lSome smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not
indicate a fire. This gas normally has
no effect on occupants, however,
those with sensitive skin may
experience light skin irritation. If
residue from the deployment of the
air bags or the front pretensioner
system gets on the skin or in the
eyes, wash it off as soon as possible.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is normal, the warning light
illuminates when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position or after the
engine is cranked. After about 6 seconds
it goes out.
A system malfunction is indicated when
the warning light constantly flashes,
constantly illuminates or doesn't
illuminate at all when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position. If any of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident.
WARNING
Self-Servicing the Air Bag/
Pretensioner Systems:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death. Never tamper
with the systems and always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer perform all
servicing and repairs.
Seat Belt Extender
If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order
one that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.
WARNING
Unnecessary Use of an Extender:
Using a seat belt extender when not
necessary is dangerous. The seat belt
will be too long and not fit properly. In
an accident, the seat belt will not
provide adequate protection and you
could be seriously injured. Only use
the extender when it is required to
fasten the seat belt properly.
Using an Improper Extender:
Using a seat belt extender that is for
another person or a different vehicle
or seat is dangerous. The seat belt will
not provide adequate protection and
the user could be seriously injured in
an accident. Only use the extender
provided for you and for the particular
vehicle and seat. NEVER use the
extender in a different vehicle or seat.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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WARNING
Using an Extender That is Too Long:
Using an extender that is too long is
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit
properly. In an accident, the seat belt
will not provide adequate protection
and you could be seriously injured.
Don't use the extender or choose one
shorter in length if the distance
between the extender's buckle and the
center of the user's body is less than
15cm (6 in).
NOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt
extender and store it in the vehicle. If
the seat belt extender is left connected,
the seat belt extender might get
damaged as it will not retract with the
rest of the seat belt and can easily fall
out of the door when not in use and be
damaged the seat belt warning light will
not illuminate and function properly.
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep
The seat belt warning light illuminates
and a beep sound will be heard if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position.
Conditions of operation
Condition Result
The driver's seat belt is not
fastened when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position.The warning light
flashes illuminates for
about 1 minute and a
beep sound will be
heard for about 6
seconds.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened while the warning
light and the beep sound are
activated.The warning light
turns off and the beep
sound stops.
The driver's seat belt is
fastened before the ignition
switch is turned to the ON
position.The warning light will
not illuminate and the
beep sound will not be
heard.
qBelt Minder
NOTE
The belt minder can be deactivated.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
deactivate and restore the seat belt
minder.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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The belt minder is a supplemental
warning to the seat belt warning function.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, the warning light/beep
operates to give you further reminders
according to the chart below.
ConditionVehicle speed
Between 0―20
km/h
(0―12 mph)20 km/h
(12 mph) or
more
Seat belt
Indicator
Beep
: Fastened: Unfastened: Illuminated: Flashing: Beep
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound
period (90 seconds) has passed.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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Child Restraint Precautions
Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use
them.
You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada.
Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety
of children riding in your vehicle.
Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appropriate one for the age
and size of the child, obey the law and follow the instructions that come with the individual
child-restraint system.
A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should sit in the rear and use seat belts,
both lap and shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer to
the center of the vehicle.
Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up to 12 years of age,
and more so with a supplemental restraint system (air bags).
A rear-facing child-restraint system shouldNEVERbe used on the front seat with the air
bag system activated. The front passenger's seat is also the least preferred seat for other
child-restraint systems.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
front passenger seat weight sensors work as a part of the supplemental restraint system.
This system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the front
passenger seat belt pretensioner system when the total seated weight on the front passenger
seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, the system shuts off the front
passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.
Even if the front passenger air bag is shut off, Mazda strongly recommends that children be
properly restrained and child-restraint systems of all kinds are properly secured on the rear
seats which are the best place for children.
For more details, refer to“Front passenger seat weight sensors”(page 2-37).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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