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

Black plate (15,1)
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
2-3
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page15
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:53 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (18,1)
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 front 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.Change the seatback angle by pressing the
front or rear side of the reclining switch.
Release the switch at the desired position.
qHeight Adjustment
Front of seat bottom
To adjust the front height of the seat
bottom, raise or lower the front of the
slide lifter switch on the left side of the
seat.
2-6
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page18
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:53 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (31,1)
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
2-19
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page31
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:53 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (33,1)
WARNING
Avoid putting a front-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat:
A front-facing child-restraint system should only be put on the front seat when it is
unavoidable. In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury
or death to the child. Always move the seat as far back as possible.
Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat is dangerous:
Vehicles equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors are also equipped with a
front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-26). Even with the front
passenger seat weight sensors, if you must use the front passenger seat for children,
seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat under the
following conditions increases the danger of the front passenger air bag deploying
and could result in serious injury or death to the child.
lThe total seated weight of the child with the child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat is approximately 30 kg (66 lb) or more with a child in the child-
restraint system.
lLuggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
lA rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.lA rear passenger puts their feet on the front seat rails.lLuggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.lThe seat is washed.lLiquids are spilled on the seat.lThe front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
lThe front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.lLuggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat.lAny accessories, which might increase the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat, are attached to the front passenger seat.
The designated positions with seat belts on the rear seats are the safest places for
children. Always use seat belts and child restraints.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-21
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page33
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:53 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (35,1)
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front passenger's
seat is clearly the worst choice for any
child under 12, and with rear-facing child-
restraint systems it is clearly unsafe due to
air bags.
Some child-restraint systems now come
with tethers and therefore must be
installed on the seats that take tethers to
be effective. In your Mazda, tethered
child-restraint systems can only be
accommodated in the two positions on the
rear seat.
Even if your vehicle is equipped with
front passenger seat weight sensors (page
2-37), which automatically deactivates the
front passenger air bag, a rear seat is the
safest place for a child of any age or size.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems”(page 2-28).
WARNING
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems
Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear
Seats:
Installation of a tether equipped child-
restraint system in the front
passenger's seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury
if the child-restraint system goes
forward without benefit of being
tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
qRear Seat Child-Restraint System
Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped child-
restraint system to the rear LATCH lower
anchors. Refer to“LATCH Child-
Restraint Systems”(page 2-28).
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully. If
you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system or tether, check in the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions and follow them
accordingly. Depending on the type of
child-restraint system, it may not
employ seat belts which are in
automatic locking mode.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-23
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page35
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (37,1)
WARNING
Use the tether and tether anchor only
for a child-restraint system:
Using the tether or tether anchor to
secure anything but a child-restraint
system is dangerous. This could
weaken or damage the tether or tether
anchor and result in injury.
qIf You Must Use the Front Seat
for Children
If you cannot put all children in the rear
seat, at least put the smallest children in
the rear and be sure the largest child up
front uses the shoulder belt over the
shoulder.
NEVER put a rear-facing child-restraint
system on the front passenger seat, even
with a seat weight sensor equipped
vehicle.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in one of
the rear seat positions set up with tether
anchors.
Likewise the LATCH child-restraint
system cannot be secured in the front
passenger's seat and should be used in the
rear seat.
Don't allow anyone to sleep against the
side window if you have an optional side
and curtain air bag, it could cause serious
injuries to an out of position occupant. As
children more often sleep in cars, it is
better to put them in the rear seat. If
installing the child-restraint system on the
front seat is unavoidable, follow these
instructions when using a front-facing
child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat.
NOTE
lTo check if your front seats have side
air bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with side
air bag will have a“SRS AIRBAG”
tag on the outboard shoulder of the
front seats.
lTo check if your vehicle has curtain
air bags:
Every Mazda curtain air bag will
have an“SRS AIRBAG”marking on
the front and rear window pillars
along the roof edge.
WARNING
Front Passenger's Seat Position:
As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so if your vehicle has side air
bags, a front-facing child-restraint
system should be put on the front 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.
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-25
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page37
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (39,1)
NOTE
lInspect this function before each use
of the child-restraint system. You
should not be able to pull the
shoulder belt out of the retractor
while the system is in the automatic
locking mode. When you remove the
child-restraint system, be sure the
belt fully retracts to return the system
to emergency locking mode before
occupants use the seat belts.
lFollow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode.
5. Make sure the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates
after installing a child-restraint system
on the front passenger seat.
Refer to Front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light on page
2-37.
WARNING
Seating a Child in a Child-Restraint
System on the Front Passenger Seat
With the Front Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Indicator Light Not
Illuminated:
While it is always better to install any
child-restraint system on the rear seat,
it is essential to do so if the front
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate
(page 2-37). Seating a child in a child-
restraint system installed on the front
passenger seat with the front
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light not illuminated is
dangerous. If this indicator light does
not illuminate even when the total
seated weight is less than
approximately 30 kg (66 lb), this
means that the front passenger front
and side air bags, and seat belt
pretensioner are ready for deployment.
If an accident were to deploy an air
bag, a child sitting in the front
passenger seat could be seriously
injured or killed. If the indicator light
does not illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, install the child-
restraint system on the rear seat and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-27
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page39
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (45,1)
WARNING
Do not touch the internal components of the air bag modules after the bags have
inflated:
Hot air bag inflators are dangerous. Immediately after inflation, the inflators in the
steering wheel, dashboard, seatbacks, or the front and rear window pillars and along
the roof edge are very hot. You could get burned.
Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull
bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air
bag crash sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate
unexpectedly, or it could prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident. Front
occupants could be seriously injured.
Do not adjust the suspension:
Adjusting the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the
suspension is changed, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is
dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make any
modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,
badges, or anything else over the air bag modules. It also includes installing extra
electrical equipment on or near system components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda
Dealer can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of front
seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the
bags do not accidentally deploy, the driver seat slide position sensor and front
passenger seat weight sensors are not damaged and that the seats retain an
undamaged air bag connection.
NOTE
lWhen an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be
released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may
cause light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.
lShould you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems
and that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is
important.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-33
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page45
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (47,1)
qFront Air Bag System Components
(1)
(6)
(10)
(7)(6) (9)(5) (4) (3) (2)
(8)
(1) Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-37)
(2) Front seats
(3) Front dual stage inflators and air bags
(4) Front air bag sensor
(5) Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-37)
(6) Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-14)
(7) Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-37)
(8) Front passenger seat weight sensor control module
(9) Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
(10) Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-37)
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-35
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page47
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J

Black plate (49,1)
How the Air Bags Work
qHow the Front Air Bags Work
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, an
electrical current is sent to the inflators.
Gases are produced to inflate the front air bags and after the inflation, the front air bags
quickly deflate.
The front air bags will function only once. After that,the front air bags will not work
again and must be replaced.
Only an Authorized Mazda Dealer can replace the system components.
The front, dual stage air bags control air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity the front air bags deploy with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, they deploy with more energy. Deployment of the front air bags may
differ between the driver and the front passenger depending on the driver seat position,
front passenger weight and front seat belt usage, all of which provide data from each sensor
to the air bag system.
The front air bags will deploy only
in a frontal or frontal offset impact.
Driver seat slide position sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver seat slide position sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. The sensor is located under the driver seat. The sensor
determines whether the driver seat is fore or aft of a reference position and sends the seat
position to the diagnostic module (SAS unit). The sensor is also designed to control the
deployment of the driver air bag depending on how close the driver seat is to the steering
wheel.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a
possible malfunction (page 2-46).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-37
RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page49
Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM
Form No.8U58-EA-05J