towing MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2009 (in English) User Guide

Black plate (408,1)
GCW
GCW (Gross Combination Weight)is the weight of the loaded vehicle (GVW) plus the
weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) is the maximum allowable weight of the
vehicle and the loaded trailer - including all cargo and passengers - that the vehicle can
handle without risking damage. (Important: The towing vehicle's braking system is rated
for operation at GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers weighing more than 1,500 lbs). The GCW must
never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight is the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer
the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only mandatory options, no cargo (internal or
external), a tongue load of 10 _
15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15 _
25%
(fifth-wheel trailer), and driver only (150 lbs). Consult your dealership (or the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide provided by your dealership) for more detailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth-Wheel King Pin Weight refers to the amount of the weight that a
trailer pushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples: For a 5000 lb conventional trailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a
proper tongue load range of 500 to 750 lbs. For an 11,500 lb fifth-wheel trailer, multiply by
0.15 and 0.25 to obtain a proper king pin load range of 1,725 to 2,875 lbs.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page408
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:24 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (410,1)
Steps for Determining the Correct Load Limit:
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit:
(1) Locate the statement“The combined weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs ”on your vehicle's placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the “XXX ”amount equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 _
750 (5 × 150) = 650
lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page410
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:24 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (425,1)
C
Capacities .......................................... 10-5
Carbon Monoxide ............................... 4-4
Catalytic Converter ............................. 4-3
Cell Phones ....................................... 9-16
Center Console .................................. 6-85
Child RestraintInstalling child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-29
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-35
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 6-81
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2
Gas specifications ...................... 10-5
Clock ................................................. 6-80
Coin Box ........................................... 6-84
Courtesy Lights ................................. 6-78
Cruise Control ................................... 5-21
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-83
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-38
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-59
Defroster Mirror ......................................... 5-65
Rear window .............................. 5-65
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ....................................... 3-27
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-11
Driving on Uneven Road .................. 4-12
D
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-6 Automatic transmission .............. 5-20
Break-in period ............................ 4-6
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-11
Driving on uneven road ............. 4-12
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-7
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-6
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-8
Winter driving .............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-26 DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-27
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-27
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-26
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-18Jump-starting .............................. 7-19
Push-starting .............................. 7-22
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-23
Emission Control System .................... 4-3
Engine Coolant ....................................... 8-14
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-4
Hood release .............................. 3-43
Oil .............................................. 8-12
Overheating ................................ 7-16
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-11
Engine Coolant Overheating ................................ 7-16
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-38
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-4
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-44
Index
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I
Inside Trunk Release Lever ............... 3-34
Instrument Cluster ............................. 5-35
Interior Care ...................................... 8-47
Interior Lights ................................... 6-77
J
Jump-Starting .................................... 7-19
K
Keyless Entry System ....................... 3-22
Keys .................................................. 3-21
L
Label Information ............................. 10-2
Lane-Change Signals ........................ 5-59
Light BulbsReplacement ............................... 8-28
Specifications ............................. 10-6
Lighter ............................................... 6-81
Lighting Control ............................... 5-56
Lubricant Quality .............................. 10-4
M
Maintenance Introduction .................................. 8-2
Owner maintenance precautions ... 8-9
Owner maintenance schedule ....... 8-8
Scheduled ..................................... 8-3
Manual Transmission Operation ....... 5-10 Recommendations for shifting .... 5-11
Map Lights ........................................ 6-78
Meters and Gauges ........................... 5-35
Mirror Defroster ................................ 5-65
M
Mirrors Outside mirrors .......................... 3-54
Rearview mirror ......................... 3-55
Money-Saving Suggestions ................ 4-6
Moonroof .......................................... 3-44
O
Odometer and Trip Meter .................. 5-36
Outside Mirrors ................................. 3-54
Overhead Console ............................. 6-84
Overhead Lights ................................ 6-78
Overheating ....................................... 7-16
Overloading ...................................... 4-11
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-42
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-6
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Power Door Locks ............................ 3-28
Power Steering .................................. 5-20 Power steering malfunction indicator
light ............................................ 5-20
Power Windows ................................ 3-35
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-22
R
Rear Quarter Windows ..................... 3-41
Rear Seat ........................................... 2-11
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-65
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-55
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-25
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-14
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-8
Index
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

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T
TowingDescription ................................. 7-23
Emergency towing ..................... 7-23
Recreational towing ................... 7-25
Trailer towing ............................. 4-13
Traction Control System (TCS) ........ 5-25 TCS/DSC indicator light ............ 5-25
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-13
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-36
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-32 Inside trunk release lever ............ 3-34
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-33
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-59
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-77
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-40 ABS ............................................ 5-42
Air bag system ........................... 5-45
Automatic transmission .............. 5-48
Brake system .............................. 5-42
Charging system ......................... 5-43
Check engine .............................. 5-45
Door-ajar .................................... 5-47
Engine coolant level ................... 5-44
Engine oil level .......................... 5-43
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-45
KEY Warning Light
(Red)/KEY Indicator Light
(Green) ....................................... 5-50
Low fuel ..................................... 5-46
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-47
Seat belt ...................................... 5-46
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-48
Warranty ............................................ 9-11
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-17
Weights ............................................. 10-5
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-27
Windows Power windows .......................... 3-35
Rear quarter windows ................ 3-41
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-64
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-61 Blades replacement .................... 8-19
Winter Driving .................................... 4-9
Index
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C