headlights MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2009 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (122,1)
NOTE
For the manual day/night mirror, perform the
adjustment with the day/night lever in the day
position.
Reducing glare from headlights
Manual day/night mirror
Push the day/night lever forward for day
driving. Pull it back to reduce glare of
headlights from cars at the rear.
Night
Day Day/Night lever
Auto-dimming mirror
The auto-dimming mirror automatically
reduces glare of headlights from cars at
the rear when the ignition switch is in the
ON position. Press the OFF button (
) to cancel the
automatic dimming function. The
indicator light will turn off.
To reactivate the automatic dimming
function, press the ON button (
). The
indicator light will illuminate.
Indicator lightOFF button
ON button
3-56
Knowing Your Mazda
Steering Wheel and Mirrors
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page122
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (190,1)
The light stops flashing when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position with
the correct ignition key.
At this time, the immobilizer system is
disarmed and the light illuminates for
about 3 seconds and then goes out.
If the engine doesn't start with the correct
ignition key, and the security indicator
light keeps illuminating or flashing, the
system may have a malfunction. Consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qHeadlight High-Beam Indicator
Light
This light indicates one of two things:lThe high-beam headlights are on.lThe turn signal lever is in the flash-to-
pass position.
qShift Position Indicator Light
(Automatic Transmission)
This indicates the selected shift position
when the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
Gear position indicator
Gear position indicator
The gear position indicator displays the
gear in use while in either manual shift or
direct mode.
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Driving Your Mazda
Warning/Indicator Lights and Beep Sounds
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page190
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (194,1)
Lighting Control
qHeadlights
Type A (Without AUTO position)
Turn the headlight switch to turn the
headlights, other exterior lights and
dashboard illumination on or off.
Switch Position
Headlights Off Off On
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights
Dashboard illumination Off On On
NOTE
To prevent discharging the battery, do not
leave the lights on while the engine is off
unless safety requires them.
Type B (With AUTO position)
Turn the headlight switch to turn the
headlights, other exterior lights and
dashboard illumination on or off.
Switch Position
Headlights Off Off On
Auto
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker
lights
Dashboard
illumination Off On On
NOTElIf the light switch is left on, the lights will
automatically switch off approximately 30
seconds after turning the ignition switch to
the ACC or LOCK position.
lTo prevent discharging the battery, do not
leave the lights on while the engine is off
unless safety requires them.
AUTO (Auto-light control)
When the headlight switch is in the
AUTO position and the ignition switch is
in the ON position, the light sensor senses
the surrounding lightness or darkness and
automatically turns on or off the
headlights, other exterior lights and
dashboard illumination (see chart above).
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Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page194
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (195,1)
CAUTION
ØDo not shade the light sensor by
adhering a sticker or a label on
the windshield. Otherwise the light
sensor will not operate correctly.
Light sensor
ØThe light sensor also works as a
rain sensor for the auto-wiper
control. Keep hands and scrapers
clear of the windshield when the
ignition switch is in the ON
position as fingers could be
pinched or the wipers and wiper
blades damaged when the wipers
activate automatically. If you are
going to clean the windshield, be
sure the wipers are turned off
completely - this is particularly
important when clearing ice and
snow - when it is particularly
tempting to leave the engine
running. NOTE
lThe light may not turn off immediately even
if the surrounding area becomes well-lit
because the light sensor determines that it
is nighttime if the surrounding area is
continuously dark for several minutes such
as inside long tunnels, traffic jams inside
tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the light turns off if the light
switch is turned to the OFF position.
lThe timing for turning on the headlights,
other exterior lights and dashboard
illumination can be delayed by adjusting
the sensitivity of the light sensor. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer regarding sensor
adjustment.
lThe sensitivity of the AUTO lights may be
changed by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Xenon fusion headlight bulbsí
The low-beam bulbs of the headlights
have xenon fusion bulbs that produce a
bright white beam over a wide area.
WARNING
Do not replace the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself:
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself is dangerous. Because the
xenon fusion bulbs require high
voltage, you could receive an electric
shock if the bulbs are handled
incorrectly. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer when the replacement
is necessary.
NOTE
If the headlights flicker, or the brightness
weakens, the bulb-life may be depleted and a
replacement is necessary. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-57íSome models.
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page195
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (196,1)
qLights-On Reminderí
If lights are on and the key is removed
from the ignition switch, a continuous
beep sound will be heard when the
driver's door is opened.
NOTE
When the advanced keyless function is used
and the start knob is in the ACC position, the
Start Knob Not in Lock Warning Beep (page
3-17) overrides the lights-on reminder.
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Push the lever forward for high beam.
Pull back to original position for low
beam.
High beam
Low beam
q Flashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
toward you. The headlight switch does
not need to be on, and the lever will return
to the normal position when released.
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
Headlight auto-leveling malfunction
indicator light
This indicator light stays on far a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position.
Thereafter, the indicator light will
illuminate when the headlight auto-
leveling system has a malfunction.
5-58
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page196
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (197,1)
If the indicator light illuminates, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
qDaytime Running Lights (Canada)
In Canada, vehicles must be driven with
the headlights on during daytime
operation.
For that reason, the daytime running lights
automatically turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position.
NOTE
The Daytime Running Lights turn off when the
parking brake is applied.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
qTurn Signal
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, manually return the lever to
its original position.
Right turn
Left turn OFF
Right lane
change
Left lane
change
Green indicators on the dashboard show
which signal is working.
Lane-change signals
Move the lever slightly toward the
direction of the change ―until the
indicator flashes ―and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without flashing
or if it flashes abnormally, one of the turn
signal bulbs may be burned out.
Driving Your Mazda
Switches and Controls
5-59
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page197
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (198,1)
Fog Lightsí
Use this switch to turn on the fog lights.
They help you to see as well as to be seen.
To turn the fog lights on, rotate the fog
light switch to the
position.
The headlight switch must be in the
position to turn on the fog lights.
Fog light switch
To turn them off, rotate the fog light
switch to the OFF position or turn the
headlight switch to the
or OFF
position.
NOTE
lThe fog lights will turn off when the
headlights are set at high beam.
l(With auto-light control)
If the fog light switch is in the ON position
and the headlight switch is in the AUTO
position, the fog lights will be turned on
when the headlights, the exterior lights and
dashboard illumination are automatically
turned on.
Windshield Wipers and
Washer
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
WARNING
Use only windshield washer fluid or
plain water in the reservoir: Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the
windshield, affect your visibility, and
could result in an accident.
Only use windshield washer fluid
mixed with anti-freeze protection in
freezing weather conditions: Using windshield washer fluid
without anti-freeze protection in
freezing weather conditions is
dangerous as it could freeze on the
windshield and block your vision
which could cause an accident.
In addition, make sure the
windshield is sufficiently warmed
using the defroster before spraying
the washer fluid.
5-60
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page198
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (202,1)
qWindshield Washer
Pull the lever toward you and hold it to
spray washer fluid.
OFF
Washer
NOTE
With the wiper lever in the OFF or INT (Type
A)/AUTO (Type B) position, the wipers will
operate continuously until the lever is
released.
If the washer doesn't work, inspect the
fluid level (page 8-17). If it's OK, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
(With headlight washers)
When the headlights are on, the headlight
washers operate automatically once every fifth
time the windshield washer operates.
Refer to Headlight Washer (page 5-64).
Headlight Washerí
The ignition switch must be in the ON
position and the headlights must be turned
on.
The headlight washers operate
automatically once every fifth time the
windshield washer operates.
If you want to operate only the headlight
washers, pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you twice rapidly.
OFF
Washer
NOTE
When you pull the windshield wiper lever
twice, the windshield washer may spray a
little.
5-64
Driving Your Mazda
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
RX-8_8Z09-EA-08C_Edition3 Page202
Thursday, July 3 2008 2:23 PM
Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (350,1)
Light Bulbs
Overhead light/Map lights (Front)Headlights (High beam) Fog lights
Headlights (Low beam)Parking lights/Front turn signal lights
Side turn signal lightsCourtesy lights
Vanity mirror lights
Rear turn signal lights
Rear side-marker lightsOverhead light (Rear)
Brake lights/Taillights
Trunk light
High-mount brake light
License plate light Reverse lights
Some models.
8-28
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C

Black plate (359,1)
3. Pull the fuse straight out with the fusepuller provided on the inside of the
engine compartment fuse block cover.
4. Inspect the fuse and replace it if it'sblown.
Normal Blown
5. Insert a new fuse of the same amperage
rating, and make sure it fits tightly. If it
does not fit tightly, have an expert
install it. We recommend an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
If you have no spare fuses, borrow one
of the same rating from a circuit not
essential to vehicle operation, such as
the AUDIO or CIGAR circuit.
CAUTION
Always replace a fuse with one of the
same rating. Otherwise you may
damage the electric system.
Replacing the fuses under the hood
If the headlights or other electrical
components do not work and the fuses in
the cabin are normal, 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.
Next to air filter
Engine cover
Battery cover
Near battery
NOTE
Remove the engine and battery covers before
removing the fuse block cover near the battery.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8Z09-EA-08C