towing MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2010 Owners Manual (in English)

Black plate (129,1)
4Before Driving Your Mazda
Important information about driving your Mazda.
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions ........................................ 4-2
Fuel Requirements .................................................................... 4-2
Emission Control System .......................................................... 4-3
Engine Exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) ......................................... 4-4
Before Starting the Engine ........................................................... 4-5
Before Getting In ...................................................................... 4-5
After Getting In ......................................................................... 4-5
Driving Tips ................................................................................... 4-6
Break-In Period ......................................................................... 4-6
Money-Saving Suggestions ...................................................... 4-6
Hazardous Driving .................................................................... 4-7
Floor Mat .................................................................................. 4-8
Rocking the Vehicle .................................................................. 4-8
Winter Driving .......................................................................... 4-9
Driving In Flooded Area ......................................................... 4-11
Overloading ............................................................................. 4-11
Driving on Uneven Road ........................................................ 4-12
Towing ......................................................................................... 4-13
Trailer Towing ......................................................................... 4-13
4-1
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page129
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:33 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (141,1)
Trailer Towing
The Mazda RX-8 is not designed for
towing. Never tow a trailer with your
Mazda RX-8.
Before Driving Your Mazda
Towing
4-13
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page141
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:33 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (303,1)
7In Case of an Emergency
Helpful information on what to do in an emergency.
Parking in an Emergency ............................................................. 7-2
Parking in an Emergency .......................................................... 7-2
Flat Tire ......................................................................................... 7-3
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ...................................................... 7-3
Instant Mobility System (IMS) Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit ............................................................................................. 7-5
Changing the Tire .................................................................... 7-11
Overheating ................................................................................. 7-17
Overheating ............................................................................. 7-17
Emergency Starting .................................................................... 7-19
Starting a Flooded Engine ....................................................... 7-19
Jump-Starting .......................................................................... 7-20
Push-Starting ........................................................................... 7-23
Emergency Towing ..................................................................... 7-24
Towing Description ................................................................. 7-24
Tiedown Hooks ....................................................................... 7-25
Recreational Towing ............................................................... 7-27
7-1
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page303
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (325,1)
Push-Starting
Do not push-start your Mazda.
WARNING
Never tow a vehicle to start it:
Towing a vehicle to start it is
dangerous. The vehicle being towed
could surge forward when its engine
starts, causing the two vehicles to
collide. The occupants could be
injured.
CAUTION
Do not push-start a vehicle that has
a manual transmission. It can
damage the emission control system.
NOTE
You can't start a vehicle with an automatic
transmission by pushing it.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Starting
7-23
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page325
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (326,1)
Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (rear wheels) off the ground.
If excessive damage or other conditions
prevent this, use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
CAUTION
Do not tow the vehicle pointed
forward with driving wheels on the
ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
Do not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage your
vehicle. Use wheel-lift or flatbed
equipment.
7-24
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page326
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (327,1)
Tiedown Hooks
CAUTION
Do not use the front and rear
tiedown eyelets for towing the
vehicle.
The have been designed only for
securing the vehicle to a transport
vessel during shipping.
Using the eyelets for any other
purpose could result in the vehicle
being damaged.
qTiedown Hooks
1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug
wrench from the trunk (page 7-3).
2. Wrap the lug wrench with a soft cloth
to prevent damage to a painted bumper,
and open the cap located on the front or
rear bumper.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
The cap cannot be completely
removed. Do not use excessive force
as it may damage the cap or scratch
the painted bumper surface.
3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet
using the lug wrench.
Front
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-25
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page327
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (328,1)
Rear
4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown
eyelet.
Front
Rear
CAUTION
If the tiedown eyelet is not securely
tightened, it may loosen or disengage
from the bumper when tying down
the vehicle. Make sure that the
tiedown eyelet is securely tightened
to the bumper.
7-26
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page328
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (329,1)
Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“Towing Description”(page 7-24) and
“Tiedown Hooks”(page 7-25) and
carefully follow the instructions.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-27
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page329
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (411,1)
Vehicle Loading
WARNING
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design rating capability. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle,
familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings,
from the vehicle's Safety Certification Label and Tire and Load Information Label:
WARNING
Overloaded Vehicle:
Overloading a vehicle is dangerous. The results of overloading can have serious
consequences in terms of passenger safety. Too much weight on a vehicle's
suspension system can cause spring or shock absorber failure, brake failure,
handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
Overloading makes a vehicle harder to drive and control. It also increases the
distance required for stopping. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can fail
completely, particularly on steep grades. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of the tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation
pressure.
Never overload the vehicle and always observe the vehicle's weight ratings from the
vehicle's Safety Certification and Tire and Load Information labels.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-33
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page411
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E

Black plate (415,1)
SAMPLE
WARNING
Exceeding Axle Weight Rating Limits:
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits is dangerous and
could result in death or serious injury as a result of substandard vehicle handling,
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, or loss of control.
Always keep the vehicle within the axle weight rating limits.
Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle:
Towing a trailer with this vehicle is dangerous because it has not been designed to
tow a trailer and doing so will affect the drive system which could result in vehicle
damage.
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
9-37
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page415
Wednesday, April 15 2009 10:34 AM
Form No.8AT5-EA-09E