G E T T I N G S T A R T E D
Always check the Owner’s Manual for more operating information and safety features
Getting
Started
Getting
Started
Quick Tips
2005 Mazda
Mazda RX-8
page 4
page 5
Rear doors
For a rear occupant to exit with
a front passenger:
1. Front occupant must release
seatbelt
2. Front occupant must open door
3. Open rear door
For a rear occupant to exit without
a front occupant:
1. Release front seat to forward
position
2. Unlock and open front door
3. Open rear door
Tips: Close rear door first,
then front door; damage
may occur otherwise
Starting tips
To keep engine in top condition,
engine coolant temperature
gauge needle should reach the
middle normal operating range
between C and H before turning
engine off, do not turn OFF a
cold engine if possible
In the unlikely event that the
engine does not start, try the
following procedure:
1. Depress and hold the accelerator
pedal to floor and rotate
engine for 7-8 seconds
2. Release ignition switch
3. Start the engine, releasing
accelerator pedal
If the engine starts while in
step 1, the engine will rev up,
in that case, release your
hand immediately from the
ignition key and your foot
from accelerator pedal
To prevent alarm arming with
passenger inside vehicle, driver
must manually lock door by
pressing lock knob
Instant Mobility System
emergency flat tire
repair kit (IMS)
Temporary spare tire is not
equipped with your Mazda, if
tire repair is required, repair tire
with emergency flat tire repair
kit, see Owner’s Manual
If a temporary spare tire is
required, consult your
Authorized Mazda Dealer
Tire pressure
monitoring system
Warning light illuminates for a
few seconds when ignition is on
If tire pressure is too high or low,
or tire temperature is too high
warning light will illuminate
3. Warm engine for 5-minutes at idle
4. Raise engine speed to 3000
RPM for 10-seconds
5. Return to idle
6. Turn off engine
Tip: Warming up engine
improves engine life
Instrument panel lighting
With headlights on:
To brighten/
dim turn thumbwheel up/down
Maximum illumination:
Rotate thumbwheel upward until
click is heard; instrument cluster
and information display illumination
color goes from red to white
Headlights/parking lights OFF:
Instrument panel lighting defaults
to maximum brightness
Headlights/parking lights ON:
Illumination changes
brightness with dimmer
switch adjustment
Traction Control
System (TCS)*/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)*
DSC light may occasionally flash
while driving, this indicates
that the DSC was performing a
correction to help maintain your
best vehicle control, if DSC light
remains on, see your Mazda Dealer
If DSC light remains on after
disconnecting battery or jump-
starting, you will need to perform
a Steering Angle Sensor calibration
procedure, after battery power is
restored: Ignition ON; turn steering
wheel to full left lock position;
then full right lock position; turn
ignition OFF, then ON
If the engine still fails to start, have
your vehicle inspected at the dealer
• Do not keep holding ignition
switch in START position for more
than ten seconds, if the engine
does not start, it may result in
a weakened or dead battery
• Please avoid racing engine
or sudden take off right after
starting the engine
• If these starting tips are not
followed, engine may be
DAMAGED as a result
Short trip driving procedure
For any trip that is too short for the
engine to reach normal operating
temperature, (needle in middle of
temperature gauge indicates normal
temperature), the following
procedure should be followed**:
1. Start engine
2. Move vehicle
*Denotes optional equipment
**Moving vehicle at a car wash or moving
vehicle to access another vehicle would
be considered a short distance
