Mazda RX-7 1989 User manual

OWNERS
MANUAL

Mazda RX-7
6 7UO D010E
Important Instructions for
Owner and Driver
Operation, Maintenance,
and Service
The specifications and descrip ti ons in this manual
are accurate at t
he ti me of pr in ti ng. Beca us e i m-
provement is a constant goa l at Mazda, we reserve
the ri
gh t to make changes in specifications at any
ti
me without no ti ce and without i nc urri ng any ob -
li
ga ti on. Please notethatthis manual applies to all
mode ls in this series an d explains all equ i pment ,
i
nc luding opt ions. You may therefore find exp la-
nations for equipment not i
ns ta ll ed on yourvehicle.
© 1989 Mazda Motor Corporation
Printed
in Japan

67 U0-0020E
A Word to Mazda Owners....
We ur ge you to read this manual carefully
and follow its recommendations to help en•
su re the e nj oyable and trouble-free opera•
tion of your new Mazda. Please keep it in
the glove box as a permanent and con-
venient reference.
When service is necessary,
re member that
your Au
th o ri zed Mazda Dealer knows your
ve
hi cle best and is vita ll y interested in your
complete satisfaction. He is ready to help
you with a ll maintenance and service needs.
Thank you
fo r choosing a Mazda. We assu re
you of our
co n ti nuing interest in your mo tor·
ing pleasure and satisfac
ti on.
Mazda Motor Corporation
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN

G7L':JC03CE
NOTE
The number above each exp lanation in this
man ual (e.g. 67U2-0170E) is not directly
connec ted with the contents of th is manua l.
IMPORTANT PRELIMINARY
INFORMATION
I BEFORE DRIVING
_YOUR VEHICLE
ISTARTING AND OPERATING
SPECIAL AND EMERGENCY
OPERATING CONDITIONS
APPEARANCE
CARE- REQUIRED
OWNER'S MAINTENANCE
IMAINTENANCE
ICONSUMER INFORMATION
ISPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX

1. IMPORTANT PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
67U1·0010E
PAYING ATTENTION TO MAINTENANCE WILL HELP ENSURE
YOUR VEHICLE'S SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE.
CheGK
011 lMI
1-1
67Ul ·0020E
Check the engine oil level.
Refer to ENGINE OIL LEVEL in Section 6.
NOTE
It is normal for your rotary engine to consume a sl i ght amount of
oi l, since the gas seals are lubricated by metering oil into the com-
bustion chambers. The oil consumption rate vari
es depending on
the
dr iving conditions (e .g. hard dr iving, mountain driving, on a
highway, in a city, in heavy traffic, and in varying tra
ffi c ). Because
of these variables, it
is possible that the oilconsumption rate might
be as high as 500 miles/q t.
~ ~ ~ IT71®7 5l PUSH-R ESET
~ LiiiLl ~ ~ ~ ~ H,--. M
~l[:37 ~ [ifl!Cl ®
~ ~ lf N EL ~ ~ DO NO T 08S 1 AUCT VI F:N OF VIAAN l!I G LI GH TS
OIL L EVEL WARNING LAMP
I

6/U 1·0030E
Check the coolant level.
Refer
to ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL in Section 6.
'
I
I I
~
Check
J
Ooolant
I.Ml
d
Do not remove the thermostat
If removed, overheating will resu lt.
1;1 ' ,,
11
1-2
67U ·00 40E
Check the fan belt tension and condition.
Refer to CHECKING BELT TENSION
in Sec ti on 6.
Oh6c~
DrtwBelt
~ ,, t;,t~ if I~ !Tl '®7 icil PUSH ,A ES ET
~ s~ ~~~lJnj H~M
COOLA NT LEVEL
WARNING LAMP
□ ~ !iflral (@)
C'kAP.GE ~ ~ ~ DO N OT 08S1RUCT VI FYI Of WAI\N!NG LIGH TS
ALTERNATOR
WARNING LAMP

67U I 005 DE
Use specified spark plugs,
Refer to Recommended spark plu
gs in Section 6.
Use a
genu ine Mazda air cleaner element or its equi va lent.
Refer
to AIR CLEANER in Section 6.
1-3
67 1.J I O OG OE
MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTIES
Yo ur new Mazdarotary engine is a unique produc t. Protectits high
performance
by following both the operating instru ct ions and the
maintenance instructions set forth in this owner's manua
l.
Your rotary engine is covered by an excellent warranty. Read and
understand the written
wa rranty comp letely and comply with the
recommended maintenance schedul
es.
Between regular servicing pe ri ods, pay careful attention to o il and
coolant levels and to proper fan
be lt tension.
Wh
il e operating your Ma zda, observe your instrument panel
gauges and indicator lights. Comp liance wi th the above instruc-
tions is essential for the preventi
on of damage to your high-
performance Mazda engine.
If you do operate yo ur Mazda when the engine is overh ea t ed or
oil or
coo lant is low, se ri ous dam ag e to your engine may resu lt.
In the event of any unusual operating cond iti ons, such as over-
heating, you should stop your vehicle and promptly contact your
nearest Authorized
Ma z da Servi ce facilitv (orother aua lified main-
tenance establishment.
).
T ha nk you.

97U1- 007 0E
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your new Mazda is designed to obtain maximum performance with
UNLEADED GASOLINE with an octane rating (anti-knock index)
of 87 or higher (average of Research Octane
Number and Motor
Octane
Numbe r}. Octane Rating is required to be posted on the
pumps of gas stations by federal law in the Unit ed States.
Be aware that use of fuel that has a lower octane rating than re-
quired by your vehicle could cause the emission
co ntrol system
to lose its effectiveness and could cause engine knock or serious
engine damage.
Unleaded gasoline wi
ll minimize exhaust emissions and spark plug
fouling.
CAUTION
NEVER USE LEADED GASOLINE. Never add any fuel system
cleaning agents
to the fuel tank other than Mazda specifi ed or
equivalent. (Consultyour Authorized Mazda Dealer for details.) Use
of leaded gasoline is
de trimental to the catalytic converter.
Leaded gasoline wi
ll damagethe oxygen sensor (if equipped) and
affect emission control.
Gasohol, a mixture
of gasoline and ethanol (also known as grain
alcohol), and gasoline or gasohol containing methanol
(a lso known
as wood alcohol) are being marketed in various places inthe coun-
try al
ong with or instead of leaded or unleaded gasoline.
Do not use gasohol containi ng mo re than 10% ethanol, or gaso-
li ne orgasoholcontaini ng any me t hano l, becausethe use of such
fuel may cause
prob lems in driveability and damage to the fuel
system.
Discontinue using gasohol if
dr iveability problems o ccur .
1-4
Damage or driveability problems on your Mazda resulti ng from
the use of
1) gasohol containing more than 1 0% ethanol;
2) gasoline or gasohol containi
ng methanol; or
3) leaded gasoline or leaded gasohol
may not be co vered by the manufacturer's warranty app licable
to your Mazda.
97U 1-0 080 E
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
An y modification to the original-equipment emission control sys-
tems prior
to fi rst sale and registration of a new vehicle is subject
to penalties under Federal law in the Un ited States. Any such
modifications
made thereafter may also be subject to penalties in
some states.
97 U1·0090E
MOBILE TWO-WAY RADIO SYSTEM
If a mob ile two - way radio system is instal 1ed i mproper l y, or if a
wr
ong type is used, the fuel injection system, the crui s~ control
syst
em and other systems may be affected. To avoid any dam-
age to your vehicle, be sure to check wi th an Authorized Mazda
Dealer for pr
oper installation of a mobile two-way radio.

97U1-0100E
WARRANTIES FOR YOUR MAZDA VEHICLE
• New Veh icle 36 Month/50,000 Mile Limited Warranty
• Anti-Perforation Limited Warranty
• Emi
ss ion Control System Warranty
•
Ca lifornia Emission Control System Warranty (if applicable)
• Emission Performance Warranty
• Replacement Parts and Accessories Limited Warranty
• Tire Warranty
NOTE
Detailed warranty information is provided with your Mazda vehicl e.
1 -5
97U1-0110E
ENGINE EXHAUST GAS CAUTION {CARBON
MONOXIDE)
Engine exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide. Though color-
le ss and odor l ess, it is dangerous, even lethal, if inhaled.
• Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, but can be pres-
ent with all other exhaust fume s. Therefore, if you ever sme ll
exhaust fumes of any kind inside yo ur vehicle, have itinspect-
ed immediately by your dealer and have thecondition correct-
ed.
Do not dr ive with exhaust fumes presen t. If it is necessary
to drive undersuch conditions, do so only with all windows ful-
ly open.
•
Do not operate the engine in confined or closed areas (su ch
as
ga rages) any more than is needed to move vehicle in or
out of the area.
• When the vehicle is stopped
in an unconfined area with the
engine running for more
th an a short length of time, adjust the
heating
or coo ling system to draw outside air into the vehicl e.
• Ne ver sit in a parked or stopped v eh icle for any extended
amount of time with the engine running.
Driving with the hatch lid open
is not recommended. Under so me
conditions, exhaust gases may be drawn intothecar. If the hatch-
back lid must remain open for some reason while movin
g, fol l ow
these precautions:
• Close all windows.
• Adjust the heat
in g or cooling system to force outside air into
the
car and set the fan to high speed.

97U1-0130E
OPERATING PRECAUTIONS FOR CATALYTIC
CONVERTER
Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter for exhaust emis-
sion purposes.
The following precautions must be observed:
1.
UNLEADED FUEL only must be used.
2. Do not
park the vehicle over or near flammable objects such
as
dry grass. Under certain conditions, these materials could
be ignited by a hot exhaust system.
3.
Do not operatethe vehicle when there are signs of engine mal-
function, such as engine misfire
or other noticeab le loss of per-
formance.
4.
Do not misuse or abuse the engine. Examples of misuse are,
coasting with ignition off,
go ing down steep grades in gear with
ignition otf.
5.
Do not operate engine at high idle speed for extended peri-
ods (five minutes or more).
6. Do not allow the fuel tank
to become empty.
7. Do not modify or tamper with any part of the engine or emis-
sion control system. All inspections and adjustments must
be
made by a qualifi ed technician.
Failure to observe the above precautions could result in damages
to the catalytic converter and your vehicle.
1-6
Heat Hazard Warning Lamp
If the catalytic converter should begin to overheat, the heat haz-
ard warning
lamp will come on.
HEAT HAZARD WARNING LAMP
What to do :
1. Reduce speed, park your vehicle in a safe spot where there
are no flammable materials and turn the engine off, Wait five
minutes or more.
2.
Check the spark plug wire connections. If any of them are dis-
connected, reconnect them properly (see page 6-24).
3.
If the spark plug wires are properly connected, have your Autho-
rized
Ma zda Dealer locate and correct the trouble as soon as
possible. Park your vehicle until the heat hazard warning lamp
goes out and then drive your vehicleto a dealer at slowspeeds.
This warning .lampalso comes on when the ignition switch is turned
on (
to check bulb operation), and should go out atter the engine
has been started.

97U; . QJ40E
CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
Your complete and permanent satisfaction is of primary concern
to Mazda. All Authorized Mazda Dealers havethe knowledge and
tools to keep your Mazda in top condition. If you have any com-
plaints or questions regarding the service of your Mazda, we
recommend you take the following steps:
Step one
Discuss the matter with your local Mazda Dealer.
Step two
If you feel that you still require assistance or have any questions,
contactthe Customer Relations Departmentat your nearest Mazda
distributor (listed on page 1-8,
1-9) and provide the distributor with
the following information:
1. Year and model of vehicle
3. Purchase date
5. Your dealer's name
67 U1 -0150E
SERVICE LITERATURE
2. Chassis Number
4. Mileage
6. Your ques ti on
Genuine Mazda servi ce li terature is available for owners who wish
to
do some of their own maintenance and repair.
If you wi sh to obtain original factory-authorized service li terature
for your Mazda, please contact your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
1-7
67Ul-0160E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE OUTSIDE THE U.S.
Government regulations inthe United States requi re that automo-
biles meet specific emission regulations and safety standards.
Therefore, vehicles built for the U.
S. differ from vehicles sold in
othercount
ries. Th is may prevent you from registering your Mazda
in anothercountry and will require you to be aware ofcertain prob-
lems that may occur
in operating your Mazda outside the U.S.
If you plan to register your Mazda in another country, you should
verify in advancet
ha t your vehiclecan be re gistered without prob-
lems under that country's regulations.
Please also
n<?te that your Mazda may experience some of the
following problems if operated ou
tsi de the U.S.:
1. Local fuel may have a considerably lower octane rating than
in the U.S. Such fuel or other improperfuel may cause engine
damage.
2. Servi
ce may be inadequate due to lackof proper service facili-
ties, tools, or testing equipment.
3. Replacement parts for your Mazda may not be readily availabl e.
Mazda cannot be responsible for mechanical damage that may
result because of improperfuel, service,or parts availability. There-
fore, we recommend that you
do not operate your Mazdaoutside
the U.S. Any damage or problem which results from such opera-
tion shall
be considered to have arisen from misuse ofthe vehicle.

97U1 -O170E
MAZDA DISTRIBUTORS/REGIONS
U.S. MAINLAND
Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
Pacific Region
9451 Toledo Way, Irvine, CA. 92718-1805
T
EL: [phone]
Ari
zo na, New Mexico, California, Utah, Colorado,
Wyoming, Nevada
Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
Gulf Region
i 0445 Corporate D ri ve, Sugar Land, T X. 77478
TE
L: [phone]
Arkansas, Louisian
a, Mississip pi, Oktahoma, Texas, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Missour
i, Nebraska, Tennessee
Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
No rthwest Regi on
8621 S. 180th Street, Kent, WA. 98032-1031
TEL: [phone]
Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon. N. Dakota,
S. Dakota, Washington
Mazda Distributors Great Lakes
P. O.Box 2008- zip 4950 1, 618 Kenmoor Ave. S. E.,
Grand Rapids, M l. 495 06
TEL: [phone]
Il
li noi s, Indiana, Michigan, Oh i o, Wisconsin
1-8
Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
. Southeast Region
P. 0 .Box 1904 5, 8313 Baycenter Road, Jacksonv ill e,
FL. 32245-9045
TEL: (904)
73 1-4010
Alabama, Florida, Georgi
a, N. Caroli na, S. Caro li na
Virginia(Southern Area), West Virginia(Southern Area)
Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
Northeast Region
P.O.Box 6498, 60 Di
st ributi on Bl vd., Edison,
NJ. 08818-6498
TEL: (201) 287
-1 664
Connecticut, Delawar
e, Ma ine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New
Je r sey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont, Vi
rg ini a( Northern Area),
Washington D.C., West Virginia(Northern Area)
HAWAII
Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
Northwest Region
8621 S. 180th Street, Kent,
WA. 98032-1031
TEL: [phone]

CANADA
Mazda Canada Inc.
821 Brock R oa d South
Pi ckering, Onta ri o L1W 3 L6 Canada
TEL: [phone]
PUERTO RICO
Plaza Motors Corp. (Mazda de Puerto Rico)
G. P. O. B ox 2722, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936
TEL: (809)
792 - 40 40
GUAM
Pacific Motors Corp.
P.O. Box AJ, Agana, Guam 96910
TEL: [phone]
81
SAIPAN
Pacific International Marianas, Inc.
(d.b. a. Midway Motors)
P.O. Box 887 Saipa n, C.N.M .I . 96950
TEL:
(6 71) 723-6 82 6
1-9

2. BEFORE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
67U2 00 1 OE
BEFORE ENTERING VEHICLE
• Be sure that a ll windows, outside rearview
mirror(s), and outside
li ghts are clean.
• Check tire pressures.
• Be sure the area to the rear isclear if you
intend to back up.
• Check under the vehicle for any si
gn of
leaks.
Necessary inspections
Fluid level s, such as engine oil, engine
coo lant, brake and clutch fluid and wind-
shield washer
flu id, should be checked daily,
weekly, or whenever you refuel, depending
on the
fl uid. Further details are provi ded in
Owner Maintenance Servi ce under Main-
tenance.
6/U2-oo:;r:E
BEFORE DRIVING OFF
• Adjust the insi de and outsi de rearview
mirrors.
• Position the seat so that a
ll controls are
easily reached.
• Fasten seat belts.
• Check operation of warning
li ghts when
the ignition switch isturned tothe ON po-
sition.
• Be su
re that a ll li ghts work.
• Check
al l gauges.
•
Re lease the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes out.
• For safe operation, be sure you are
famili
ar with your vehi cle and its
equipment.
2-1
97U2- 004DE
BREAK-IN PERIOD
By fo ll owing a few si mp le precautions for the
first 600 miles (1,000 kilometers), you may
add to the performance, economy and life
of your vehicle.
• Do not race the engine.
• Drive
at various speeds without strai ni ng
the engine.
• Avoid hard stops,except in emergencies.
Th is willa ll ow the brakes to seat properl y.
• Avoid full -t hrottle starts.
67U2- 005C 't.
Inspection responsibilities
The owner is responsible for inspecting all
dr iving, braking and backup lights, signal-
ing Systems and warning indicator
li ghts
frequently. Any malfunction should be cor-
rected promptly.

87U2-0060E
SOUND WARNING SYSTEM
The warning sou nds produced by Mazda's
original units warn you
of abnormal condi-
ti ons that may have occurre d in your vehi-
cle. Do not forget about them. If you hear
these sounds,
prompt acti on should be tak-
en to correct the condition. The warning
functi
on of this system is as follows;
1.
Ign ition key remi nder
(See page 2- 5}
2. Lights reminder
(See
page 3- 14)
3. Seat belt warni ng
(See page 2-21)
4. Engine over-revolution (RED LINE)
warning
(See
page 3-23)
5. Coolant level warning
(See
page 3-26 )
6. Engine
oi l level warning
(See p
age 3-26)
7
.... Convertible top warning
(See
page 3-63)
* if equipped
Location of sound warning units
Instrument panel
• Coolant level warning
• Engine o
il level warning
•
En gine over-revolution warning
C.P.U.
(Central processing uni t)
• Jgn ition key reminder
• Light reminder
• Seat belt warning
2-2

97U 2- 0070E
KEY Operation of each key.
A key code number is stamped on each key.
The key
code number should be recorded
and kept in a safe place for use in obtaini
ng
replacement keys if necessary.
Primary key Secondary key
Key co de number
~ey
Pr imary
L p key
I
gn ition switch and 0
steering column lock
Door locks 0
Glove box lock 0
Storage compartment 0
lock (if equipped)
R ear glass hatch lock 0
Trunklid 0
[
0: operate
Usage x : does not operate
2-3
Secondary
key
0
0
X
X
0
X
The reason why we providea secondary key
is to safeguard any valuabl es you may have
in the glove box, storage compartment and
trunklid.
Should it be necessary to leave your vehi-
cle with a
pa rki ng attendant, etc, you may
still protect your valuables
by locking the
glove box, storage compartment and trunk-
lid. Leave only the secondary key with the
attendant.
The secondary key will only ope r-
ate the doo r locks, ignition switch and, rear
glass hatch. Only you will be able to unl
ock
the glove box, storage compartment and
trunklid with your
pr im ary key.
• Glove box lock, see page 3-31.
• Storage compartment lock,
see page
3-3"1.
• Trunklid lock, see page 2-30.

97U2 OOB OE
DOOR LOCKS
From outside
• Either door can be locked or unlocked
with the key.
• Once the door is unlocked, it may be
opened by simply pulling the door han-
dle upward.
Lock
Door ha
nd le (Driver's s,de)
• To lock without the key, depress the in-
side lock button, then holdthe
doo r han-
dle
up and close the door.
CAUTION
Always remove the ignition key and lock all
doorswhen leaving your vehicle unattended.
Depress to lock
2-4
From inside
• To lock either door, depress the lock
button.
• To unloc
k, pu ll the l ock button up.
• To open, pull the door handle rearward.
WARNING!
• The doors should always
be locked while
driving. To help
re duce the risk of per-
sonal injury in an accident, also prevent
unintended opening of the doors and
helps keep out intruders.
• Do not leave children or animals in the
vehicle.

()(1U ' G! Jll aE
POWER DOOR LOCKS (if equipped)
All doorscan be automatically locked or un-
lo
cked by depressing or lifting the driver's
door lock knob .
IH :"Ii
IGNITION KEY REMINDER
Your Mazda is equipped with an ignition key
reminder system. The
beep wi ll sound if the
keyis left
in the ignition l ock cylinder and tl 1e
door is opened.
7U2 Ol OOE
DOOR LOCK CYLINDER ILLUMINATION
(driver's door only,
if equipped)
To assist key insertion at night, a lamp insi de
the doo r panel il lu mina tes the lod<; cyli nder
for appro xi ma tely 15 seconds after the
dr iver's door outer handle has been lifted,
rt::.:1 ¾ .. ..... :;ffi!!!
;!f
2-5
O7U2 U I0E
DOOR AJAR WARNING LAMP
This warning l amp comes on when a d oor
is not closed securely whi le th e engine is
running.
I itR I
Door a Jar war ni ng li ght

97U Z- 0120E
POWER WINDOWS (if equipped)
The i gn ition sw i tc h must be in the ON pos i-
tion to opera te the windows.
To open t
he window press the switch. To
close the wi ndow raise t he sw itch. With the
wi
ndow l ock switch set in the O FF pos ition,
the windows
can be opera ted only by t he
dr iver's swit ches .
To close To open
•
Lock s wi lch
WARNING!
• Keep the wi ndow lock switch in the OFF
pos ition except when a power window is
be ing operated.
• Use caution when closing the windows.
Make sure all arms, hands, etc. are safe-
ly out of the way.
• Do not a
ll ow children to play with the
power win dows . They may accidentally
injure themselves, perhaps seriously.
2-6

07U2-01 '.>OE
THEFT-DETERRENT SYSTEM
(if equipped)
The Theft-deterrent system is d es igned to
prevent yo
ur vehicle or its contentsfrom be-
ing stolen when a
ll the doors, ho od and
hatch/trunklid are locked.
If any attempt is made to forcibly open any
of these without usi
ng the key, the system
causes the horn
to sou nd and the hazard
warning
li ghts and headlights to flash. In ad-
dition to
thi sthe starter becomesinoperabl e.
CAUTION
This system will not fu nction unless it is
armed. Therefore, when you leave your ve-
hicle, be
su re all doors are locked, take your
key
wi th you, and confirm that the system
indicator lamp comes o
n. (See page 2-8 for
details on arming the system)
OPERATION
Causes of alarm operation
The warning alarm is activated by any of the
fo
ll ow ing:
• Forcing open t
he do or or hatch/trunklid.
• Opening the door
or hatch/tru nk lid by
releasing the inside
door l oc k button or
by operating the remote ha tch/trunklid
release.
• Openi
ng the hood.
Alarm description
The alarm system operates in the following
manner.
• The
ho rn sou nds intermittently and the
hazard warning lamps and headlights
flash.
• The starter is bypassed so t
he engine
ca n no t be started.
• The alarm
con tinues for four to six
minutes and then automatically stops.
If
t he system is tr igge red again, the lamps
and horn will reactivate and the starter will
continue to be di
sab l ed until the door or
hatch/tr
unk lid is unlocked with the key.
Th
is can be done wi th the door open or
closed, but
wi th the hatch/trunk li d dosed
o nl y.
2-7
NOTE
The Theft-Deterrent System can be turned
off (de-armed)
by turning the i gn ition sw itch
to the ON position. However, if the system
is in the ALARM phase (horn, lights, having
been activated and starter disabled), the
sys-
tem CANNOT be turned off using t he igni-
ti on switc h. Once the system has reached
the ALARM phase,
it may only be deactivat-
ed by using the key in the door or
hatch/trunklid.