2008 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 260

2008 Mazda RX-8 Manual

Page 260 highlights

In Case of an Emergency Overheating Overheating If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, the vehicle loses power, or you hear a loud knocking or pinging noise, the engine is probably too hot. If the temperature gauge indicates overheating: 1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way. 2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park (P), a manual transmission in neutral. 3. Apply the parking brake. Turn off the ignition switch and make sure the fan is not running before attempting to work near the cooling fan: Working near the cooling fan when it is running is dangerous. The fan could continue running indefinitely even if the engine has stopped and the engine compartment temperature is high. You could be hit by the fan and seriously injured. 4. Turn off the air conditioner. 5. Check whether coolant or steam is escaping from under the hood or from the engine compartment. If steam is coming from the engine compartment: Don't go near the front of the vehicle. Stop the engine. Wait until the steam dissipates, then open the hood and start the engine. If neither coolant nor steam is escaping: Open the hood and idle the engine until it cools. WARNING Do not remove the cooling system cap when the engine and radiator are hot: When the engine and radiator are hot, scalding coolant and steam may shoot out under pressure and cause serious injury. Open the hood ONLY after steam is no longer escaping from the engine: Steam from an overheated engine is dangerous. The escaping steam could seriously burn you. NOTE Once the engine coolant exceeds a preset temperature, an electrical cooling fan turns on. It will continue running for about 10 minutes after the ignition switch is turned to off. CAUTION If the cooling fan does not operate while the engine is running, the engine temperature will increase. Stop the engine and call an Authorized Mazda Dealer. 6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating, then turn off the engine after the temperature has decreased. 7. When cool, check the coolant level. If it's low, look for coolant leaks from the radiator and hoses. 7-16

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Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, the vehicle loses power, or
you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.
WARNING
Turn off the ignition switch and
make sure the fan is not running before
attempting to work near the cooling
fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it
is running is dangerous. The fan
could continue running indefinitely
even if the engine has stopped and
the engine compartment temperature
is high. You could be hit by the fan
and seriously injured.
Do not remove the cooling
system cap when the engine and
radiator are hot:
When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury.
Open the hood ONLY after steam is no
longer escaping from the engine:
Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you.
NOTE
Once the engine coolant exceeds a preset
temperature, an electrical cooling fan turns
on. It will continue running for about 10
minutes after the ignition switch is turned to
off.
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and
park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic
transmission in park (P), a manual
transmission in neutral.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Turn off the air conditioner.
5. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment:
Don't go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine.
Wait until the steam dissipates, then
open the hood and start the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools.
CAUTION
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the
engine temperature will increase.
Stop the engine and call an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
6. Make sure the cooling fan is operating,
then turn off the engine after the
temperature has decreased.
7. When cool, check the coolant level.
If it's low, look for coolant leaks from
the radiator and hoses.
7-16
In Case of an Emergency
Overheating