Darn lights. Parked the car. Came back 3 hours later and battery is dead as a doornail. I forgot to turn off the damn lights. I'm used to lights shuting off automatically in my 626. Why did Mazda forget to include this feature on the 8? Had to call my wife to come jump start it. While waiting for her I had to read the manual to figure out how to get the plastic battery cover off the battery. It started right up with the jumper cables. Such a sweet sound to my ears. Traction control light on all the way home but reset it'self next time I started it up. After I parked It, I swear the car alarm honked about 3 minutes after I left the car but it was 0 degrees and I was out of sight of the car and the honking stopped. Should have gone back to check on her. Would have saved me some grief. The car must sound the alarm after a short time when lights are left on.

 

If I leave my headlights on, take the key out of the ignition, and then open the door, the car emits an annoying buzz. Did you not hear that?

 

Yes, I hear that buzz but am used to ignoring it because my 626 does the same thing but lights still turn themselves off after a short while. I'm a creature of habit. it was totally my fault. I still wish the 8 had the automatic light shut off. It would be less of an inconveniance for me to remember going from one car to another.

 

You know--I sometimes think that manufacturers leave off these obvious conveniances just so that they can change something in later model years--my 98 Millenia S didn't have the auto light shut off--it did have a warning tone that lightly faded out once the lights were off--but the 99 Millenia S I got afterwards did have the auto off light feature.

 

My 626 IS A 2000. Mazda must have phased out the feature for the 2004 models. Who knows why. The 8 is a luxury sportscar and this feature should have been included.

 

I think the annoying high pitched beep is enough of a safety net... it definitely gets my attention. My Miata had no warning mechanism, and I would leave the lights on once or twice a year... you'd think I would notice the lights popped up from the hood like a surprised guppy :D

 

My battery was dead this morning too. I had to read the manual and all that, but overall it was pretty easy to jumpstart. I didn't have the traction control as you and was worried becasue it has snowed over 40" of snow in the past 4 days and it was still slippery out there. I'm hoping when I go to my car after work that 1) it'll start and 2) the traction control will be reset :o

 

Fonz,


I trickle charged my battery when I got home. You might want to do the same or drive it 1/2 hour on the freeway to get a full charge back. Good luck.

 

After disconnecting the battery or a dead battery, you have to reset the DSC/TCS. Ignition to on. Do not start. Turn wheel full left then full right. Idiot light goes out. It's in the manual.

 

You know I thought I read about this in another post. I looked at the manual today and I didn't see that entry listed under the battery or the DSC section. must have missed it.......

 

See the attached image.

 

The lights DO automatically turn off . . . . . after the battery goes dead three hours later. :p

Just having fun with you. Actually, the noise from the beeper, or whatever it is, sure catches my attention. Automatic light turn-off would seem like overkill to me. We could all sit here and say that the RX-8 should have 5 million features that it doesn't have, but where does that really get us?