tow MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE 2008 (in English) Service Manual
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If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle (regardless of powertrain configuration) can be flat towed (all
wheels on the ground) under the following conditions:
• Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
• Maximum distance is 50 miles (80 km).
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
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Roadside Emergencies
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WASHING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
pH shampoo.
• Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
• Never wash a vehicle that is “hot to the touch” or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
• Always use a clean sponge or car wash mitt with plenty of water for
best results.
• Dry the vehicle with a chamois or soft terry cloth towel in order to
eliminate water spotting.
• It is especially important to wash the vehicle regularly during the
winter months, as dirt and road salt are difficult to remove and cause
damage to the vehicle.
• Immediately remove items such as gasoline, diesel fuel, bird droppings
and insect deposits because they can cause damage to the vehicle’s
paintwork and trim over time.
• Remove any exterior accessories, such as antennas, before entering a
car wash.
• Suntan lotions and insect repellents can damage any painted
surface; if these substances come in contact with your vehicle,
wash off as soon as possible.
WAXING
Applying a premium paint sealant to your vehicle every six months will
assist in reducing minor scratches and paint damage.
• Wash the vehicle first. Refer to Washing the exteriorfor more
detailed information.
• Do not use waxes that contain abrasives; use a premium liquid wax.
• Do not allow paint sealant to come in contact with any non-body
(low-gloss black) colored trim, such as grained door handles, roof
racks, bumpers, side moldings, mirror housings or the windshield cowl
area. The paint sealant will “gray” or stain the parts over time.
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Cleaning
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INTRODUCTION
Be extremely careful to prevent injury to yourself and others or damage
to your vehicle when using this manual for inspection and maintenance.
If you’re unsure about any procedure it describes, we strongly urge you
to have a reliable and qualified service shop perform the work, preferably
an authorized Mazda Dealer.
Factory-trained Mazda technicians and genuine Mazda parts are best for
your vehicle. Without this expertise and the parts that have been
designed and made especially for your Mazda, inadequate, incomplete,
and insufficient servicing may result in problems. This could lead to
vehicle damage or an accident and injuries.
For expert advice and quality service, consult an authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The owner should retain evidence that proper maintenance has been
performed as prescribed.
Claims against the warranty resulting from lack of maintenance, as
opposed to defective materials or authorized Mazda workmanship, will
not be honored.
Any auto repair shop using parts equivalent to your Mazda’s original
equipment may perform maintenance. But we recommend that it
always be done by an authorized Mazda Dealer using genuine
Mazda parts.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the
following conditions apply.
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2 (Canada and Puerto Rico residents
follow Schedule 2).
• Repeated short-distance driving
• Driving in dusty conditions
• Driving with an extended use of brakes
• Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used
• Driving on rough or muddy roads
• Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
• Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid
climates
• Towing a trailer or using a car-top carrier
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Maintenance and Specifications
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Habits
• Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
• Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
• Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
• Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
• Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
• Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses
15% less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
• Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
• You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between the top gears occurs. Unnecessary
shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
• Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
• Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
• Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
• Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
• Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Maintenance product
specifications and capacities in this chapter.
• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in scheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
• Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
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Maintenance and Specifications
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Safety restraints ..............81, 85–89 Belt-Minder .............................92
extension assembly ..................90
for adults .............................86–88
for children .....................113–114
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................83
seat belt maintenance ..............91
warning light and chime ....91–92
Safety seats for children ..........117
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................274
Scheduled Maintenance ...........232
Seat Belt Maintenance ...............91
Seat belts (see
Safety restraints) ............81, 85–89
Seats ............................................72 child safety seats ....................117
heated ........................................76
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................68
Servicing your vehicle ..............238
Side-curtain airbags system
(if equipped) .............107, 109, 111
Snowplowing .................................7
Spark plugs, specifications .......273
Special notice ambulance conversions ..............7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................271
Speed control ..............................49
Starting your
vehicle ........................161–162, 164 jump starting ..........................207
Steering wheel controls ......................................52
tilting .........................................43 T
Tilt steering wheel ......................43
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....143
Tires ...................................127–129 alignment ................................136
care ..........................................132
changing ..........................199, 201
checking the pressure ............132
inflating ...................................130
label .........................................142
replacing ..................................133
rotating ....................................136
safety practices .......................135
sidewall information ...............138
snow tires and chains ............148
spare tire .........................196, 199
terminology .............................129
tire grades ...............................128
treadwear ........................128, 132
Towing .......................................154 recreational towing .................160
trailer towing ..........................154
wrecker ....................................213
Transaxle fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................269
Transmission automatic operation ...............173
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....173
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................267
fluid, refill capacities ..............271
lubricant specifications ..........271
manual operation ....................179
Trunk ...........................................64
Turn signal ..................................35
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Index
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V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................274
Vehicle loading ..........................148
Ventilating your vehicle ...........165
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................242 Water, Driving through .............187
Windows
power .........................................47
rear wiper/washer .....................42
Windshield washer fluid
and wipers ...................................42 checking and adding fluid .....242
liftgate reservoir .....................242
replacing wiper blades ...243–244
Wrecker towing .........................213
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Index
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