check engine MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE 2008 (in English) Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: MAZDA, Model Year: 2008, Model line: MODEL TRIBUTE, Model: MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE 2008Pages: 288, PDF Size: 3.9 MB
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•Always dispose of automotive 
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries. 
ENGINE COOLANT 
Checking engine coolant 
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the 
intervals listed in  scheduled maintenance. The coolant concentration 
should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and water, which equates to a
freeze point of -34°F (-36°C). Coolant concentration testing is possible
with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the Rotunda Battery and
Antifreeze Tester, 014–R1060). The level of coolant should be maintained
at the “FULL COLD” level or within the “COLD FILL RANGE” in the
coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions
in the  Adding engine coolant section. 
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water 
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly.  A 
50–50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following: 
•  freeze protection down to -34°F (-36°C). 
•  boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C). 
•  protection against rust and other forms of corrosion. 
•  an accurate temperature readout from the engine coolant 
gauge.
LEAD
RETURN
RECYCLE
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When the engine is cold, check the 
level of the engine coolant in the
reservoir. 
• The engine coolant should be at the“FULL COLD” level or within the 
“COLD FILL RANGE” as listed on the engine coolant reservoir
(depending upon application). 
•  Refer to scheduled maintenance section for service interval 
schedules. 
•  Be sure to read and understand Precautions when servicing your 
vehicle  in this chapter. 
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the recommended interval, 
the engine coolant reservoir may become low or empty. If the reservoir is
low or empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer to  Adding 
engine coolant  in this chapter. 
WARNING: Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do not 
use engine coolant, antifreeze or windshield washer fluid
outside of its specified function and vehicle location. 
Adding engine coolant 
Use only Mazda Genuine Engine Coolant or a premium engine 
coolant that meets a Mazda specification. 
•  DO NOT USE Extended Life Engine Coolant (orange in color). 
•  DO NOT USE a DEX-COOL engine coolant or an equivalent 
engine coolant. 
•  DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol antifreeze or any engine 
coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. 
•  DO NOT USE supplemental coolant additives in your vehicle. 
These additives may harm your engine’s cooling system. 
•  DO NOT MIX different colors or types of coolant in your 
vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used.
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WARNING: To reduce the risk of personal injury, make sure the 
engine is cool before unscrewing the coolant pressure relief
cap. The cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid
can come out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly. 1. Before you begin, turn the engine off and let it cool. 
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a thick cloth around the coolant  pressure relief cap on the coolant reservoir (an opaque plastic
bottle). Slowly turn cap counterclockwise (left) until pressure begins
to release. 
3. Step back while the pressure releases.
4. When you are sure that all the pressure has been released, use the  cloth to turn it counterclockwise and remove the cap. 
•  2.3L coolant bleed valve 
5. For the 2.3L engine ONLY, open the coolant bleed valve on the back  of the engine water outlet. 
6. Fill the coolant reservoir slowly with the proper coolant mixture  (see above), to within the “COLD FILL RANGE” or the “FULL
COLD” level on the reservoir. 
7. For the 2.3L engine ONLY, close the bleed valve.
8. Reinstall the cap on the coolant reservoir. Turn the cap until it is  tightly installed to prevent coolant loss. 
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant concentration. 
Refer to the  Checking engine coolant section. If the concentration is 
not 50/50 (protection to –34° F [–36° C]), drain some coolant and adjust
the concentration. It may take several drains and additions to obtain a
50/50 coolant concentration. 
Whenever coolant has been added, the coolant level in the coolant 
reservoir should be checked the next few times you drive the vehicle.
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If necessary, add enough 50/50 concentration of engine coolant and 
distilled water to bring the liquid level to the proper level. 
If you have to add more than 1.0 quart (1.0 liter) of engine coolant per 
month, have your authorized dealer check the engine cooling system.
Your cooling system may have a leak. Operating an engine with a low
level of coolant can result in engine overheating and possible engine
damage). 
Recycled engine coolant 
Not all coolant recycling processes produce coolant which meets 
Mazda recommended coolants. Use of a recycled engine coolant
which does not meet the Mazda recommended coolant, may harm 
engine and cooling system components.
Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a responsible manner. 
Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling and 
disposing of automotive fluids. 
Coolant refill capacity 
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer 
to  Maintenance product specifications and capacities in this chapter. 
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in  Adding engine coolant 
in this section. 
Severe climates 
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34°F [–36°C ]):
•  It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration 
above 50%. 
•  NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%. 
•  Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will 
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage. 
•  Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the 
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months. 
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•  It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration 
above 40%.
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When fail-safe mode is activated 
You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the 
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high-speed
operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore: 1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to an authorized dealer.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low. 
WARNING: Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the 
engine is running or hot. 
5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer. 
Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem 
increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as possible. 
FUEL FILTER 
For fuel filter replacement, see your authorized dealer. Refer to 
scheduled maintenance information  for the appropriate intervals for 
changing the fuel filter. 
Replace the fuel filter with an authorized Mazda part. The 
customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel system
if an authorized Mazda fuel filter is not used. 
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions 
WARNING: Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an 
overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and
fire. 
WARNING: The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel 
filler cap is venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait
until it stops before completely removing the fuel filler cap.
Otherwise, fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
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Running out of fuel 
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse 
effect on powertrain components. 
If you have run out of fuel:
• You may need to cycle the ignition from OFF to ON several times after 
refueling to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to
the engine. On restarting, cranking time will take a few seconds longer
than normal. 
•  Normally, adding 1 gallon (3.8L) of fuel is enough to restart the 
engine. If the vehicle is out of fuel and on a steep grade, more than
1 gallon (3.8L) may be required. 
•  The
indicator may come on. For more information on the “check 
engine” or the “service engine soon” indicator, refer to  Warning lights 
and chimes  in theInstrument Cluster chapter. 
ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
Measuring techniques 
Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the 
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km)
of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 2,000 miles–3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000 km). 
Filling the tank 
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to 
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in the  Maintenance 
product specifications and capacities  section of this chapter. 
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the 
empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the
amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates
empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty. 
The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should 
not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your
vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be
able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the
fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.
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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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4. Driving through deep water—the electrical system may be wet. 
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank 
with good quality fuel, properly tightening the fuel cap or letting the
electrical system dry out. After three driving cycles without these or any 
other temporary malfunctions present, the
indicator should stay off 
the next time the engine is started. A driving cycle consists of a cold 
engine startup followed by mixed city/highway driving. No additional
vehicle service is required. 
If the
indicator remains on, have your vehicle serviced at the first 
available opportunity. Although some malfunctions detected by the 
OBD-II may not have symptoms that are apparent, continued driving 
with the
indicator on can result in increased emissions, lower fuel
economy, reduced engine and transmission smoothness, and lead to more 
costly repairs. 
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing 
Some state/provincial and local governments may have 
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent
you from getting a vehicle registration. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M 
test if the
indicator is on or not working properly (bulb is burned
out), or if the OBD-II system has determined that some of the emission 
control systems have not been properly checked. In this case, the vehicle
is considered not ready for I/M testing. 
If the
indicator is on or the bulb does not work, the vehicle may 
need to be serviced. Refer to the On board diagnostics (OBD-II) 
description in this chapter. 
If the vehicle’s engine or transmission has just been serviced, or the 
battery has recently run down or been replaced, the OBD-II system may
indicate that the vehicle is not ready for I/M testing. To determine if the
vehicle is ready for I/M testing, turn the ignition key to the ON position 
for 15 seconds without cranking the engine. If the
indicator blinks
eight times, it means that the vehicle is not ready for I/M testing; if
the
indicator stays on solid, it means that the vehicle is ready for
I/M testing. 
The OBD-II system is designed to check the emission control system 
during normal driving. A complete check may take several days. If the
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing, the following driving cycle consisting
of mixed city and highway driving may be performed:
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15 minutes of steady driving on an expressway/highway followed by 
20 minutes of stop-and-go driving with at least four 30-second idle
periods. 
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the 
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete. If
the vehicle is still not ready for I/M testing, the above driving cycle will
have to be repeated. 
BRAKE/CLUTCH FLUID
Brake and clutch systems are supplied from the same reservoir. 
The fluid level will drop slowly as 
the brakes wear, and will rise when
the brake components are replaced.
Fluid levels between the “MIN” and
“MAX” lines are within the normal
operating range; there is no need to
add fluid. If the fluid levels are
outside of the normal operating
range the performance of the 
system could be compromised; seek 
service from your authorized dealer immediately. 
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid 
Refer to your scheduled maintenance section for scheduled intervals for 
fluid checks and changes. Your transaxle does not consume fluid.
However, the fluid level should be checked if the transaxle is not working
properly, i.e., if the transaxle slips or shifts slowly or if you notice some
sign of fluid leakage. 
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an 
accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is warmed up
(approximately 20 miles [30 km]). If your vehicle has been
operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be
turned off for about 30 minutes to allow fluid to cool before
checking. 1. Drive the vehicle 20 miles (30 km) or until it reaches normal  operating temperature.
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2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake. 
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal, start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage. 
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag.  If necessary, refer to  Identifying components in the engine 
compartment  in this chapter for the location of the dipstick. 
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid should be  in the crosshatch zone for normal operating temperature. 
Low fluid level 
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid 
level is at the bottom of the dipstick
and the outside temperatures are
above 50°F (10°C). 
Correct fluid level 
The transmission fluid should be checked at normal operating 
temperatures 150°F-170°F (66°C-77°C) on a level surface. The normal
operating temperature can be reached after approximately 20 miles
(30 km) of driving. 
The transmission fluid should be in 
the crosshatch zone if at normal
operating temperature (150°F-170°F
[66°C-77°C]). 
High fluid level 
Fluid levels above the 
crosshatch zone may result in
transaxle failure. An overfill
condition of transmission fluid
may cause shift and/or
engagement concerns and/or
possible damage. 
High fluid levels can be caused by an overheating condition.
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