tow MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE HEV 2008 Owner's Guide

4WD
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights Engine Maximum GCWR - lb. (kg) Trailer Weight
Range - lb. (kg) Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - ft
2(m2)
2.3L 4980 (2259) 1000 (454) 24 (2.2)
Notes:For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 1000 ft.
(300 meters) elevation. For definitions of terms and instructions on
calculating your vehicle’s load, refer to Vehicle loadingin this chapter.
Maximum trailer weights shown. The combined weight of the completed
towing vehicle and the loaded trailer must not exceed the GCWR.
Your Hybrid vehicle is capable of pulling the maximum trailer weight(s)
as specified above. Certain states require electric trailer brakes for
trailers over a specified weight. Your Hybrid vehicle electrical system is
not equipped to accommodate electric trailer brakes.
WARNING: Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on
the certification label.
WARNING: Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage, transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle. See your authorized dealer or a
reliable trailer dealer if you require assistance.
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle bumper. Use a load
carrying hitch. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that
10–15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to hook retainers on the
vehicle. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the chains under the
trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
178

If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency
gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric, manual, automatic or surge-type brakes, if compatible with the
vehicle, are safe if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s
specifications. The trailer brakes must meet local and Federal
regulations.WARNING: Do not connect a trailer’s hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle’s brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working. Do not
connect trailer lamps directly to your vehicle’s tail lamps. This can cause
damage to your vehicle’s electrical system. See your authorized dealer or
trailer rental agency for proper instructions and equipment for hooking
up trailer lamps.
Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
• Keep your speed no faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) during the first
500 miles (800 km) of towing a trailer, and don’t make full throttle
starts.
• Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
• Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
• Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
179

•Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for more information.
Trailer towing tips
• Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
• Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
• If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
• The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
• If you will be towing a trailer frequently in hot weather, hilly
conditions, at GCWR, or any combination of these factors, consider
refilling your rear axle with synthetic gear lube if not already so
equipped. Refer to the Maintenance and Specifications chapter for
the lubricant specification. Remember that regardless of the rear axle
lube used, do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 km) of a
new vehicle, and that the first 500 miles (800 km) of towing be done
at no faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) with no full throttle starts.
• After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer
into the water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the
trailer is removed from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:
• do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper.
• do not allow waves to break higher than 6 inches (15 cm) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
180

Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter vehicle components:
•causing internal damage to the components.
• affecting driveability, emissions and reliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant any time the axle has been submerged in
water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
RECREATIONAL TOWING
An example of “recreational towing” is towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome.
Your vehicle may be flat-towed(all wheels on the ground) by shifting
the transmission into Neutral. This is permitted for Front Wheel Drive
(FWD) or Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicles. Your vehicle may be towed
up to a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) but you should always obey local
speed limits.
You also have the option of trailering the vehicle with its front wheels on
a dolly (FWD only), or trailering with all four wheels off the ground.
For other towing requirements, refer to Wrecker towingin theRoadside
Emergencies chapter.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
181

Make sure system is unplugged and properly stowed before driving the
vehicle. While not in use, make sure the protective cover seals the
prongs of the engine block heater cord plug.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding
or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn-out
and should be inspected by an authorized dealer. If the vehicle has
continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by an authorized dealer.
Refer toBrake system warning
light in the Instrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake
system warning light.
Under normal operating conditions, brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels. Some brake dust is inevitable as brakes wear and does not
contribute to brake noise. The use of modern friction materials with
emphasis on improved performance and environmental considerations
can lead to more dust than in the past. Brake dust can be cleaned by
weekly washing with soapy water and a soft sponge. Heavier deposits can
be removed with Mazda Wheel and Tire Cleaner (ZC-37–A).
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). This
system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by
keeping the brakes from locking. The hydraulic brake system used for
regenerative braking is different from other vehicles. The noise from the
ABS pump motor and the brake pedal pulsation are much less than on
vehicles with conventional ABS. Noise and pedal pulsation during ABS
may not be noticed.
The sliding car symbol in the
instrument cluster will be
illuminated during ABS braking.
The hydraulic brake system used for regenerative braking will charge its
hydraulic system at the beginning of a trip and discharge the system at
the end of each trip. You may notice a pumping sound when you enter
the vehicle or a venting sound a few minutes after parking the vehicle.
P!
BRAKE
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Driving
187

If you see or smell fuel, do not reset the fuel pump shut-off or try to
start your vehicle; you could injure yourself or others. Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle and call the local fire department or a
towing service.
FUSES AND RELAYS
Fuses
If electrical components in the
vehicle are not working, a fuse may
have blown. Blown fuses are
identified by a broken wire within
the fuse. Check the appropriate
fuses before replacing any electrical
components.
Note:Always replace a fuse with one that has the specified amperage
rating. Using a fuse with a higher amperage rating can cause severe wire
damage and could start a fire.
Standard fuse amperage rating and color
COLOR
Fuse
rating Mini
fuses Standard
fuses Maxi
fuses Cartridge
maxi
fuses Fuse link
cartridge
2A Grey Grey — — —
3A Violet Violet — — —
4A Pink Pink — — —
5A Tan Tan — — —
7.5A Brown Brown — — — 10A Red Red — — —
15A Blue Blue — — —
20A Yellow Yellow Yellow Blue Blue
25A Natural Natural — — —
30A Green Green Green Pink Pink
40A — — Orange Green Green
50A — — Red Red Red
60A — — Blue Yellow Yellow
15
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
204

WARNING: The use of tire sealants may damage your Tire
Pressure Monitoring System and should not be used.
WARNING: Refer toTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
in the Tire, Wheels and Loading chapter for important
information. If the tire pressure monitor sensor becomes
damaged, it will no longer function.
Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information WARNING: Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for
temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should
replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size
and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by
Mazda. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be
replaced rather than repaired.
A dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that
is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types: 1. T-type mini-spare: This spare tire begins with the letter “T” for tire
size and may have “Temporary Use Only” molded in the sidewall
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel: This spare tire
has a label on the wheel that states: “THIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above, do not:
• Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
• Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
• Tow a trailer
• Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire
• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
• Use commercial car washing equipment
• Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
211

Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location can lead to impairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
• Comfort and noise
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs
• Winter weather driving capability
• Wet weather driving capability
3. Full-size dissimilar spare without label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel, do not:
• Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time
• Use commercial car washing equipment
• Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire/wheel
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to
impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking performance
• Comfort and noise
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs
• Winter weather driving capability
• Wet weather driving capability
• All-Wheel driving capability (if applicable)
• Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional
caution should be given to:
• Towing a trailer
• Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body
• Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack
Drive cautiously when using a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel and
seek service as soon as possible.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
212

Stowing the jack and tools
Make sure the jack is fully lowered
and reclip the tools onto the jack.
Reinstall the jack and tools in the cargo area. To replace the jack in the
vehicle,
•guide the jack bottom first in the
trim opening and position in the
bracket (3),
• secure the retention clip on the
upper part of the jack (2), and
• close the thumbscrew (1).
Make sure the jack is fastened so it
does not rattle when you drive.
Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note: Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
If you are stowing a tire that requires reattaching it to the
vehicle with a tether, perform these steps first, then proceed with
the steps following.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
219

1. Place tire on end with valvestem facing rearward, away
from vehicle.
2. Place tether into bolt holes in wheel and attach lug nut using
lug wrench.
3. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing down. If your vehicle is equipped with aluminum wheels, remove the wheel
ornament.
4. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer through the center of the wheel.
5. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you
to overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort,
take the vehicle to your authorized dealer for assistance at your
earliest convenience. If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer
hitch, guide the tire with one hand; keep the rear of the tire
tilted down until the tire clears the bumper.
6. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against the tire to make sure it is tightly seated under the vehicle. Loosen
and retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire
may result in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.
(Make sure that the tire does not contact the bumper.)
7. Repeat this tightness check procedure (every six months, per scheduled maintenance information), when servicing the spare
tire pressure or at any time that the spare tire is disturbed through
service of other components.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Roadside Emergencies
220