2002 MAZDA MODEL B3000 4WD tire type

If the steering wanders or pulls, the condition could be caused by any of
the following:
•Underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
• Uneven vehicle loading
• High crown in center of road
• High crosswinds
• Wheels out of alignment
• Loose or worn suspension components
TRACTION-LOK AXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when
one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the
Traction-Lok axle functions like a standard rear axle.
Extended use of other than the manufacturer’s specified size tires on a
Traction-Lok rear axle could result in a permanent reduction in
effectiveness. This loss of effectiveness does not affect normal driving
and should not be noticeable to the driver. WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, never run the engine
with one wheel off the ground, such as when changing a tire.
PREPARING TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE WARNING: Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat
belt.
Your vehicle has special design and equipment features to make it
capable of performing in a wide variety of circumstances. These special
design features, such as larger tires and increased ground clearance, give
the vehicle a higher center of gravity than a passenger car.
Driving
157

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING: For important information regarding safe operation
of this type of vehicle, see Preparing to drive your vehicle in
this chapter.
When four–wheel drive (4WD) is engaged, power is supplied to all four
wheels through a transfer case. 4WD can be selected when additional
driving power is desired.
If equipped with the Electronic Shift 4WD System, and 4WD Low
is selected while the vehicle is moving, the 4WD system will not
engage. This is normal and should be no reason for concern.
Before 4WD Low can be engaged, the vehicle must be brought to
a complete stop, the brake pedal depressed and the transmission
placed in neutral (or the clutch pedal depressed on manual
transmissions).
4WD operation is not recommended on dry pavement. Doing so could
result in difficult disengagement of the transfer case, increased tire wear
and decreased fuel economy.
4WD system indicator lights
The 4WD system indicator lights illuminate only under the following
conditions. If these lights illuminate when driving in 2WD, contact your
Mazda dealer as soon as possible.
• 4WD -momentarily illuminates
when the vehicle is started.
Illuminates when 4H (4WD High)
is engaged.
• 4WD LOW –momentarily
illuminates when the vehicle is
started. Illuminates when 4L
(4WD Low) is engaged.
Using the electronic shift 4WD system (if equipped)
Positions of the electronic shift system
2WD (2WD High) – Power to rear axle only.
4X4 HIGH (4WD High) – Power delivered to front and rear axles for
increased traction.
4X4 LOW (4WD Low) – Power to front and rear axles at low speeds.
4WD
LOW
Driving
165

Special loading instructions for owners of pickup trucks and
utility-type vehiclesWARNING: For important information regarding safe operation
of this type of vehicle, see the Preparing to drive your vehicle
section in this chapter.
WARNING: Loaded vehicles, with a higher center of gravity,
may handle differently than unloaded vehicles. Extra
precautions, such as slower speeds and increased stopping
distance, should be taken when driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
Your vehicle has the capability to haul more cargo and people than most
passenger cars. Depending upon the type and placement of the load,
hauling cargo and people may raise the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Calculating the load your vehicle can carry/tow 1. Use the appropriate maximum gross combined weight rating (GCWR) chart (in the Trailer Towingsection) to find the maximum
GCWR for your type engine and rear axle ratio.
2. Weigh your vehicle as you customarily operate the vehicle without cargo. To obtain correct weights, try taking your vehicle to a
shipping company or an inspection station for trucks.
3. Subtract your loaded vehicle weight from the maximum GCWR on the following charts. This is the maximum trailer weight your vehicle
can tow and must fall below the maximum shown under maximum
trailer weight on the chart.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle may tow a class I, II or III trailer provided the maximum
trailer weight is less than or equal to the maximum trailer weight listed
for your engine and rear axle ratio on the following charts.
Your vehicle’s load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so
you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully after any towing operation.
Driving
172

Temporary spare tire information
Your vehicle may have a temporary or conventional spare tire. The
temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller than
a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace this tire
with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
It is not recommended that the vehicle be operated in 4WD modes with
a temporary spare. If 4WD operation is necessary, do not operate above
speeds of 16 km/h (10 mph) or for distances above 80 km (50 miles).WARNING: If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or
do not follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you
to lose control of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or
others.
When driving with the temporary spare tire do not:
• exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) under any circumstances
• load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
• tow a trailer
• use tire chains
• drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle’s reduced
ground clearance
• try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel rim
• use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Conventional spare tire information
If you have the conventional spare tire, you can use it as a spare or a
regular tire. The spare is identical to the other tires on your vehicle,
although the wheel may not match.
Roadside Emergencies
195

•Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
• 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 third and fourth gear 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 Lubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
• Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
• Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
Maintenance and Specifications
258

INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have a rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades. The Quality
grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
•Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United
States Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger
cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades: The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Mazda to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climates.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
NOTE: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Maintenance and Specifications
268

WARNING: When replacing full size tires, never mix radial
bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that are
listed on the Certification Label. Make sure that all tires are
the same size, speed rating, and load-carrying capacity. Use only
the tire combinations recommended on the label. If you do not
follow these precautions, your vehicle may not drive properly
and safely and an accident can occur.
WARNING: Make sure that all replacement tires are of the
same size, type, load=carrying capacity and tread (e.g., “All
Terrain”, etc.), as originally offered by Mazda. Failure to do so
can result in tire failure and a serious accident.
WARNING: Do not replace your tires with “high performance”
tires or larger size tires.
WARNING: Failure to follow these precautions may adversely
affect the handling of the vehicle, damage parts of the tire and
make it easier for the driver to lose control and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle’s original tires may also
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS WARNING: Driving too fast for conditions creates the
possibility of loss of vehicle control. Driving at very high speeds
for extended periods of time may result in damage to vehicle
components.
NOTE: Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the same size and
specifications as those originally installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
• Do not use tire chains on aluminum wheels. Chains may chip the
wheels.
Maintenance and Specifications
271

Special noticeambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................275–276
Speed control ..............................89
Speedometer ...............................20
Starting your vehicle ........148–150 jump starting ..........................201
Steering wheel controls ................................83, 89
tilting .........................................83
T
Tachometer .................................20
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................68
Tether anchors ..........................140
Tires ...........................194, 268–269 changing ..................194–195, 198
checking the pressure ............269
replacing ..................................270
rotating ....................................269
snow tires and chains ............271
tire grades ...............................269
treadwear ................................268
Towing .......................................172 recreational towing .................179
trailer towing ..........................172
wrecker ....................................206
Traction-lok rear axle ...............157
Transfer case fluid checking .........................267 Transmission
automatic operation ...............158
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................263
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................266
fluid, refill capacities ..............272
lubricant specifications ..275–276
manual operation ....................162
Trip odometer .............................20
Turn signal ............................16, 75
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................276
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................278
Vehicle loading ..........................170 camper bodies ........................180
Ventilating your vehicle ...........153
W
Warning chimes ...........................17
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................237
Water, Driving through .............170
Windows power .........................................85
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers checking and adding fluid .....237
checking and cleaning ..............82
operation ...................................82
replacing wiper blades .............83
Wrecker towing .........................206
Index
285