2002 MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE towing

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
²Do 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 the ªScheduled Maintenanceº section
for more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice 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.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be no more than 10±15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or N (Neutral) (manual transmissions).
²Vehicles 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
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper.
²Do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (6 inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Driving
163

Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting driveability, emissions, reliability
and causing internal transmission damage.
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.
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. Water entering these areas, while connected, could
short-circuit the system.
RECREATIONAL TOWING
An example of ªrecreational towingº is towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome.
If your vehicle is automatic transmission equipped, with a 4x2
(front-wheel drive only) configured powertrain, ªrecreational towingº is
permitted by trailering the vehicle with its front wheels on a dolly. This
protects the transmission's internal mechanical components from
potential lack of lubrication damage.
If your vehicle is manual transaxle equipped and 2WD or 4WD, shifting
the transaxle into neutral permits ªflat-towingº (all wheels on the
ground) for pulling behind a motorhome. Your vehicle may be towed up
to a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) but you should always obey local speed
limits.
If your vehicle is automatic transaxle equipped and 4WD (all-wheel
drive), ªrecreational towingº is permitted only if the vehicle is trailered
with all four (4) wheels off the ground. Otherwise, no ªrecreational
towingº is permitted.
For other towing requirements, refer toWrecker Towingin the
Roadside emergencieschapter.
Driving
164

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance center.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift and
dollies or flatbed equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Mazda has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
If your vehicle is to be towed from the rear using wheel lift equipment, it
is recommended that the front wheels (drive wheels) be placed on a
dolly to prevent damage to the transaxle.
On 4x4 vehicles, it is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a
wheel lift and dollies or flatbed equipment with all the wheels off the
ground.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Roadside Emergencies
186

INTRODUCTION
Be extremely careful to prevent injury to yourself and others and
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.
A claim against a warranty will not qualify if it results from lack of
maintenance and not from defective material or authorized Mazda
workmanship.
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.
²Repeated short trips of less than 16 kilometers (10 miles)
²Driving in dusty, sandy or wet conditions
²Driving with an extended use of brakes
²Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used
²Driving on rough or muddy roads
²Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
²Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid
climates
²Towing a trailer or using a car-top carrier
NOTE:After the described period, continue to follow the described
maintenance at the recommended intervals.
Maintenance and Specifications
203

²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and Specifications
231

lighting up panel and
interior .......................................55
location of components ............10
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......180
K
Keys .......................................82±84
key in ignition chime ...............15
positions of the ignition .........130
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................58
cargo lamps ...............................55
daytime running light ...............54
fog lamps ...................................55
headlamps .................................54
headlamps, flash to pass ..........55
instrument panel, dimming .....55
interior lamps .....................56, 58
replacing bulbs .............57, 59±61
Lane change indicator (see
Turn signal) .................................56
Liftgate ........................................75
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....13, 136
anti-theft ...................................13
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................13
cruise indicator .........................13
door ajar ....................................14
fuel cap light .............................15
high beam .................................13
low coolant ................................14low fuel ......................................12
oil pressure ...............................14
overdrive off ..............................14
safety belt .................................12
service engine soon ..................10
turn signal indicator .................13
Load limits .................................157
GAWR ......................................157
GVWR ......................................157
trailer towing ..........................157
Loading instructions .................159
Locks
childproof ..................................78
doors ..........................................77
Lubricant specifications ...........246
Lumbar support, seats ...............89
M
Manual transaxle .......................144
fluid, checking and adding ....238
reverse .....................................146
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................244
Mirrors
fold away ...................................69
side view mirrors (power) .......68
Moon roof ....................................74
Motorcraft parts ........................228
O
Octane rating ............................226
Odometer .....................................18
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................213
Overdrive ...................................141
Index
254

changing ..........................175±176
checking the pressure ............241
replacing ..................................242
rotating ....................................241
snow tires and chains ............243
tire grades ...............................240
treadwear ................................240
Towing .......................................160
recreational towing .................164
trailer towing ..........................160
wrecker ....................................186
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............139
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................238
manual operation ....................144
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................236
fluid, refill capacities ..............244
Turn signal ............................13, 56
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................247Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................249
Vehicle loading ..........................157
Ventilating your vehicle ...........134
W
Warning chimes ...........................15
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................213
Water, Driving through .............157
Windows
power .........................................67
rear wiper/washer .....................64
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....213
checking and cleaning ........63, 65
liftgate reservoir .....................213
operation ...................................62
replacing wiper blades .............64
Wrecker towing .........................186
Index
256