Seating and Safety Restraints97
Seating 97
Safety restraints 105
Airbags 120
Child restraints 135
Tires, Wheels and Loading147
Tire information 149
Tire inflation 151
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 165
Vehicle loading 170
Trailer towing 176
Recreational towing 181
Driving182
Starting 182
Brakes 187
Transmission operation 191
Roadside Emergencies202
Hazard flasher switch 202
Fuel pump/High voltage shut-off switches 202
Fuses and relays 204
Changing tires 210
Lug nut torque 221
Jump starting 222
Wrecker towing 229
Customer Assistance231
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 241
Reporting safety defects (Canada only) 241
Cleaning242
Table of Contents
2
2008 Tribute Hybrid(thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
WARNING: Fuel pump and high voltage battery shut-off
switches: In the event of an accident the fuel pump shut-off
switch may automatically cut off the fuel supply to the engine
and the high voltage shut-off switch cuts off power from the
high voltage battery. These switches can also be activated
through sudden vibration (e.g. collision when parking). For
information on resetting the fuel pump shut-off switch and the
high voltage battery shutoff switch, refer to theFuel pump/high
voltage shut-off switches in theRoadside Emergencies chapter.
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
Warning symbols in this guide
How can you reduce the risk of personal injury to yourself or others? In
this guide, answers to such questions are contained in comments
highlighted by the warning triangle symbol. These comments should be
read and observed.
Warning symbols on your vehicle
When you see this symbol, it is
imperative that you consult the
relevant section of this guide before
touching or attempting adjustment
of any kind.
Protecting the environment
We must all play our part in
protecting the environment. Correct
vehicle usage and the authorized
disposal of waste, cleaning and
lubrication materials are significant
steps towards this aim. Information in this respect is highlighted in this
guide with the tree symbol.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
Your vehicle does not need an extensive break-in. Try not to drive
continuously at the same speed for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of
new vehicle operation. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the
moving parts a chance to break in.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Introduction
5
If the vehicle is left inoperative for over 31 days, it may be necessary to
jumpstart the vehicle. For more information, refer toJump starting
your (Low voltage [underhood] battery only) in theRoadside
Emergencies chapter.
Engine: The engine speed in your hybrid is not directly tied to your
vehicle speed. Your vehicle’s engine and transmission are designed to
deliver the power you need at the most efficient engine speed. During
heavy accelerations, your hybrid may reach high engine speeds (up to
6000 RPM). This is characteristic of the Atkinson cycle engine
technology helping to maximize your hybrid’s fuel economy.
In prolonged mountainous driving, you may see the engine tachometer
changing without your input. This is intentional and maintains the
battery charge level. You may also notice during extended downhill
driving that your engine continues to run instead of shutting off.
During this “engine braking”, the engine stays on, but it’s not using any
fuel. You may also hear a slight whine or whistle when operating your
vehicle. This is the normal operation of the electric generator in the
hybrid system.
During certain events (such as vehicle servicing) your low voltage
(underhood) battery may become disconnected or disabled. When this
occurs, and after reconnecting the low voltage (underhood) battery and
driving the vehicle, the engine may continue to operate for 3-5 seconds
after the key is turned to the 1 (LOCK) position. This is a normal
condition, as the vehicle’s computers are relearning the operating
characteristics of your particular engine in order to operate it at
maximum efficiency.
Braking: Your hybrid is equipped with standard hydraulic braking and
regenerative braking. Regenerative braking is performed by your
transmission and it captures brake energy and stores it in your high
voltage battery.
You may hear a pumping sound when you unlock or enter the vehicle
and a venting sound a few minutes after shutting off the vehicle. This is
the hydraulic portion of your regenerative braking system charging and
discharging.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Introduction
8
These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.Vehicle Symbol Glossary
Safety Alert
See Owner’s Manual
Protecting the
EnvironmentFasten Seat Belt
Airbag - FrontAirbag - Side
Passenger Airbag OffChild Seat Lower
Anchor
Child Seat Tether
AnchorBrake System
Anti-Lock Brake SystemParking Brake System
Brake Fluid -
Non-Petroleum BasedParking Aid System
Stability Control SystemMaster Lighting Switch
Hazard Warning FlasherFog Lamps-Front
Fuse CompartmentFuel Pump Reset
Windshield Wash/WipeWindshield
Defrost/Demist
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Introduction
16
Airbag readiness:If this light fails
to illuminate when the ignition is
turned to RUN, continues to flash or
remains on, have the system
serviced immediately by your authorized dealer. A chime will also sound
when a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system has been
detected.
Seat belt: Reminds you to fasten
your seat belt. A Belt-Minder
chime will also sound to remind you
to fasten your seat belt. Refer to the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter to activate/deactivate the Belt-Minder chime feature.
Master vehicle electrical hazard
warning lamp: Indicates Hybrid
component fault/failure that will
cause the vehicle to shutdown or
fail to start.
WARNING: If the vehicle is still running, the vehicle may soon
shutdown without further warning and should be stopped safely.
If this lamp is lit, stop the vehicle, shift to P (Park), turn the key to the
Off position, and attempt to restart the vehicle. If the fault remains, the
vehicle may require refueling, jump starting, resetting of the shut-off
switches, or service. For information regarding Low voltage
[underhood] battery only) andFuel pump/High voltage shut-off
switches please refer to the Roadside Emergencies chapter.
Ready indicator light: Illuminates
once the vehicle has successfully
started. Indicates the vehicle is
ready to drive even when you don’t
hear the engine running.
Charging system: Illuminates when
the 12V charging system is not
working properly.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Instrument Cluster
22
Distance to empty (DTE)
Selecting this function from the
INFO menu will give you an
estimate of how far you can drive
with the fuel remaining in your tank
under normal driving conditions.
Remember to turn the ignition OFF
when refueling your vehicle. Otherwise, the display will not show the
addition of fuel for a few miles (kilometers). DTE will vary according to
your driving habits.
Average fuel economy (AFE) (if equipped)
Selecting this function from the
INFO menu will display your
average fuel economy in miles/gallon
or liters/100 km.
If you calculate your average fuel
economy by dividing miles traveled by gallons of fuel used (liters of fuel
by used 100 kilometers traveled), your figure may be different than
displayed for the following reasons:
•your vehicle was not perfectly level during fill-up
• differences in the automatic shut-off points on the fuel pumps at
service stations
• variations in top-off procedure from one fill-up to another
• rounding off the displayed values to the nearest 0.1 gallon (liter)
1. Drive the vehicle at least 5 miles (8 km) with the speed control system engaged to display a stabilized average.
2. Record the highway fuel economy for future reference.
It is important to press the RESET control after setting the speed
control to get accurate highway fuel economy readings.
To reset back to zero, press and hold the RESET button for 2 seconds.
Instantaneous fuel economy (if equipped)
Select this function from the INFO
menu to display your instantaneous
fuel economy. This will display your
fuel economy as a Bar Graph
ranging from
poor economy
to
excellent economy.
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Driver Controls
75
vehicle still does not start, it may require refueling, jump starting,
resetting of the fuel pump/high voltage shut-off switches or service. For
information on jump starting the vehicle and resetting the fuel
pump/high voltage shut-off switches, refer to theJump starting your
vehicle (low voltage [underhood] battery only) section, theJump
starting the high voltage battery section, and theFuel pump/High
voltage shut-off switches section found in theRoadside Emergencies
chapter.
Guarding against exhaust fumes
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.
WARNING: If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle,
have your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive
if you smell exhaust fumes.
Important ventilating information
If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped for a long period of
time, open the windows at least one inch (2.5 cm) or adjust the heating
or air conditioning to bring in fresh air.
An engine block/high voltage battery heater warms the engine coolant
and high voltage battery cells which aids in starting and allows the
heater/defroster system to respond quickly. If your vehicle is equipped
with this system, your equipment includes a heater element which is
installed in your engine block and a wire harness which allows the user
to connect the system to a grounded 120 volt a/c electrical source. The
block heater system is most effective when outdoor temperatures reach
below 0°F (-17°C). WARNING: Failure to follow engine block heater instructions
could result in property damage or physical harm.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not use
your heater with ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged
(cheater) adapters.
Prior to using the engine block heater, follow these recommendations for
proper and safe operation:
• For your safety, use an outdoor extension cord that is product
certified by Underwriter’s laboratory (UL ) or Canadian Standards
2008 Tribute Hybrid (thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Driving
185
Using ABS
When hard braking is required, apply continuous force on the brake
pedal; do not pump the brake pedal since this will reduce the
effectiveness of the ABS and will increase your vehicle’s stopping
distance. The ABS will be activated immediately, allowing you to retain
steering control during hard braking and on slippery surfaces. However,
the ABS does not decrease stopping distance.
ABS warning lamp
The ABS lamp in the instrument
cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on. If
the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the
ABS may be disabled and may need to be serviced.
Even when the ABS is disabled,
normal braking is still effective. (If
your BRAKE warning lamp
illuminates with the parking brake
released, have your brake system
serviced immediately by an authorized dealer.)
Regenerative Braking System (RBS)
Your vehicle uses a feature known as regenerative braking. This is used
to simulate the engine braking of an internal combustion engine and
assist the standard brake system while recovering some of the energy of
motion back into the battery to improve fuel economy. The standard
brake system is designed to fully stop the car if regenerative braking is
not available. During regenerative braking, the motor is spun as a
generator to create electrical current. This recharges the high voltage
battery and slows the vehicle. In effect, once the accelerator pedal is
released, the motor changes from an energy user to an energy producer.
When the accelerator pedal is released or the brake pedal is applied, the
brake controller automatically detects the amount of deceleration
requested and optimizes how much of the deceleration will be produced
by regenerative braking. The remaining portion is generated by standard
friction braking. When the battery is almost fully charged, the amount of
regenerative braking is limited to avoid overcharging, and the requested
deceleration is produced by standard friction braking alone.
Regenerative braking does not take the place of the standard friction
brakes; it only assists them. Regenerative braking has also been designed
ABS
P!
BRAKE
2008 Tribute Hybrid(thv)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Driving
188