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).
2008 Tribute (j14)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
263
A
ABS (see Brakes) .....................166
Accessory delay ..........................48
Air cleaner filter ...............269, 271
Air conditioning manual heating and
air conditioning system ............29
Airbag supplemental
restraint system ..........97, 106, 109 and child safety seats ..............99
description ................97, 106, 109
disposal ....................................113
driver airbag ..............99, 107, 111
indicator light .........106, 109, 112
operation ...................99, 107, 111
passenger airbag .......99, 107, 111
side airbag ...............................106
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................181
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................250
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................166–167
Anti-theft system ........................68
Audio system (see Radio) .........19
Automatic transaxle fluid, adding ............................267
fluid, checking ........................267
Automatic transmission ............173 driving an automatic
overdrive .................................175
fluid, refill capacities ..............271
fluid, specification ..................271
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................25
Auxiliary power point .................46 Axle
lubricant specifications ..........271
refill capacities ........................271
B
Battery .......................................248 acid, treating emergencies .....248
jumping a disabled battery ....207
maintenance-free ....................248
servicing ..................................248
Belt-Minder ...............................92
Booster seats .............................114
Brakes ........................................166 anti-lock ...........................166–167
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ...............167
fluid, checking and adding ....267
fluid, refill capacities ..............271
fluid, specifications .................271
lubricant specifications ..........271
parking ....................................167
shift interlock ..........................173
Break-in period .............................6
Bulbs ............................................36
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....271
Cargo area shade ........................55
Cargo management system ........56
Cell phone warning ...................276
Child safety restraints ..............114 child seat belts .......................114
Child safety seats ......................117 attaching with tether
straps .......................................121
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USA (fus)
Index
277
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................114
Cleaning your vehicle engine compartment ..............227
instrument panel ....................229
interior .....................................230
Mazda car care products .......231
plastic parts ............................228
washing ....................................226
waxing .....................................226
wheels ......................................227
wiper blades ............................229
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............29
Clutch fluid ..........................................267
operation while driving ..........179
recommended shift speeds ....180
Console ........................................44 overhead ....................................44
Controls power seat .................................74
steering column ........................52
Coolant checking and adding ..............250
refill capacities ................254, 271
specifications ..........................271
Cruise control .............................49
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................49
Customer
Assistance ..................215–216, 219
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................33 Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................267
engine oil .................................244
Driving under special
conditions ..................178, 182, 185 sand .........................................184
snow and ice ...........................186
through water .................184, 187
E
Electronic stability control ......168
Emergencies, roadside jump-starting ..........................207
Emergency Flashers .................188
Emission control system ..........264
Engine ........................................273 cleaning ...................................227
coolant .....................................250
fail-safe cooling .......................255
idle speed control ...................248
lubrication specifications .......271
refill capacities ........................271
service points ..................240–241
starting after a collision .........189
Engine block heater .................165
Engine oil ..................................244 checking and adding ..............244
dipstick ....................................244
filter, specifications ................247
recommendations ...................247
refill capacities ........................271
specifications ..........................271
Exhaust fumes ..........................164
F
Fail safe cooling ........................255
Fluid capacities .........................271
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Index
278
Foglamps .....................................32
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles driving off road .......................181
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................173
Fuel ............................................256 calculating fuel economy .......261
cap ...........................................259
capacity ...................................271
choosing the right fuel ...........259
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................264
detergent in fuel .....................260
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................256, 259, 261
filter, specifications ................256
fuel pump shut-off switch .....189
improving fuel economy ........261
octane rating ...................260, 273
quality ......................................260
running out of fuel .................261
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................256
Fuses ..................................189–190
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............259
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................261
Gauges .........................................17
H
Hazard flashers .........................188
Head restraints .....................72, 76
Headlamps ...................................32 aiming ........................................34
bulb specifications ....................37
daytime running lights .............33 flash to pass ..............................33
high beam .................................32
replacing bulbs .........................38
turning on and off ....................32
Heating manual heating and air
conditioning system .................29
Hood ..........................................239
I
Ignition ...............................161, 273
Illuminated visor mirror .............44
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................117
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................266
Instrument panel cleaning ...................................229
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................33
location of components ............12
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......207
K
Keys .......................................60, 69 positions of the ignition .........161
L
Lamps bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................37
cargo lamps ...............................33
daytime running light ...............33
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Index
279
Safety restraints ..............81, 85–89 Belt-Minder .............................92
extension assembly ..................90
for adults .............................86–88
for children .....................113–114
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................83
seat belt maintenance ..............91
warning light and chime ....91–92
Safety seats for children ..........117
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................274
Scheduled Maintenance ...........232
Seat Belt Maintenance ...............91
Seat belts (see
Safety restraints) ............81, 85–89
Seats ............................................72 child safety seats ....................117
heated ........................................76
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................68
Servicing your vehicle ..............238
Side-curtain airbags system
(if equipped) .............107, 109, 111
Snowplowing .................................7
Spark plugs, specifications .......273
Special notice ambulance conversions ..............7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................271
Speed control ..............................49
Starting your
vehicle ........................161–162, 164 jump starting ..........................207
Steering wheel controls ......................................52
tilting .........................................43 T
Tilt steering wheel ......................43
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....143
Tires ...................................127–129 alignment ................................136
care ..........................................132
changing ..........................199, 201
checking the pressure ............132
inflating ...................................130
label .........................................142
replacing ..................................133
rotating ....................................136
safety practices .......................135
sidewall information ...............138
snow tires and chains ............148
spare tire .........................196, 199
terminology .............................129
tire grades ...............................128
treadwear ........................128, 132
Towing .......................................154 recreational towing .................160
trailer towing ..........................154
wrecker ....................................213
Transaxle fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................269
Transmission automatic operation ...............173
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....173
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................267
fluid, refill capacities ..............271
lubricant specifications ..........271
manual operation ....................179
Trunk ...........................................64
Turn signal ..................................35
2008 Tribute (j14)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Index
281