2009 MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE suspension

WARNING:Only use replacement tires and wheels that are the
same size, load index, speed rating and type (such as P-metric
versus LT-metric or all-season versus all-terrain) as those originally
provided by Mazda. The recommended tire and wheel size may be
found on either the Safety Compliance Certification Label or the Tire
Label which is located on the B-Pillar or edge of the driver’s door. If
this information is not found on these labels then you should consult
your Mazda dealer. Use of any tire or wheel not recommended by
Mazda can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which
could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. Additionally the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels could cause steering, suspension,
axle or transfer case/power transfer unit failure. If you have questions
regarding tire replacement, see an authorized dealer.
WARNING: When mounting replacement tires and wheels, you
should not exceed the maximum pressure indicated on the
sidewall of the tire to set the beads without additional precautions
listed below. If the beads do not seat at the maximum pressure
indicated, re-lubricate and try again.
When inflating the tire for mounting pressures up to 20 psi (1.38 bar)
greater than the maximum pressure on the tire sidewall, the following
precautions must be taken to protect the person mounting the tire:
1. Make sure that you have the correct tire and wheel size.
2. Lubricate the tire bead and wheel bead seat area again.
3. Stand at a minimum of 12 ft. (3.66 m) away from the tire
wheel assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear protection.
For a mounting pressure more than 20 psi (1.38 bar) greater
than the maximum pressure, a Mazda Dealer or other tire
service professional should do the mounting.
Always inflate steel carcass tires with a remote air fill with the
person inflating standing at a minimum of 12 ft. (3.66 m) away
from the tire wheel assembly.
Important: Remember to replace the wheel valve stems when the road
tires are replaced on your vehicle.
It is recommended that the two front tires or two rear tires generally be
replaced as a pair.
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Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side, vibrate or shake when you’re driving,
the wheels may be out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a
Mazda dealer check the wheel alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician
at a Mazda dealer. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension require alignment of all four wheels.
The tire should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
NOTE:When it is time to replace front tires with new ones, this is an
ideal time to perform an alignment. New tires should be balanced at the
time they are installed.
Tire rotation
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
Scheduled maintenance section of theMaintenance and
Specifications chapter) will help your tires wear more evenly, providing
better tire performance and longer tire life.
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SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
WARNING:Snow tires must be the same size, load index, speed
rating as those originally provided by Mazda. Use of any tire or
wheel not recommended by Mazda can affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle, which could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
Additionally, the use of non-recommended tires and wheels could cause
steering, suspension, axle or transfer case/power transfer unit failure.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, using snow tires and traction
devices may be necessary. If you need to use snow tires and cables, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the same size and
specification as those originally installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and traction devices:
• SAE class “S” cables should ONLY be used on the front axle for
P235/70R16 tires.
• Install cables securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If this does not work, remove
the cables to prevent vehicle damage.
• Avoid overloading your vehicle.
• Remove the cables when they are no longer needed.
• Do not use cables on dry roads.
• The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from the vehicle when
using snow tires and traction devices.
• Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) with tire cables on your vehicle.
VEHICLE LOADING – WITH AND WITHOUT A TRAILER
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating
capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading
your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle’s weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s
Tire Label or Safety Compliance Certification Label:
Base Curb Weight – is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or
optional equipment.
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TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with your vehicle may require the use of a trailer tow
option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires, and suspension. For your safety and to
maximize vehicle performance, be sure to use the proper equipment
while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe towing procedure:
•Be sure to locate all the warnings supplied by the trailer rental or
sales company and study the unique requirements of each trailer you
intend to tow.
• Stay within your vehicle’s load limits.
• Thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing. Refer to Preparing to
tow in this chapter.
• Use extra caution when driving while trailer towing. Refer to Driving
while you tow in this chapter.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer to the
“Scheduled Maintenance” section of this manual.
• Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least
1,000 miles (1609 km).
• Refer to the instructions included with towing accessories for the
proper installation and adjustment specifications.
Do not exceed the maximum loads listed on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. For load specification terms found on the label, refer
to Vehicle loading in this chapter. Remember to figure in the tongue
load of your loaded vehicle when figuring the total weight.
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ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM
WARNING:Vehicle modifications involving braking system,
aftermarket roof racks, suspension, steering system, tire
construction and/or wheel/tire size may change the handling
characteristics of the vehicle and may adversely affect the the
performance of the Electronic Stability Control system. In addition,
installing any stereo loudspeakers may interfere with and adversely
affect the Electronic Stability Control system. Install any aftermarket
stereo loudspeaker as far as possible from the front center console, the
tunnel, and the front seats in order to minimize the risk of interfering
with the Electronic Stability Control sensors. Reducing the
effectiveness of the Electronic Stability Control system could lead to an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death.
WARNING: Remember that even advanced technology cannot
defy the laws of physics. It’s always possible to lose control of a
vehicle due to inappropriate driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause you to lose control of your
vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage.
Activation of the Electronic Stability Control system is an indication
that at least some of the tires have exceeded their ability to grip the
road; this could reduce the operator’s ability to control the vehicle,
potentially resulting in a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your Electronic Stability Control system
activates, SLOW DOWN.
WARNING: If a failure has been detected within the Electronic
Stability Control system, the sliding caricon
will illuminate
steadily. Verify that the Electronic Stability Control system is not
manually disabled (push the Electronic Stability Control “Off “ button
located on the center of the instrument panel). If the sliding car
icon
still illuminates steadily, have the system service by an
authorized dealer immediately. Operating your vehicle with Electronic
Stability Control disabled could lead to an increased risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
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During Trailer Sway Control events theicon in the instrument cluster
will flash momentarily. In some cases when trailer sway is detected, the
vehicle speed is too high and may be at or above a speed at which trailer
sway will grow continuously. This may cause the system to activate
multiple times, causing a gradual reduction in speed.
Disabling Trailer Sway Control
Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. Pressing and
holding the Electronic Stability Control button for more than five
seconds will disable the Trailer Sway Control feature and the
icon will
flash momentarily and then illuminate solid for that ignition cycle. Trailer
Sway Control can be re-enabled by momentarily pressing the Electronic
Stability Control button. Trailer Sway Control will also be re-enabled at
each new key cycle.
WARNING: Turning off Trailer Sway Control increases the risk
of loss of vehicle control, serious injury, or death. Mazda does
not recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (e.g., hill climbing), the driver has
significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and
maintain safe operation.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with an Electric Power-Assisted Steering
(EPAS) system. There is no fluid reservoir to check or fill.
If your vehicle loses electrical power while you are driving (or if the
ignition is turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes
more effort. Under extreme usage conditions, the steering effort may
increase. This occurs to prevent overheating and permanent damage to
your steering system. If this should occur, you will neither lose the ability
to steer the vehicle manually nor will it cause permanent damage.
Typical steering and driving maneuvers will allow the system to cool and
steering assist will return to normal.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
• an improperly inflated tire
• uneven tire wear
• loose or worn suspension components
• loose or worn steering components
• improper steering alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
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•4WD vehicles should be driven with traction devices as referred to in
Using snow tires and traction devices in theTires, Wheels and
Loading chapter.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide predictable performance whether loaded or empty
and durable load carrying capability. For this reason, Mazda Motor
Corporation strongly recommends that you do not make modifications
such as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or
by using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory
equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will roll over as a result of a loss of control.
Mazda Motor Corporation recommends that caution be used with any
vehicle equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder racks or
pickup box cover).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-road usage.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is
not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the
bottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine’s air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall. Driving through deep water where
the transmission vent tube is submerged may allow water into the
transmission and cause internal transmission damage.
Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your
vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes.
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Maintenance ItemMaintenance Interval (Number of months or km (miles),
whichever comes first)
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
x 1000 Miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.6 75 82.5 90
(x 1000 Km) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96) (108) (120) (132) (144)
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and
connections II I
Disc brakes I I I I I I
Drum brakes I I I
Tire (rotation), check wheel lug
nut torque*3 Rotate every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
Tire inflation and wear IIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages I I I
Power steering fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Manual transmission fluid Replace every 100,000 miles (160,000 km)
Automatic transmission fluid Replace every 150,000 miles (240,000 km)
Rear differential
fluid (4WD only) *2 Replace every 150,000 miles (240,000 km)
Transfer case fluid
(4WD only) Replace every 150,000 miles (240,000 km)
Front and rear suspension ball
joints III
Driveshaft dust boots I I I
Bolts and nuts on chassis and
body III
Exhaust system heat shields II I
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
*1 According to state and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these
items will not void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all
maintenance services be performed at the recommended time or miles (kilometers)
period to ensure long-term reliability. Refer to Fuel filterin theMaintenance and
Specifications chapter for fuel filter replacement requirements.
*2 If this component has been submerged in water, the oil should be changed.
*3 The wheel lug nuts must be retightened to the proper specifications at 500 miles (800 km) of new vehicle operation, at any wheel change, or at any other time the wheel
lug nuts have been loosened. Refer to Wheel Lug Nut Torque Specification in the
Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter for the proper lug nut torque specification.
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