2001 Mazda Tribute Owner's Manual - Page 121

Driving • The vehicle should not be operated in the 4x4 ON mode on dry or merely wet pavement. Doing so will produce excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage driveline components. The 4x4 ON mode is intended for use only on consistently slippery or loose surfaces. • If your vehicle is equipped with this 4x4 system, a spare tire of a different diameter than the road tires should never be used. Such a tire could result in damage to driveline components and make the vehicle difficult to control. WARNING: Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are not designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers in these vehicles. 4x4 system indicator lights The 4x4 mode indicator light illuminates only under the following conditions. If the indicator light illuminates when driving in the 4x4 AUTO mode, contact your Mazda dealer as soon as possible. The indicator light illuminates when the 4x4 ON mode is engaged. Shifting between 4x4 Auto and ON modes Press the four-wheel drive control to apply power to both axles. When LOCK you activate the control, the indicator light will illuminate in the instrument cluster. When you press the control again, 4x4 AUTO is activated and, the indicator light will turn off. Either shift can be done at a stop or while driving at any speed. Driving off-road with 4x4 Auto Your vehicle is specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and rough terrain and has operating characteristics that are somewhat different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road. 121