2001 Mazda Tribute Owner's Manual - Page 123

Driving After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts, halfshafts and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an imbalance that could damage drive components. NOTE:If the transaxle Power Take Off unit or rear axle are submerged in water, their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary. Water intrusion into the transaxle may damage the transaxle. NOTE:If the rear axle is submerged in water, the rear axle lubricant should be checked and changed, if necessary. The rear axle is filled with a lubricant that does not normally require a lubricant change for the life of the vehicle. Rear axle lubricant quantities should not need to be checked unless a leak is suspected. Driving on hilly or sloping terrain When driving on a hill, avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes. You could lose traction and slip sideways. Drive straight up, straight down or avoid the hill completely. Know the conditions on the other side of a hill before driving over the crest. When climbing a steep hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden braking. Shift to a lower gear when added engine braking is desired. When speed control is on and you are driving uphill, your vehicle speed may drop considerably, especially if you are carrying a heavy load. If vehicle speed drops more than 16 km/h (10 mph), the speed control will cancel automatically. Resume speed with accelerator pedal. If speed control cancels after climbing the hill, reset speed by pressing and holding the SET ACCEL button (to resume speeds over 50 km/h [30 mph]). Automatic transaxles may shift frequently while driving up steep grades. (Overdrive) into D Eliminate frequent shifting by shifting out of (Drive). 123