Key Programming: Mazda Tribute 2000-2005
Mazda Tribute 2000-2005 Key Programming Procedure
The following are the key programming procedures for Mazda Tribute 2000 and 2005.
ORIGINATE NEW MASTER KEY:
Two working keys are required to program additional keys with this on-board programming method.
ADD KEY (Requires two working keys):
1. Put the existing key into the ignition.
2. Turn the ignition ON, then turn it OFF again.
3. Within five seconds, take out the existing key and put in a second key, turning it to ON and back OFF.
4. Within ten seconds, put in the new key and turn it on. After one second, turn it OFF.
5. The security light will glow for three seconds. This confirms the new key has been programmed successfully.
About Mazda Tribute
Both the Escape and the Tribute were updated for the 2005 model year in 2004. This shift occurred in Japan in December 2003. The Mazda 2.3 L MZR inline-four was retained as the base engine, but the 3.0 L Duratec V6 remained as an option. A floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter replaced the column shifter in North American-built cars; however, Japanese-built models retained the column shifter. The Tribute I (four-cylinder) and Tribute s (six-cylinder) models replaced the older DX, LX, and ES versions (V6). The addition of an automated transmission to the four-cylinder engine was also a first.
Only one V6-engined variant was offered to Japanese customers, as the more powerful four-cylinder engine rendered the thirsty V6 obsolete. Only the four-wheel-drive “Field Break” model of the V6 was available. The LX (also with front-wheel drive), FB-X, and Field Break were all versions of the inline-four. This lineup lasted until March 2006, when it was replaced by the CX-7, which was identical in size.
The Tribute debuted as a compact crossover SUV at the 2000 Los Angeles Auto Show, a market pioneered by the Toyota RAV4 in 1994. It was based on the Mazda Navajo, a rebadged two-door Ford Explorer that was discontinued in 1994. The Mazda Proceed Levante, a rebadged Suzuki Escudo, had already been sold in Japan, but the Tribute was Mazda’s first original SUV. The Tribute was built alongside the Ford Escape at the Ford facility in Claycomo, Missouri, for the North American market. The Tribute was also built in Mazda’s Hofu plant in Japan and Ford’s Lio Ho facility in Taiwan for their respective markets.
Japanese sales began in November 2001. The Japanese selection was limited to a four-speed automatic transmission with a column shift. The 2-liter LX with two- or four-wheel drive, as well as the four-wheel drive 3.0 V6 in the LX or the well-equipped GL-X, were all part of the lineup. A “G package” was offered for LX cars, which added aluminum wheels, side airbags, and tinted glass, among other features. In May 2001, a front-wheel-drive V6 LX model was launched, as well as the option of a “L package” on the GL-X variant (with leather seats and more). The “Field Break” special version was debuted in October 2001; this leisure-oriented model featured water-repellent fabric seats, a front pushbar, and other conveniences geared toward individuals who lead “active” lifestyles.
The suspension on the Tribute is harsher than on the Ford Escape/Maverick, in order to match Mazda’s sporty image. In North America, the utilitarian Tribute was replaced by the more aggressively styled and in-house-designed Mazda CX-5, as Mazda had produced “spiced up” models in other niches such as the Mazda3 and CX-7.
In the second half of 2006, a drastically redesigned version of the Tribute was produced for Asia Pacific regions. The redesigned Tribute has a new front bumper and headlights, as well as a wider, bolder grille with an enlarged Mazda symbol. The side mirrors had built-in indicators.
On the inside, the previous column shifter was replaced by a new floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter (Asia-Pacific model only; US-built Tribute gained the floor shifter in 2005). On select models, the dashboard was modified with a new radio and automatic electronic climate control. The rear drum brakes were mechanically replaced by disc brakes. The engines are same, but the V6 has been tweaked to save almost 10% on fuel, while the 4-cylinder has better mid-range torque and an electronic throttle. Both engines were certified to comply with Euro III pollution standards.
