NISSAN ARMADA 2020 Owner´s Manual
Page 371 of 528
CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000
km), follow these recommendations
to obtain maximum engine perfor-
mance and ensure the future relia-
bility and economy of your new
vehicle.
Failure to follow these recommenda-
tions may result in shortened engine
life and reduced engine perfor-
mance.
. Avoid driving for long periods at con-
stant speed, either fast or slow. Do not
run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
. Do not accelerate at full throttle in any
gear.
. Avoid quick starts.
. Avoid hard braking as much as possi-
ble.
. Do not tow a trailer for the first 500
miles (805 km). Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient
Driving Tips to help you achieve the most
fuel economy from your vehicle.
1. Use smooth accelerator and brake
pedal application.
.Avoid rapid starts and stops..Use smooth, gentle accelerator andbrake application whenever possi-
ble.
.Maintain constant speed whilecommuting and coast whenever
possible.
2. Maintain constant speed.
.Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
.Synchronizing your speed with traf-fic lights allows you to reduce your
number of stops.
.Maintaining a steady speed canminimize red light stops and im-
prove fuel efficiency.
3. Use air conditioning (A/C) at higher vehicle speeds.
.Below 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is moreefficient to open windows to cool
the vehicle due to reduced engine
load.
.Above 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is more
efficient to use A/C to cool the
vehicle due to increased aerody-
namic drag.
.Recirculating the cool air in thecabin when the A/C is on reduces
cooling load.
4. Drive at economical speeds and dis- tances.
.Observing the speed limit and notexceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h)
(where legally allowed) can improve
fuel efficiency due to reduced aero-
dynamic drag.
.Maintaining a safe following dis-tance behind other vehicles re-
duces unnecessary braking.
.Safely monitoring traffic to antici- pate changes in speed permits
reduced braking and smooth accel-
eration changes.
.Select a gear range suitable to roadconditions.
5. Use cruise control.
.Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady
speed.
.Cruise control is particularly effec-tive in providing fuel savings when
driving on flat terrains.
6. Plan for the shortest route.
.Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save
time.
Starting and driving5-115
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
Page 372 of 528
5-116Starting and driving
7. Avoid idling..Shutting off your engine when safefor stops exceeding 30-60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and
avoid stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no morethan 30 seconds of idling at start-
up to effectively circulate the en-
gine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating temperature more
quickly while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade when-
ever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, open- ing the windows will help to reduce
the inside temperature faster, re-
sulting in reduced demand on your
A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity en-
gine oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation” (P.10-5).)
WARNING
.Do not attempt to raise two
wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine
running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
. Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel
dynamometer or similar equip-
ment even if the other two
wheels are raised off the ground.
Make sure you inform test facility
personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using
the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious ve-
hicle damage or personal injury.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYNISSAN ALL-MODE 4WD® (if so equipped)
Page 373 of 528
CAUTION
.Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI
or 4LO position on dry hard sur-
face roads. Driving on dry, hard
surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise, tire wear and
increased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
warning light turns on when driv-
ing on dry hard surface roads:
— in the 4HI position, shift the
4WD shift switch to AUTO.
— in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and shift the transmis-
sion lever to the N (Neutral)
position with the brake pedal
depressed and shift the 4WD
shift switch to AUTO.
If the 4WD warning light is still
on after the above operation,
have your vehicle checked as
soon as possible. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
. The transfer case may be da-
maged if you continue driving
with the 4WD warning light blink-
ing. See “On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions” (P.5-9) for other precautions
for offroad driving.NISSAN ALL-MODE 4WD® SYSTEM
The all mode 4WD system provides 3
positions (AUTO, 4HI and 4LO), so you
can select the desired drive mode accord-
ing to the driving conditions.
Starting and driving5-117
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5-118Starting and driving
4WD shift procedure:
SSD1100
*1: The 4LO and 4HI indicator may flash alternately. Stop the vehicle and be sure to turn the 4WD shift switch after the transmission
shift lever has been shifted to the N (Neutral) position. If the indicator keeps flashing after the 4WD shift procedure, drive slowly
without abrupt maneuvers for a while. Then the indicator will illuminate or turn off.
· Avoid making a turn or abrupt starts while shifting to the 4LO position. Otherwise the gears may grind, damaging the drive system.
Page 375 of 528
*2: While changing in and out of the 4LO position, the engine must be running. Otherwise, the shift will not take place and the 4LO
indicator will not be on or flashing.
*3: Make sure that the 4LO indicator turns on when shifting the 4WD shift switch to the 4L position. The Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light will also turn on when 4L is selected. (See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system” (P.5-133).)
Starting and driving5-119
Page 376 of 528
5-120Starting and driving
The 4WD shift switch is used to select the
4WD mode depending on the driving
conditions. There are 3 types of drive
modes available, AUTO, 4HI and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically con-
trols the transfer case operation. Rotate
the switch to move between each mode,
AUTO, 4H and 4L.
You must depress the 4WD shift switch
to select 4L, and the vehicle MUST be
stationary and the shift lever in the N
(Neutral) position when changing into
or out of 4L.
WARNING
.When parking, apply the parking
brake before stopping the engine
and make sure that the 4WD shift
indicator is on and the ATP warn-
ing light turns off. Otherwise, the
vehicle could unexpectedly move
even if the automatic transmis-
sion is in the P (Park) position.
. The 4LO and 4HI indicators must
stop blinking and the 4LO or 4HI
indicator must remain illumi-
nated or turn off before shifting
the transmission into gear. If the
shift lever is shifted from the N
(Neutral) position to any other gear while the 4LO and 4HI in-
dicators are blinking alternately,
the vehicle may move unexpect-
edly.
CAUTION
.
Never shift the 4WD shift switch
between 4L and 4H while driving.
. The 4HI position provides greater
traction. Avoid excessive speed,
as it will cause increased fuel
consumption and higher oil tem-
peratures, and could damage dri-
vetrain component. Speeds over
62 MPH (100 km/h) in 4HI is not
recommended.
. The 4LO position provides max-
imum traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the
maximum speed is approxi-
mately 31 MPH (50 km/h).
. When driving straight, shift the
4WD shift switch to the AUTO or
4H position. Do not move the 4WD
shift switch when making a turn
or reversing.
. Do not shift the 4WD shift switch
(between AUTO and 4H) while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use the engine brake and low
automatic transmission gears
for engine braking.
. Do not operate the 4WD shift
switch (between AUTO and 4H)
with the rear wheels spinning.
. Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4HI or 4LO position.
Driving on dry hard surfaces in
4HI or 4LO may cause unneces-
sary noise and tire wear. NISSAN
recommends driving in the AUTO
position under these conditions.
. The 4WD transfer case may not
be shifted between 4HI and 4LO
at low ambient temperatures and
the 4LO and 4HI indicators may
blink even when the 4WD shift
switch is shifted. After driving for
a while you can change the 4WD
shift switch between 4H and 4L.
When driving on rough roads,
. Drive carefully according to the road
surface conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck,
. Place stones or wooden blocks under
the tires to free the vehicle.
. Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4L.
Page 377 of 528
.If it is difficult to free the vehicle,
repeat forward and backward move-
ment to increase the movement.
. If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, tire
chains may be effective.
CAUTION
.Do not spin the tires excessively.
Tires will sink deep into the mud,
making it difficult to free the
vehicle.
. Avoid shifting gears with the en-
gine running at high speeds as
this may cause malfunction.
SSD1048
4WD SHIFT SWITCH
.Shift the 4WD shift switch to either the
AUTO, 4H or 4L position, depending on
driving conditions.
. With the switch set to the AUTO
position, distribution of torque to the
front and rear wheels changes auto-
matically, depending on road condi-
tions encountered [ratio; 0 : 100 (2WD)
? 50 : 50 (4WD)]. This results in
improved driving stability.
. If the 4WD shift switch is operated
while making a turn, accelerating or
decelerating or if the ignition switch
is placed in the OFF position while in
the AUTO, 4H or 4L, you may feel a jolt. This is not abnormal.
. When the vehicle is stopped after
making a turn, you may feel a slight
jolt after the shift lever is shifted to N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position. This
occurs because the transfer clutch is
released and not because of a mal-
function.
CAUTION
.When driving straight, shift the
4WD shift switch to the AUTO or
4H position. Do not move the 4WD
shift switch when making a turn
or reversing.
. Do not shift the 4WD shift switch
while driving on steep downhill
grades. Use the engine brake and
low automatic transmission
gears for engine braking.
. Do not operate the 4WD shift
switch with the rear wheels spin-
ning.
. Before placing the 4WD shift
switch in the 4H position from
AUTO, ensure the vehicle speed is
less than 62 MPH (100 km/h).
Failure to do so can damage the
4WD system.
Starting and driving5-121
Page 378 of 528
5-122Starting and driving
.Never shift the 4WD shift switch
between 4L and 4H while driving.
. Engine idling speed is high while
warming up the engine. Be espe-
cially careful when starting or
driving on slippery surfaces with
the 4WD shift switch in AUTO.
SSD1058
4WD shift indicator
4WD SHIFT INDICATOR
The 4WD shift indicator is displayed in the
vehicle information display.
The indicator should turn off within 1
second after placing the ignition switch
in the ON position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shift
indicator will illuminate the position se-
lected by the 4WD shift switch. (See the
4WD shift procedure list shown in the
“NISSAN all-mode 4WD® system” (P.5-117).)
.The 4WD shift indicator may blink
while shifting from one drive mode
to the other. When the shifting is
completed, the 4WD shift indicator will come on. If the indicator does
not come on immediately, make
sure the area around the vehicle is
safe, and drive the vehicle straight,
accelerate or decelerate or move the
vehicle in reverse, then shift the 4WD
shift switch.
. If the 4WD warning light comes on, the
4WD shift indicator turns off.
4WD WARNING LIGHT
Warning light Comes on or
blinks when:
Illuminates There is a mal-
function in the 4WD system
Blinks ra- pidly The transfer
case oil tem-
perature is ab- normally high
Blinks slowly The difference
in wheel rota- tion is large
The 4WD warning light is located in the
meter.
The 4WD warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position. It turns off soon after the engine
is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD
system when the ignition switch is placed
in the ON position, the 4WD warning light
Page 379 of 528
will either remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the
4WD shift indicator turns off.
High-temperature transfer case oil makes
the 4WD warning light blink rapidly (about
twice per second). If the warning light
blinks rapidly during operation, stop the
vehicle in a safe place immediately. Then
if the light turns off after a while, you can
continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters
of front and rear wheels will make the
4WD warning light blink slowly (about
once per two seconds). Change the 4WD
shift switch to AUTO and do not drive fast.
CAUTION
.If the 4WD warning light comes
on or blinks slowly during opera-
tion or rapidly after stopping the
vehicle for a while, have your
vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service.
. Shifting between 4HI and 4LO is
not recommended when the 4WD
warning light turns on.
. When the 4WD warning light
comes on, the 2WD mode may be engaged even if the 4WD shift
switch is in AUTO or 4H. Be
especially careful when driving. If
corresponding parts are malfunc-
tioning, the 4WD mode will not be
engaged even if the 4WD shift
switch is shifted.
. Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI
or 4LO position on dry hard sur-
face roads. Driving on dry, hard
surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise, tire wear and
increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on
when driving on dry hard surface
roads:
— in the AUTO or 4HI position,
shift the 4WD shift switch to
AUTO.
— in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and shift the transmis-
sion shift lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position and shift the
4WD shift switch to AUTO.
. If the 4WD warning light is still on
after the above operation, have
your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service. .
The transfer case may be da-
maged if you continue driving
with the warning light blinking.
Starting and driving5-123
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5-124Starting and driving
WARNING
.Never rely solely on the hill start
assist system to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving backward on a
hill. Always drive carefully and
attentively. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped
on a steep hill. Be especially care-
ful when stopped on a hill on
frozen or muddy roads. Failure
to prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards may result in a loss of
control of the vehicle and possi-
ble serious injury or death.
. The hill start assist system is not
designed to hold the vehicle at a
standstill on a hill. Depress the
brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to
do so may cause the vehicle to
roll backwards and may result in
a collision or serious personal
injury.
. The hill start assist system may
not prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing backwards on a hill under all
load or road conditions. Always
be prepared to depress the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from
rolling backwards. Failure to do so may result in a collision or
serious personal injury.
The hill start assist system automatically
keeps the brakes applied to help prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards in the
time it takes the driver to release the
brake pedal and apply the accelerator
when the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
The hill start assist system will operate
automatically under the following condi-
tions:
. The transmission is shifted to a for-
ward or reverse gear.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a
hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
After 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to
roll back and the hill start assist system
will stop operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not
operate when the transmission is shifted
to the N (Neutral) or P (Park) position or
on a flat and level road.
When the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
warning light illuminates in the meter, the
hill start assist system will not operate.
(See “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P.2-10).)
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM