brakes NISSAN FRONTIER 2018 Owner´s Manual

Turn signal/hazardindicator lights
The appropriate light flashes when the turn
signal switch is activated.
Both lights flash when the hazard switch is
turned on.
Vehicle Dynamic Control(VDC) OFF indicator light
This indicator light comes on when the
VDC OFF switch is pushed to the OFF posi-
tion, the transfer case is in the 4LO position
(
model), or when the VDC system
is not functioning properly. This indicates
the VDC system is not operating.
Push the VDC OFF switch again or restart
the engine and the system will operate
normally. For additional information, refer
to “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
in the “Starting and driving” section of this
manual.
The VDC light also comes on when you turn
the ignition key to the ON position. The light
will turn off af ter about 2 seconds if the
system is operational. If the light stays on
or comes on along with the SLIP (
)
indicator light while you are driving, have the VDC system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
If the battery is removed or discharged, the
VDC system is disabled and the VDC indi-
cator light will not turn off af ter 2 seconds
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position. To reset the system, you must
perform the reset procedure. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) system” in the “Start-
ing and driving” section of this manual.
If the light does not go off af ter performing
the reset procedure, have the traction con-
trol system checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this ser-
vice.
While the VDC system is operating, you
might feel slight vibration or hear the sys-
tem working when starting the vehicle or
accelerating, but this is normal.
The VDC system will be disabled and the
VDC light will illuminate when the elec-
tronic locking rear differential (E-lock) sys-
tem switch (if so equipped) is turned on
and the E-lock system is engaged. If the
E-lock system disengages or the switch is
turned off, the VDC system will be enabled
and the VDC light will turn off.
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a disc brake pad requires
replacement, it makes a high pitched
scraping sound when the vehicle is in mo-
tion, whether or not the brake pedal is de-
pressed. Have the brakes checked as soon
as possible if the warning sound is heard.
Key reminder chime
A chime sounds if the driver’s door is
opened while the key is lef t in the ignition
switch. Remove the key and take it with you
when leaving the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
With the ignition switch placed in the OFF
position, a chime sounds when the driver’s
door is opened if the headlights or parking
lights are on.
Turn the headlight control switch off before
leaving the vehicle.
2-24Instruments and controls

WARNING
∙ Never rely solely on the hill descentcontrol system to control vehicle
speed when driving on steep downhill
grades. Always drive carefully when
using the hill descent control system
and decelerate the vehicle speed by
depressing the brake pedal if neces-
sary. Be especially careful when driv-
ing on frozen, muddy or extremely
steep downhill roads. Failure to con-
trol vehicle speed may result in a loss
of control of the vehicle and possible
serious injury or death. ∙ The hill descent control may not con-
trol the vehicle speed on a hill under
all load or road conditions. Always be
prepared to depress the brake pedal
to control vehicle speed. Failure to do
so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
CAUTION
When the hill descent control system
operates continuously for a long time,
the temperature of the brake pads may
increase and the hill descent control
system may be temporarily disabled
(the indicator light will blink). If the indi-
cator light does not come on continu-
ously af ter blinking, stop using the
system.
The hill descent control system is designed
to reduce driver workload when going
down steep hills. The hill descent control
system helps to control vehicle speed so
the driver can concentrate on steering the
vehicle.
To activate the hill descent control system: ∙ The shif t lever must be in forward or reverse gear, ∙ The 4WD switch must be in the 4L posi-
tion and the vehicle speed must be un-
der 15 mph (25 km/h) or
∙ The 4WD switch must be in the 4H posi- tion and the vehicle speed must be un-
der 21 mph (35 km/h), and
∙ The hill descent control system switch must be ON.
The hill descent control system ON indica-
tor light will come on when the system is
activated. Also, the stop/tail lights illumi-
nate while the hill descent control system
applies the brakes to control vehicle speed.
If the accelerator or brake pedal is de-
pressed while the hill descent control sys-
tem is on, the system will stop operating
temporarily. As soon as the accelerator or
brake pedal is released, the hill descent
control system begins to function again if
the hill descent control operating condi-
tions are fulfilled.
The hill descent control system ON indica-
tor light blinks if the switch is on and all
conditions for system activation are not
met or if the system becomes disengaged
for any reason.
To turn off the hill descent control system,
push the switch to the OFF position.
LIC0743
HILL DESCENT CONTROL SWITCH
(if so equipped)
2-36Instruments and controls

As with any vehicle, loss of control could
result in a collision with other vehicles or
objects or cause the vehicle to roll over,
particularly if the loss of control causes
the vehicle to slide sideways.
Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving
when tired. Never drive when under the in-
fluence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which
may cause drowsiness). Always wear your
seat belt as outlined in the “Safety – Seats,
seat belts and supplemental restraint sys-
tem” section of this manual, and also in-
struct your passengers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers.In a rollover crash,
an unbelted or improperly belted person
is significantly more likely to be injured
or killed than a person properly wearing
a seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or lef t side
wheels may unintentionally leave the road
surface. If this occurs, maintain control of
the vehicle by following the procedure be-
low. Please note that this procedure is only
a general guide. The vehicle must be driven
as appropriate based on the conditions of
the vehicle, road and traffic. 1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering
wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while vehicle
speed is reduced. Do not attempt to
drive the vehicle back onto the road
surface until vehicle speed is reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires re-
turn to the road surface. When all tires
are on the road surface, steer the ve-
hicle to stay in the appropriate driving
lane.
∙ If you decide that it is not safe to re- turn the vehicle to the road surface
based on vehicle, road or traffic con-
ditions, gradually slow the vehicle to a
stop in a safe place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged
due to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air
pressure loss can also be caused by driving
on under-inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the han-
dling and stability of the vehicle, especially
at highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspecting the tires for wear and
damage. For additional information, refer
to “Wheels and tires” in the “Do-it-yourself ”
section of this manual. If a tire rapidly loses
air pressure or “blows-out” while driving,
maintain control of the vehicle by following
the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The ve-
hicle must be driven as appropriate based
on the conditions of the vehicle, road and
traffic.
Starting and driving5-7

WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pres-
sure. Losing control of the vehicle may
cause a collision and result in personal
injury.
∙ The vehicle generally moves or pullsin the direction of the flat tire.
∙ Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
∙ Do not rapidly release the accelerator pedal.
∙ Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradu- ally stop the vehicle. 6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers
and contact a roadside emergency
service to change the tire. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Changing a
flat tire” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream re-
duces coordination, delays reaction time
and impairs judgement. Driving af ter
drinking alcohol increases the likelihood
of being involved in an accident injuring
yourself and others. Additionally, if you are
injured in an accident, alcohol can in-
crease the severity of the injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. How-
ever, you must choose not to drive under
the influence of alcohol. Every year thou-
sands of people are injured or killed in
alcohol-related collisions. Although the lo-
cal laws vary on what is considered to be
legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol
affects all people differently and most
people underestimate the effects of alco-
hol. Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix!
That is true for drugs (over-the-counter,
prescription) and illegal drugs, too. Don’t
drive if your ability to operate your vehicle is
impaired by alcohol, drugs, or some other
physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving in
deep water or mud as your NISSAN is
mainly designed for leisure use, unlike a
conventional off-road vehicle.
Remember that 2-wheel drive models are
less capable than 4-wheel drive models for
rough road driving and extrication when
stuck in deep snow or mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
∙ Drive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle
should be seated with their seat belt
fastened. This will keep you and your
passengers in position when driving
over rough terrain.
5-8Starting and driving

∙ Do not drive across steep slopes. In-stead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road ve-
hicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.
∙ Many hills are too steep for any ve- hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.
∙ Do not shif t gears while driving on downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
∙ Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.
∙
If your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill, never
attempt to turn around. Your vehicle
could tip or roll over. Always back
straight down in R (Reverse) gear. Never
back down in N (Neutral) or with the
clutch depressed (manual transmis-
sion vehicles), using only the brake, as
this could cause loss of control.
∙ Heavy braking going down a hill could cause your brakes to overheat and
fade, resulting in loss of control and
an accident. Apply brakes lightly and
use a low gear to control your speed.
Use the hill descent control feature (if
so equipped).
∙ Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it will
not be thrown forward and cause in-
jury to you or your passengers.
∙ To avoid raising the center of gravity excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as pos-
sible. Do not equip the vehicle with
tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your vehicle
to roll over.
∙ Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move sud-
denly and injure your hands. Instead
drive with your fingers and thumbs on
the outside of the rim. ∙ Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
∙ Always drive with the floor mats in place as the floor may become hot.
∙ Lower your speed when encountering strong crosswinds. With a higher cen-
ter of gravity, your NISSAN is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
∙ Do not drive beyond the performance capability of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged (if so equipped).
∙ For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at- tempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t 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.
Starting and driving5-9

∙ Do not attempt to test a 4WDequipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions
testing), or similar equipment even if
the other two wheels are raised off the
ground. Make sure you inform test fa-
cility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong
test equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal
injury.
∙ Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
∙ If at all possible, avoid sharp turning maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN 4-wheel drive
vehicle has a higher center of gravity
than a passenger car. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as passenger cars. Fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly
could result in loss of control and/or a
rollover accident. ∙ Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern on
all four wheels. Install tire chains on
the rear wheels when driving on slip-
pery roads and drive carefully.
∙ Be sure to check the brakes immedi- ately af ter driving in mud or water. For
additional information, refer to “Wet
brakes” in this section.
∙ Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it
rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
∙ Whenever you drive off-road through sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For additional
information, refer to “Maintenance
under severe operating conditions” in
the “Maintenance and schedules” sec-
tion of this manual.WARNING
∙ Never remove the ignition key or placethe ignition switch in the LOCK posi-
tion while driving. The steering wheel
will lock (for models with a steering
lock mechanism). This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle
and could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
IGNITION SWITCH
5-10Starting and driving

∙ HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURBA:
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the curb
side wheel gently touches the curb.
∙ HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB
B:
Turn the wheels away from the curb
and move the vehicle back until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
∙ HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO CURB
C:
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away
from the center of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position and remove the key. The power assisted steering uses a hy-
draulic pump, driven by the engine, to as-
sist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks,
you will still have control of the vehicle.
However, much greater steering effort is
needed, especially in sharp turns and at
low speeds.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be harder to operate.
The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and stopping distance will
be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake pads faster, and reduce
gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshif t to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade. Overheated
brakes may reduce braking performance
and could result in loss of vehicle control.
POWER STEERING
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-35

WARNING
∙ While driving on a slippery surface, becareful when braking, accelerating or
downshif ting. Abrupt braking or ac-
celerating could cause the wheels to
skid and result in an accident.
∙ If the engine is not running or is turned off while driving, the power as-
sist for the brakes will not work. Brak-
ing will be harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet. As
a result, your braking distance will be lon-
ger and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake
pedal to heat up the brakes. Do this until
the brakes return to normal. Avoid driving
the vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced,
in order to assure the best braking perfor-
mance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
∙ The ABS is a sophisticated device, but
it cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that stop-
ping distances on slippery surfaces
will be longer than on normal sur-
faces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you
are using tire chains. Always maintain
a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you. Ultimately, the driver is
responsible for safety.
∙ Tire type and condition may also af- fect braking effectiveness. – When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “Tire
and Loading Information label” in
the “Technical and consumer infor-
mation” section of this manual.
– For additional information, refer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels
do not lock during hard braking or when
braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel
and varies the brake fluid pressure to pre-
vent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
5-36Starting and driving

Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
Anti-lock Braking System will operate to
prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in-
cludes electronic sensors, electric pumps,
hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle at a low
speed in forward or reverse. When the self-
test occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal.
This is normal and does not indicate a mal-
function. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and illumi-
nates the ABS warning light on theinstrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally but without anti-lock
assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) oper-
ates at speeds abov
e3-6mph(5-
10 km/h). The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure. This action is similar to pumping the
brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal and hear a noise
from under the hood or feel a vibration
from the actuator when it is operating. This
is normal and indicates that the ABS is op-
erating properly. However, the pulsation
may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while
driving. ∙ The ABLS system uses automatic brak-
ing to transfer power from a slipping
drive wheel to the wheel on the same
axle with more traction. The ABLS sys-
tem applies braking to the slipping
wheel, which helps redirect power to
the other wheel.
∙ On 4WD models the ABLS system oper- ates in both 4H and 4LO modes. If 4WD
mode is engaged, the ABLS system op-
erates for both drive axles. On 2WD ve-
hicles, the ABLS system operates on the
drive axle only.
∙ The ABLS system is always ON. In some conditions, the system may automati-
cally turn the ABLS system off. If the sys-
tem is automatically turned off, normal
brake function will continue. ABLS will
function even when the VDC system is
turned OFF.
∙ The ABLS does not operate if both wheels on a drive axle are slipping.
ACTIVE BRAKE LIMITED SLIP (ABLS)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-37

∙ When driving on extremely inclinedsurfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
indicator may
flash or the
indicator light may
illuminate. Do not drive on these types
of roads.
∙ When driving on an unstable surface such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator may flash or
the
indicator light may illumi-
nate. This is not a malfunction. Re-
start the engine af ter driving onto a
stable surface.
∙ If wheels or tires other than the NISSAN recommended ones are used,
the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
indicator may
flash or the
indicator light may
illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
∙ Never rely solely on the hill descentcontrol system to control vehicle
speed when driving on steep downhill
grades. Always drive carefully and at-
tentively when using the hill descent
control system and decelerate the ve-
hicle speed by depressing the brake
pedal if necessary. Be especially care-
ful when driving on frozen, muddy or
extremely steep downhill roads. Fail-
ure to control vehicle speed may re-
sult in a loss of control of the vehicle
and possible serious injury or death.
∙ The hill descent control may not con- trol the vehicle speed on a hill under
all load or road conditions. Always be
prepared to depress the brake pedal
to control vehicle speed. Failure to do
so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
The hill descent control system helps
maintain vehicle speed when driving under
15-21 mph (25-35 km/h) on steeper down-
hill grades. Hill descent control is useful
when engine braking alone in 4H or 4L can-
not control vehicle speed. Hill descent con-
trol applies the vehicle brakes to control
vehicle speed allowing the driver to con- centrate on steering while reducing the
burden of brake and accelerator operation.
∙ When additional braking is required on steep downhill roads, activate the hill
descent control system by pushing the
switch on. For additional information,
refer to “Hill descent control switch” in
the “Instruments and controls” section
of this manual.
∙ Once the system is activated, the indi- cator light will remain on in the instru-
ment panel. For additional information,
refer to “Hill descent control system ON
indicator light” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual.
If the accelerator or brake pedal is de-
pressed while the hill descent control sys-
tem is on, the system will stop operating
temporarily. As soon as the accelerator or
brake pedal is released, the hill descent
control system begins to function again if
the hill descent control operating condi-
tions are fulfilled.
For the best results, when descending
steep downhill grades, the hill descent con-
trol switch should be on and the shif t lever
in 2 (Second gear) or 1 (Low gear) for engine
braking.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving5-41