wheel NISSAN ARMADA 2005 1.G Owner's Guide

4WD Shift
Switch
PositionWheels
DrivenIndicator Light
Use Conditions 4WD Shift Procedure
4WD shift Transfer
4LO posi-
tion
AUTORear
wheels or
4 wheels
For driving on paved or slippery roadsMove the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> AUTO <—> 4H
4WD shift indicator light will indicate transfer shift position engaged.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SELECT LEVER TO THE N POSITION IN THIS OPERATION. PER-
FORM THIS OPERATION WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.
2WDRear
wheels
For driving on dry, paved roads
(Economy drive) or state dynamometer
I/M testing
4H4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy or snow-
covered roads
Neutral
*1
May blinkNeutral disengages the automatic trans-
mission mechanical parking lock, which
will allow the vehicle to roll. Do not leave
the transfer shift position in Neutral.*21. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move the automatic transmission selector lever to the N position.
3. Push the 4WD shift switch and move it to 4LO or 4H with the
brake pedal depressed.
YOU CANNOT MOVE THE TRANSFER 4WD SHIFT SWITCH BETWEEN
4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO 4H)UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST STOPPED
THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVED THE AU-
TOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL. *3
4LO4 wheelsIlluminatedFor use when maximum power and trac-
tion is required (for example: on steep
grades or rocky, sandy, muddy roads)
*1: The transfer 4LO position indicator light may blink. Stop the vehicle. Be sure to shift the 4WD shift switch after the automatic transmission leverhas been shifted to the N position. If the
indicator light keeps blinking after the 4WD shift procedure in the previous page, drive slowly without abrupt maneuvers for a while. Then the light will turn on or off.
• Avoid making a turn or abrupt starts while shifting to 4LO. Otherwise gears may grind, damaging the drive system.
*2: While changing in and out of 4LO, the ignition key must be ON and the vehicle’s engine must be running for a shift to take place and for the indicator lights (4WD shift and 4LO position
indicator) to be operable. Otherwise, the shift will not take place and no indicator lights will be on or flashing.
*3: Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift switch to 4LO.
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The transfer case 4WD shift switch is used to
select either 2WD or 4WD depending on the
driving conditions. There are four types of drive
modes available, AUTO, 2WD, 4H and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically controls the
transfer case operation. Rotate the switch to
move between each mode, 2WD, AUTO, 4H and
4LO.
You must push the switch in to select 4LO,
and the vehicle MUST be stationary and the
automatic transmission selector lever in
the N position when changing into or out of
4LO.
WARNING
When parking, apply the parking brake
before stopping the engine and make sure
that the 4WD shift indicator light is on and
the ATP warning light goes off. Otherwise,
the vehicle could unexpectedly move even
if the automatic transmission is in the P
position.
CAUTION
cNever shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.cThe 4H position provides greater trac-
tion. Avoid excessive speed, as it will
cause increased fuel consumption and
higher oil temperatures, and could
damage drivetrain components.
Speeds over 62.5 MPH (100 km/h) in 4H
is not recommended.
cThe 4LO position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 31 MPH
(50 km/h) .
cWhen driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD, AUTO or 4H
position. Do not move the 4WD shift
switch when making a turn or reversing.
cDo not shift the 4WD shift switch (be-
tween 2WD, AUTO and 4H) while driving
on steep downhill grades. Use the en-
gine brake and low automatic transmis-
sion gears (D1 or D2) for engine
braking.
cDo not operate the 4WD shift switch
(between 2WD, AUTO and 4H) with the
rear wheels spinning.cDo not drive on dry hard surface roads
in the 4H or 4LO position. Driving on dry
hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise and tire wear.
NISSAN recommends driving in the
2WD or AUTO position under these
conditions.
cThe 4WD transfer case may not be
shifted between 4H and 4LO at low am-
bient temperatures and the transfer
4LO position indicator light may blink
even when the 4WD shift switch is
shifted. After driving for a while you can
change the 4WD transfer case between
4H and 4LO.
When driving on rough roads,
cSet the 4WD shift switch to AUTO, 4H or
4LO.
cDrive carefully according to the road surface
conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck,
cPlace stones or wooden blocks under the
tires to free the vehicle.
cSet the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4LO.
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cIf it is difficult to free the vehicle, repeat
forward and backward movement to in-
crease the movement.
cIf the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, tire chains
may be effective.
CAUTION
cDo not spin the tires excessively. Tires
will sink deep into the mud, making it
difficult to free the vehicle.
cAvoid shifting gears with the engine
running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.
4WD shift switch operationscShift the 4WD shift switch to either the
2WD, AUTO, 4H or 4LO position, depend-
ing on driving conditions.
cWith the switch set to the AUTO position,
distribution of torque to the front and rear
wheels changes automatically, depending
on road conditions encountered [ratio; 0 :
100 (2WD)!50 : 50 (4WD)]. This results
in improved driving stability.
cIf the 4WD shift switch is operated
while making a turn, accelerating or
decelerating or if the key switch is
turned off while in the AUTO, 4H or4LO, you may feel a jolt. This is not
abnormal.
cWhen the vehicle is stopped after mak-
ing a turn, you may feel a slight jolt
after the selector lever is shifted to N or
P. This occurs because the transfer
clutch is released and not because of a
malfunction.
CAUTION
cWhen driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD, AUTO or 4H
position. Do not move the 4WD shift
switch when making a turn or reversing.
cDo not shift the 4WD shift switch while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use
the engine brake and low automatic
transmission gears (D1 or D2) for en-
gine braking.
cDo not operate the 4WD shift switch
with the rear wheels spinning.
cBefore placing the 4WD shift switch in
the 4H position from 2WD or AUTO,
ensure the vehicle speed is less than
62.5 MPH (100 km/h) . Failure to do so
can damage the 4WD system.
cNever shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
LSD0093
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cEngine idling speed is high while warm-
ing up the engine. Be especially careful
when starting or driving on slippery sur-
faces with the 4WD shift switch set in
AUTO.
4WD shift indicator light
The 4WD shift indicator light is located in the
odometer display.
The light should turn off within 1 second after
turning the ignition switch to the ON position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shift indi-
cator light will illuminate the position selected by
the 4WD shift switch.
cThe 4WD shift indicator light may blink
while shifting from one drive mode to
the other. When the shifting is com-
pleted, the 4WD shift indicator light
will come on. If the indicator light does
not come on immediately, make sure
the area around the vehicle is safe, anddrive the vehicle straight, accelerate or
decelerate or move the vehicle in re-
verse, then shift the 4WD shift switch.
cIf the 4WD warning light comes on, the
4WD indicator light goes out.
CAUTION
cWhen the 4WD shift switch is turned to
the AUTO position at low ambient tem-
peratures, the 4WD shift indicator light
may show 4H. If this happens, all four
wheels are driven as torque distribution
is in the 4H position. Be careful as the
vehicle may become difficult to turn.
When the vehicle is driven, the 4WD
shift indicator light should change to
AUTO.
cIf the 4WD shift indicator light indica-
tion changes to 2WD when the 4WD
shift switch is shifted to the AUTO or 4H
position at low ambient temperatures,
the 2WD mode may be being engaged
due to malfunctioning drive system. If
the indicator does not return to normal
and the 4WD warning light comes on,
have the system checked by the nearest
NISSAN dealer.
LSD0094
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4WD warning light
Warning lightComes on or blinks
when:
Comes onThere is a malfunc-
tion in the 4–wheel
drive system
Blinks rapidlyThe transfer case
oil temperature is
abnormally high
Blinks slowlyThe difference in
wheel rotation is
large
The 4WD warning light is located in the meter.
The 4WD warning light comes on when the key
switch is turned to ON. It turns off soon after the
engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD system
when the key switch is ON, the warning light will
either remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator light goes out.High-temperature transfer case oil makes the
warning light blink rapidly (about twice per sec-
ond) . If the warning light blinks rapidly during
operation, stop the vehicle in a safe place imme-
diately. Then if the light goes off after a while, you
can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of front
and rear wheels will make the warning light blink
slowly (about once per two seconds) . Change
the 4WD shift switch into 2WD and do not drive
fast.
CAUTION
cIf the warning light comes on or blinks
slowly during operation or rapidly after
stopping the vehicle for a while, have
your vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
cShifting between 4H and 4LO is not
recommended when the 4WD warning
light turns on.
cWhen the 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 corre-
sponding parts are malfunctioning, the
4WD mode will not be engaged even if
the 4WD shift switch is shifted.cDo not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing on dry, hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise, tire wear
and increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on when
you are driving on dry hard surface
roads:
cin the AUTO or 4H position, shift the
4WD shift switch to 2WD.
cin the 4LO position, stop the vehicle,
move the automatic transmission
shift selector lever to the N position
with the brake pedal depressed, and
shift the 4WD shift switch to 2WD.
cIf the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
cThe transfer case may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warning
light blinking rapidly.
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WARNING
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
cSafe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) . Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and re-
sult in an accident. Make sure the shift
lever has been pushed as far forward as
it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.cNever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
cDo not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift selector lever to the P (Park)
position.3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
sA
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
sB
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
sC
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
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The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist 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
much harder to operate.The brake system has two separate hydraulic
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 pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and stopping dis-
tance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brakes and pads faster, and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift 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.
WARNING
cWhile driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
cIf the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking 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 longer 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
drum/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best brake performance.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
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This procedure is described in the vehicle service
manual and can be performed by a NISSAN
dealer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes so
the wheels do not lock when braking abruptly or
when braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel and
varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By preventing
wheel lockup, the system helps the driver main-
tain steering control and helps to minimize swerv-
ing and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system does not operate at
speeds below3-6MPH(5-10km/h) . (The
speeds vary according to road conditions.)
When driving, the anti-lock brake system con-
trols the wheels so they will not lock when brak-ing abruptly or when braking on a slippery road.
Thus, difficult steering and swerving of the ve-
hicle due to locked wheels is minimized. The
system detects the wheel rotation rate and elec-
tronically controls the pressure applied to each
brake. Slight vibration on the brake pedal accom-
panied by noise usually occurs while the ABS
system is operating. Such vibration and noise
encountered during abrupt braking is not a prob-
lem, but indicates that the system is functioning
properly. However, the pulsation may indicate
that road conditions are hazardous and extra care
is required while driving.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of electronic
sensors and hydraulic solenoids controlled by 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 pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and is not
an indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-lock
brake system off and turns on the ABS brake
warning light on the instrument panel. The brake
system then operates normally, but without anti-
lock assistance.If the light comes on during the self-test or while
driving, take the vehicle to a NISSAN dealer for
repair.
WARNING
cThe anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with the anti-lock brake
system. Stopping distances may also
be longer on rough, gravel or snow cov-
ered roads, or if you are using tire
chains. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness. Always
maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the re-
sponsibility for safety of self and others
rests in the hands of the driver.
cTire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the speci-
fied size of tires on all four wheels.
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cWhen installing a spare tire, make sure
it is the proper size and type as speci-
fied on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label. For tire placard location in-
formation, refer to “Tire and Loading
Information label” in the “Technical and
consumer information” section of this
manual.
cRefer to “Wheels and tires” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.When accelerating or driving on slippery sur-
faces, the tires may spin or slide. With the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system, sensors detect
these movements and control the braking and
engine output to help improve vehicle stability.
cWhen the vehicle dynamic control (VDC)
system is operating, the slip indicator in the
instrument panel blinks.
cIf the slip indicator blinks, the road condi-
tions are slippery. Be sure to adjust your
speed and driving to these conditions. See
“Slip indicator light”, and “Vehicle dynamic
control (VDC) off indicator light” in the “In-
struments and controls” section.
cIndicator light
If malfunction occurs in the system,
the
andindicator lights come
on in the instrument panel.
As long as these indicator lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled.
If the vehicle is operated with the vehicle dynamic
control system off using the VDC OFF switch,
most VDC functions will be turned off. The VDC
system will still try to transfer power from a slip-
ping drive wheel to one with more traction when
the VDC system switch is OFF. The Slip indicator
light will flash if wheel spin is detected. The ABS
will still operate with the VDC system off.When the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the hood. This is normal and
indicates that the VDC system is working prop-
erly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
designed to help improve driving stabil-
ity but does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when
driving and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
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cIf brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not stan-
dard equipment or are extremely dete-
riorated, the vehicle dynamic control
system may not operate properly and
the vehicle dynamic control off indica-
tor light may come on.
cDo not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars
and bushings are not NISSAN approved
for your vehicle or are extremely dete-
riorated the vehicle dynamic control
system may not operate properly. This
could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the VDC OFF indica-
tor light may come on.
cWhen driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners,
the vehicle dynamic control system may
not operate properly and the VDC OFF
indicator light may come on. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
cWhen driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the vehicle dynamic control off
indicator light may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine
after driving onto a stable surfacecIf wheels or tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the vehicle dy-
namic control system may not operate
properly and the vehicle dynamic con-
trol off indicator light may come on.
cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
not a substitute for winter tires or tire
chains on a snow covered road.
WARNING
cAlways turn and look back before back-
ing. The RSS is not a substitute for
proper backing procedures.
cRead and understand the limitations of
the rear sonar system as contained in
this section. Inclement weather may af-
fect the function of the RSS; this may
include reduced performance or a false
activation.
cThis system is not designed to prevent
contact with small or moving objects.
LSD0095
REAR SONAR SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
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