four wheel drive NISSAN ARMADA 2005 1.G Owners Manual

Welcome to the growing family of new NISSAN
owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with
confidence. It was produced using the latest
techniques and strict quality control.
This manual was prepared to help you under-
stand the operation and maintenance of your
vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles (kilome-
ters) of driving pleasure. Please read through this
manual before operating your vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information Booklet
explains details about the warranties cov-
ering your vehicle. The “NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide” explains details
about maintaining and servicing your ve-
hicle. Additionally, a separate Customer
Care/Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will
explain how to resolve any concerns you
may have with your vehicle, as well as
clarify your rights under your state’s lemon
law.
Your NISSAN dealership knows your vehicle
best. When you require any service or have any
questions, they will be glad to assist you with the
extensive resources available to them.Before driving your vehicle please read this Own-
er’s Manual carefully. This will ensure familiarity
with controls and maintenance requirements, as-
sisting you in the safe operation of your vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION RE-
MINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and comfortable trip
for you and your passengers!
cNEVER drive under the influence of al-
cohol or drugs.
cALWAYS observe posted speed limits
and never drive too fast for conditions.
cALWAYS use your seat belts and appro-
priate child restraint systems. Pre-teen
children should be seated in the rear
seat.
cALWAYS provide information about the
proper use of vehicle safety features to
all occupants of the vehicle.
cALWAYS review this owner’s manual for
important safety information.
For descriptions specified for four-wheel drive
models, a
mark is placed at the begin-
ning of the applicable sections/items.As with other vehicles with features for
off-road use, failure to operate four-wheel
drive models correctly may result in loss of
control or an accident. Be sure to read
“Driving safety precautions” in the “Start-
ing and driving” section of this manual.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD DRIVING
This vehicle will handle and maneuver
differently from an ordinary passenger
car because it has a higher center of
gravity for off-road use. As with other
vehicles with features of this type, fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or an accident.
Be sure to read “On-pavement and off-
road driving precautions”, and “Avoid-
ing collision and rollover”, and “Driving
safety precautions”, in the “Starting and
driving” section of this manual.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified. Modi-
fication could affect its performance,
safety or durability, and may even violate
governmental regulations. In addition,
damage or performance problems result-
ing from modifications may not be cov-
ered under NISSAN warranties.
FOREWORD READ FIRST—THEN DRIVE SAFELY
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cIf the light comes on while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or
abrupt braking, reduce vehicle speed,
pull off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
Serious vehicle damage could occur
and may lead to an accident and could
result in serious personal injury. Check
the tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF.
If the light still comes on while driving
after adjusting the tire pressure, a tire
may be flat. If you have a flat tire, re-
place it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.
cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be
indicated and the low tire pressure
warning system will not function. Con-
tact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.CAUTION
cThe low tire pressure warning system is
not a substitute for the regular tire pres-
sure check. Be sure to check the tire
pressure regularly.
cIf the vehicle is being driven at speeds
of less than 20 MPH (32 km/h) , the low
tire pressure warning system may not
operate correctly.
cBe sure to install the specified size of
tires to the 4 wheels correctly.
Low windshield washer fluid
warning light
This light comes on when the windshield washer
fluid is at a low level. Add windshield washer fluid
as necessary. See “Window washer fluid” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual.
Seat belt warning light and
chime
The light and chime remind you to fasten your
seat belts. The light illuminates whenever the
ignition key is turned to the ON or START position
and remains illuminated until the driver’s seat beltis fastened. At the same time, the chime sounds
for about 6 seconds unless the driver’s seat belt
is securely fastened.
Refer to “Seat belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” section
for precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warning
light
When the ignition key is in the ON or START
position, the supplemental air bag warning light
illuminates for about 7 seconds and then turns
off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the
supplemental front air bags, supplemental side
air bags (if so equipped) , curtain side-impact and
rollover air bags, and pre-tensioner seat belt sys-
tems need servicing and your vehicle must be
taken to a NISSAN dealer:
cThe supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
2-16Instruments and controls
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5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions....................................5-3
Low tire pressure warning system................5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-5
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-5
Driving safety precautions.......................5-5
Ignition switch.....................................5-7
Automatic transmission..........................5-7
Key positions..................................5-7
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system (NVIS).........5-8
Before starting the engine..........................5-8
Starting the engine................................5-9
Driving the vehicle.................................5-9
Engine protection mode.........................5-9
Automatic transmission.........................5-10
Parking brake....................................5-14
Cruise control....................................5-14
Precautions on cruise control...................5-14Cruise control operations.......................5-15
Break-in schedule................................5-16
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-16
Using four wheel drive (4WD).............5-17
Transfer case shifting procedures...............5-17
Parking/parking on hills............................5-23
Power steering...................................5-24
Brake system....................................5-24
Brake precautions.............................5-24
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)...................5-25
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-26
Rear sonar system (if so equipped).................5-27
Cold weather driving..............................5-28
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-28
Anti-freeze....................................5-28
Battery.......................................5-28
Draining of coolant water.......................5-28
Tire equipment................................5-29
Special winter equipment.......................5-29
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-29
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If the warning light illuminates in low ambient
temperature as described above, check the tire
pressure for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pressure shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF.
Frequently check the tire pressure information
display on the display screen (if so equipped) and
adjust pressure of each tire properly. (The order
of the tire pressure figures displayed on the
screen does not correspond with the actual order
of the tire position.) See “Tire pressure informa-
tion” in the “Display screen, heater, air condi-
tioner and audio systems” section for tire pres-
sure monitor. If you select the tire pressure
information in the display (if so equipped) , the
FLAT TIRE warning message will be displayed.
Low tire pressure warning
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure
(lower than 28 psi, 193 kPa) , the low tire pres-
sure warning light comes on and the chime
sounds for about 10 seconds.
For additional information regarding the above
warning, see “Warning/indicator lights and au-
dible reminders” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section.
WARNING
cIf the low tire pressure warning light
flashes while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Serious vehicle
damage could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in serious
personal injury. Check the tire pressure
for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pres-
sure shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label to turn the low tire
pressure warning light OFF. If you have
a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire as
soon as possible. (See “Flat tire” in the
“In case of emergency” section for
changing a flat tire.)
cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be
indicated and the low tire pressure
warning system will not function. Con-
tact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.cDo not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pressure
sensors.
CAUTION
Do not place metalized film or any metal
parts (antenna, etc.) on the windows. This
may cause poor reception of the signals
from the tire pressure sensors, and the
low tire pressure warning system will not
function properly.
FCC Notice:
Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the manufacturer compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules and RSS-210 of Industry
Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interface, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired op-
eration of the device.
5-4Starting and driving
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AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss of
control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey
all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed,
high speed cornering, or sudden steering ma-
neuvers, because these driving practices could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle.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 influence 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 system” section of this
manual, and also instruct your passengers to do
so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in colli-
sions and rollovers.In a rollover crash, an
unbelted or improperly belted person issignificantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
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 after
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
increase the severity of the injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. However,
you must choose not to drive under the influence
of alcohol. Every year thousands of people are
injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents. Al-
though the local 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 alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix! And
that is true for drugs, too (over-the-counter, pre-
scription, and illegal drugs) . Don’t drive if yourability to operate your vehicle is impaired by alco-
hol, 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 wa-
ter or mud as your NISSAN is mainly designed for
leisure use, unlike a conventional off-road ve-
hicle.
Remember that two-wheel drive models are less
capable than four-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
cDrive 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.
cDo not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. Off-road vehicles can
tip over sideways much more easily
than they can forward or backward.
Starting and driving5-5
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cMany hills are too steep for any vehicle.
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.
cDo not shift gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
cStay 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.
cIf your engine stalls or you cannot make
it to the top of a steep hill, never at-
tempt to turn around. Your vehicle
could tip or roll over. Always back
straight down in R (Reverse) gear and
apply brakes to control your speed.
cHeavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and fade,
resulting in loss of control and an acci-
dent. Apply brakes lightly and use a low
gear to control your speed.
cUnsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Prop-
erly secure all cargo so it will not be
thrown forward and cause injury to you
or your passengers.cTo avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated ca-
pacity of the roof rack and evenly distrib-
ute the load. Secure heavy loads in the
cargo area as far forward and as low as
possible. Do not equip the vehicle with
tires larger than specified in this manual.
This could cause your vehicle to roll over.
cDo 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.
cBefore operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
cLower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center
of gravity, your NISSAN is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
cDo not drive beyond the performance
capablity of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
cAccelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.cIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your NISSAN four-wheel drive vehicle
has a higher center of gravity than a
two-wheel drive vehicle. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional two-wheel
drive vehicles. Failure to operate this
vehicle correctly could result in loss of
control and/or a rollover accident.
cAlways 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 slippery roads
and drive carefully.
cBe sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water. See
“Brake system” later in this section for
“Wet brakes”.
cAvoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it
rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
cWhenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent maintenance
may be required. See “Periodic mainte-
nance” in the “NISSAN Service and
Maintenance Guide.”
5-6Starting and driving
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cWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag.
c
Use 4H or 4L position only when
necessary. Four-wheel drive operation low-
ers fuel economy.
CAUTION
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 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.
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
All mode 4WD system provides 4 positions
(AUTO, 2WD, 4H and 4LO) , so you can select
the desired drive mode according to the driving
conditions.
2WD or 4WD shift procedure:
USING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
(4WD)
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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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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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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.
Starting and driving5-25
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