ignition NISSAN ARMADA 2009 Owners Manual

Take care not to spill gasoline during refu-
eling. Gasoline containing oxygenates can
cause paint damage.
E–85 fuel
E-85 fuel is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel
ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. E-85 can
only be used in a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) . Do
not use E-85 in your vehicle. U.S. government
regulations require fuel ethanol dispensing
pumps to be identified by a small, square, orange
and black label with the common abbreviation or
the appropriate percentage for that region.
Aftermarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of any
aftermarket fuel additives (for example, fuel injec-
tor cleaner, octane booster, intake valve deposit
removers, etc.) which are sold commercially.
Many of these additives intended for gum, varnish
or deposit removal may contain active solvents or
similar ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than recommended can cause
persistent, heavy “spark knock.” (“Spark
knock” is a metallic rapping noise.) If se-
vere, this can lead to engine damage. If youdetect a persistent heavy spark knock even
when using gasoline of the stated octane
rating, or if you hear steady spark knock
while holding a steady speed on level
roads, have a NISSAN dealer correct the
condition. Failure to correct the condition
is misuse of the vehicle, for which NISSAN
is not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing may result in spark
knock, after-run and/or overheating, which may
cause excessive fuel consumption or engine
damage. If any of the above symptoms are en-
countered, have your vehicle checked at a
NISSAN dealer.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is not a
cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
CAUTION
cYour vehicle is not designed to run on
E-85 fuel. Using E-85 fuel in a vehicle
not specifically designed for E-85 fuel
can damage fuel system components
and is not covered by the NISSAN new
vehicle limited warranty.cE-85 is a mixture of approximately 85%
fuel ethanol and 15% unleaded
gasoline.
cU.S. government regulations require
ethanol dispensing pumps to be identi-
fied by a small, square, orange and
black label with the common abbrevia-
tion or the appropriate percentage for
that region.
FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLE (FFV) FUEL
RECOMMENDATION (if so equipped)
Your vehicle is designed to use (E-85) Fuel Etha-
nol, “Regular” unleaded regular gasoline or any
percentage of the two fuels combined.
U.S. government regulations require Fuel
Ethanol dispensing pumps to have a small,
square, orange and black label with the
common abbreviation or the appropriate
percentage for that region.
CAUTION
Use of other fuels such as Fuel Methanol
may cause powertrain damage or a loss of
vehicle performance.
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ENGINE
ModelVK56DE
TypeGasoline, 4-cycle, DOHC
Cylinder arrangement8-cylinder, V-block, Slanted at 90°
Bore x Strokein (mm) 3.858 x 3.622 (98 x 92)
Displacementcu in (cm
3) 338.78 (5,552)
Firing order1–8–7–3–6–5–4–2
Idle speed
No adjustment is necessary. A/T (in “N” position)
Ignition timing (degree B.T.D.C. at idle
speed)
CO % at idle
Spark plugStandard Model FFV Model
DILFR5A-11 DILFR5A-11D
Spark plug gap (Nominal)in (mm) 0.043 (1.1)
Camshaft operationTiming chain
This spark ignition system complies with the Canadian standard ICES-002.
SPECIFICATIONS
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NOTE:
A weight-distributing hitch system may af-
fect the operation of trailer surge brakes. If
you are considering use of a weight-
distributing hitch system with a surge
brake-equipped trailer, check with the
surge brake, hitch or trailer manufacturer
to determine if and how this can be done.
Follow the instructions provided by the manufac-
turer for installing and using the weight-
distributing hitch system.
General set-up instructions are as follows:
1. Park unloaded vehicle on a level surface.
With the ignition on and the doors closed,
allow the vehicle to stand for several minutes
so that it can level.
2. Measure the height of a reference point on
the front and rear bumpers at the center of
the vehicle.
3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust
the hitch equalizers so that the front bumper
height is within0-.5inches (0 – 13 mm) of
the reference height measured in step 2. The
rear bumper should be no higher than the
reference height measured in step 2.WARNING
Properly adjust the weight distributing
hitch so the rear of the bumper is no
higher than the measured reference
height when the trailer is attached. If the
rear bumper is higher than the measured
reference height when loaded, the vehicle
may handle unpredictably which could
cause a loss of vehicle control and cause
serious personal injury or property
damage.
Sway control device
Sudden maneuvers, wind gusts, and buffeting
caused by other vehicles can affect trailer han-
dling. Sway control devices may be used to help
control these affects. If you choose to use one,
contact a reputable trailer hitch supplier to make
sure the sway control device will work with the
vehicle, hitch, trailer and the trailer’s brake sys-
tem. Follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer for installing and using the sway
control device.
Class I hitch
Class I trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 2,000 lb (909 kg) .
Class II hitch
Class II trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 3,500 lb (1,510 kg).
Class III hitch
Class III trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 5,000 lb (2,272 kg).
Class IV hitch
Class IV trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 10,000 lb (4,545 kg). A
weight distributing hitch should be used to tow
trailers that weigh over 5,000 lb (2,272 kg).
Your vehicle may be equipped with Class IV
trailer hitch equipment that has a 10,000 lb
(4,545 kg) maximum weight rating, but your ve-
hicle is only capable of towing the maximum
trailer weights shown in the “Towing
Load/Specification” chart earlier in this section.
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3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cUse the Tow Mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
cNISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.
cSome states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after
50 miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
Tow mode
Using tow mode is recommended when pulling a
heavy trailer or hauling a heavy load. Press the
TOW MODE switch to activate tow mode. The
indicator light on the TOW MODE switch illumi-
nates when tow mode is selected. Press the
TOW MODE switch again to turn tow mode off.
Tow mode is automatically cancelled when the
ignition switch is turned OFF.
Tow mode includes the following features:cGrade logic — Adjusts transmission shifts
when pulling a trailer or hauling a load up a
grade.
cDownhill Speed Control (DSC) — automati-
cally downshifts when driving down a grade
with a trailer or heavy load to help control
vehicle speed.
Driving the vehicle in the tow mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not cause
any damage. However, fuel economy may be
reduced and the transmission/engine driving
characteristics may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
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If you believe that your vehicle has a de-
fect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immedi-
ately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addi-
tion to notifying NISSAN.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Ve-
hicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-
327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go
to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re-
quired to be in what is called the “ready condi-
tion” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of
the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when it
is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually,
the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary
usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready” condition. Before taking the
I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Turn the ignition switch ON without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and then
blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M test condition is
“not ready”. If the MIL does not blink after 20 sec-
onds, the I/M test condition is “ready”. If the MIL
indicates the vehicle is in a “not ready” condition,
drive the vehicle through the following pattern to
set the vehicle to the ready condition. If you
cannot or do not want to perform the driving
pattern, a NISSAN dealer can conduct it for you.WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic con-
ditions and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C. Al-
low the engine to idle until the gauge needle
points between the C and H (normal oper-
ating temperature) .
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h),
then quickly release the accelerator pedal
completely and keep it released for at least
10 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of
53 - 60 MPH (86 - 96 km/h) for at least
9 minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 through 5 at least 10 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3 min-
utes.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (US
only)READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
Technical and consumer information9-31
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F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch)......2-36
Flat tire......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-4
Fluid
Brake fluid..................8-12
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Engine coolant................8-7
Engine oil...................8-8
Power steering fluid.............8-11
Window washer fluid............8-12
F.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-11
Fog light switch.................2-35
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system).....1-57
Front seats....................1-2
Front sonar system...............5-32
Fuel
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Fuel economy................5-20
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Fuel octane rating..............9-4
Fuel recommendation............9-3
Fuel-filler door and cap...........3-26
Fuses......................8-22
Fusible links...................8-24G
Garage door opener, HomeLinkTUniversal
Transceiver...................2-59
Gascap.....................3-26
Gauge
Automatic transmission fluid temperature
gauge.....................2-9
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine oil pressure gauge..........2-8
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Odometer...................2-5
Speedometer.................2-5
Tachometer..................2-6
Trip odometer.................2-5
Voltmeter...................2-8
General maintenance..............8-2
Glass hatch...................3-26
Glove box....................2-43
Glove box lock.................2-43
H
Hands-free phone system,
BluetoothT...............4-92, 4-107
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-36
Head restraints..................1-8
Active Head Restraint............1-9
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-32
Headlight control switch............2-32
Headlights....................8-28
Headphones
(See NISSAN mobile entertainment system). .4-79
Heated seats..................2-37Heated steering wheel.............2-37
Heater
Heater and air conditioner controls. . . .4-36
Heater operation..............4-37
Rear seat air conditioner..........4-38
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.......2-59
Hood release..................3-21
Hook
Luggage hook................2-49
Horn.......................2-36
I
Ignition switch..................5-9
Immobilizer system.........2-29, 3-3, 5-11
Important vehicle information label.......9-11
In-cabin microfilter...............8-17
Increasing fuel economy............5-20
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders)....................2-13
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror.......3-29
Instrument brightness control.........2-35
Instrument panel..............0-6, 2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch........2-35
Intelligent Key system..............3-11
Key operating range............3-12
Key operation................3-13
Mechanical key................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation......3-16
Troubleshooting guide...........3-20
Warning signals...............3-20
Interior light...................2-56
ISOFIX child restraints.............1-29
10-3
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S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock..........3-7
Child seat belts........1-27, 1-38, 1-44
Reporting safety defects (US only). . . .9-31
Screen (See NISSAN mobile entertainment
system).....................4-78
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2
Front power seat adjustment........1-4
Second row bench seats..........1-6
Second row captain’s chair.........1-5
Third row power folding seats.......1-15
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-19
Infants and small children.........1-19
Injured Person................1-20
Larger children...............1-19
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-16
Pregnant women..............1-20
Pre-tensioner seat belt system.......1-62
Rear center seat belt............1-23
Seat belt extenders.............1-26
Seat belt maintenance...........1-27
Seat belts..................1-16
Shoulder belt height adjustment......1-26
Three-point type with retractor.......1-20
Seat belt warning light.............2-18
Seatback pockets................2-44
Seats
Adjustment..................1-2
Automatic drive positioner.........3-32
Front seats..................1-2
Heated seats................2-37Manual front seat adjustment........1-2
Second row captain’s chair adjustment.....1-5
Security indicator light.............2-19
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start........2-29, 3-3, 5-11
Self-adjusting brakes..............8-22
Service manual order form...........9-33
Servicing air conditioner............4-39
Setting button...............4-9, 4-25
Shift lock release................5-16
Shifting
Automatic transmission...........5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-26
Side air bag system (See supplemental side air
bag, curtain and rollover air bag systems). . .1-61
Sonar
Front system.................5-32
Rear system.................5-31
Spark plug replacement............8-16
Speedometer...................2-5
SRS warning label...............1-64
Starting
Before starting the engine.........5-12
Jump starting.................6-8
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting................6-10
Starting the engine.............5-12
Startup screen.................4-19
Steering
Heated steering wheel...........2-37
Power steering fluid.............8-11
Power steering system...........5-28
Tilting steering wheel............3-28
Steering wheel audio control switch......4-73
Stop light....................8-30
Storage.....................2-41Overhead storage compartment......2-44
Storage bin................2-45, 2-48
Storage tray...................2-41
Sun visors....................3-28
Sunglasses case................2-43
Sunglasses holder...............2-43
Sunroof.....................2-55
Supplemental air bag warning labels.....1-64
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-64, 2-18
Supplemental front impact air bag system . .1-57
Supplemental restraint system
Information and warning labels.......1-64
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-49
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-49
Switch
Autolight switch...............2-33
Automatic power window switch.....2-53
Fog light switch...............2-35
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-36
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-32
Headlight control switch..........2-32
Ignition switch................5-9
Power door lock switch...........3-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-32
Rear window wiper and washer
switches...................2-31
Turn signal switch..............2-35
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch....................2-38
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-30
10-6
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