Using 4wd NISSAN ARMADA 2018 Owner´s Manual

terrain.
. Do not drive across steep slopes.
Instead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-
road vehicles can tip over side-
ways much more easily than they
can forward or backward.
. Many 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.
. Do not shift ranges while driving
on downhill grades as this could
cause loss of control of the vehi-
cle.
. 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) range. Never back down
in N (Neutral), using only the
brake, as this could cause loss of
control. .
Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to over-
heat and fade, resulting in loss of
control and an accident. Apply
brakes lightly and use a low
range to control your speed.
. Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough
terrain. Properly secure all cargo
so it will not be thrown forward
and cause injury 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 dis-
tribute 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 man-
ual. This could cause your vehicle
to roll over.
. Do not grip the inside or spokes
of the steering wheel when driv-
ing off-road. The steering wheel
could move suddenly and injure
your hands. Instead drive with
your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim. .
Before operating the vehicle, en-
sure that the driver and all pas-
sengers have their seat belts
fastened.
. Always drive with the floor mats
in place as the floor may became
hot.
. Lower your speed when encoun-
tering strong crosswinds. With a
higher center of gravity, your
NISSAN is more affected by
strong side winds. Slower speeds
ensure better vehicle control.
. Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires,
even with 4WD engaged.
. For 4WD equipped vehicles, do
not attempt to raise two wheels
off the ground and shift the
transmission to any drive or re-
verse position with the engine
running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
. Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel
dynamometer (such as the dy-
namometers used by some
states for emissions testing), or
Starting and driving5-11

5-12Starting and driving
similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off
the ground. Make sure you inform
test facility personnel that your
vehicle is equipped with 4WD
before it is placed on a dynam-
ometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury (4WD models).
. When a wheel is off the ground
due to an unlevel surface, do not
spin the wheel excessively.
. Accelerating quickly, sharp steer-
ing maneuvers or sudden braking
may cause loss of control.
. If at all possible, avoid sharp
turning maneuvers, particularly
at high speeds. Your vehicle has
a higher center of gravity than a
conventional passenger car. The
vehicle is not designed for cor-
nering at the same speeds as
conventional passenger cars.
Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly could result in loss of
control and/or a rollover acci-
dent. .
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 slippery roads
and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes im-
mediately after driving in mud or
water. See “Brake system” (P.5-
137) for wet brakes.
. Avoid parking your vehicle on
steep hills. If you get out of the
vehicle and it rolls forward, back-
ward or sideways, you could be
injured.
. Whenever you drive off-road
through sand, mud or water as
deep as the wheel hub, more
frequent maintenance may be
required. See the maintenance
schedule shown in the "9. Main-
tenance and schedules" section.
. Spinning the rear wheels on slip-
pery surfaces may cause the 4WD
warning light to flash. The 4WD
system may also automatically
switch from the 4WD mode to
the 2WD mode. This could reduce
traction. Be especially careful
when towing a trailer (4WD mod- els).

7. Avoid idling..Shutting off your engine when safefor stops exceeding 30-60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and
avoid stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no morethan 30 seconds of idling at start-
up to effectively circulate the en-
gine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating temperature more
quickly while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade when-
ever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, open- ing the windows will help to reduce
the inside temperature faster, re-
sulting in reduced demand on your
A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity en-
gine oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation” (P.10-6).)
WARNING
.Do not attempt to raise two
wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine
running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
. Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel
dynamometer or similar equip-
ment even if the other two
wheels are raised off the ground.
Make sure you inform test facility
personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using
the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious ve-
hicle damage or personal injury.
Starting and driving5-123
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYNISSAN ALL-MODE 4WD® (if so equipped)

6-20In case of emergency
This section describes the procedure for
manually shifting the vehicle into the 4WD
mode (4L position) in case of an emer-
gency.
WHEN 4WD WARNING LIGHT ILLU-
MINATES
If the 4WD warning light illuminates while
driving, there may be a malfunction in the
4WD system. Stop the vehicle and have
the vehicle checked as soon as possible. It
is recommended you contact a NISSAN
dealer for this service. (See “NISSAN all-
mode 4WD®” (P.5-123).)
When the vehicle is stuck on an uneven
road (desert, mud, etc.) and the 4WD
warning light is illuminated, be sure to
place the 4WD shift switch in the 4L
position. If only the rear wheels are
spinning, this means that the transfer
has not switched to the 4L position
electrically.
If this situation occurs, contact a dealer or
road assistance service for help. If an
immediate service is not available, per-
form the following procedure to switch to
the 4L position manually and free the
vehicle.
CAUTION
Only perform this procedure in an
emergency.
If the vehicle is driven for a long
period of time over a long distance
with a component detached, foreign
material such as water, sand, etc.
may enter from the opening and this
may cause a malfunction in the
drivetrain system. After freeing a
vehicle that has become stuck, it is
recommended you contact a NISSAN
dealer for inspection and repair.
WARNING
.Ensure your safety before per-
forming the operations. The ve-
hicle may move unexpectedly.
. Place the ignition switch in the
OFF position, apply the parking
brake and let the vehicle cool
down.
. Do not perform the following
procedure immediately after
driving the vehicle. Parts such as
exhaust components, the trans- mission, etc. are very hot and
may cause a burn injury.
. Make sure that the parts that will
be operated as well as related
parts cool down before perform-
ing the operation.
. Burrs or projecting portions of
metal components may cause
unexpected injury to your fingers
or arms. Pay special attention in
regard to your safety while re-
moving and installing these
parts. Wear work gloves and pro-
tective arm covers.
CAUTION
While removing and installing the
parts, prevent the removed parts
from getting dirty with water, dirt or
sand. Protect the parts using a cover
such as a clean cloth, etc.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
MANUAL SHIFTING (4WD models)

OPERATING PROCEDURE
Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and apply the parking brake. Let
the vehicle cool down before performing
the following procedure.
SCE0959
4WD shift motor assembly
1. Check that the ignition switch is in theOFF position.
CAUTION
The following procedure includes the
removal of the electrical system
components. Therefore, make sure
that the ignition switch is in the OFF
position before proceeding.
SCE0960
4WD shift motor harness connector
2. Unlock the upper lockof the har-
ness connector of the 4WD shift motor
assembly, then remove the harness
connector.
3. Cover the connector to prevent it from getting dirty, and then fasten
the connector to the vehicle using a
suitable rope so that the connector
does not contact the exhaust muffler,
etc.
In case of emergency6-21

6-22In case of emergency
CAUTION
The connector must be fastened
securely. Not doing so may result in
damage to the connector due to
interference with other parts.
SCE0961
4. Remove the 4 boltsthat secure the
4WD shift motor using the wrench
that is equipped in the vehicle.
5. Remove the 4WD shift motor assem- bly.
CAUTION
Be careful not to allow the assembly
to contact water, dirt or sand.
SCE0962
6. Completely insert the wrench into the
internal gearof the transfer.
7. Fully turn the wrench clockwise
as
far as it will go. This shifts the transfer
to the 4L position.
8. Install the 4WD shift motor assembly. Securely tighten the 4 bolts using the
wrench.
CAUTION
.Do not connect the harness con-
nector of the 4WD shift motor
after the above procedure has
been performed.

9-12Maintenance and schedules
MAINTENANCE OPERATION
Perform at of miles, kilo-
meters or months, which-
ever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
65
(104) 78 70
(112) 84 75
(120) 90 80
(128) 96 85
(136) 102 90
(144) 108 95
(152) 114 100
(160) 120 105
(168) 126 110
(176) 132 115
(184) 138 120
(192) 144
Brake lines & cables II II I I
Brake pads & rotors$ II II I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission fluid See NOTE (1)
Differential gear oil See NOTE (2)II II I I
Transfer fluid See NOTE (2)II II I I
Steering gear & linkage, axle
& suspension parts$ II I
Propeller shaft & drive shaft
boots (4WD models)$ II II I I
Propeller shaft grease (4WD
models) LL LL L L
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Exhaust system$ III
In-cabin microfilter RRR R
Intelligent Key battery RRR R
NOTE:
Maintenance items with “$” should be
performed more frequently according
to “Maintenance under severe driving
conditions” (P.9-13). (1) Periodic maintenance is not required.
(2) If towing a trailer, using a camper or
car-top carrier, or driving on rough or
muddy roads, change (not just inspect)
oil at every 20,000 miles (32,000 km) or24 months.
(3) Refer to “Tire rotation” under “Gen-
eral maintenance” (P.9-2).

The maintenance intervals shown on the
preceding pages are for normal operating
conditions. If the vehicle is mainly oper-
ated under severe driving conditions as
shown below, more frequent mainte-
nance must be performed on the follow-
ing items as shown in the table.
Severe driving conditions
.Repeated short trips of less than 5
miles (8 km).
. Repeated short trips of less than 10
miles (16 km) with outside tempera-
tures remaining below freezing.
. Operating in hot weather in stop-and-
go “rush hour” traffic.
. Extensive idling and/or low speed
driving for long distances, such as
police, taxi or door-to-door delivery
use.
. Driving in dusty conditions.
. Driving on rough, muddy, or salt
spread roads.
. Towing a trailer, or using a camper or
car-top carrier
Maintenance operation: Inspect = Inspect
and correct or replace as necessary.Maintenance item Maintenance opera- tionMaintenance interval
Brake fluid ReplaceEvery 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 12
months
Brake pads & rotors InspectEvery 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Steering gear & linkage, axle &
suspension parts Inspect
Every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Propeller shaft & drive shaft
boots (4WD models) Inspect
Every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Exhaust system InspectEvery 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Maintenance and schedules9-13
MAINTENANCE UNDER SEVERE
DRIVING CONDITIONS

10-22Technical and consumer information
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION
WARNING
The towing capacities provided in
this manual are for general reference
only. The safe towing capacity of
your vehicle is affected by dealer
and factory installed options and
passenger and cargo loads. You
must weigh the vehicle and trailer
as described in this manual to de-
termine the actual vehicle towing
capacity. Do not exceed the pub-
lished maximum towing capacity, or
the GCWR or the GVWR shown on the
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification la-
bel. Doing so can result in an acci-
dent causing serious personal injury
or property damage.
Towing load/specification chart
Axle Type Two-Wheel Drive (2WD)Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
Maximum Towing Capacity*1, *2 8,500 lb (3,856 kg)
Maximum Tongue Load 850 lb (385 kg)
Maximum Gross Combined Weight Rat-
ing 14,450 lb (6,554 kg)
14,700 lb (6,668 kg)
1: The towing capacity values are calculated assuming a base vehicle with driver and any options required to achieve the rating. Additional passengers, cargo and/or optional
equipment will add weight to the vehicle and reduce your vehicle’s maximum towing
capacity.
2: Use of a weight-distributing hitch system is recommended when towing over 5,000 lb (2,267 kg).

10-30Technical and consumer information
TOW mode
Using TOW mode is recommended when
pulling a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy
load. Push the TOW MODE switch to
activate tow mode. The TOW MODE
indicator light in the meter illuminates
when TOW mode is selected. Push the
TOW MODE switch again to turn TOW
mode off. TOW mode is automatically
cancelled when the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position.
TOW mode includes the following fea-
tures:
.Grade logic — Adjusts transmission
shifts when pulling a trailer or hauling
a load up a grade.
. Downhill Speed Control (DSC) — auto-
matically 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 trans-
mission/engine driving characteristics
may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information,
see the "9. Maintenance and schedules"
section.
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 recrea-
tional vehicle, such as a motor home.
CAUTION
. Failure to follow these guidelines
can result in severe transmission
damage.
. Whenever flat towing your vehi-
cle, always tow forward, never
backward.
. DO NOT tow any automatic trans-
mission vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground (flat tow-
ing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE inter-
nal transmission parts due to lack
of transmission lubrication.
. DO NOT tow a Four-Wheel Drive
(4WD) vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground. Doing so
may cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
. For emergency towing proce-
dures refer to “Towing recom-
mended by NISSAN” (P.6-17).
Automatic Transmission
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models:
Do not tow a 4WD vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models:
To tow a vehicle equipped with an auto-
matic transmission, an appropriate vehi-
cle dolly MUSTbe placed under the towed
vehicle’s drive wheels. Alwaysfollow the
dolly manufacturer’s recommendations
when using their product.