tow NISSAN ARMADA PLATINUM 2017 Owner's Guide

Several types of braking systems are available.
Surge Brakes -The surge brake actuator is
mounted on the trailer tongue with a hydraulic
line running to each trailer wheel. Surge brakes
are activated by the trailer pushing against the
hitch ball when the tow vehicle is braking.
Hydraulic surge brakes are common on rental
trailers and some boat trailers. In this type of
system, there is no hydraulic or electric connec-
tion for brake operation between the tow vehicle
and the trailer.
Electric Trailer Brakes - Electric braking
systems are activated by an electronic signal
sent from a trailer brake controller (special brake
sensing module) .
Have a professional supplier of towing equip-
ment make sure the trailer brakes are properly
installed and demonstrate proper brake function
testing.

CAUTION
If you move the shift lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly release the brake pedal until the blocks
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models:
Make sure that the 4WD shift switch is
engaged in the AUTO, 4HI or 4LO position
and the Automatic Transmission (AT) park
warning light is turned off.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear. 4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
. While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may
decrease overall stability. Therefore, to
maintain adequate control, reduce your
speed and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long
or repeated use of the brakes when
descending a hill, as this reduces their
effectiveness and could cause overheating.
Shifting to a lower gear instead provides
“engine braking” and reduces the need to
brake as frequently.
. If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, see “If your vehicle over-
heats” (P.6-14) .
. Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
. Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (800 km).
. Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule shown in the "9.
Maintenance and schedules" section. .
When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
. Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect
vehicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the
vehicle.
.Do not correct trailer sway by steering orapplying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road in
a safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is balanced as described earlier in this section.
. Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
Technical and consumer information10-27

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.

CAUTION
.Never use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
. For cleaning, use a soft cloth, dam-
pened with water. Never use a rough
cloth, alcohol, benzine, thinner or
any kind of solvent or paper towel
with a chemical cleaning agent.
They will scratch or cause discolora-
tion to the lens.
. Do not spray any liquid such as
water on the meter lens. Spraying
liquid may cause the system to
malfunction.
. Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to the leather sur-
faces and should be removed
promptly. Do not use saddle soap,
car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents or am-
monia-based cleaners as they may
damage the leather’s natural finish.
. Only use fabric protectors approved
by NISSAN.
. Do not use glass or plastic cleaner
on meter or gauge lens covers. It may damage the lens cover.AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that could
affect the vehicle interior. If you use an air
freshener, take the following precautions:
.
Hanging-type air fresheners can cause
permanent discoloration when they contact
vehicle interior surfaces. Place the air
freshener in a location that allows it to hang
free and not contact an interior surface.
. Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip on
the vents. These products can cause
immediate damage and discoloration when
spilled on interior surfaces.
Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s
instructions before using air fresheners.
FLOOR MATS

SCE0915
5. Securely screw to connect the T-shapedend of the jack rod and two extension bars
*1as illustrated.
6. Fit the square end of the jack rod into the square hole of the wheel nut wrench to form
a handle
*2. 7. Locate the oval opening above the middle of
the rear bumper.
8. Place the T-shaped end of the jack rod through the opening and direct it towards
the spare wheel winch assembly, located
directly above the spare wheel.

.Do not use the BSI system under the
following conditions because the
system may not function properly.
— During bad weather. (For exam-
ple: rain, fog, snow, etc.)
— When driving on slippery roads, such as on ice or snow, etc.
— When driving on winding or uneven roads.
— When there is a lane closure due to road repairs.
— When driving in a makeshift or temporary lane.
— When driving on roads where the lane width is too narrow.
— When driving with a tire that is not within normal tire conditions
(for example, tire wear, low tire
pressure, installation of spare
tire, tire chains, non-standard
wheels) .
— When the vehicle is equipped with non-original brake parts or
suspension parts.
— When towing a trailer or other vehicle. .
Excessive noise (for example, audio
system volume, open vehicle win-
dow) will interfere with the chime
sound, and it may not be heard.
BSI DRIVING SITUATIONS
Indicator on

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 dy-
namometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle
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 steering
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 cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger
cars. Failure 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
slippery roads and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes imme-
diately after driving in mud or water.
See “Brake system” (P.5-136) for wet
brakes.
. 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
maintenance may be required. See
the maintenance schedule shown in
the "9. Maintenance 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 trac-
tion. Be especially careful when
towing a trailer (4WD models) .

.Do not use the BSI system under the
following conditions because the
system may not function properly.
— During bad weather. (For exam-
ple: rain, fog, snow, etc.)
— When driving on slippery roads, such as on ice or snow, etc.
— When driving on winding or uneven roads.
— When there is a lane closure due to road repairs.
— When driving in a makeshift or temporary lane.
— When driving on roads where the lane width is too narrow.
— When driving with a tire that is not within normal tire conditions
(for example, tire wear, low tire
pressure, installation of spare
tire, tire chains, non-standard
wheels) .
— When the vehicle is equipped with non-original brake parts or
suspension parts.
— When towing a trailer or other vehicle. .
Excessive noise (for example, audio
system volume, open vehicle win-
dow) will interfere with the chime
sound, and it may not be heard.
BSI DRIVING SITUATIONS
Indicator on

.The following conditions may re-
duce the ability of the radar sensors
to detect other vehicles:
— Severe weather
— Road spray
— Ice/frost/dirt build up on the
vehicle
. Do not attach stickers (including
transparent material) , install acces-
sories or apply additional paint near
the radar sensors. These conditions
may reduce the ability of the radar
sensors to detect other vehicles.
. The sonar sensors detect stationary
objects behind the vehicle. The
sonar sensor may not detect:
— Small or moving objects
— Wedge-shaped objects
— Object close to the bumper (less
than approximately 1 ft (30 cm))
— Thin objects such as rope, wire and chain, etc.
. The brake engagement by the BCI
system is not as effective on a slope
as it is on flat ground. When on a
steep slope the system may not function properly.
. Do not use the BCI system under the
following conditions because the
system may not function properly.
— When driving with a tire that is
not within normal tire conditions
(for example, tire wear, low tire
pressure, installation of spare
tire, tire chains, non-standard
wheels) .
— When the vehicle is equipped with non-original brake parts or
suspension parts.
— When towing a trailer or other vehicle.
. Excessive noise (for example, audio
system volume, open vehicle win-
dow) will interfere with the chime
sound, and it may not be heard.

.As there is a performance limit to
the distance control function, never
rely solely on the ICC system. This
system does not correct careless,
inattentive or absent-minded driv-
ing, or overcome poor visibility in
rain, fog, or other bad weather.
Decelerate the vehicle speed by
depressing the brake pedal, de-
pending on the distance to the
vehicle ahead and the surrounding
circumstances in order to maintain a
safe distance between vehicles.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stop,
the vehicle decelerates to a stand-
still within the limitations of the
system. The system will cancel once
it judges that the vehicle has come
to a standstill and sound a warning
chime. To prevent the vehicle from
moving, the driver must depress the
brake pedal.
. Always pay attention to the opera-
tion of the vehicle and be ready to
manually control the proper follow-
ing distance. The vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control mode of the ICC
system may not be able to maintain
the selected distance between ve- hicles (following distance) or se-
lected vehicle speed under some
circumstances.
. The system may not detect the
vehicle in front of you in certain
road or weather conditions. To avoid
accidents, never use the ICC system
under the following conditions:
— On roads where the traffic is heavy or there are sharp curves
— On slippery road surfaces such as on ice or snow, etc.
— During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
— When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the system sensor
— On steep downhill roads (the vehicle may go beyond the set
vehicle speed and frequent
braking may result in overheat-
ing the brakes)
— On repeated uphill and downhill roads
— When traffic conditions make it difficult to keep a proper dis-
tance between vehicles because
of frequent acceleration or de- celeration
. Do not use the ICC system if you are
towing a trailer. The system may not
detect a vehicle ahead.
. In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection
zone and cause automatic braking.
You may need to control the dis-
tance from other vehicles using the
accelerator pedal. Always stay alert
and avoid using the ICC system
when it is not recommended in this
section.
The radar sensor will not detect the following
objects:
. Stationary and slow moving vehicles
. Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
. Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
. Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane
The sensor generally detects the signals re-
turned from the vehicle ahead. Therefore, if the
sensor cannot detect the reflection from the
vehicle ahead, the ICC system may not maintain
the selected distance.
Starting and driving5-81