engine coolant NISSAN FRONTIER 1997 D22 / 1.G User Guide

tion. Be certain to keep floormats away from
the pedal.
Parking brake*Check that the lever has
the proper travel and confirm that your
vehicle is held securely on a fairly steep hill
with only the parking brake applied.
Automatic transmission Park position
mechanismCheck that the lock release
button on the selector lever operates prop-
erly and smoothly. On a fairly steep hill
check that your vehicle is held securely with
the selector lever in the P position without
applying any brakes.
UNDER THE HOOD AND
VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically (e.g., each time you
check the engine oil or refuel).
Additional information on the following
items with ``*'' is found in the ``Do-it-
yourself operations'' section.
Windshield washer fluid*Check that there
is adequate fluid in the tank.
Engine coolant level*Check the coolant
level when the engine is cold.Radiator and hosesCheck the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks, de-
formation, rot or loose connections.
Brake and clutch fluid levels*Make sure
that the brake and clutch fluid level is be-
tween the MAX and MIN lines on the reser-
voir.
Battery*Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Engine drive belts*Make sure no belt is
frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*Check the level after
parking the vehicle on a level spot and
turning off the engine.
Power steering fluid level* and lines
Check the level when the fluid is cold and
the engine is turned off. Check the lines for
proper attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
Automatic transmission fluid level*
Check the level after putting the selector
lever in P with the engine idling.
Exhaust systemMake sure there are no
loose supports, cracks or holes. If the sound
of the exhaust seems unusual or there is asmell of exhaust fumes, immediately locate
the trouble and correct it. (See the carbon
monoxide warning in the ``Starting and driv-
ing'' section.)
UnderbodyThe underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control dust. It
is very important to remove these sub-
stances, otherwise rust will form on the floor
pan, frame, fuel lines and around the ex-
haust system. At the end of winter, the
underbody should be thoroughly flushed
with plain water, being careful to clean
those areas where mud and dirt may accu-
mulate. See the ``Appearance and interior
care'' section for additional information.
Fluid leaksCheck under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner after use is
normal. If you should notice any leaks or if
gasoline fumes are evident, check for the
cause and have it corrected immediately.
8-4
ZX

Schedule 1
Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals only
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles ý 1,000 3.75 7.5 11.25 15 18.75 22.5 26.25 30 33.75 37.5 41.25 45 48.75 52.5 56.25 60
(km ý 1,000) (6) (12) (18) (24) (30) (36) (42) (48) (54) (60) (66) (72) (78) (84) (90) (96)
Months 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48
Emission control system maintenance
Drive beltsI* I*
Air cleaner filter See NOTE (1) [R] [R]
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) filter See NOTE (2) [R] [R]
Vapor linesI* I*
Fuel linesI* I*
Fuel filter See NOTE (2)*
Engine coolant See NOTE (3)R*
Engine oilRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Spark plugs[R] [R]
NOTE: (1) If operating mainly in dusty conditions, more frequent maintenance may be required.
(2) If vehicle is operated under extremely adverse weather conditions or in areas where ambient temperatures are either extremely low or
extremely high, the filters might become clogged. In such an event, replace them immediately.
(3) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.
* Maintenance items and intervals with ``*'' are recommended by NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation. The owner need not perform such
maintenance in order to maintain the emission warranty or manufacturer recall liability. Other maintenance items and intervals are
required.
8-6
ZX

Schedule 2
Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals only
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles ý 1,000 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
(km ý 1,000) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96)
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
Emission control system maintenance
Drive beltsI* I*
Air cleaner filter[R] [R]
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) filter See NOTE (1) [R] [R]
Vapor linesI* I*
Fuel linesI* I*
Fuel filter See NOTE (1)*
Engine coolant See NOTE (2)R*
Engine oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRR
Spark plugs[R] [R]
NOTE: (1) If vehicle is operated under extremely adverse weather conditions or in areas where ambient temperatures are either extremely low
or extremely high, the filters might become clogged. In such an event, replace them immediately.
(2) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.
* Maintenance items and intervals with ``*'' are recommended by NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation. The owner need not perform such
maintenance in order to maintain the emission warranty or manufacturer recall liability. Other maintenance items and intervals are
required.
8-8
ZX

EXPLANATION OF
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with ``*'' is found in the ``Do-it-
yourself operations'' section.
Emission control system
maintenance
Drive belts*Check drive belts for wear,
fraying or cracking and also for proper ten-
sion. Replace the drive belts if found dam-
aged or in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule.
Air cleaner filterUnder normal driving con-
ditions, the air cleaner filter should be re-
placed in accordance with the maintenance
schedule. However, driving the vehicle in
dusty areas may cause more rapid clogging
of the element. Consequently, the element
may have to be replaced more frequently.
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) fil-
terUnder normal driving conditions, the
filter should be replaced in accordance with
the maintenance schedule. If the vehicle is
operated under extremely adverse weather
conditions or in areas where ambient tem-
peratures are either extremely low or ex-tremely high, the filter may become clogged
more rapidly. In such an event, replace the
filter immediately.
Vapor linesCheck vapor lines and connec-
tions for failure or looseness. If leaks are
found, replace the lines.
Fuel lines (hoses, piping, connections,
etc.)Check the fuel hoses, piping and con-
nections for leaks, looseness or deteriora-
tion. Replace any parts if they are damaged.
Fuel filterIf the vehicle is operated under
extremely adverse weather conditions or in
areas where ambient temperatures are ei-
ther extremely low or extremely high, the
filter might become clogged. In such an
event, replace the filter immediately.
Engine coolant*Flush and refill the cooling
system.
Engine oil and oil filter*Under normal
driving conditions, the engine oil and oil filter
should be replaced in accordance with the
maintenance schedule. However, under se-
vere driving conditions, they may have to be
replaced more frequently.
Spark plugs*Replace with new plugs hav-
ing the correct heat range.
Chassis and body maintenance
Brake lines and cablesCheck the brake
lines and hoses (including brake booster
vacuum hoses, connections & check valve)
and parking brake cables for proper attach-
ment, leaks, cracks, chafing, abrasion, de-
terioration, etc.
Brake pads, discs, drums and linings
Check these and the other neighboring
brake components for wear, deterioration
and leaks. Under severe driving conditions,
they may have to be inspected more fre-
quently.
Manual and automatic transmission,
transfer and differential gear oilVisually
inspect for signs of leakage and replace oil
for limited-slip differential. Under severe
driving conditions, the oil should be re-
placed at the specified interval.
Steering gear (box) and linkage, axle and
suspension parts and drive shaft boots
Check for damage, looseness and leakage
of oil or grease. Under severe driving con-
ditions, more frequent inspection should be
performed.
Steering linkage ball joints and front
suspension ball jointsCheck the ball
8-10
ZX

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the ``Do-it-yourself operations'' section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended Specifications
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel 15-7/8 gal 13-1/4 gal 60Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
Engine oil (Refill)
4x2 With oil filter 4-1/8 qt 3-3/8 qt 3.9
API SG or SH and Energy Conserving II *2
API Certification Mark *2 Without oil filter 3-3/4 qt 3-1/8 qt 3.5
4x4 With oil filter 4-3/8 qt 3-5/8 qt 4.1
Without oil filter 4 qt 3-3/8 qt 3.8
Cooling system (with heater and reservoir tank)
4x2 8-5/8 qt 7-1/8 qt 8.1
Anti-freeze coolant
(Ethylene glycol base)
4x4 9-1/2 qt 7-7/8 qt 9.0
*1: For further details, see ``Fuel recommendation''.
*2: For further details, see ``Recommended SAE engine oil viscosity''.
CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED FUEL/
LUBRICANTS
9-2
ZX

prevent load shifts while driving.
cBe certain your outside mirrors conform
to all federal, state or local regulations. If
not, install any mirrors required for towing
before driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding
of the vehicle's behavior, you should prac-
tice turning, stopping and backing up in an
area which is free from traffic. Steering,
stability and braking performance will be
somewhat different than under normal driv-
ing conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
c
Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
cAlways block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on a
slope is not recommended; however, if
you must do so, and if your vehicle is
equipped with automatic transmission,
first block the wheels and apply the park-ing brake, and then move the transmis-
sion shift lever into the P position. If you
move the shift lever to the P position
before blocking the wheels and applying
the parking brake, transmission damage
could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift
the transmission to a lower gear and
reduce speed to reduce chances of en-
gine overloading and/or overheating.
However, for long steep grades, do not
stay in 1st or 2nd gear when driving
above 35 MPH (56 km/h).
cIf the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature when the air
conditioning system is on, turn off the air
conditioner. Coolant heat can be addi-
tionally vented by opening the windows,
switching the fan control to high and
setting the temperature control to the
HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle's
first 500 miles (805 km).cHave your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the recom-
mended Maintenance Schedule.
cWhen 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.
cCrosswinds and rough roads adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being
passed by larger vehicles, be prepared
for possible changes in crosswinds that
could affect vehicle handling. If swaying
does occur, firmly grip the steering
wheel, steer straight ahead, and immedi-
ately (but gradually) reduce vehicle
speed. This combination helps to stabi-
lize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe 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 can safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency
and electrical charging performance, do
9-22
ZX

Due to legal requirements in some states
and Canadian provinces, your vehicle may
be required to be in the ready condition 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 ve-
hicle.
If a powertrain system component is re-
paired or the battery is disconnected, the
vehicle may be reset to a not ready condi-
tion. Before taking the I/M test, 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 man-
ner according to traffic conditions and
obey all traffic laws.1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C.
Allow the engine to idle until the gauge
needle points between the C and H (nor-
mal operating temperature).
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 mph (88
km/h), then quickly release the accelera-
tor pedal completely and keep it released
for at least 6 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for
a moment, then drive the vehicle at a
speed of 53 to 60 mph (85 to 97 km/h) for
at least 5 minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle and turn the engine off.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 at least one
more time.
If step 1, 2 or 3 is interrupted, repeat the
preceding step. Any safe driving mode is
acceptable between steps. Do not stop the
engine until step 3 is completed.
READINESS FOR
INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE
(I/M) TEST
9-25
ZX

10 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) ...................................................... 2-15
Air bag warning light .................................. 2-17
Air cleaner housing filter ............................ 7-16
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ........................ 3-5
Air conditioner service ............................ 3-9
Air conditioner specification label ......... 9-14
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations.................. 9-8
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 3-3
Air flow charts .............................................. 3-6
Anchor point locations ............................... 2-29
Antenna (manual) ...................................... 3-20
Anti-lock brake system, rear (R-ABS) ....... 4-25
Ashtray (See cigarette lighter and
ashtray) ...................................................... 1-13
Audio system
AM-FM radio with cassette player ........ 3-11
AM-FM radio with cassette player
(100W) .................................................. 3-16
Auto-lock free-running hubs ...................... 4-16
Automatic
Automatic power window switch .......... 1-16
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........ 7-9
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 4-6B
Battery........................................................ 7-13
Before starting the engine ........................... 4-6
Belts (See drive belts) ............................... 7-14
Brake
Anti-lock brake system, rear
(R-ABS) ................................................ 4-25
Brake booster ....................................... 7-19
Brake fluid ..................................... 7-11, 9-3
Brake light (See stop light) ................... 7-23
Brake pedal .......................................... 7-18
Brake system ........................................ 4-25
Brake warning light ................................. 1-7
Brake wear indicators ................... 1-9, 7-19
Parking brake check ............................. 7-18
Parking brake operation ....................... 4-11
Break-in schedule ...................................... 4-14
Bulb check/instrument panel ....................... 1-6
Bulb replacement ....................................... 7-23
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants...................................................... 9-2
Cargo (See vehicle loading
information) ................................................ 9-15
Cassette player (See audio system) ......... 3-11CB radio or car phone ............................... 3-21
Check engine indicator light (See malfunction
indicator light) .............................................. 1-9
Child restraint with top tether strap ........... 2-28
Child restraints for infants and small
children ...................................................... 2-24
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and
ashtray ....................................................... 1-13
Cleaning exterior and interior ...................... 6-2
Clock ............................................................ 1-5
Clock-radio ................................................. 3-11
Clutch
Clutch fluid ............................................ 7-11
Clutch pedal.......................................... 7-20
Cold weather driving .................................. 4-27
Controls
Audio controls ............................. 3-11, 3-16
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 3-3
Coolant
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 7-5
Checking engine coolant level ............... 7-4
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 1-4
Corrosion protection .................................... 6-4
Cruise control............................................. 4-12
Cup holder ................................................. 1-13
ZX

D
Daytime running light system (Canada
only) ........................................................... 1-10
Dimensions and weights............................ 9-11
Door locks .................................................... 2-2
Drive belts .................................................. 7-14
Driving
Auto-lock free-running hubs ................. 4-16
Cold weather driving............................. 4-27
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 4-6
Driving with manual transmission ........... 4-9
Driving your 4-wheel drive safely ......... 4-21
Manual-lock free-running hubs ............. 4-19
Precautions when starting and
driving ..................................................... 4-2
E
Economy - fuel........................................... 4-14
Emission control information label............. 9-14
Emission control system warranty ............. 9-24
Engine
Before starting the engine ...................... 4-6
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 7-5
Changing engine oil................................ 7-7
Changing engine oil filter........................ 7-9
Checking engine coolant level ............... 7-4
Checking engine oil level ....................... 7-6Engine compartment check locations .... 7-3
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 1-4
Engine cooling system ........................... 7-4
Engine oil ................................................ 7-6
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ..................................... 9-6
Engine oil pressure warning light ........... 1-8
Engine oil viscosity ................................. 9-7
Engine serial number ........................... 9-13
Engine specifications .............................. 9-9
Starting the engine ............................... 4-10
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ................. 4-2
F
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher
switch) ........................................................ 1-12
Flat tire ......................................................... 5-2
Floor mat positioning aid ............................. 6-4
Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........ 7-9
Brake fluid ..................................... 7-11, 9-3
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Clutch fluid ............................................ 7-11
Engine coolant ........................................ 7-4
Engine oil ................................................ 7-6
Power steering fluid .............................. 7-11
Window washer fluid ............................ 7-12
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ..................... 9-13
Front seats
Bench.................................................... 2-12Separate ................................................. 2-8
Fuel
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Fuel economy ....................................... 4-14
Fuel filler cap .......................................... 2-5
Fuel gauge.............................................. 1-4
Fuel octane rating................................... 9-5
Fuel recommendation ............................. 9-4
Fuses ......................................................... 7-21
G
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 1-4
Fuel gauge.............................................. 1-4
Odometer ................................................ 1-3
Speedometer .......................................... 1-3
Tachometer............................................. 1-3
Trip odometer ......................................... 1-3
General maintenance .................................. 8-2
Glove box lock ............................................. 2-4
H
Hazard warning flasher switch .................. 1-12
Head restraints .......................................... 2-11
Headlight and turn signal switch ............... 1-10
Headlights .................................................. 7-21
Heater
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 3-3
10-2
ZX