warning light NISSAN FRONTIER 1998 D22 / 1.G Owners Manual

1 Seats, restraints and supplemental air
bag systems
Front bucket seats..................................................1-2
Seat adjustment .....................................................1-2
Head restraints .......................................................1-3
Tilting front bucket seat ..........................................1-4
Bench seat .............................................................1-4
Seat adjustment .....................................................1-4
Tilting bench seat ...................................................1-5
Jump seats .............................................................1-6
Supplemental restraint system (supplemental
air bag system).......................................................1-7
Supplemental air bag system...............................1-10
Passenger supplemental air bag on/off switch
and light. ...............................................................1-12
Warning labels......................................................1-15
Supplemental air bag warning light......................1-15
Seat belts .............................................................1-17Precautions on seat belt usage ...........................1-17
Child safety...........................................................1-18
Pregnant women ..................................................1-19
Injured persons ....................................................1-19
Three-point type with retractor .............................1-20
Two-point type without retractor (jump seat
and center of bench seat) ....................................1-22
Seat belt extenders ..............................................1-25
Seat belt maintenance .........................................1-25
Child restraints .....................................................1-25
Front facing installation on front passenger
seat (three-point type with retractor) ....................1-27
Rear facing installation on front passenger
seat (three-point type with retractor) ....................1-30
Top strap child restraint .......................................1-33
ZX

The driver's supplemental air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel. The passen-
ger's supplemental air bag is located in the top
right section of the instrument panel.
These systems are designed to meet optional
certification requirements under U.S. regula-tions. They are also permitted in Canada. The
optional certification allows air bags to be
designed to inflate somewhat less forcefully
than previously.However, all of the infor-
mation, cautions and warnings in this
manual still apply and must be followed.
The supplemental air bag system is designed
to inflate in higher severity frontal collisions,
although it may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. It may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or
lack of it) is not always an indication of proper
supplemental air bag operation.
The front passenger supplemental air bag is
equipped with an ON/OFF switch. Because
no rear seat exists where a rear facing child
restraint can be secured, the switch is de-
signed to turn OFF the passenger supple-
mental air bag so that a rear facing child
restraint can be used in the front passenger
seat. See ``Passenger supplemental air bag
ON/OFF switch and light'' later in this section
for details.
When the supplemental air bag inflates, a
fairly loud noise may be heard, followed by
the release of smoke. This smoke is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire, but
care should be taken not to unintentionally
inhale it, as it may cause irritation and
choking. Those with a history of a breathing
condition should get fresh air promptly.
The supplemental air bags, along with the use
of the seat belt, helps to cushion the impact
force on the face and chest of the occupant.
ARS1116
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
SYSTEM
1-10Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL
AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH AND
LIGHT.
WARNING
Air bags and seat belts are designed to
work as a unit. Do not switch the air bag
OFF unless you meet federal govern-
ment criteria. Switching off the air bag
may increase the risk of serious or fatal
injuries in a collision where the air bag
would have inflated.
The passenger air bag ON/OFF switch is
located in the center of the instrument panel,
near the ashtray. It can be used to turn the
passenger supplemental air bag OFF.
In rare instances, some passengers are ex-
posed to serious injury risks from inflating air
bags, especially if not properly restrained.
The U.S. and Canadian federal governments
recognize other limited circumstances in
which an air bag could reduce safety. The
passenger air bag ON/OFF switch is, there-
fore, allowed in this vehicle. Because the
overall benefits of air bags are great, in most
situations air bags should not be switched off
unless special government criteria exist.
ARS1117
1-12Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

The ON/OFF switch should ONLYbe used
to turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF when the following government criteria
exist:
cInfants (less than 1 year old) in rear
facing child restraints MUST
be placed
in the front passenger seat.
cChildren ages 1-12 years MUST
be
placed in the front passenger seat.
c
The passenger has a medical condition
which, according to a physician, causes
the air bag to pose a special risk and
makes the potential harm from the air
bag greater than the potential harm
from turning off the air bag.
Seat belts and child restraints should al-
ways be properly used. See ªPrecautions
on seat belt usageº and ªChild restraintsº
later in this section for details.
To turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF, insert the ignition key in the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch and
turn the switch clockwise to the OFF posi-
tion. Then remove the key. When the igni-
tion is turned to the ON or START position
the passenger air bag OFF indicator light
will illuminate to indicate the air bag is OFF.To turn the passenger supplemental air bag
ON, insert the ignition key in the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch and
turn the switch counter clockwise to the ON
position. Then remove the key. When the
ignition is turned to the ON or START
position the passenger air bag OFF indica-
tor light will illuminate for 7 seconds to
indicate the system is working properly and
then go out to indicate that the passenger
supplemental air bag is ON.
When the switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion, the passenger supplemental air bag is
enabled and could inflate in a frontal colli-
sion. When the switch is turned to the OFF
position, the passenger supplemental air
bag is disabled and will not inflate in a
frontal collision. The passenger supplemen-
tal air bag OFF indicator light on the instru-
ment panel illuminates when the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch is
turned to the OFF position. The driver's side
supplemental air bag always remains en-
abled and is not affected by the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch.
The passenger supplemental air bag light,
displaying OFF in the center of the instru-
ment panel, monitors the position of thepassenger supplemental air bag ON/OFF
switch. When the ignition key is in the ON or
START position, the light illuminates for
about 7 seconds and then turns off if the air
bag is ON, or stays on if the air bag is OFF.
WARNING
cDo not switch the air bag OFF unless
you meet the federal government cri-
teria outlined below. This vehicle is
equipped with seat belts with a ``load
limiter'' feature. The seat belts are
designed to work with the air bags to
reduce the risk of injury in a colli-
sion. The seat belts are designed to
release additional belt webbing dur-
ing some collisions to reduce the
concentration of force on the occu-
pant's chest area. In a collision with
the air bag turned OFF, the seat belt
may allow the occupant enough for-
ward movement to incur serious or
fatal injuries.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-13
ZX

cKeep the passenger supplemental
air bag ON/OFF switch turned ON
unless
a rear-facing child restraint
must be used in the front seat, if
children ages 1-12 must be placed in
the front seat, or if the passenger
has a medical condition, which, ac-
cording to a physician, causes the
air bag to pose a special risk of harm
(the federal government criteria). If
the switch is OFF, the air bag will not
inflate in a collision as designed and
the extra protection provided by the
air bag may be lost.
c
Be sure to turn the passenger supple-
mental air bag ON/OFF switch OFF
when using a rear facing child re-
straint in the front passenger seat. If
it is not OFF, the air bag may inflate in
a collision. The force of the rapidly
inflating air bag could cause serious
injury or kill the child in the child
restraint. Children ages 1-12 and per-
sons with special medical conditions
may also be at risk from an inflating
air bag.cIf the supplemental air bag warning
light located in the instrument panel
next to the speedometer comes on
when the passenger supplemental air
bag OFF light is also illuminated,
something may be wrong with the air
bag system. Infants, children ages
1-12 or persons with special medical
conditions should not use the front
passenger seat until the system is
checked by your NISSAN dealer.
1-14Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

Warning labels about the supplemental air
bag system are placed in the vehicle as
shown in the illustration.The supplemental air bag warning light,
displaying AIR BAG in the instrument panel,
monitors the circuits of the supplemental air
bag. The circuits monitored by the supple-
mental air bag warning light are the diagno-
sis sensor unit, the supplemental air bag
module and all related wiring.
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 air bag needs servicing and
ARS1028ARS1029
WARNING LABELS SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-15
ZX

should be taken to your nearest authorized
NISSAN dealer:
1. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on and remain on for 7
seconds and then go off as described
above.
2. The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently or remains on.
3. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the Supplemental
Restraint System (supplemental air bag
system) may not function properly. It must
be checked and repaired.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning
light is on, it could mean that the
supplemental air bag system will not
operate in an accident.
Repair and replacement procedure
The supplemental air bag system is de-
signed to inflate on a one-time-only basis.
As a reminder, unless it is damaged, the
supplemental air bag warning light remainsilluminated after inflation has occurred.
Repair and replacement of the supplemen-
tal air bag system should be done only by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
To ensure long-term functioning, the
system must be inspected 10 years after
the date of manufacture noted on the
certification label located on the driver
side front pillar.
When maintenance work is required on the
vehicle, the supplemental air bag system
and related parts should be pointed out to
the person conducting the maintenance.
The ignition key must always be in the LOCK
position when working under the hood or
inside the vehicle.
WARNING
cOnce the supplemental air bag in-
flates, the supplemental air bag
module will not function again and
should be replaced by an authorized
NISSAN dealer. The supplemental air
bag module cannot be repaired.cThe supplemental air bag system
should be inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer if there is any
damage to the front end portion of
the vehicle.
cIf you need to dispose of the supple-
mental air bag or scrap the vehicle,
contact an authorized NISSAN
dealer. Correct supplemental air bag
disposal procedures are set forth in
the appropriate NISSAN Service
Manual. Incorrect disposal proce-
dures could cause personal injury.
1-16Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.
NISSAN recommends that all preteens
and children be restrained in the rear
seat if available. According to accident
statistics, children are safer when prop-
erly restrained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
This is especially important because
your vehicle has a supplemental re-
straint system (Supplemental air bag
system) for the front passenger (For pre-
cautions, see ``Supplemental restraint
system'' earlier in this section). Also, see
``Passenger air bag ON/OFF switch and
light'' earlier in this section.
Infants and small children
NISSAN recommends that infants or small
children be seated in child restraints that
comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint which fits your vehicle and
always follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions for installation and use.
Larger children
Children who are too large for child re-
straints should be seated and restrained by
the seat belts which are provided.
If the child's seating position has a shoulder
belt that fits close to the face or neck, the
use of a booster seat (commercially avail-
able) may help overcome this. The booster
seat should raise the child so the shoulder
belt is properly positioned across the top,
middle portion of the shoulder and the lap
belt is low on the hips. The booster seat
should fit the vehicle seat and have a label
certifying that it complies with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the
child has grown so the shoulder belt is no
longer on or near the face and neck, use the
shoulder belt without the booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the
cargo areas while the vehicle is mov-
ing. The child could be seriously in-
jured or killed in an accident.
PREGNANT WOMEN
NISSAN recommends that pregnant women
use seat belts. Contact your doctor for spe-
cific recommendations. The lap belt should
be worn snug and positioned as low as
possible around the hips, not the waist.
INJURED PERSONS
NISSAN recommends that injured persons
use seat belts, depending on the injury.
Check with your doctor for specific recom-
mendations.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-19
ZX

cNever install a rear-facing child re-
straint in the front seat, unless the
passenger supplemental air bag is
OFF. Be sure to turn the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch
OFF. An inflating air bag could seri-
ously injure or kill your child. See
``Passenger air bag ON/OFF switch
and light'' earlier in this section.
cAn improperly installed child re-
straint could lead to serious injury or
death in an accident.
cIn general, child restraints are de-
signed to be installed with a lap belt
or the lap portion of a three-point
type seat belt.
Child restraints for infants and small chil-
dren of various sizes are offered by several
manufacturers. When selecting any child
restraint, keep the following points in mind:
1) Choose only a restraint with a label cer-
tifying that it complies with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or Cana-
dian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
2) Check the child restraint in your vehicle
to be sure it is compatible with the vehi-
cle's seat and seat belt system. Choose
a child restraint that meets the guidelinesof the Society of Automotive Engineers
recommended practice J1819 for child
restraint installation.
3) If the child restraint is compatible with
your vehicle, place your child in the child
restraint and check the various adjust-
ments to be sure the child restraint is
compatible with your child. Always follow
all of the recommended procedures.
All U.S. states and provinces of Canada
require that infants and small children be
restrained in an approved child restraint
at all times while the vehicle is being
operated.
WARNING
cDo not install a child restraint in the
jump seats (King Cab model). These
seats are not suitable for child re-
straint installation.
cDo not install a child restraint in the
center position of the front bench
seat. This position is not suitable for
child restraint installation.cImproper use of a child restraint can
result in increased injuries for both
the infant or child and other occu-
pants in the vehicle.
cFollow all of the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions for in-
stallation and use. When purchasing
a child restraint, be sure to select
one which will fit your child and
vehicle as it may not be possible to
properly install some types of child
restraints in your vehicle.
cIf the child restraint is not anchored
properly, the risk of a child being
injured in a collision or a sudden
stop greatly increases.
cAdjustable seatbacks should be po-
sitioned to fit the child restraint, but
as upright as possible.
c
After attaching the child restraint,
test it before you place the child in it.
Tilt it from side to side. Try to tug it
forward and check to see if the belt
holds the restraint in place. If the
restraint is not secure, tighten the
belt as necessary.
1-26Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

cFor a front facing child restraint,
check to make sure the shoulder belt
does not go in front of the child's
face or neck. If it does, put the shoul-
der belt behind the child restraint.
cWhen your child restraint is not in
use, keep it secured with a seat belt
to prevent it from being thrown
around in case of a sudden stop or
accident.
CAUTION
Remember that a child restraint left in a
closed vehicle can become very hot.
Check the seating surface and buckles
before placing your child in the child
restraint.
FRONT FACING INSTALLATION
ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT
(Three-point type with retractor)
WARNING
cKeep the passenger supplemental
air bag ON/OFF switch turned ON
unless a rear-facing child restraint is
used in the front seat. If the switch is
OFF the air bag will not inflate in a
collision as designed.cThe three-point belt in your vehicle
is equipped with a locking mode re-
tractor which must be used when
installing a child restraint.
cFailure to use the retractor's locking
mode will result in the child restraint
not being properly secured. The re-
straint could tip over or otherwise be
unsecured and cause injury to the
child in a sudden stop or collision.
cBe sure to turn the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch
OFF when using a rear facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
If it is not OFF, the air bag may inflate
in a collision. The force of the rapidly
inflating air bag could cause serious
injury or kill the child in the child
restraint.
c
If the supplemental air bag warning
light located in the instrument panel
next to the speedometer comes on
when the passenger supplemental air
bag OFF indicator light is also illumi-
nated, something may be wrong
ARS1109
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-27
ZX