warning NISSAN FRONTIER 1999 D22 / 1.G Owners Manual

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for
the mixture ratio.
CAUTION
Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution.
This may result in damage to the paint.IKeep the battery surface clean and dry.
Any corrosion should be washed off with
a solution of baking soda and water.
IMake certain the terminal connections
are clean and securely tightened.
I
If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days
or longer, disconnect the negative (þ)
battery terminal cable to prevent dis-
charge.
WARNING
IDo not expose the battery to flames
or electrical sparks. Hydrogen gas
generated by battery action is explo-
sive. Do not allow battery fluid to
contact your skin, eyes, fabrics, or
painted surfaces. After touching a
battery or battery cap, do not touch
or rub your eyes. Thoroughly wash
your hands. If the acid contacts your
eyes, skin or clothing, immediately
flush with water for at least 15 min-
utes and seek medical attention.
IWhen working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protection
and remove all jewelry.
IKeep the battery out of the reach of
children.1. Gently pry between the battery cap and
cover as illustrated to remove the cap.
Use a cloth to protect the battery case.
2. Check the fluid level in each cell.
If it is necessary to add fluid, add only
distilled water to bring the level up to the
level indicator in each filler opening.Do
not overfill.
ADI0709
BATTERY
8-16Do-it-yourself
ZX

WARNING
Be sure the ignition key is OFF. The
engine could rotate unexpectedly.
1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of
unusual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness.
If the belt is in poor condition or loose,
have it replaced or adjusted by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for con-
dition and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule found in the
``Maintenance'' section of this manual.
ADI1074ADI1073
DRIVE BELTS
8-18Do-it-yourself
ZX

WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch
are off and that the parking brake is
engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the plugs. An incorrect socket
can cause damage.
KA24DE Engine
Platinum-tipped spark plug
It is not necessary to replace platinum-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as conven-
tional type spark plugs because they last
much longer. Follow the maintenance
schedule, but do not reuse the spark plugs
by cleaning or regapping.
IAlways replace spark plugs with rec-
commended or equivalent ones.
ADI1075ADI1099
SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT
Do-it-yourself8-19
ZX

WARNING
IOperating the engine with the air
cleaner off can cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner not
only cleans the air, it stops flame if
the engine backfires. If it isn't there
and the engine backfires, you could
be burned. Don't drive with it off, and
be careful working on the engine
with the air cleaner off.INever pour fuel into the throttle body
or attempt to start the engine with
the air cleaner removed. Doing so
could result in serious injury.
ADI1080
8-22Do-it-yourself
ZX

Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front disc-type brakes self-adjust every
time the brake pedal is applied. The rear
drum-type brakes on two-wheel drive trucks
self-adjust every time the parking brake is
applied. The rear drum-type brakes on four-
wheel drive trucks self-adjust every time the
brake pedal is applied. If the brake pedal
goes down farther than normal, it may be
due to a lack of adjustment of the rear drum
brakes. Apply the parking brake several
times.
WARNING
If the brake pedal height does not re-
turn to normal, see an authorized NIS-
SAN dealer and have it checked.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, it will make a high
pitched scraping or screeching sound when
the vehicle is in motion whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakeschecked as soon as possible if the wear
indicator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other
noise may be heard. Occasional brake
noise during light to moderate stops is nor-
mal and does not affect the function or
performance of the brake system.
The rear drum brakes (if so equipped) do
not have audible wear indicators. Should
you ever hear an unusually loud noise from
the rear drum brakes, have them inspected
as soon as possible by an authorized NIS-
SAN dealer.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For more information regard-
ing brake inspections, see the appropriate
maintenance schedule information in the
``Maintenance Schedule'' section of this
manual.Check the brake booster function with the
following steps:
1. With the engine off, press and release
the brake pedal several times. When
brake pedal movement (distance of
travel) remains the same from one pedal
application to the next, continue on to
next step.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, start
the engine. The pedal height should drop
a little.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the
engine. Keeping the pedal depressed for
about 30 seconds, the pedal height
should not change.
4. Run the engine for one minute without
depressing the brake pedal, then turn it
off. Depress the brake pedal several
times. The pedal travel distance will de-
crease gradually with each depression
as the vacuum is released from the
booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, have
the brakes checked by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
BRAKE BOOSTER
Do-it-yourself8-25
ZX

If you have a flat tire, see the ``In case of
emergency'' section of this manual.
Maximum inflation pressure
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.
Tire inflation pressure
Periodically check the tire pressure (includ-
ing the spare). Tire pressure should be
checked when tires are COLD. COLD tire
pressures are shown on the tire placard
affixed to the inside of the glove box lid.
Incorrect tire pressure may adverselyaffect tire life and vehicle handling.
COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more or driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km).
WARNING
IImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident
I
The vehicle weight capacity is indi-
cated on the tire placard. Do not load
your vehicle beyond this capacity.
Overloading your vehicle may result
in reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire fail-
ure, or unfavorable handling charac-
teristics and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading beyond the
specified capacity may also result in
failure of other vehicle components.
IBefore taking a long trip, or when-
ever you have loaded your vehicle
heavily, use a tire pressure gauge to
ensure that the tire pressure is at the
specified level.
IDo not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (137 km/h) unless it is equippedwith high capability tires. Driving
faster than 85 MPH (137 km/h) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury.
Types of tires
WARNING
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., Summer, All Season or Snow) and
construction. An authorized NISSAN
dealer may be able to help you with
information about tire type, size, speed
rating and availability. Replacement
tires may have a lower speed rating
than the factory equipped tires, and
may not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tire.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance for
use all year around, including snowy and icy
road conditions. All Season Tires are iden-
tified by ``ALL SEASON'' and/or ``M&S'' on
the tire sidewall. Snow tires have better
DI0047
WHEELS AND TIRES
8-32Do-it-yourself
ZX

Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires ev-
ery 7,500 miles (12,000 km) for 2WD ve-
hicles and every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) for
4WD vehicles.
See ``Flat tire'' in the ``In case of emergency''
section for tire replacing procedures.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
87 to 108 ft-lb (118 to 147 N×m)
WARNING
IAfter rotating the tires, adjust the tire
pressure.
IRetighten the wheel nuts after the
wheels have been run for the first
600 miles (1,000 km) (also in cases of
a flat tire, etc.).
IDo not include the TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire in the tire rota-
tion.
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
ITires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging
or objects caught in the tread. If
excessive wear, cracks, bulging or
deep cuts are found, the tire should
be replaced.
IThe original tires have a built-in
tread wear indicator. When the wear
indicator is visible, the tire should be
replaced.
ADI0656MDI0004
8-34Do-it-yourself
ZX

IImproper service for a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire may result in
serious personal injury. If it is neces-
sary to repair the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire, contact an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
Changing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carrying
capacity as originally equipped. Recom-
mended types and sizes are shown in
``Wheel/tire size'' in the ``Technical and con-
sumer information'' section of this manual.
WARNING
I
The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction
(bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread
patterns can adversely affect the ride,
braking, handling, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, snow chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.IIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause early tire wear, poor ve-
hicle handling characteristics and/or
interference with the brake discs/
drums. Such interference can lead to
decreased braking efficiency and/or
early brake pad/shoe wear.
IDo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warn-
ing.
IThe use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
MODELS
CAUTION
Always use tires of the same size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted
or radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. A spare tire of same size,
brand, construction and tread pattern
must also be used.Failure to do so may result in a circum-
ference difference between tires on the
front and rear axles which will cause
excessive tire wear and may damage
the transmission, transfer case and dif-
ferential gears.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked
and corrected as necessary. Contact an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balanc-
ing the front wheels on the vehicle could
lead to transmission damage.
Care of wheels
IWash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
Do-it-yourself
8-35
ZX

IClean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
IDo not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
IInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pres-
sure or damage the tire bead.
INISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire
Your vehicle may be equipped with a TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY spare tire.
To avoid property damage or personal injury
when using the TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire, observe the following cautions:
WARNING
IThe spare tire should be used for
emergency use only. It should be
replaced by the standard tire at the
first opportunity to avoid possible
tire or differential damage.IDrive carefully while the TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire is in-
stalled. Avoid sharp turns and
abrupt braking while driving.
IPeriodically check spare tire infla-
tion pressure. Always keep the pres-
sure of the T135/70R16 spare tire at
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 bar). For the full
size spare tire pressure, check the
tire placecard located on the inside
of the glovebox lid.
IDo not drive the vehicle at speeds
faster than 50 MPH (80 km/h).
I
When driving on roads covered with
snow or ice, the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire should be used on
the front wheels and the original tire
used on the rear wheels (drive
wheels). Use tire chains only on the
two rear original tires.
ITire tread of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire will wear at a faster
rate than the standard tire. Replace
the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire as soon as the tread wear indi-
cators appear.IDo not use the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire on other vehicles.
IDo not use more than one TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire at the
same time.
IDo not tow a trailer when the TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY T135/70R16
spare is installed.
CAUTION
I
The transfer control lever must
be in the 2H position to prevent the
transfer case and differential gears
from being damaged.
IDo not use tire chains on a TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire. Tire
chains will not fit properly on a TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY spare tire and
may cause damage to the vehicle.
I
Because the TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire is smaller than the original
tire, ground clearance is reduced. To
avoid damage to the vehicle, do not
drive over obstacles. Also, do not
drive the vehicle through an automatic
car wash since it might get caught.
8-36Do-it-yourself
ZX

sure no wheel nuts are missing, and check for
any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) for 2WD vehicles
and 3,750 miles (6,000 km) for 4WD ve-
hicles.
Wheel alignment and balanceIf the ve-
hicle should pull to either side while driving
on a straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing
may be needed.
Windshield wiper blades*Check for
cracks or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Doors and hoodCheck that all doors and
the hood operate properly. Also ensure that
all latches lock securely. Lubricate hinges,
latches, rollers and links if necessary. Make
sure that the secondary latch keeps the
hood from opening when the primary latch
is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.Lights*Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
INSIDE THE VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing periodic maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Additional information on the following
items with an ``*'' is found in the ``Do-it-
yourself'' section of this manual.
Warning lights and chimesMake sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield wiper and washer*Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defrosterCheck that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly
and in sufficient quantity when operating the
heater or air conditioner.
Steering wheelCheck for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free-
play, hard steering or strange noises.SeatsCheck seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and all
latches lock securely in every position.
Check that the head restraints move up and
down smoothly and the locks (if so
equipped) hold securely in all latched posi-
tions.
Seat beltsCheck that all parts of the seat
belt system (e.g., buckles, anchors, adjust-
ers and retractors) operate properly and
smoothly, and are installed securely. Check
the belt webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or
damage.
Accelerator pedalCheck the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Clutch pedal*Make sure the pedal oper-
ates smoothly and check that it has the
proper free travel.
BrakesCheck that the brakes do not pull
the vehicle to one side when applied.
Brake pedal and booster*Check the pedal
for smooth operation and make sure it has
the proper distance under it when de-
pressed fully. Check the brake booster func-
Maintenance
9-3
ZX