warning NISSAN FRONTIER 2002 D22 / 1.G Owners Manual

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 spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
ADI1074
WDI0068
SPARK PLUGS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-21
ZX

Spark plug tightening torque:
14 to 22 ft-lb (20 to 29 Nzm)
4. Reconnect the spark plug cables to their
original positions.
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS (with
supercharger)
Please see your authorized NISSAN dealer
for assistance.
The filter element should not be cleaned
and reused as it is given a special treat-
ment. We recommend it be replaced ac-
cording to the maintenance intervals shown
in the ``NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide.'' When replacing the filter, wipe the
inside of the air cleaner housing and the
cover with a damp cloth.
WARNING
cOperating the engine with the air
cleaner removed 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. Do not drive with the air
cleaner removed, and be careful
when working on the engine with the
air cleaner removed.
ADI1079WDI0097
AIR CLEANER
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-23
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Distance A:
Manual
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission
Rear
Wheel ABS4 1/8 in.
(105mm)4 1/2 in.
(115mm)
Four Wheel
ABS4 in.
(100mm)4 1/4 in.
(110mm)
If it is out of the range shown above, see an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
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
NISSAN 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 brakes
checked 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
NISSAN dealer.Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For more information regard-
ing brake inspections, see the appropriate
maintenance schedule information in the
``NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide.''
BRAKE BOOSTER
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-
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-27
ZX

If you have a flat tire, see the ``In case of
emergency'' section of this manual.
TIRE PRESSURE
Maximum inflation pressure
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire pressure (including the spare
at least once a month and always prior to
long distance trips. Tire pressure should be
checked when tires are COLD. COLD tire
pressures are shown on the tire placardaffixed to the inside of the glove box lid.
Incorrect tire pressure may adversely
affect 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) at moderate
speeds.
WARNING
cImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident
c
The vehicle weight capacity is indi-
cated on the F.M.V.S.S. certification
label. Do not load your vehicle be-
yond this capacity. Overloading your
vehicle may result in reduced tire life,
unsafe operating conditions due to
premature tire failure, or unfavorable
handling characteristics and could
also lead to a serious accident. Load-
ing beyond the specified capacity
may also result in failure of other
vehicle components.
cBefore taking a long trip, or when-
ever you heavily load your vehicle,use a tire pressure gauge to ensure
that the tire pressure is at the speci-
fied level.
cDo not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (140 km/h) unless it is equipped
with high speed rated tires. Driving
faster than 85 MPH (140 km/h) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
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
DI0047
WHEELS AND TIRES
8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with chains in such conditions can cause
damage to the various mechanisms of the
vehicle due to some overstress. When driv-
ing on clear paved roads, be sure to change
to 2WD.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires ev-
ery 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
See ``Flat tire'' in the ``In case of emergency''
section for tire replacing procedures.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
98 ft-lb (133 Nzm)
WARNING
cAfter rotating the tires, check and
adjust the tire pressure.
cRetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
cDo not include the spare tire in the
tire rotation.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
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8-40Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

Tire wear and damage
WARNING
cTires 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(s)
should be replaced.
cThe original tires have a built-in
tread wear indicator. When the wear
indicators are visible, the tire(s)
should be replaced.cImproper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
Replacing 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
c
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, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.
cIf 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 premature tire wear, de-
grade vehicle handling characteris-
tics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interfer-
ence can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake
pad/shoe wear. Refer to(Wheel/tire
size(in the(Technical and consumer
information(section of this manual
for wheel off-set dimensions.
cDo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have unknown
structural damage and could fail
without warning.
MDI0004
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-41
ZX

cThe use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
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. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may
damage the transmission, transfer
case and differential 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 andwheel 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.
cFor additional information regarding tires,
refer to ``Important Tire Safety Informa-
tion'' in the Warranty Information Booklet
(US) or ``Tire Safety Information'' in the
Warranty and Roadside Assistance Infor-
mation booklet (Canada).
Care of wheels
cWash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
cClean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.cDo not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
cInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pres-
sure or damage the tire bead.
cNISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire (TEMPORARY USE
ONLY)
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
cThe spare tire should be used for
emergency use only. It should be
replaced with the standard tire at the
first opportunity to avoid possible
tire or differential damage.
cDrive carefully while the TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire is in-
stalled. Avoid sharp turns and
abrupt braking while driving.
8-42Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

Use the following steps to mount the front
license plate:
1. Remove the two screw gromments from
the glove box.
2. Carefully drill a hole using a 0.39 inch (10
mm) drill bill at each location mark (small
dimple) on the bumper fascia.
3. Insert one grommet into each hole.
4. Insert a small screwdriver into the grom-
met to turn the plastic insert.
5. Install the license plate with two M5 x 25
mm bolts.WARNING
cIt is extremely dangerous to ride in a
cargo area inside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these ar-
eas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
cDo not allow people to ride in any
area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and seat belts.
c
Be sure everyone in the vehicle is in a
seat with their seat belt properly fas-
tened.
TERMS
It is important to familiarize yourself with the
following terms before loading your vehicle.
cCurb Weight (actual weight of your
vehicle) þ vehicle weight including:
standard and optional equipment, fluids,
emergency tools, and spare tire
assembly. This weightdoes notinclude
passengers and cargo.
cGVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) þ curb
weight plus the combined weight of pas-
sengers and cargo.
WTI1016
INSTALLING FRONT LICENSE
PLATEVEHICLE LOADING
INFORMATION
Technical and consumer information9-15
ZX

cGVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) þ
maximum total weight (load) limit speci-
fied for the vehicle.
cGAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) þ
maximum weight (load) limit specified
for the front or rear axle.
DETERMINING VEHICLE PAY-
LOAD CAPACITY
The payload capacity of this vehicle is de-
termined by weight, not by available cargo
space. For example, a roof rack, bike car-
rier, or similar equipment does not increase
payload carrying capacity of your vehicle.
To determine vehicle payload capacity:
Vehicle weight can be determined by using
a commercial-grade scale, found at places
such as a truck stop, gravel quarry, grain
elevator, or a scrap metal recycling facility.
1) Determine the curb weight of your ve-
hicle.
2) Compare the curb weight amount to the
GVWR specified for your vehicle to de-
termine how much more weight your
vehicle can carry.3) After loading (cargo and passengers),
reweigh your vehicle to determine if ei-
ther GVWR or GAWR for your vehicle is
exceeded. If GVWR is exceeded, re-
move cargo as necessary. If either the
front or rear GAWR is exceeded, shift the
load or remove cargo as necessary.
SECURING THE LOAD
For your convenience, tie down hooks are
placed at each corner of the truck box.
These may be used to help secure cargo
loaded into the truck box.
WARNING
cProperly secure all cargo with ropes
or straps to help prevent it from
sliding or shifting. Do not place
cargo higher than the seat backs. In
a sudden stop or collision, unse-
cured cargo could cause personal
injury.
ATI1020
9-16Technical and consumer information
ZX

Location for center of gravity
The illustration indicates the recommended
cargo center of gravity location zone.
King cab:
L1 = 960.1 mm (37.8 in), L2 = 1,087.1 mm
(42.8 in)
WARNING
Improper loading may be dangerous. If
a load is too far back, it can affect
handling characteristics. If a load is too
far forward, the front axle may be over-
loaded.
When the truck is used to carry a slide-in
camper, the total cargo load of the truck
consists of the camper manufacturer's
weight figure, plus:
cthe weight of installed additional camper
equipment not included in the camper
manufacturer's weight figure,
cthe weight of camper cargo,
cand the weight of occupants in the camper.
The total cargo load should not exceed the
truck's pay load weight rating and the camp-
er's center of gravity should fall within the
truck's recommended center of gravity loca-
tion zone when installed.
ATI0703ATI0705
9-18Technical and consumer information
ZX