brake NISSAN FRONTIER 2009 Owner´s Manual

cDo not attempt to test a 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer
(such as the dynamometers used by
some states for emissions testing) , or
similar equipment 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 dynamometer.
Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
cAccelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
cIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your NISSAN four-wheel drive vehicle
has a higher center of gravity than a
two-wheel drive vehicle. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional two-wheel
drive vehicles. Failure to operate this
vehicle correctly could result in loss of
control and/or a rollover accident.cAlways 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.
cBe sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water. See
“Brake system” later in this section for
“Wet brakes”.
cAvoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it
rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
cWhenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent maintenance
may be required. See “Periodic mainte-
nance” in the “NISSAN Service and
Maintenance Guide.”WARNING
cNever remove or turn the key to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock. This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle and
could result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
cNever turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock. This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle and
could result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury
IGNITION SWITCH
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
The ignition lock is designed so the key cannot be
turned to the LOCK position and removed until
the shift selector is moved to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
When removing the key from the ignition, make
sure the shift selector is in the P (Park) position.
If the shift selector is not returned to P (Park)
position, the key cannot be moved to the LOCK
position.To remove the key from the ignition switch:
1. Shift the shift selector to the P (Park) posi-
tion with the key in the ON position.
2. Turn the key to the LOCK position.
3. Remove the key from the ignition.
If the shift selector is shifted to the P (Park)
position after the key is turned to the OFF posi-
tion or when the key cannot be turned to the
LOCK position, proceed as follows to remove the
key.
1. Move the shift selector into the P (Park)
position.
2. Turn the ignition key slightly toward the ON
position.
3. Turn the key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key.
The shift selector is designed so it cannot moved
out of P (Park) and into any of the other gear
positions if the ignition key is turned to OFF
position or if the key is removed from the switch.
The shift selector can be moved if the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position and the
foot brake pedal is depressed.There is an OFF position between the
LOCK and ACC positions. The OFF position
is indicated by a “1” on the key cylinder.
When the ignition is in the OFF position,
the steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
If the key will not turn from the LOCK posi-
tion, turn the steering wheel to the left or
right while turning the key to unlock the
key cylinder.
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cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cCheck fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid, and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
cCheck that all windows and lights are clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cCheck that all doors are closed.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraint.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON (3)
position. See “Warning/indicator lights and
audible reminders” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual.1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the shift selector to P (Park) or N
(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The shift selector cannot be moved out
of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is
turned to the OFF position or if the key
is removed from the ignition switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector is in any of the driving
positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift selector to N (Neutral) . De-
press the clutch pedal to the floor while
cranking the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
switch to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure.cIf the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/3 to the floor) and hold it
and then crank the engine. Release the
key and the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
c
If the engine is very hard to start because it
is flooded, depress the accelerator pedal
all the way to the floor and hold it. Crank
the engine for 5-6 seconds. After cranking
the engine, release the accelerator pedal.
Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedal
by turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise
the starter could be damaged.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 sec-
onds after starting. Do not race the engine
while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
cDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) , 3, 2 or 1.
Always depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
cCold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
cNever shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving. This could
cause an accident.
CAUTION
cWhen stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake should be used for this purpose.
cDo not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled to produce maximum
power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before moving the shift
selector out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
move the shift selector into a driving gear.
3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start
the vehicle in motion.
The automatic transmission is designed so
the foot brake pedal MUST be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any drive
position while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
The shift selector cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear posi-
tions if the ignition key is turned to the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the key is
removed.To move the shift selector:
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal
: Push the button to shift
: Shift without depressing brake pedal
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and move the shift selector out of the P
(Park) position.
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DRIVING THE VEHICLE
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WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector
lever is in any position while the engine is
not running. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal injury
or property damage.
If the key is turned to the OFF or ACC position for
any reason while the vehicle is in N (Neutral) , or
any D (Drive) position, the key cannot be turned
to the LOCK position and be removed from the
ignition switch. Move the shift selector to the P
(Park) position, then the key can be turned to
LOCK.
P (Park):
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shift selector position when the
vehicle is parked or when starting the engine.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped.
The brake pedal should be depressed to
move the shift selector from N (Neutral) or
any drive position to P (Park) .Apply theparking brake. When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake first, then shift the shift selector into
the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position.The brake
pedal must be depressed to move the shift
selector from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any
drive position to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
3 (Third gear):
Use this position for driving up and down long
slopes where engine braking would be advanta-
geous.Do not downshift into the 3 position at speeds
over the following and do not exceed the follow-
ing speeds in the 3 position.
2WD:
71 MPH (115 km/h)
4H:
62 MPH (100 km/h)
4LO:
31 MPH (50 km/h)
2 (Second gear):
Use this position for hill climbing or engine brak-
ing on downhill grades.
Do not downshift into the 2 position at speeds
over the following and do not exceed the follow-
ing speeds in the 2 position.
2WD:
62 MPH (100 km/h)
4H:
62 MPH (100 km/h)
4LO:
31 MPH (50 km/h)
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1 (Low gear):
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly
or slow driving through deep snow, sand or mud,
or for maximum engine braking on steep downhill
grades.
Do not downshift into the 1 position at speeds
over the following and do not exceed the follow-
ing speeds in the 1 position.
2WD:
43 MPH (70 km/h)
4H:
43 MPH (70 km/h)
4LO:
31 MPH (50 km/h)
Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift selector may
not be moved from the P (Park) position even with
the brake pedal depressed.
To move the shift selector, release the shift lock.
The shift selector can be moved to N (Neutral) .
However, the steering wheel will be locked un-
less the ignition switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion. This allows the vehicle to be moved if the
battery is discharged.
To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:1. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK posi-
tion and remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover as
shown.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector to the N (Neutral)
position while holding down the shift lock
release.
6. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. Now the vehicle
may be moved to the desired location.
If the shift selector cannot be moved out of P
(Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the auto-
matic transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunction-
ing stop lights could cause an accident
injuring yourself and others.
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
cDo not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
cDo not over-rev the engine when shift-
ing to a lower gear. This may cause a
loss of control or engine damage.
CAUTION
cDo not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
cFully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.
cStop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
cWhen the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a stop
light) , shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift into
the appropriate gear, then release the clutch
slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress
the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever. If
the clutch pedal is not fully depressed before the
transmission is shifted, a gear noise may be
heard. Transmission damage could occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd, 3rd,
4th, 5th and 6th gear in sequence according to
vehicle speed.To back up depress the shift lever and then move
it to the R (Reverse) position after stopping the
vehicle completely.
On the 5-speed manual transmission model, you
cannot shift directly from the 5th gear into R
(Reverse) . First shift into N (Neutral) , then in to R
(Reverse) after stopping the vehicle completely.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (First) , shift into N (Neutral) , then
release the clutch pedal. Fully depress the clutch
pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1 (First) .
If your vehicle is equipped with 4-wheel drive, see
“Transfer case shifting procedures” later in this
section.
5 - speed
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6 - speed
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WARNING
cBe sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
cDo not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
cDo not use the gear shift in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
cDo not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
To engage:Pull the parking brake lever up
sA.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the shift selector in the N (Neutral)
position.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
3. While pulling up on the parking brake lever
slightly, push the button
sBand lower the
lever completely .4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
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PARKING BRAKE
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cThe vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed,use one of the
following three methods.
cPush the CANCEL button; the SET indicator
light in the instrument panel goes out.
cTap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light
goes out.
cTurn the main switch off. Both the CRUISE
indicator light and SET indicator light in the
instrument panel go out.
The cruise control is automatically canceled and
the SET light in the instrument panel goes out if:
cyou depress the brake or clutch pedal while
pushing the ACCEL/RES or COAST/SET
switch. The preset speed is deleted from
memory.
cthe vehicle slows down more than 8 MPH
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
cyou depress the clutch pedal (manual trans-
mission) , or move the shift selector lever to N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission) .To reset at a faster cruising speed,use one
of the following three methods.
cDepress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
cPush and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you de-
sire, release the switch.
cPush and release the ACCEL/RES switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed in-
creases by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To reset at a slower cruising speed,use one
of the following three methods.
cLightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
cPush and hold the COAST/SET switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows to
the desired speed.
cPush and release the COAST/SET switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed de-
creases by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To resume the preset speed,push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle re-
turns to the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h) .CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ,
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and en-
sure the future reliability and economy of
your new vehicle. Failure to follow these
recommendations may result in short-
ened engine life and reduced engine
performance.
cAvoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
cDo not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
cAvoid quick starts.
cAvoid hard braking as much as possible.
cDo not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE
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CAUTION
cDo not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing on dry, hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise, tire wear
and increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on when
you are driving on dry hard surface
roads:
– in the 4H position, shift the 4WD shift
switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for automatic
transmission vehicles, stop the ve-
hicle and shift the transmission se-
lector to the N position with the
brake pedal depressed and shift the
4WD shift switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for manual trans-
mission vehicles, stop the vehicle
and shift the transmission shift lever
to the N position with the clutch
pedal depressed and shift the 4WD
shift switch to 2WD.
cIf the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
The part time 4WD system provides 3 positions
(2WD, 4H and 4LO) , so you can select the
desired drive mode according to the driving con-
ditions.
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