manual transmission NISSAN FRONTIER 2012 Owner´s Manual

Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. Recommended types and
sizes are shown in “Wheels and tires” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
WARNING
●The use of tires other than those recom-
mended 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, VDC system, ground clear-
ance, body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to acci-
dents and could result in serious per-
sonal injury.
● If your vehicle was originally equipped
with 4 tires that were the same size and
you are only replacing 2 of the 4 tires,
install the new tires on the rear axle.
Placing new tires on the front axle may
cause loss of vehicle control in some
driving conditions and cause an acci-
dent and personal injury. ●
If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have
the same off-set dimension. Wheels of a
different off-set could cause premature
tire wear, degrade vehicle handling char-
acteristics, affect the VDC system
and/or interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can lead
to decreased braking efficiency and/or
early brake pad/shoe wear. Refer to
“Wheels and tires” in the “Technical and
consumer information” section of this
manual for wheel off-set dimensions.
●
When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be
indicated, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
●
Do not install a damaged or deformed
wheel or tire even if it has been repaired.
Such wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warning.
● The use of retread tires is not
recommended.
● For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Four-wheel drive models
CAUTION
Always use tires of the same type, 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 dam-
age the transmission, transfer case and
differential gears.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recommended
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 a NISSAN dealer.
8-42Maintenance and do-it-yourself

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 21-1/8gal 17-5/8 gal 80See “Fuel recommendation” later in this section.
Engine oil *7 Drain and RefillWith oil filter change
QR25DE4-7/8 qt 4 qt
4.6
Engine oil with API Certification Mark *1
Viscosity SAE 5W-30
Without oil filter
change
4-1/2 qt 3-3/4 qt 4.3
With oil filter change VQ40DE5-3/8 qt 4-1/2 qt 5.1
Without oil filter
change 5-1/8 qt 4-1/4 qt 4.8
Cooling system With reservoir QR25DE 2-1/2 gal 2-1/8 gal 9.4 Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent
VQ40DE 2-3/4 gal 2-1/4 gal 10.2
Manual transmission gear oil 5M/T
3-1/8 qt 2-1/2 qt 2.9 Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) HQ Multi
75W-85 or API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-85
6 M/T 4X2 4-1/4 qt 3-1/2 qt 4.0
6 M/T 4X4 4-1/2 qt 3-3/4 qt 4.2
Automatic transmission fluid Refill to the proper level according to the instruc-
tions in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section. Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF *2
Power steering fluid (PSF) Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*3
Brake and clutch fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid *4 or equivalent
DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease ———NLG IN o.2 (L it h iu m Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant ———HFC-134a (R-134a) *5
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information

To drive away:1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks. ● While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances. ●
Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
● For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
● When 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.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway: 1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or applying the brakes. 2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal- anced as described earlier in this section.
● Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
● Downshift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.
9-34Technical and consumer information

●Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
● Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
● Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
● DO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
● For emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Manual Transmission (if so equipped)
● Always tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
● On 4-wheel drive vehicles, place the transfer
case in the 2H range. Failure to do so will
cause the powertrain to bind up. ●
After towing 500 miles (805 km) , start and
idle the engine with the transmission in Neu-
tral for two minutes. Failure to idle the engine
after every 500 miles (805 km) of towing
may cause damage to internal transmission
parts.
Automatic Transmission (if so
equipped)
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly MUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels. Always follow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Technical and consumer information9-35

Clutchinterlock(clutchstart)switch......2-37
C.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-11
Cold weather driving ..............5-38
Compact disc (CD) player ...........4-27
Compass display ................2-10
Console box ...................2-41
Controls Audiocontrols(steeringwheel).......4-35
Heater and air conditioner controls . .4-2, 4-10
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-9
Checking engine coolant level ........8-9
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Corrosionprotection ...............7-5
Cruise control ..................5-20
Cupholders...................2-44
Curtain side-impact and rollover air bag ....1-76
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-30
Defroster switch Rear window defroster switch .......2-27
Dimensionsandweights.............9-9
Dimmer switch for instrument panel ......2-31
Door locks .....................3-3
Door open warning light .............2-17
Drive belt .....................8-18
Driving Cold weather driving ............5-38
Driving with automatic transmission ....5-13
Driving with manual transmission ......5-17
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2 E
Economy - fuel ..................5-22
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system ......................5-29
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system switch ..................2-36
Emission control information label .......9-12
Emission control system warranty .......9-37
Engine Before starting the engine ..........5-12
Block heater .................5-39
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-9
Changing engine oil .............8-11
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level ........8-9
Checking engine oil level ..........8-10
Engine compartment check locations ....8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Engine cooling system ............8-8
Engineoil...................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-6
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-17
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-6
Engine serial number ............9-11
Engine specifications .............9-8
Starting the engine .............5-12
Engine oil pressure gauge ............2-8
Eventdatarecorders ..............9-38
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .........5-2
Extended storage switch ............8-27 F
First aid kit .....................6-2
Flashers
(See hazard

warning flasher switch) ......2-32
Flat tire .......................6-3
Floor mat positioning aid .............7-5
Fluid Brake fluid ..................8-14
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Clutch fluid ..................8-15
Engine coolant .................8-8
Engine oil ...................8-10
Power steering fluid .............8-14
Windshield-washer fluid ...........8-15
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ...........9-11
Foglightswitch .................2-32
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system) ......1-71
Front seats .....................1-3
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Fuel economy ................5-22
Fuel-filler door and cap ...........3-11
Fuelgauge...................2-7
Fuel octane rating ...............9-5
Fuel recommendation .............9-4
Loose fuel cap warning ........2-5,3-11
Fuses.......................8-24
Fusiblelinks ...................8-25
10-2

RecordersEventdata..................9-38
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-7
Registering your vehicle in another country . .9-10
Remote keyless entry system ...........3-6
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-37
Roof rack .....................2-46
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Child seat belts .....1-26,1-37,1-49,1-59
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-37
Seat Jumpseat ...................1-7
Seat adjustment Front manual seat adjustment ........1-3
Front power seat adjustment .........1-5
Seatback pockets ................2-44
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-24
Infantsandsmallchildren..........1-25
Injured Person ................1-19
Largerchildren................1-25
Precautionsonseatbeltusage.......1-16
Pregnant women ...............1-19
Pre-tensioner seat belt system .......1-77
Seat belt extenders .............1-23
Seat belt maintenance ............1-24
Seat belts ...................1-16
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-23
Three-point type with retractor .......1-19
Seatbeltwarninglight..............2-19 Seats
Adjustment ...................1-3
Frontseats...................1-3
Heatedseats.................2-33
Manual front seat adjustment .........1-3
Security indicator light ..............2-22
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-25,3-2,5-11
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-23
Service manual order form ...........9-39
Servicing air conditioner .............4-17
Shifting Automatic transmission ...........5-14
Manual transmission .............5-18
Shiftlockrelease.................5-16
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-23
Side air bag system (See supplemental side air
bag, curtain and rollover air bag systems) . . .1-76
Sparkplugreplacement.............8-19
Speedometer ...................2-4
SRSwarninglabel................1-78
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-12
Jump starting .................6-10
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
Push starting .................6-12
Starting the engine .............5-12
Steering Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-32
Tilting steering wheel ............3-13
Steering wheel audio control switch ......4-35
Stoplight.....................8-31
Storage......................2-38
Storage tray ................2-38,2-40
Sunglassescase.................2-42 Sunroof (see Moonroof)
.............2-50
Sun visors ....................3-14
Supplemental air bag warning labels ......1-78
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-79, 2-20
Supplemental front

impact air bag system . . .1-71
Supplemental restraint system Information and warning labels .......1-78
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-64
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system) .........1-64
Switch Autolight switch ...............2-29
Automatic power window switch ......2-49
Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch ....2-37
Electronic locking rear differential
(E-Lock) system switch ...........2-36
Fog light switch ...............2-32
Hazard warning flasher switch .......2-32
Headlightandturnsignalswitch......2-28
Headlight control switch ..........2-28
Hill descent control switch .........2-35
Ignition switch ................5-10
Overdrive switch ...............5-17
Power door lock switch ............3-4
Rearwindowdefrosterswitch .......2-27
Turnsignalswitch..............2-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch .....................2-34
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
T
Tachometer ....................2-6
Tailgate latch ............3-17,3-18,3-19
10-5

Temperature gaugeEngine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start .............2-25,3-2,5-11
Three-way catalyst ................5-3
Tie down hooks .................3-20
Tilting steering wheel ..............3-13
Tire Flat tire .....................6-3
Spare tire ................6-4,8-43
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-12
Tire chains ..................8-40
Tireplacard..................9-12
Tirepressure.................8-33
Tire rotation..................8-40
Tires of 4-wheel drive ............8-42
Types of tires .................8-39
Uniform tire quality grading .........9-36
Wheels and tires ...............8-33
Wheel/tire size .................9-9
Tire pressure Low tire pressure warning light .......2-18
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ....5-3
Top tether strap child restraint .........1-30
Towing 2-wheel drive models ............6-14
4-wheel drive models ............6-15
Flattowing..................9-35
Towingload/specification..........9-28
Towtrucktowing...............6-13
Trailertowing.................9-24
Transceiver HomeLink Universal Transceiver ......2-54
Transmission Driving with automatic transmission ....5-13
Driving with manual transmission ......5-17Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)
......................9-10
Trip computer ...................2-9
Trip odometer ...................2-4
Truck - camper loading .............9-23
Turn signal switch ................2-31
U
Uniform tire quality grading ...........9-36
V
Vanity mirror ...................3-14
Variable voltage control system .........8-18
Vehicle dimensions and weights .........9-9
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . .2-34
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system .....5-35
Vehicle identification ...............9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number) ................9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ....9-10
Vehicle loading information ...........9-13
Vehicle recovery .................6-15
Vehicle security system .............2-24
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle immobi-
lizer system) , engine start ......2-25,3-2,5-11
Ventilators .....................4-2
Visors.......................3-14
Voltmeter......................2-8 W
Warning 4WDwarninglight..............2-17
Airbagwarninglight.........1-79, 2-20
Anti-lock brake warning light ........2-15
Battery charge warning light ........
2
-16
Brake warning light .............2-16
Door open warning light ...........2-17
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-17
Hazard warning flasher switch .......2-32
Low fuel warning light ............2-18
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-18
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light......................2-19
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-73
Seatbeltwarninglight............2-19
Vehicle security system ...........2-24
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-14
Warning labels (for SRS) ..........1-78
Warninglights..................2-14
Washer switch Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
Weights (See dimensions and weights) .....9-9
Wheels and tires .................8-33
Wheel/tire size ...................9-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
anothercountry .................9-10
Windows Locking passengers’ windows .......2-49
Manual windows ...............2-49
Power windows ...............2-47
Rear power windows ............2-49
Rear sliding window .............2-50
10-6