starting and driving NISSAN FRONTIER 2020 Owner´s Manual

CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the ve-
hicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
The A/T in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driv-
ing enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
1. Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the
shif t lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shif t lever 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 de-
pressed before shif ting from P (Park) to
any drive position while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
The shif t lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the LOCK or OFF posi-
tion.
The shif t lever may not be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position, but
the engine is not running and the out-
side temperature is extremely low.
Shif ting
To move the shif t lever:
Press the buttonOAwhile depressing
the brake pedal
Press the buttonOAto shif t
Shif t without depressing the brake
pedal
LSD3853
Starting and driving5-15

Shif ting
Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and move the shif t lever out of
the P (Park) position.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shif t le-
ver is in any position while the engine is
not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position for any reason while the vehicle is
in N (Neutral), or any D (Drive) position, the
ignition switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position. Move the shif t lever to the P
(Park) position, then the ignition switch can
be placed in the LOCK position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the P (Park) position only when the ve-
hicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shif t lever 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 shif t lever from N (Neutral) or
any drive position to P (Park).
The P (Park) position is automatically en-
gaged if you switch off the ignition.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then move
the shif t lever into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the 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 be-
fore selecting the R (Reverse) position. The
brake pedal must be depressed to move
the shif t lever 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 shif t to N (Neutral) and restart a
stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
5-16Starting and driving

Manual shif t mode
Move the shif t lever sideways toward the
manual shif t gate to activate the manual
shif t mode, then select “+” or “-” to shif t up or
down. Shif t ranges can be selected manu-
ally.
In the manual shif t mode, the shif t range is
displayed on the position indicator in the
meter. Af ter moving the shif t lever to the
manual shif t gate, the position indicator
varies depending on the gear position and
vehicle speed.Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1
↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4 ↔M5 ↔M6 ↔M7 ↔
M8 ↔M9 ↔D
M9 (Ninth)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M1 ↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4 ↔M5 ↔M6 ↔M7 ↔
M8 ↔M9
M9 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
M8 (Eighth)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M1 ↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4 ↔M5 ↔M6 ↔M7 ↔
M8
M8 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
M7 (Seventh)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M1 ↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4 ↔M5 ↔M6 ↔M7
M7 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
M6 (Sixth)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M1 ↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4 ↔M5 ↔M6
M6 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter
M5 (Fif th)
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking would be advantageous.
Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1 ↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4 ↔M5
M5 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
M4 (Fourth)
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1 ↔M2 ↔M3 ↔M4
M4 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
LSD3855
Starting and driving5-17

M3 (Third)
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1↔M2 ↔M3
M3 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
M2 (Second)
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1 ↔M2
M2 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor in the meter.
M1 (First)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine brak-
ing on steep downhill grades.
M1 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor on the meter. • Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than
M4 range. This reduces fuel economy.
When shif ting up
Move the shif t lever to the + (up) side. (Shif ts
to higher range.)
When shif ting down
Move the shif t lever to the − (down) side.
(Shif ts to lower range.)
• The transmission will automatically downshif t the gears. (For example, if you
select the 3rd range, the transmission will
shif t down between the 3rd and 1st
gears.)
• Moving the shif t lever rapidly to the same side twice will shif t the ranges in succes-
sion.
When canceling the manual shif t mode
Return the shif t lever to the D (Drive) posi-
tion to return the transmission to the nor-
mal driving mode. •
In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission may not shif t to the selected
gear immediately because of vehicle
speed. The transmission will upshif t or
downshif t when vehicle speed
matches the programmed transmis-
sion shif t points. This helps maintain
driving performance and reduces the
chance of vehicle damage or loss of
control.
• In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission will not upshif t to a higher
gear than is manually selected. When
the vehicle speed decreases, the trans-
mission automatically shif ts down and
shif ts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
Accelerator downshif t
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
5-18Starting and driving

WARNING
• Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to
an accident.
• Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
• Do not use the shif t lever in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
• To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require
the assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets. To engage:
Pull the parking brake lever up
OA.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) position.
3. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, press the button
OBand
lower the lever completely.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warn- ing light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
1. ACCEL•RES switch
2. COAST•SET switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. ON•OFF switch
• If the cruise control system malfunctions,it cancels automatically. The SET indica-
tor light in the instrument panel then
blinks to warn the driver.
LSD2755LSD2753
PARKING BRAKE CRUISE CONTROL
Starting and driving5-19

• If the SET indicator light blinks, turn theON•OFF switch off and have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• The SET indicator light may blink when the ON•OFF switch is turned on while
pushing the ACCEL•RES, COAST•SET, or
CANCEL switch (located on the steering
wheel). To properly set the cruise control
system, use the following procedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driv-
ing under the following conditions:
• When it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
• In heavy traffic or in traffic that varies
in speed.
• On winding or hilly roads.
• On slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.).
• In very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 - 89 mph (40 - 144 km/h) with-
out keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the
ON•OFF switch. The CRUISE indicator light
in the instrument panel comes on.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the ve-
hicle to the desired speed, push the COAST-
•SET switch and release it. The SET indica-
tor light in the instrument panel comes on.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Your vehicle maintains the set speed.
• To pass another vehicle, depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previ-
ously set speed.
• The 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:
• Push the CANCEL switch; the SET indica- tor light in the instrument panel goes out.
• Tap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light goes out. • Turn the ON•OFF switch off. Both the
CRUISE indicator light and SET indicator
light in the instrument panel go out.
The cruise control is automatically can-
celed and the SET indicator light in the in-
strument panel goes out if:
• The vehicle slows down more than 8 mph (13 km/h) below the set speed.
• Move the shif t lever to N (Neutral).
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use
one of the following three methods:
• Depress the accelerator pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed, push
and release the COAST•SET switch.
• Push and hold the ACCEL•RES switch. When the vehicle attains the speed you
desire, release the switch.
• Push 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:
• Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve- hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST•SET switch and release it.
• Push and hold the COAST•SET switch. Re- lease the switch when the vehicle slows
to the desired speed.
5-20Starting and driving

• Push 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
release the ACCEL•RES switch. The vehicle
returns 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 ob-
tain maximum engine performance
and ensure the future reliability and
economy of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may
result in shortened engine life and re-
duced engine performance.
• Avoid driving for long periods at constant speed, either fast or slow, and do not run
the engine over 4,000 rpm.
• Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
• Avoid quick starts.
• Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
• Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (805 kilometers). Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged. Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient
Driving Tips to help you achieve the most
fuel economy from your vehicle.
1.
Use Smooth Accelerator and Brake
Pedal Application
• Avoid rapid starts and stops.
• Use smooth, gentle accelerator and brake application whenever possible.
• Maintain constant speed while com- muting and coast whenever possible.
2. Maintain Constant Speed
• Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
• Synchronizing your speed with traffic lights allows you to reduce your num-
ber of stops.
• Maintaining a steady speed can mini- mize red light stops and improve fuel
efficiency.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
Starting and driving5-21

3.Use Air Conditioning (A/C) at Higher
Vehicle Speeds
• Below 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load.
• Above 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle
due to increased aerodynamic drag.
• Recirculating the cool air in the cabin when the A/C is on reduces cooling
load.
4. Drive at Economical Speeds and
Distances
• Observing the speed limit and not ex- ceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) (where le-
gally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
• Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles reduces unnec-
essary braking.
• Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate changes in speed permits reduced
braking and smooth acceleration
changes.
• Select a gear range suitable to road conditions. 5.
Use Cruise Control
• Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady speed.
• Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving
on flat terrains.
6. Plan for the Shortest Route
• Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save time.
7. Avoid Idling
• Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30–60 seconds saves
fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads
• Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising
speed through the toll and avoid stop-
ping and starting. 9.
Winter Warm Up
• Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
• Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to ef-
fectively circulate the engine oil before
driving.
• Your vehicle will reach its ideal operat- ing temperature more quickly while
driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
• Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever pos-
sible.
• When entering a hot vehicle, opening the windows will help to reduce the
inside temperature faster, resulting in
reduced demand on your A/C system.
5-22Starting and driving

• Keep your engine tuned up.
• Follow the recommended scheduledmaintenance.
• Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres- sure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
• Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im- proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
• For vehicles equipped with
, use 4H
or 4L position only when necessary.
4-Wheel Drive operation lowers fuel
economy.
• Use the recommended viscosity engine oil. For additional information, refer to “En-
gine oil and oil filter recommendations” in
the “Technical and consumer informa-
tion” section of this manual.
WARNING
• For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
• Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions 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 dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment
may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.CAUTION
• Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or
4LO position on dry hard surface
roads. Driving 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 sur-
face roads:
– In the 4H position, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 2–Wheel Drive
(2WD).
– In the 4LO position for automatic
transmission vehicles, stop the
vehicle and shif t the shif t lever to
the N (Neutral) position with the
brake pedal depressed and shif t
the 4WD shif t switch to 2WD.
• If the warning light is still on af ter the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYUSING 4–WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
(if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-23

TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING PROCEDURES
The part-time 4WD system provides three positions (2WD, 4H and 4LO), so you can select the desired drive mode according to the driving
conditions.
2WD or 4WD shif t procedure:
4WD Shif t
Switch Position Wheels Driven Indicator Light
Use Conditions 4WD Shif t Procedure
4WD shif t Transfer 4LO
position
2WDRear wheels
For driving on dry, paved roads
(Economy drive) Move the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> 4H
4WD shif t indicator light will indicate
transfer shif t position engaged.
Shif ting between the 2WD and 4H
drive modes can be done while driv-
ing. The indicator will change when
the drive mode is changed. Shif ting
between the 2WD and 4H modes
must be performed at speed below
100 km/h (60 mph).
4H
4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy or snow-
covered roads
N (Neutral)
*1
May blink N (Neutral) disengages the auto-
matic transmission (A/T) mechanical
parking lock, which will allow the ve-
hicle to roll. Do not leave the transfer
shif t position in N (Neutral).*2
The 4LO indicator blinks when shif t-
ing between 4H and 4LO 1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move the shif t lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position with the brake pedal
depressed.
3. Depress and turn the 4WD shif t switch to 4LO or 4H with the
brake pedal depressed.
THE TRANSFER CASE DOES NOT EN-
GAGE BETWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR
4LO TO 4H) UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST
STOPPED THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED
THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVED THE
SHIFT LEVER TO N (NEUTRAL) FOR
A/T VEHICLES. *3
4LO
4 wheels
Illuminated For use when maximum power and
traction is required (for example, on
steep grades or rocky, sandy, muddy
roads)
5-24Starting and driving