wheel NISSAN FRONTIER 2020 Owner´s Manual

•If your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill,
never attempt to turn around. Your
vehicle could tip or roll over. Always
back straight down in R (Reverse)
gear. Never back down in N (Neutral),
using only the brake, as this could
cause loss of control.
• Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed. Use the hill descent control
feature (if so equipped).
• Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
• To avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as
possible. Do not equip the vehicle
with tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your ve-
hicle to roll over. •
Do not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
• Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
• Always drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.
• Lower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is more
affected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
• Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires, even
with 4WD engaged (if so equipped).
• 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.
• Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
• If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN 4WD vehicle has
a higher center of gravity than a pas-
senger car. The vehicle is not de-
signed for cornering at the same
speeds as passenger cars. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a roll-
over accident.
Starting and driving5-9

•Always 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.
• Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately af ter driving in mud or water.
For additional information, refer to
“Wet brakes” in this section.
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured.
• Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Mainte-
nance under severe operating
conditions” in the “Maintenance and
schedules” section of this manual.
WARNING
Do not operate the push-button igni-
tion switch while driving the vehicle ex-
cept in an emergency. (The engine will
stop when the ignition switch is pushed
three consecutive times in quick suc-
cession or the ignition switch is pushed
and held for more than 2 seconds.) If
the engine stops while the vehicle is
being driven, this could lead to a crash
and serious injury. When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch position will illuminate as follows:
Push center:
• Once to change to ACC.
• Two times to change to ON.
• Three times to return to OFF.
The ignition switch will automatically re-
turn to the LOCK position when any door is
either opened or closed with the switch in
the OFF position.
The shif t lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the ignition switch cannot be moved
from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for opera-
tion are displayed in the meter. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Warning lights,
indicator lights and audible reminders” in
the “Instruments and controls” section of
this manual.
LSD3828
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
5-10Starting and driving

• 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

• 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

The transfer case 4WD shif t switch is used
to select either 2WD or 4WD depending on
the driving conditions. There are three
types of drive modes available, 2WD, 4H and
4LO.
The 4WD shif t switch electronically controls
the transfer case operation. Rotate the
switch to move between each mode, 2WD,
4H and 4LO.
To change into or out of 4LO, the vehicle
MUST be stationary, move the shif t lever
to N (Neutral), and depress the brake
pedal. The switch must be depressed
and turned when changing into or out of
4LO.
WARNING
• When parking, apply the parking
brake before stopping the engine
and make sure that the 4WD shif t in-
dicator light is on and the ATP warn-
ing light goes off. Otherwise, the ve-
hicle could unexpectedly move even
if the A/T is in the P (Park) position. •
The transfer 4LO position indicator
light must stop blinking and remain
illuminated or turn off before shif ting
the transmission into gear. If the shif t
lever is shif ted from the N (Neutral)
position to any other gear when the
transfer 4LO position indicator light
is blinking, the vehicle may move
unexpectedly.
CAUTION
• Never shif t the 4WD shif t switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
• The 4H position provides greater
traction. Avoid excessive speed, as it
will cause increased fuel consump-
tion and higher oil temperatures, and
could damage drivetrain compo-
nents. Speeds over 62 mph (100
km/h) in 4H is not recommended.
• The 4LO position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 31 mph
(50 km/h).
•
When driving straight, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to the 2WD or 4H position.
Do not move the 4WD shif t switch
when making a turn or reversing.
• Do not shif t the 4WD shif t switch (be-
tween 2WD and 4H) while driving on
steep downhill grades. Use the en-
gine brake and low gears 2 (Second
gear) or 1 (Low gear), for engine
braking.
• Do not operate the 4WD shif t switch
(between 2WD and 4H) with the rear
wheels spinning.
• Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4H or 4LO position. Driv-
ing on dry hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise and
tire wear. NISSAN recommends driv-
ing in the 2WD position under these
conditions.
• The 4WD transfer case may not be
shif ted between 4H and 4LO at low
ambient temperatures and the
transfer 4LO position indicator light
may blink even when the 4WD shif t
switch is shif ted. Af ter driving for a
while you can change the 4WD trans-
fer case between 4H and 4LO.
5-26Starting and driving

When driving on rough roads:
• Set the 4WD shif t switch to 4H or 4LO.
• Drive carefully according to the road sur-face conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck:
• Set the 4WD shif t switch to 4H or 4LO.
• Use the Electronic Locking Rear Differen- tial (E-Lock) system (if so equipped). Turn
the switch ON while the vehicle is station-
ary and apply the throttle to try to free the
vehicle.
• If it is difficult to free the vehicle, rock the vehicle back and forth between R (Re-
verse) and D (Drive) gears.
• If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, place stones or wooden blocks under the tires.
Then try the recovery procedures above.
Tire chains may be effective.
CAUTION
• Do not spin the tires excessively. Tires
will sink deep into the mud, making it
difficult to free the vehicle.
• Avoid shif ting gears with the engine
running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.
4WD shif t switch operations
• Shif t the 4WD shif t switch to either the 2WD, 4H or 4LO position, depending on
driving conditions.
• If the 4WD shif t switch is operated
while making a turn, accelerating or
decelerating or if the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position while in the
4H or 4LO position, you may feel a jolt.
This is not abnormal. •
When the vehicle is stopped af ter mak-
ing a turn, you may feel a slight jolt
af ter the shif t lever is moved to N (Neu-
tral) or P (Park). This occurs because the
transfer clutch is released and not be-
cause of a malfunction.
CAUTION
• When driving straight, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to the 2WD or 4H posi-
tion. Do not move the 4WD shif t
switch when making a turn or
reversing.
• Do not shif t the 4WD shif t switch
while driving on steep downhill
grades. Use the engine brake and low
automatic transmission gears (M1 or
M2) for engine braking.
• Do not operate the 4WD shif t switch
with the rear wheels spinning.
• Before placing the 4WD shif t switch
in the 4H position from 2WD, ensure
the vehicle speed is less than 62 mph
(100 km/h). Failure to do so can dam-
age the 4WD system.
• Never shif t the 4WD shif t switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
LSD0145
Starting and driving5-27

4WD shif t indicator light
The 4WD shif t indicator light is located in
the odometer display.
The light should turn off within 1 second
af ter placing the ignition switch in the ON
position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shif t
indicator light will illuminate the position
selected by the 4WD shif t switch.
•The 4WD shif t indicator light may blink
while shif ting from one drive mode to
the other. When the shif ting is com-
pleted, the 4WD shif t indicator light will
come on. • If the 4WD warning light comes on, the
4WD shif t indicator light goes out.
CAUTION
If the 4WD shif t indicator light indica-
tion changes to 2WD when the 4WD
shif t switch is shif ted to the 4H position
at low ambient temperatures, the 2WD
mode may be being engaged due to
malfunctioning drive system. If the in-
dicator does not return to normal and
the 4WD warning light comes on, have
the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
4WD warning light
Warning light Comes on or
blinks when:
Comes on There is a mal-
function in the 4–Wheel Drive system
Blinks slowly The difference
in wheel rota- tion is large
The 4WD warning light is located in the me-
ter.
The 4WD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position.
It turns off soon af ter the engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD sys-
tem when the ignition switch is ON, the
warning light will either remain illuminated
or blink.
LSD0147
5-28Starting and driving

If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shif t indicator light goes out.
A large difference between the diameters
of front and rear wheels will make the
warning light blink slowly (about once per 1
second). Change the 4WD shif t switch into
2WD and do not drive fast.
CAUTION
• If the warning light comes on or
blinks slowly during operation, have
your vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• Shif ting between 4H and 4LO is not
recommended when the 4WD warn-
ing light turns on.
• When the warning light comes on,
the 2WD mode may be engaged even
if the 4WD shif t switch is in 4H. Be
especially careful when driving. If
corresponding parts are malfunc-
tioning, the 4WD mode will not be en-
gaged even if the 4WD shif t switch is
shif ted. •
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 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.
• The transfer case may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warn-
ing light blinking. The E-Lock system can provide additional
traction and should only be used when a
vehicle has become or is becoming stuck.
This system operates by electronically
“locking” the two rear drive wheels to-
gether, allowing them to turn at the same
speed. The system is used when it is not
possible to free a stuck vehicle even when
using the 4LO position (4-Wheel Drive ve-
hicles).
When added traction is required, activate
the E-Lock system by pushing the switch
ON. For additional information, refer to
“Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system switch” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual. Once the
system fully engages, the indicator light in
the instrument panel will remain on. When
the system is activated, both rear wheels
will engage, providing added traction.
The rear wheels may momentarily slip or
move to engage the system, and the sys-
tem will only engage up to approximately 4
mph (7 km/h). Once the vehicle is free, the
system should be turned off and driving
resumed.
ELECTRONIC LOCKING REAR
DIFFERENTIAL (E-Lock) SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving5-29

The Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) system is dis-
abled and the ABS light illuminates when
the E-Lock system is on. Also, the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system is disabled
and the
indicator light illuminates
when the E-Lock system is on.
WARNING
• Never leave the E-Lock system on
when driving on paved or hard-
surfaced roads. Turning the vehicle
may result in the rear wheels slipping
and result in an accident and per-
sonal injury. Af ter using the E-Lock
system to free the vehicle, turn the
system off.
• Use the E-Lock system only when
freeing a stuck vehicle. Try the 4LO
position before using the E-Lock sys-
tem. Never use the E-Lock system on
a slippery road surface such as snow
or ice surface. Using the E-Lock sys-
tem when driving in these road con-
ditions may cause unexpected
movement of the vehicle during en-
gine braking, accelerating or turning,
which may result in an accident and
serious personal injury.
CAUTION
• Af ter using the E-Lock system, turn
the switch OFF to prevent possible
damage to driveline components
from extended use.
• Do not drive the vehicle at speeds
faster than 12 mph (20 km/h) when
the system is engaged. Doing so
could damage drivetrain
components.
• Do not turn on the E-Lock system
while the tires are spinning. Doing so
could damage drivetrain
components.
5-30Starting and driving