engine coolant NISSAN FRONTIER 2021 Owners Manual

VQ38DD engine
1. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir(P. 8-12)
2. Fuse/Fusible link box (P. 8-20)
3. Fuse/Fusible link box (P. 8-20)
4. Fuse box (P. 8-20)
5. Engine oil filler cap (P. 8-6)
6. Engine oil dipstick (P. 8-6)
7. Brake fluid reservoir (P. 8-11)
8. Air cleaner (P. 8-17)
9. Drive belt location (P. 8-15)
10. Power steering fluid reservoir (P. 8-10)
11. Radiator cap (P. 8-4)
12. Battery (P. 8-13)
13. Engine coolant reservoir (P. 8-4)
*Engine cover removed for clarity.
Refer to the page number indicated in
parentheses for operating details.

2 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel................................2-2
Meters and gauges .............................2-4
Speedometer and odometer .................2-4
Tachometer .................................. 2-7
Engine coolant temperature gauge .......... 2-7
Fuel gauge ...................................2-8
Distance To Empty (DTE) .....................2-8
Trip computer (if so equipped) ................2-9
Compass and outside temperature display
(if so equipped) ................................. 2-10
Outside temperature display ................2-10
Compass .................................... 2-11
Warning lights, indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................................... 2-14
Checking lights .............................. 2-15
Warning lights ............................... 2-15
Indicator lights .............................. 2-21
Audible reminders ........................... 2-24
Security systems (if so equipped) ...............2-25
Vehicle security system (if so equipped) .....2-25
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
(if so equipped) .............................. 2-27
Wiper and washer switch .......................2-28
Switch operation ............................ 2-28
Rear window or outside mirror defroster
switch (if so equipped) ......................... 2-29Headlight and turn signal switch
...............2-30
Headlight control switch ....................2-30
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) system
(if so equipped) .............................. 2-32
Instrument brightness control ..............2-33
Turn signal switch ........................... 2-33
Fog light switch (if so equipped) .............2-33
Horn ........................................... 2-34
Cargo lamp switch ............................. 2-34
Heated seat switches (if so equipped) ..........2-35
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF switch .....2-36
Hill descent control switch (if so equipped) .....2-36
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system switch (if so equipped) .................2-37
Rear Sonar System (RSS) OFF switch
(if so equipped) .................................
2-38
P

ower outlets .................................. 2-39
Storage ........................................ 2-40
Front-door pockets ......................... 2-40
Rear-door pockets .......................... 2-40
Seatback pocket (if so equipped) ............2-41
Under-seat storage bins
(if so equipped) .............................. 2-42
Storagetrays................................ 2-44
Glovebox ................................... 2-44

1. Warning and indicator lights
2. Tachometer
3. Speedometer
4. Fuel gauge
5. Change/reset button6. Odometer
Twin trip odometer
Trip computer (if so equipped)
Instrument brightness control knob
7. Engine coolant temperature gauge
SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER
This vehicle is equipped with a speedom-
eter and odometer. The speedometer is
located on the right side of the meter clus-
ter. The odometer is located within the trip
computer.
LIC4376
METERS AND GAUGES

• For quick cooling when the outside tem-perature is high, press thebutton to
the ON position. Be sure to return the
to the OFF position for normal cool-
ing. The indicator light on thebutton
will go off. You may also select MAX A/C
for quick cooling.
Dehumidified heating
This mode is used to heat and dehumidif y
the air.
1. Press the
air flow control button.
2. Turn the
fan speed control dial to
the desired position.
3. Press the
button on.
4. Turn the temperature control dial to the desired position.
Dehumidified defogging
This mode is used to defog the windows
and dehumidif y the air.
1. Press the
air flow control button.
2. Turn the
fan speed control dial to
the desired position. • When the
orare selected, the
air conditioner automatically turns on if
the outside temperature is more than 36°
F (2° C). This dehumidifies the air which
helps defog the windshield. The
mode automatically turns off, allowing
outside air to be drawn into the passen-
ger compartment to further improve the
defogging performance.
• The air conditioner is always on in the
mode, regardless of whether the in-
dicator light is on or off.
3. Turn the temperature control dial to the desired position.
Operating tips
• Keep the windows and moonroof (if soequipped) closed while the air condi-
tioner is in operation.
• Af ter parking in the sun, drive for two or three minutes with the windows open to
vent hot air from the passenger com-
partment. Then, close the windows. This
allows the air conditioner to cool the inte-
rior more quickly. •
The air conditioning system should be
operated for approximately 10 minutes
at least once a month. This helps pre-
vent damage to the system due to lack
of lubrication.
• A visible mist may be seen coming from the ventilators in hot, humid conditions
as the air is cooled rapidly. This does not
indicate a malfunction.
• If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates engine coolant tem-
perature over the normal range, turn
the air conditioner off. For additional
information, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emer-
gency ” section of this manual.AIR FLOW CHARTS
The following charts show the button and
dial positions for MAXIMUM AND QUICK
heating, cooling or defrosting. The air re-
circulation (
) button should always
be in the OFF position for heating and
defrosting.
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-27

MANUAL OPERATION
Fan speed control
Turn thefan speed control dial to
manually control the fan speed.
Press the AUTO button to return to auto-
matic control of the fan speed.
Air recirculation
Press the air recirculation buttonto
recirculate interior air inside the vehicle.
Press the AUTO button to return to auto-
matic mode.
The air recirculation cannot be activated
when the air conditioner is in the
front
defogging mode.
Fresh air intake (if so equipped)
Press thefresh air intake button to
draw outside air into the passenger com-
partment. The
indicator light on the
button will come on.
A/C (air conditioner) button
Start the engine, turn thefan speed
control dial to the desired position and
press the
button to turn on the air
conditioner. To turn off the air conditioner,
press the
button again. The air conditioner cooling function op-
erates only when the engine is running.
Air flow control
Press the air flow control buttons to manu-
ally control air flow and select the air outlet:
— Air flows from center and side
vents.
— Air flows from center and sidevents and foot outlets.
— Air flows mainly from foot outlets.— Air flows from defroster and footoutlets.
— Air flows from defroster outlets.
To turn system off
Press the OFF button.
Rear window or outside mirror
defroster switch (if so equipped)
For additional information, refer to “Rear
window or outside mirror defroster switch”
in the “Instruments and controls” section of
this manual.
OPERATING TIPS
The sunload sensorO1, located on the top
center of the instrument panel, helps the
system maintain a constant temperature.
Do not put anything on or around this sen-
sor.
• When the engine coolant temperature and outside air temperature are low, the
air flow from the foot outlets may not
operate for a maximum of 150 seconds.
However, this is not a malfunction. Af ter
the coolant temperature warms up, air
flow from the foot outlets will operate
normally.
LIC0515

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) .......................................5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ..................................5-6
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-6
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-7
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-8
Driving safety precautions ....................5-8
Push-button ignition switch ....................5-10
Operating range ............................. 5-11
Push-button ignition switch positions ........5-11
Emergency engine shut off ..................5-12
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery
discharge ................................... 5-12
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System .........5-13
Before starting the engine .....................5-13
Starting the engine ............................. 5-13
Driving the vehicle .............................. 5-14
Automatic transmission (A/T) ...............5-14
Parking brake .................................. 5-19
Cruise control .................................. 5-19
Precautions on cruise control ...............5-19Cruise control operations
...................5-20
Break-in schedule .............................. 5-21
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................5-21
Increasing fuel economy .......................5-23
Using 4–Wheel Drive (4WD)
(if so equipped) ................................. 5-23
Transfer case shif ting procedures ...........5-24
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system (if so equipped) ......................... 5-29
Parking/parking on hills ........................5-31
Power steering ................................. 5-32
Brake system .................................. 5-32
Brake precautions ........................... 5-32
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..............5-33
Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) system ........5-34
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .........5-35
Brake force distribution .....................5-36
Hill descent control system (if so equipped) ....5-37
Hill start assist system (if so equipped) .........5-38
Rear Sonar System (RSS) (if so equipped) .......5-39
Cold weather driving ........................... 5-40
Freeing a frozen door lock ...................5-40
Antifreeze ................................... 5-40
Battery...................................... 5-40
Draining of coolant water ...................5-40

FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before in-
serting it into the key hole or use the re-
mote keyless entry key fob (if so equipped).
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper win-
ter protection. For additional information,
refer to “Engine cooling system” in the “Do-
it-yourself ” section of this manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, refer to “Battery” in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be lef t outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, includ-
ing the engine block. Refill before operating
the vehicle. For additional information, refer
to “Changing engine coolant” in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed toprovide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced
in snowy and icy conditions. If you oper-
ate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four
wheels. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However,
some U.S. states and Canadian prov-
inces prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before install-
ing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
3. Tire chains may be used. For additional information, refer to “Tire chains” in the
“Do-it-yourself ” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
• A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow- drif ts.
• Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield- washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE

CAUTION
• Do not push start this vehicle. The
three-way catalyst may be
damaged.
• Automatic transmission models can-
not be push-started or tow-started.
Attempting to do so may cause
transmission damage.WARNING
• Do not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could cause
engine damage or a vehicle fire.
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still
hot. When the radiator or coolant res-
ervoir cap is removed, pressurized
hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
• Do not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge
reading), or if you feel a lack of engine
power, detect abnormal noise, etc. take the
following steps.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, ap- ply the parking brake and move the shif t
lever to P (Park).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed. 3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. If steam
or coolant is escaping, turn off the en-
gine. Do not open the hood further until
no steam or coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.

6. Af ter the engine cools down, check thecoolant level in the engine coolant res-
ervoir tank with the engine running. Add
coolant to the engine coolant reservoir
tank if necessary. Have your vehicle re-
paired. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service. When towing your vehicle, all jurisdictional
and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. Towing in-
structions are available from a NISSAN
dealer. Local service operators are gener-
ally familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, NISSAN recommends hav-
ing a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator
carefully read the following precautions:CAUTION
• When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. Use dollies or flatbed if any of
the listed systems are not working.
• Always attach safety chains before
towing.
For additional information, refer to “Flat
towing — 4WD with automatic transmis-
sion,” “Flat towing — 2WD with automatic
transmission” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-14In case of emergency

When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The fol-
lowing are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
CAUTION
• Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine off
and wait until it cools down.
•
Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, engine coolant and/or other ve-
hicle fluids can damage the environ-
ment. Always conform to local regula-
tions for disposal of vehicle fluid.
• Never leave the engine or the trans-
mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position. •
Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
This “Do-it-yourself ” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A Genuine NISSAN service manual is also
available. For additional information, refer
to “Owner's Manual/Service Manual order
information” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual.
NISSAN recommends the use of Genuine
NISSAN parts or equivalent. The use of parts
that do not meet or exceed NISSAN specifica-
tions, can cause damage to your vehicle, and
have an effect on your warranty coverage. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
parts department who can provide informa-
tion on the proper parts for your vehicle.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect warranty coverage. If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended
that you have it done by a NISSAN dealer.
NOTE:
If the battery is dead the transmission will
not manually shif t into other positions.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself