engine coolant NISSAN FRONTIER 2023 User Guide

The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may
also come on if the engine coolant tem-
perature is not reduced or the air condi-
tioning cooling function does not turn back
on. Ifonly it remains on, you do not need to
have your vehicle towed, but have it in-
spected soon. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service. For
additional information, see “Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL)” (P. 2-19).
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced en-
gine power and vehicle speed. The re-
duced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance
of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If the vehicle cannot
maintain a safe driving speed, pull to
the side of the road in a safe area. Allow
the engine to cool and return to normal
operation. For additional information,
see “If your vehicle overheats” (P. 6-13).
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause
serious damage to the engine almost
immediately. Such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty. Turn off the engine as
soon as it is safe to do so.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive). Always
depress the brake pedal until shif ting
is completed. Failure to do so could
cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission. •
Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Except in an emergency, do not shif t
to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.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 and driving5-19

Do not attach stickers (including transpar-
ent material), install accessories or apply
additional paint near the sonar sensors.
Do not strike or damage the area around
the sonar sensors. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer if the area around
the sonar sensors is damaged due to a
collision.The Idling Stop System activates to prevent
unnecessary fuel consumption, exhaust
emissions and noise.
• When you stop the vehicle, the engine is
turned off automatically.
• When you release the brake pedal to be- gin moving again, the engine is turned on
automatically.
WARNING
The engine restarts if the vehicle
moves at approximately 1 mph (2
km/h) or more (on a downhill grade,
etc.) while the engine is turned off by
the Idling Stop System. Depress the
brake pedal immediately to stop the
vehicle to prevent an accident.
CAUTION
• At the end of the journey the engine
must be stopped and ignition switch
be pushed off. Lock the vehicle as
normal. Pushing the ignition switch
off will shut down all electrical sys-
tems. Failure to do this may result in a
discharged battery. •
Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position before opening the hood of
performing any maintenance. Fail-
ure to do so may result in serious in-
juries due to automatic engine
restart.
NOTE:
The Idling Stop System will not activate
under the following conditions:
• When the vehicle is in TOW or 4LO
mode.
• When the engine is kept idling without
the vehicle being driven af ter the en-
gine is turned on.
• When the engine coolant temperature
is low.
• When the battery capacity is low.
• When the battery temperature is low.
• When the vehicle is moving.
• When a negative pressure booster
decreases.
• When the engine hood is opened with
the engine running.
• When the engine is turned on with the
engine hood open.
• When the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened.
IDLING STOP SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving5-129

• When the Idling Stop System is deacti-vated af ter the engine has been auto-
matically stopped by the Idling Stop Sys-
tem, the engine will immediately restart if
suitable conditions are present. The en-
gine will then be prevented from auto-
matically stopping during the same
journey.
NOTE:
•The Idling Stop System ON or OFF mes-
sage is displayed for a few seconds in
the vehicle information display when
the Idling Stop System OFF switch is
pushed. For additional information, see
“Idling Stop System Display ” (P. 5-131).
• The Idling Stop System resets to ON every time the ignition switch is
switched from the OFF position to the
ON position.
• It is best to disable the ISS system when towing a trailer. You can do this
by pushing the Idling Stop OFF switch.
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,
see “Engine cooling system” (P. 8-6).
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely 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, see “Battery”
(P. 8-16).
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, see
“Changing engine coolant” (P. 8-7).
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide 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, see “Tire chains” (P. 8-40).
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-134Starting and driving

To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engineblock heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least 2–4 hours, de-
pending on outside temperatures, to
properly warm the engine coolant. Use
an appropriate timer to turn the engine
block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts.CAUTION
Use of the engine block heater when
parked with the front of the vehicle
higher than the rear (5 degrees or
more) may cause the engine block
heater to become damaged and/or
inoperative.
5-136Starting and driving

CAUTION
• Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (−) to body
ground (for example, strut mounting
bolt, engine lif t bracket, etc.) — not to
the battery.
• Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that the cable
clamps do not contact any other
metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
6.
Keep the engine speed of the booster ve-
hicle at about 2,000 rpm and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, place the ig-
nition switch in the OFF position and
wait 3 to 4 seconds before trying again.
7. Af ter starting the engine, carefully dis- connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable.
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.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-13

3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen forsteam 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.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking, the water pump belt is missing
or loose, or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into con-
tact with, or get caught in, engine belts
or the engine cooling fan. The engine
cooling fan can start at any time. 6. Af ter the engine cools down, check the
coolant 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:
WARNING
• Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
• Never get under your vehicle af ter it
has been lif ted by a tow truck.
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.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-14In case of emergency

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.......................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ...........8-4
Engine cooling system ..........................8-6
Checking engine coolant level ................8-7
Changing engine coolant ....................8-7
Engine oil .......................................8-8
Checking engine oil level .....................8-8
Changing engine oil and oil filter ..............8-8
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .............8-13
Power Steering Fluid (PSF) ......................8-14
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-14
Brake fluid ................................... 8-15
Windshield-washer fluid ........................8-15
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ...........8-15
Battery......................................... 8-16
Jump starting ............................... 8-18
Variable voltage control system ................8-18
Drive belt ....................................... 8-19
Spark plugs .................................... 8-19
Replacing spark plugs ....................... 8-19Air cleaner
..................................... 8-20
In-cabin microfilter .......................... 8-20
Windshield wiper blades ........................8-21
Cleaning .................................... 8-21
Replacing ................................... 8-21
Brakes ......................................... 8-22
Fuses .......................................... 8-23
Engine compartment .......................8-24
Passenger compartment ...................8-25
Battery replacement ........................... 8-26
NISSAN Intelligent Key® ......................8-26
Lights .......................................... 8-28
Headlights .................................. 8-28
Fog lights (if so equipped) ...................8-28
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-29
Wheels and tires ............................... 8-32
Tire pressure ................................ 8-32
Tire labeling ................................. 8-36
T
ypes of tires ................................ 8-39
Tire chains .................................. 8-40
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-41

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.
WARNING
• Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shif t le-
ver to P (Park).
• Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when perform-
ing any parts replacement or repairs.
• If you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.
• It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle. •
If you must run the engine in an en-
closed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
• Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
• Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
• On gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced
because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off.
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
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 vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations 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.
NOTE:
If the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shif t to
other positions.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself

3.8L 6 cylinder (VQ38DD engine model)
(without idle stop)
1. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
2. Fusible link
3. Fuse/Fusible link box
4. Fusible link and relay box
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Engine oil dipstick
7. Brake fluid reservoir
8. Air cleaner
9. Drive belt location
10. Power steering fluid reservoir
11. Radiator cap
12. Battery
13. Engine coolant reservoir
NOTE:
Your vehicle may not be equipped with
an engine cover.
LDI3520
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-4Do-it-yourself

3.8L 6 cylinder (VQ38DD engine model)
(with idle stop)
1. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
2. Fusible link and relay box
3. Fuse/Fusible link box
4. Fusible link
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Engine oil dipstick
7. Brake fluid reservoir
8. Relay box
9. Air cleaner
10. Drive belt location
11. Radiator cap
12. Battery
13. Power steering fluid reservoir
14. Relay box
15. Engine coolant reservoir
NOTE:
Your vehicle may not be equipped with
an engine cover.
LDI3693
Do-it-yourself8-5