NISSAN XTERRA 2002 WD22 / 1.G Owners Manual

TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., Summer, All Season or Snow) and
construction. An authorized NISSAN
dealer may be able to help you with
information about tire type, size, speed
rating and availability. Replacement
tires may have a lower speed rating
than the factory equipped tires, and
may not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tire.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance for
use all year around, including snowy and icy
road conditions. All Season Tires are iden-tified by ``ALL SEASON'' and/or ``M&S'' on
the tire sidewall. Snow tires have better
snow traction than All Season tires and may
be more appropriate in some areas.
Summer tires
NISSAN specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance on
dry roads. Summer tire performance in
snow and ice will be substantially reduced.
Summer tires do not have the tire traction
rating ``M&S'' on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy
or icy conditions, NISSAN recommends the
use of ``SNOW'' or ``ALL SEASON'' tires on
all four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating
to the original equipment tires. If you do not,
it can adversely affect the safety and han-
dling of your vehicle.
If you install snow tires, they must be the
same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed
ratings than factory equipped tires and maynot match the potential maximum vehicle
speed. Never exceed the maximum speed
rating of the tire.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S.
States and Canadian provinces prohibit
their use. Check local, state and provincial
laws before installing 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.
TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited accord-
ing to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are the proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are installed
according to the chain manufacturer's sug-
gestions.Use only SAE class ``S'' chains.
Other types may damage your vehicle. Use
chain tensioners when recommended by
the tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight
fit. Loose end links of the tire chain must be
secured or removed to prevent the possibil-
ity of whipping action damage to the fenders
or undercarriage. If possible, avoid fully
loading your vehicle when using tire chains.
In addition, drive at a reduced speed. Oth-
8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

erwise, your vehicle may be damaged
and/or vehicle handling and performance
may be adversely affected.
Never install tire chains on a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with chains in such conditions can cause
damage to the various mechanisms of the
vehicle due to some overstress. When driv-
ing on clear paved roads, be sure to change
to 2WD.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires ev-
ery 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
See ``Flat tire'' in the ``In case of emergency''
section for tire replacing procedures.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
98 ft-lb (133 Nzm)
WARNING
OAfter rotating the tires, check and
adjust the tire pressure.
ORetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
ODo not include the spare tire in the
tire rotation.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
ADI1115
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-39
ZX

Tire wear and damage
WARNING
OTires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging
or objects caught in the tread. If
excessive wear, cracks, bulging or
deep cuts are found, the tire(s)
should be replaced.
OThe original tires have a built-in
tread wear indicator. When the wear
indicators are visible, the tire(s)
should be replaced.OImproper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
Replacing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carrying
capacity as originally equipped. Recom-
mended types and sizes are shown in
``Wheel/tire size'' in the ``Technical and con-
sumer information'' section of this manual.
WARNING
O
The use of tires other than those
recommended 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, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain clear-
ance, speedometer calibration, head-
light aim and bumper height. Some of
these effects may lead to accidents and
could result in serious personal injury.
OIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause premature tire wear, de-
grade vehicle handling characteris-
tics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interfer-
ence can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake
pad/shoe wear. Refer to ªWheel/tire
sizeº in the ªTechnical and con-
sumer informationº section of this
manual for wheel off-set dimen-
sions.
ODo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have unknown
structural damage and could fail
without warning.
MDI0004
8-40Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

OThe use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).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
damage the transmission, transfer
case and differential gears.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended 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 an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balanc-ing the front wheels on the vehicle could
lead to transmission damage.
OFor additional information regarding tires,
refer to ``Important Tire Safety Informa-
tion'' in the Warranty Information Booklet
(US) or ``Tire Safety Information'' in the
Warranty and Roadside Assistance infor-
mation booklet (Canada).
Care of wheels
OWash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
OClean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
ODo not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
OInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pres-
sure or damage the tire bead.
ONISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-41
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MEMO
8-42Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ........9-2
Fuel recommendation
(except supercharger) .......................................9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ...........9-6
Recommended SAE viscosity number ..............9-7
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ...............................9-8
Specifications .........................................................9-9
Engine ...............................................................9-9
Wheels and tires..............................................9-10
Dimensions and weights ................................. 9-11
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ....................................................9-12
Vehicle identification .............................................9-12
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ........9-12
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) .............................................9-12
Engine serial number ......................................9-13
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ............................9-13
Emission control information label ..................9-14
Tire placard......................................................9-14
Air conditioner specification label ....................9-14Installing front license plate..................................9-15
Vehicle loading information ..................................9-15
Terms ...............................................................9-15
Determining vehicle payload capacity .............9-16
Securing the load ............................................9-16
Loading tips .....................................................9-17
Payload weight capacity ..................................9-18
Measurement of weights .................................9-19
Towing a trailer .....................................................9-19
Maximum load limits ........................................9-19
Towing load/specification chart .......................9-21
Towing safety ...................................................9-22
Trailer tow harness and module
(if so equipped)................................................9-23
Uniform tire quality grading ..................................9-25
Emission control system warranty .......................9-26
Reporting safety defects (US only) ......................9-27
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
test (US only) .......................................................9-27
Owner manual/service manual order
information ............................................................9-29
In the event of a collision ................................9-30
ZX

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 & Lubricants
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel without supercharger 19-3/8 gal 16-1/8 gal 73.4Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
with supercharger 19-3/8 gal 16-1/8 gal 73.4Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
at least 91 AKI (RON 96)*1
Engine oil
Drain and Refill
KA24DE With oil filter 3-3/4 qt 3-1/8 qt 3.5OAPI Certification Mark *2
Without oil filter 3-1/2 qt 2-7/8 qt 3.3O
API grade SG/SH, Energy Conserving I &
II or API grade SJ, Energy Conserving *2
VG33E/VG33ER With oil filter 3-1/2 qt 2-7/8 qt 3.3OILSAC grade GF-I & II
Without oil filter 3-1/8 qt 2-5/8 qt 3.0
Cooling system (with heater and reservoir tank)
KA24DE M/T 4X2 7-3/4 qt 6-3/8 7.350% Genuine NISSAN Anti-freeze coolant
or equivalent
VG33E/
VG33ERA/T & M/T 11-5/8 qt 9-5/8 qt 10.95 50% Demineralized or Distilled water
*1: For further details, see ``Fuel recommendation''.
*2: For further details, see ``Recommended SAE engine oil viscosity''.
CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED FUEL/
LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
ZX

Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended Fluids & Lubricants
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Manual transmission gear oil KA24DE 4x2 4-1/4 pt 3-1/2 pt 2.0 API GL-4*1 Viscosity SAE 75W-90 only
VG33E/
VG33ER4x2 5-7/8 pt 4-7/8 pt 2.8
4x4 10-3/4 pt 9 pt 5.1
Final drive gear oil KA24DE 4x2 M/T 2-3/4 pt 2-1/4 pt 1.3 API GL-5*1
VG33E/
VG33ER4x4 Front 3-1/8 pt 2-5/8 pt 1.5
Rear 5-7/8 pt 4-7/8 pt 2.8
Transfer fluid 2-3/8 qt 2 qt 2.2Nissan Matic `D' (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada NIS-
SAN Automatic Transmission Fluid or API GL-4. *4
Automatic transmission fluid
Refill to the proper oil level according to
the instructions in the ``Maintenance
and do-it-yourself'' section.Nissan Matic `D' (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada NIS-
SAN Automatic Transmission Fluid. *4
Power steering fluidGenuine NISSAN PSF II or equivalent. *7
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine Nissan Brake Fluid*5 or equivalent
DOT 3 (US FMVSS No. 116)
Multi-purpose grease Ð Ð Ð NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Complex)
Air conditioning system refrigerant lb (kg) 1.32 - 1.54 (0.60 - 0.70) HFC-134a (R-134a)*6
Air conditioning system lubricant 6.8 oz 7.0 oz 200 ml Nissan A/C System Oil Type R or equivalent*6
*1: For further details, see ``Recommended SAE gear oil viscosity''.
*2: SAE 90 is acceptable in temperatures above 0ÉF (þ18ÉC).
*3: Contact your NISSAN dealer for a list of approved oils.
*4: Dexron
TMIII/MerconTMor equivalent may also be used. Outside the Continental United States and Alaska contact an authorized Nissan dealership for more information regarding suitable
fluids, including recommended brand(s) of DexronTMIII/MerconTMAutomatic Transmission Fluid.
*5: Available in mainland U.S.A. through an authorized NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see ``Air conditioner specification label''.
*7: Genuine NISSAN PSF, Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid, Dexron
TMIII/MerconTM, or equivalent ATF may also be used.
Technical and consumer information9-3
ZX

FUEL RECOMMENDATION
(except supercharger)
Your vehicle is designed to operate on
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index)
(Research octane number 91).
(Supercharger)
Use unleaded premium gasoline with an
octane rating of at least 91 AKI (Anti-Knock
Index) number (Research octane number
96).
If unleaded premium gasoline is not
available, unleaded regular gasoline with
an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (Re-
search octane number 91) can be used,
but only under the following precau-
tions:
OHave the fuel tank filled only partially with
unleaded regular gasoline, and fill up
with unleaded premium as soon as pos-
sible.
OAvoid full throttle driving and abrupt ac-
celeration.
CAUTION
OUsing a fuel other than that specified
could adversely affect the emission
control system, and may also affect
the warranty coverage.
OUnder no circumstances should a
leaded gasoline be used, since this
will damage the three-way catalyst.
Reformulated Gasoline
Some fuel suppliers are now producing re-
formulated gasolines. These gasolines are
specially designed to reduce vehicle emis-
sions. NISSAN supports efforts towards
cleaner air and suggests that you use refor-
mulated gasoline when available.
Gasoline containing oxygenates
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and
methanol with or without advertising their
presence. Nissan does not recommend the
use of fuels of which the oxygenate content
and the fuel compatibility for your NISSAN
cannot be readily determined. If in doubt,
ask your service station manager.If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please
take the following precautions as the usage
of such fuels may cause vehicle perfor-
mance problems and/or fuel system dam-
age.
OThe fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that
recommended for unleaded gasoline.
OIf an oxygenate-blend, excepting a
methanol blend, is used, it should
contain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
O
If a methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 5% methanol
(methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). It
should also contain a suitable amount
of appropriate cosolvents and corro-
sion inhibitors. If not properly formu-
lated with appropriate cosolvents and
corrosion inhibitors, such methanol
blends may cause fuel system damage
and/or vehicle performance problems.
At this time, sufficient data is not avail-
able to ensure that all methanol blends
are suitable for use in NISSAN ve-
hicles.
9-4Technical and consumer information
ZX

If any driveability problems such as engine
stalling and hard hot starting are experi-
enced after using oxygenate-blend fuels,
immediately change to a non-oxygenate
fuel or a fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during
refueling. Gasoline containing oxygen-
ates can cause paint damage.
After Market Fuel Additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of
any fuel additives (i.e., fuel injector cleaner,
octane booster, intake valve deposit remov-
ers, etc.) which are sold commercially. Many
of these additives intended for gum, varnish
or deposit removal may contain active sol-
vents or similar ingredients that can be
harmful to the fuel system and engine.
Octane rating tips
In most parts of North America, you should
use unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 87 (except supercharger) or 91
(supercharger) AKI (Anti-Knock Index).
However, you may use unleaded gasoline
with an octane rating as low as 85 AKI in
high altitude areas (over 4,000 ft [1,219 m])
such as: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico,
Utah, Wyoming, northeastern Nevada,southern Idaho, western South Dakota,
western Nebraska, and the part of Texas
which is directly south of New Mexico.
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than stated above can cause
persistent, heavy ``spark knock.'' (``Spark
knock'' is a metallic rapping noise.) If
severe, this can lead to engine damage. If
you detect a persistent heavy spark
knock even when using gasoline of the
stated octane rating, or if you hear steady
spark knock while holding a steady speed
on level roads, have an authorized NIS-
SAN dealer correct the condition. Failure
to correct the condition is misuse of the
vehicle, for which NISSAN is not respon-
sible.
Incorrect ignition timing may result in spark
knock, after-run and/or overheating, which
may cause excessive fuel consumption or
engine damage. If any of the above symp-
toms are encountered, have your vehicle
checked at an authorized NISSAN dealer.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is
no cause for concern, because you get
the greatest fuel benefit when there islight spark knock for a short time under
heavy engine load.
Technical and consumer information
9-5
ZX