check engine light NISSAN XTERRA 2005 N50 / 2.G User Guide

The hazard warning lights will flash once and the
horn will sound once to confirm that the horn
beep feature has been reactivated.
Deactivating the horn beep feature does not si-
lence the horn if the alarm is triggered.
Using the interior lights
Push thebutton on the keyfob once to turn
on the interior lights.
For additional information, refer to “Interior lights”
in the “Instruments and controls” section earlier in
this manual.
s1Pull the hood lock release handle located
below the driver side instrument panel. The
hood will spring up slightly.
s2Push the lever at the front of the hood to the
side as illustrated with your fingertips and
raise the hood.
s3Insert the support rod into the slot on the
underside of the hood.
When closing the hood, lower it slowly and make
sure it locks into place.
WARNING
cMake sure the hood is completely
closed and latched before driving. Fail-
ure to do so could cause the hood to fly
open and result in an accident.
cIf you see steam or smoke coming from
the engine compartment, to avoid injury
do not open the hood.
LPD0302
HOOD
3-8Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce the three-way catalyst’s ability to
help reduce exhaust pollutants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich
fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep driv-
ing if the engine misfires, or if notice-
able loss of performance or other un-
usual operating conditions are
detected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly by a NISSAN dealer.
cAvoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause
the engine to misfire, damaging the
three-way catalyst.
cDo not race the engine while warming it
up.
cDo not push or tow your vehicle to start
the engine.
LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING
SYSTEM
This vehicle is equipped with the low tire pres-
sure warning system. It monitors tire pressure of
all tires except the spare. When the low tire
pressure warning light is lit, one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated.
The low tire pressure warning system will activate
only when the vehicle is driven at speeds above
20 MPH (32 km/h) . Also, this system may not
detect a sudden drop in tire pressure (for ex-
ample a flat tire while driving) .
Tire pressure rises and falls depending on the
heat caused by the vehicle’s operation and the
outside temperature. Low outside temperature
can lower the temperature of the air inside the tire
which can cause a lower tire inflation pressure.
This may cause the low tire pressure warning
light to illuminate.
If the warning light illuminates in low ambient
temperature as described above, check the tire
pressure for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pressure shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF.
Frequently check the tire pressure and adjust
pressure of each tire properly.
Low tire pressure warning
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure
(lower than 28 psi, 193 kPa) , the low tire pres-
sure warning light comes on and the chime
sounds for about 10 seconds.
For additional information regarding the above
warning, see “Warning/indicator lights and au-
dible reminders” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section.
WARNING
cIf the low tire pressure warning light
flashes while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Serious vehicle
damage could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in serious
personal injury. Check the tire pressure
for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pres-
sure shown on the tire placard to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF.
If you have a flat tire, replace it with a
spare tire as soon as possible. (See
“Flat tire” in the “In case of emergency”
section for changing a flat tire.)
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cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cCheck fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid, and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
cCheck that all windows and lights are clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cLock all doors.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights when
the key is turned to the ON (3) position. See
“Warning/indicator lights and audible re-
minders” in the “Instruments and controls”
section of this manual.1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the shift selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The shift selector lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park) and into any of
the other gear positions if the ignition
key is turned to the OFF position or if
the key is removed from the ignition
switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector lever is in any of the
driving positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) . Depress
the clutch pedal to the floor while cranking
the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure.cIf the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/3 to the floor) and hold it
and then crank the engine. Release the
key and the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
cIf the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Crank the engine for 5-6 seconds. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the enginewith your
foot off the accelerator pedalby turn-
ing the ignition key to START. Release the
key when the engine starts. If the engine
starts, but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise
the starter could be damaged.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
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To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover as
shown.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position while holding down the shift
lock release.
6. Turn the key to the ON position to unlock the
steering wheel. Now the vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.
If the shift selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the auto-
matic transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunction-
ing stop lights could cause an accident
injuring yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Overdrive switch
Each time your vehicle is started, the transmis-
sion is automatically “reset” to overdrive ON.
ON: With the engine running and the
shift selector lever in the D (Drive)
position, the transmission upshifts
into Overdrive as vehicle speed
increases.
Overdrive does not engage until the engine
has reached operating temperature.
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1. ACCEL/RES switch
2. COAST/SET switch
3. ON/OFF switch
4. CANCEL switch
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
cIf the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light in the instrument panel then blinks to
warn the driver.
cIf the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by a NISSAN dealer.cThe SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control main 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 pro-
cedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions:
cWhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
cIn heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in
speed.
cOn winding or hilly roads.
cOn slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) .
cIn very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control is
set. Should this occur, depress the clutch
pedal and turn the main switch off imme-
diately. Failure to do so may cause engine
damage.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 MPH (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the main
switch. The CRUISE indicator light in the instru-
ment panel comes on.
To set cruising speed,accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The SET indicator light in the
instrument panel comes on. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set
speed.
cTo pass another vehicle,depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
LSD0075
CRUISE CONTROL (if so equipped)
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cAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
cDrive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
c
Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.
cUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
cAvoid unnecessary engine idling.
cKeep your engine tuned up.
cFollow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
cKeep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
cKeep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
c
Air conditioner operation lowers fuel economy.
Use the air conditioner only when necessary.
cWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag.
c
Use 4H or 4L position only when
necessary. Four-wheel drive operation low-
ers fuel economy.
CAUTION
cDo not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing 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 surface
roads:
– in the 4H position, shift the 4WD shift
switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for automatic
transmission vehicles, stop the ve-
hicle and shift the transmission se-
lector to the N position with the
brake pedal depressed and shift the
4WD shift switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for manual trans-
mission vehicles, stop the vehicle
and shift the transmission shift lever
to the N position with the clutch
pedal depressed and shift the 4WD
shift switch to 2WD.
cIf the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.cThe transfer case may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warning
light blinking rapidly.
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
The part time 4WD system provides 3 positions
(2WD, 4H and 4LO) , so you can select the
desired drive mode according to the driving con-
ditions.
2WD or 4WD shift procedure:
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYUSING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
(4WD)
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4WD
Shift
Switch
PositionWheels
DrivenIndicator Light
Use Conditions 4WD Shift Procedure
4WD shift Transfer 4LO
position
2WDRear
wheels
For driving on dry, paved roads (Economy drive) or
state dynamometer I/M testingMove the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> 4H
4WD shift indicator light will indicate transfer shift position engaged.
4H4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy or snow-covered roads
Neutral
*1
May blinkNeutral disengages the automatic transmission me-
chanical parking lock, which will allow the vehicle to
roll. Do not leave the transfer shift position in Neu-
tral.*21. Stop the vehicle.
2. For automatic transmission vehicles: Shift the transmission selector to the (N)
position with the brake pedal depressed.
For manual transmission vehicles: Shift the transmission shift lever to the (N) posi-
tion with the clutch depressed.
3. For automatic transmission vehicles: Depress and turn the 4WD shift switch to
4LO or 4H with the brake pedal depressed.
For manual transmission vehicles: Depress and turn the 4WD switch to 4LO or
4H.
THE TRANSFER CASE DOES NOT ENGAGE BETWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO
4H) UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST STOPPED THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED THE
BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVED THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO NEUTRAL FOR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VE-
HICLES YOU MUST MOVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL. *3
4LO
4 wheels
IlluminatedFor use when maximum power and traction is re-
quired (for example: on steep grades or rocky, sandy,
muddy roads)
*1: Before moving the transmission selector or shift lever from neutral, wait until the 4LO indicator light stays on steady. This indicates that the 4WD shift procedure is completed and the transfer gear is correctly set in
the 4LO position. If the vehicle is shifted into gear before the indicator is on steady, the transfer gear may grind, not engage correctly or stay in the neutral position.
- If the 4WD warning light illuminates, perform the following procedure to return the transfer case to correct operating condition.
1. Turn off the engine by turning the ignition switch9OFF9.
2. Start the engine.
- Check that the 4WD warning light turns off. If the 4WD warning light illuminates, have the system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
3. Apply the parking brake, for automatic transmission vehicles, depress the brake pedal and move the transmission selector to Neutral position. Formanual transmission vehicles, move the transmission shift lever to Neutral
position.
4. With the brake pedal depressed on automatic transmission vehicles, move the 4WD shift switch to desired mode.
- Be sure to wait until the transfer gear change completes before shifting the transmission selector or transmission shift lever from Neutral position.
*2: While changing in and out of 4LO, the ignition key must be ON and the vehicle’s engine must be running for a shift to take place and for the indicator lights (4WD shift and 4LO position indicator) to be operable.
Otherwise, the shift will not take place and no indicator lights will be on or flashing.
*3: Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift switch to 4LO.
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The 4WD shift indicator light is located in the
odometer display.
The light should turn off within 1 second after
turning the ignition switch to the ON position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shift indi-
cator light will illuminate the position selected by
the 4WD shift switch.cThe 4WD shift indicator light may blink
while shifting from one drive mode to
the other. When the shifting is com-
pleted, the 4WD shift indicator light
will come on. If the indicator light does
not come on immediately, make sure
the area around the vehicle is safe, and
drive the vehicle straight, accelerate or
decelerate or move the vehicle in re-
verse, then shift the 4WD shift switch.
cIf the 4WD warning light comes on, the
4WD indicator light goes out.
CAUTION
If the 4WD shift indicator light indication
changes to 2WD when the 4WD shift
switch is shifted to the 4H position at low
ambient temperatures, the 2WD mode
may be being engaged due to malfunc-
tioning drive system. If the indicator does
not return to normal and the 4WD warning
light comes on, have the system checked
by the nearest NISSAN dealer.
4WD warning light
Warning lightComes on or blinks
when:
Comes onThere is a malfunc-
tion in the 4–wheel
drive system
Blinks slowlyThe difference in
wheel rotation is
large
The 4WD warning light is located in the meter.
The 4WD warning light comes on when the key
switch is turned to ON. It turns off soon after the
engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD system
when the key switch is ON, the warning light will
either remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator light goes out.
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cIf you interrupt the reset procedure by turn-
ing the ignition off, you will need to restart
the reset procedure.
If after driving the vehicle for more than 10 min-
utes and theSLIPand
lights remain illumi-
nated in the instrument panel, have the vehicle
dynamic control system checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
If the vehicle is operated with the vehicle dynamic
control system off using the VDC OFF switch,
most VDC functions will be turned off. The VDC
system will still try to transfer power from a slip-
ping drive wheel to one with more traction when
the VDC system switch is OFF. The Slip indicator
will flash if wheel spin is detected. The ABS will
still operate with the VDC system off.
When the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the hood. This is normal and
indicates that the VDC system is working prop-
erly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
designed to help improve driving stabil-
ity but does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when
driving and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
cIf brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not stan-
dard equipment or are extremely dete-
riorated, the vehicle dynamic control
system may not operate properly and
the vehicle dynamic control off indica-
tor light may come on.
cDo not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars
and bushings are not NISSAN approved
for your vehicle or are extremely dete-
riorated the vehicle dynamic control
system may not operate properly. This
could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the VDC OFF indica-
tor light may come on.cWhen driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners,
the vehicle dynamic control system may
not operate properly and the VDC OFF
indicator light may come on. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
cWhen driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the vehicle dynamic control off
indicator light may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine
after driving onto a stable surface
cIf wheels or tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the vehicle dy-
namic control system may not operate
properly and the vehicle dynamic con-
trol off indicator light may come on.
cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
not a substitute for winter tires or tire
chains on a snow covered road.
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WARNING
cIf the low tire pressure warning light
flashes while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Serious vehicle
damage could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in serious
personal injury. Check the tire pressure
for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pres-
sure shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label to turn the low tire
pressure warning light OFF. If you have
a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire as
soon as possible.
cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be
indicated and the low tire pressure
warning system will not function. Con-
tact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
cDo not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pressure
sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions be-
low.
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking
brake. Shift the manual transmission into R
(Reverse) , or the automatic transmission
into P (Park) .
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and to
signal professional road assistance person-
nel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
cMake sure the parking brake is securely
applied and the manual transmission is
shifted into R (Reverse) , or the auto-
matic transmission into P (Park) .cNever change tires when the vehicle is
on a slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.
cNever change tires if oncoming traffic is
close to your vehicle. Wait for profes-
sional road assistance.
cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the low tire pressure warn-
ing system will not function. Contact
your NISSAN dealer as soon possible
for tire replacement and/or system re-
setting. (For models with the low tire
pressure warning system)
In case of emergency6-3
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