maintenance NISSAN XTERRA 2005 N50 / 2.G Repair Manual

cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cLoad the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half.
cCheck your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and
trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a
trailer to the vehicle.
cBe certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
cAlways block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is
not recommended; however, if you must do
so, first block the wheels and apply the park-
ing brake, and then move the transmission
shift selector lever into the P (Park) position.
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the wheels
and applying the parking brake, transmission
damage could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower gear
and use the engine braking effect. When
going up a long grade, downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear and reduce speed to
reduce chances of engine overloading and/or
overheating. However, for long steep grades,
do not stay in 1st gear when driving above 35
MPH (56 km/h) or 2nd gear when driving
above 58 MPH (93 km/h) .
cIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented byopening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help sta-
bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
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cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually
cDo not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
cSome states or provinces have specific
speed limits for vehicles that are towing trail-
ers. Obey the local speed limits.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
cDO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Automatic Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dollyMUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Manual Transmission
cAlways tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
cOn four-wheel drive vehicles, place the
transfer case in the 2H range. Failure to do
so will cause the powertrain to bind up.
cAfter towing 500 miles (805 km) , start and
idle the engine with the transmission in Neu-
tral for two minutes. Failure to idle the engine
after every 500 miles (805 km) of towing
may cause damage to internal transmission
parts.
9-24Technical and consumer information
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If you believe that your vehicle has a de-
fect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immedi-
ately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addi-
tion to notifying NISSAN.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-
4236. You may also write to: NHTSA,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor ve-
hicle safety from the Hotline.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re-
quired to be in what is called the “ready condi-
tion” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of
the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when it
is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually,
the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary
usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready” condition. Before taking the
I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Turn the ignition switch ON without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and then
blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M test condition is
9not ready9. If the MIL does not blink after 20
seconds, the I/M test condition is9ready.9If the
MIL indicates the vehicle is in a9not ready9con-
dition, drive the vehicle through the following
pattern to set the vehicle to the ready condition. If
you cannot or do not want to perform the driving
pattern, a NISSAN dealer can conduct it for you.WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic con-
ditions and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C. Al-
low the engine to idle until the gauge needle
points between the C and H (normal oper-
ating temperature) .
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h) , then quickly release the accelerator
pedal completely and keep it released for at
least 10 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of
53 - 60 MPH (86 - 96 km/h) for at least 9
minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 through 5 at least 10 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3 min-
utes.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (US
only)READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
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G
Gascap.....................3-10
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine oil pressure gauge..........2-8
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Odometer...................2-4
Speedometer.................2-4
Tachometer..................2-6
Trip computer.................2-5
Trip odometer.................2-4
Voltmeter...................2-8
General maintenance..............8-2
Glove box....................2-31
H
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-25
Head restraints..................1-4
Active head restraint.............1-5
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-22
Headlights....................8-27
Heater
Heater and air conditioner controls.....4-2
Heater operation...............4-4
Hill descent control (HDC) switch.......2-26
Hill descent control (HDC) system......5-31
Hill start assist (HSA) system.........5-31
Hood release...................3-8
Hook
Luggage hook................2-35
Horn.......................2-25I
Ignition switch..................5-7
Immobilizer system..........2-19, 3-2, 5-8
Important vehicle information label.......9-10
In-cabin microfilter...............8-17
Increasing fuel economy............5-19
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders).....................2-9
Inside mirror...................3-12
Instrument brightness control.........2-24
Instrument panel..............0-6, 2-2
Interior light...................2-43
ISOFIX child restraints.............1-29
J
Jump starting...................6-8
K
Key ........................3-2
Keyless entry system
(See remote keyless entry system).......3-5
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Emission control information label.....9-10
Engine serial number............9-10F.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-54
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System......................1-29
License plate
Installing the license plate.........9-11
Light
Air bag warning light.........1-54, 2-13
Brake light (See stop light).........8-28
Bulb check/instrument panel........2-10
Bulb replacement..............8-28
Charge warning light............2-11
Fog light switch...............2-24
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-22
Headlights..................8-27
Interior light.................2-43
Light bulbs..................8-27
Low tire pressure warning light......2-12
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-13
Passenger air bag and status
light..................1-48, 2-16
Security indicator light........1-48, 2-16
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-9
Lights
Map lights..................2-44
Lock
Child safety rear door lock..........3-5
Door locks..................3-3
Power door locks...............3-4
Rear door lock................3-9
Low fuel warning light.............2-12
Low tire pressure warning light........2-12
Low tire pressure warning system........5-3
Low washer fluid warning light.........2-13
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Luggage hook..................2-35
Luggage rack (see roof rack).........2-38
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
Luggage storage
(see vehicle loading information)........2-35
M
Maintenance
General maintenance............8-2
Inside the vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Outside the vehicle..............8-2
Seat belt maintenance...........1-21
Under the hood and vehicle.........8-4
Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL)........2-15
Manual front seat adjustment..........1-2
Manual windows................2-42
Map lights....................2-44
Map pocket...................2-32
Meters and gauges................2-3
Instrument brightness control.......2-24
Mirror
Inside mirror.................3-12
Outside mirrors...............3-13
Vanity mirror.................3-12
Multi-remote control system
(See remote keyless entry system).......3-5
N
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system
(NVIS).................2-19, 3-2, 5-8O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4
Odometer.....................2-4
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil.............8-9
Changing engine oil filter..........8-10
Checking engine oil level..........8-8
Engine oil...................8-8
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-4
Engine oil pressure low/engine coolant
temperature high warning light.......2-11
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirrors.................3-13
Overdrive switch................5-13
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats..........6-10
Owner’s manual order form..........9-28
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-28
P
Parking
Parking brake check............8-22
Parking brake operation..........5-16
Parking/parking on hills...........5-26
Power
Power door locks...............3-4
Power outlet.................2-29
Power rear windows............2-42
Power steering fluid.............8-11Power steering system...........5-27
Power windows...............2-41
Rear power windows............2-42
Precautions
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions..................5-4
Precautions on child restraints . . .1-22, 1-35
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-10
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-39
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Pre-tensioner seat belt system.........1-52
Push starting..................6-10
R
Radio
Car phone or CB radio...........4-26
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-23
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player.................4-16, 4-20
Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-25
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test........................9-26
Rear center seat belt..............1-16
Rear door lock..................3-9
Rear power windows..............2-42
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch......................2-22
Rear window wiper and washer switches . . .2-21
Recorders
Event data..................9-27
Refrigerant recommendation..........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country. . .9-9
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Remote keyless entry system..........3-5
Reporting safety defects (US only)......9-26
Roof rack....................2-38
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock..........3-5
Child seat belts...........1-22, 1-35
Reporting safety defects (US only). . . .9-26
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-12
Infants and small children.........1-13
Injured Person................1-14
Larger children...............1-13
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-10
Pregnant women..............1-14
Pre-tensioner seat belt system.......1-52
Rear center seat belt............1-16
Seat belt extenders.............1-21
Seat belt maintenance...........1-21
Seat belts..................1-10
Shoulder belt height adjustment......1-20
Three-point type with retractor.......1-14
Seat belt warning light.............2-13
Seatback pockets................2-33
Seats
Adjustment..................1-2
Front seats..................1-2
Manual front seat adjustment........1-2
Security indicator light..........1-48, 2-16
Security system (Nissan vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start.........2-19, 3-2, 5-8Self-adjusting brakes..............8-22
Service manual order form...........9-28
Servicing air conditioner.............4-9
Shift lock release................5-12
Shifting
Automatic transmission...........5-11
Manual transmission............5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-20
Side air bag system (See supplemental side air
bag, curtain and rollover air bag systems). . .1-51
Spark plug replacement............8-16
Speedometer...................2-4
SRS warning label...............1-54
Starting
Before starting the engine..........5-9
Jump starting.................6-8
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting................6-10
Starting the engine..............5-9
Steering
Power steering fluid.............8-11
Power steering system...........5-27
Tilting steering wheel............3-11
Steering wheel audio control switch......4-25
Stop light....................8-28
Storage.....................2-30
Storage bin...................2-35
Storage tray...................2-30
Sun visors....................3-11
Sunglasses case................2-32
Supplemental air bag warning labels.....1-54
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-54, 2-13
Supplemental front impact air bag system . .1-46
Supplemental restraint system
Information and warning labels.......1-54Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-39
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-39
Switch
Automatic power window switch.....2-42
Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch . . .2-28
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system switch................2-27
Fog light switch...............2-24
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-25
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-22
Hill descent control (HDC) switch.....2-26
Ignition switch................5-7
Overdrive switch..............5-13
Power door lock switch...........3-4
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-22
Rear window wiper and washer
switches...................2-21
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch....................2-26
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-20
T
Tachometer....................2-6
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine oil pressure low/engine coolant
temperature high warning light.......2-11
Theft (Nissan vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start..............2-19, 3-2, 5-8
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tilting steering wheel..............3-11
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