towing NISSAN XTERRA 2009 Owner´s Manual

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.
cUse the Tow Mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
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.
cNISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.
cSome states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. 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 launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission oil/
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the “Main-
tenance 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.
9-28Technical and consumer information
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T
Tachometer....................2-6
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start.............2-23, 3-2, 5-11
Three-way catalyst................5-3
Tilting steering wheel..............3-11
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2
Spare tire...................6-4
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-11
Tire chains..................8-39
Tire placard.................9-11
Tire pressure................8-32
Tire rotation.................8-39
Tires of 4-wheel drive............8-41
Types of tires................8-38
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-29
Wheels and tires..............8-32
Wheel/tire size................9-8
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light......2-15
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . .5-3
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-26
Towing
2-wheel drive models............6-12
4-wheel drive models............6-13
Flat towing..................9-28
Tow truck towing..............6-11
Towing load/specification.........9-22
Trailer towing................9-19Transmission
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-13
Driving with manual transmission.....5-17
Selector lever lock release.........5-15
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)......................9-9
Trip computer...................2-5
Trip odometer...................2-4
Turn signal switch................2-28
U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-29
V
Vanity mirror...................3-12
Variable voltage control system........8-15
Vehicle
Speed sensing door lock mechanism. . . .3-4
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. . .2-30
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system. . . .5-34
Vehicle identification...............9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number).................9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. . . .9-9
Vehicle loading information...........9-12
Vehicle recovery.............6-13, 6-14
Vehicle security system.............2-22
Vehicle security system
(NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start.............2-23, 3-2, 5-11
Ventilators.....................4-2Visors......................3-12
Voltmeter.....................2-8
W
Warning
4WD warning light.............2-15
Air bag warning light.........1-57, 2-17
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-13
Battery charge warning light........2-14
Brake warning light.............2-14
Door open warning light..........2-14
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-14
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-29
Low fuel warning light...........2-15
Low tire pressure warning light......2-15
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-17
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-51
Seat belt warning light...........2-17
Vehicle security system...........2-22
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-57
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders..................2-12
Warning lights..................2-12
Washer switch
Rear window wiper and washer
switches...................2-25
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-24
Weights (See dimensions and weights). . . .9-8
Wheels and tires................8-32
Wheel/tire size..................9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country..................9-9
Window washer fluid..............8-13
10-6
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Xterra(xtr)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
05/21/08Ðdebbie
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