engine NISSAN XTERRA 2012 N50 / 2.G Owners Manual

If you see this symbol, it means“Do not do this”
or “Do not let this happen.”
If you see a symbol similar to these in an illustra-
tion, it means the arrow points to the front of the
vehicle.
Arrows in an illustration that are similar to these
indicate movement or action.
Arrows in an illustration that are similar to these
call attention to an item in the illustration.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents,
and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth de-
fects or other reproductive harm. In addi-
tion, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
CALIFORNIA PERCHLORATE
ADVISORY
Some vehicle parts, such as lithium batter-
ies, may contain perchlorate material. The
following advisory is provided: “Perchlorate
Material – special handling may apply, See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/”.
BLUETOOTH is a
trademark owned by
Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
and licensed to
Visteon.
XM Radio requires
subscription, sold
separately. Not avail-
able in Alaska, Hawaii
or Guam. For more
information, visit
www.xmradio.com.
© 2011 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
All rights reserved. No part of this Owner’s
Manual may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form, or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of Nissan North America, Inc.
APD1005

0 Illustrated table of contents
Air bags, seat belts and child restraints..............0-2
Exterior front ......................................0-3
Exterior rear .......................................0-4
Passenger compartment ...........................0-5 Instrument panel
...................................0-6
Engine compartment check locations ................0-8
Warning/indicator lights ............................0-9

1. Engine hood (P. 3-9)
2. Windshield wiper and washer switch(P. 2-25)
3. Windshield (P. 8-19)
4. Power windows (P. 2-46)
5. Door locks, keyfob, keys
(P. 3-3, 3-5, 3-2)
6. Mirrors (P. 3-13)
7. Tire pressure (P. 8-32)
8. Flat tire (P. 6-2)
9. Tire chains (P. 5-38)
10. Replacing bulbs (P. 8-27)
11. Headlight and turn signal switch
(P. 2-27)
12. Fog light switch (if so equipped)
(P. 2-30)
13. Tow hooks (if so equipped) (P.6-14)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
WII0058
EXTERIOR FRONT
Illustrated table of contents0-3

VQ40DE engine
1. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir(P. 8-13)
2. Fuse/fusible link box (P. 8-22)
3. Fuse and relay box (P. 8-22)
4. Engine oil filler cap (P. 8-9)
5. Engine oil dipstick (P. 8-9)
6. Brake fluid reservoir/Clutch fluid
reservoir (M/T model) (P. 8-12)
7. Air cleaner (P. 8-18)
8. Drive belt location (P.8-16)
9. Radiator cap (P. 8-7)
10. Power steering fluid reservoir (P. 8-12)
11. Battery (P. 8-14)
12. Engine coolant reservoir (P. 8-7)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
LII0167
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
0-8Illustrated table of contents

Warninglight Name Page
or
Anti-lock Braking
System (ABS) warn-
ing light 2-14
Automatic transmis-
sion oil temperature
warning light (if so
equipped)2-14
Automatic transmis-
sion park warning
light (
model)2-14
or
Brake warning light 2-15
Charge warning
light
2-15
Warning
light Name Page
Door open warning
light 2-15
Engine oil pressure
warning light2-16
4WD warning light
(
model)2-16
Low fuel warning
light 2-16
Low tire pressure
warning light2-16
Low windshield-
washer fluid warning
light (if so equipped)2-18
Seat belt warning
light and chime
2-18
Supplemental air
bag warning light2-18
Indicator
light Name Page
Automatic transmis-
sion position indica-
tor light (A/T models
only) 2-19
Cruise main switch
indicator light
2-19
Cruise set switch
indicator light2-19
Electronic locking
rear differential (E-
Lock) system on
indicator light (if so
equipped)2-19
4WD shift indicator
light (
model)
2-19
Front passenger air
bag status light
2-19
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
Illustrated table of contents0-9

2 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel...................................2-2
Meters and gauges ................................2-3
Speedometer and odometer . . ...................2-4
Tachometer ....................................2-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...............2-6
Fuel gauge ....................................2-7
Engine oil pressure gauge .......................2-8
Voltmeter ......................................2-8
Trip computer (if so equipped) ...................2-9
Compass display (if so equipped) ..................2-10
Compass display .............................. 2-10
Warning/indicator lights and audible reminders ......2-13
Checking bulbs ............................... 2-14
Warning lights ................................ 2-14
Indicator lights ................................ 2-19
Audible reminders ............................. 2-22
Security systems ................................. 2-23
Vehicle security system ......................... 2-23
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............2-24
Windshield wiper and washer switch ...............2-25
Switch operation .............................. 2-25
Rear window wiper and washer switch ..............2-26Rear window and outside mirror (if so equipped)
defroster switch
.................................. 2-27
Headlight and turn signal switch ....................2-27
Headlight control switch ........................ 2-27
Daytime running light system (Canada only) ......2-28
Instrument brightness control ...................2-29
Turn signal switch ............................. 2-29
Fog light switch (if so equipped) ................2-30
Off road lamps switch (if so equipped) ...........2-30
Hazard warning flasher switch .....................2-31
Horn ............................................ 2-31
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off switch ...........2-32
Hill descent control switch (if so equipped) ..........2-32
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system
switch (if so equipped) ............................ 2-33
Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch
(if so equipped) .................................. 2-34
P

ower outlet ..................................... 2-35
Storage ......................................... 2-36
Storage trays ................................. 2-36
Console box .................................. 2-37
Glove box .................................... 2-37

15. Electronic locking rear differential(E-Lock) system switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-33)
Hill descent control switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-32)
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
switch (P. 2-32)
16. Shift selector (P. 5-13)
17. 4WD shift switch (P. 5-27)
18. Climate controls (P.4-3, 4-10)
19. Hazard warning flasher switch (P. 2-31)
20. Ignition switch (P. 5-10)
21. Tilt steering wheel control (P. 3-12)
22. Off road lamps switch (if so equipped)
(P. 2-30)
23. Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-34)
24. Power outside mirror controls
(if so equipped) (P. 3-15)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
1. Warning/indicator lights
2. Tachometer
3. Speedometer
4. Fuel gauge
5. Voltmeter 6. Odometer/Twin trip odometer/Trip
computer (if so equipped)
7. Engine oil pressure gauge
8. Engine coolant temperature gauge
WIC0911
METERS AND GAUGES
Instruments and controls2-3

TIRE PRES warning message is displayed each
time the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position as long as the low tire pressure warning
light remains illuminated. For more information
see “Low tire pressure warning light” in the “In-
struments and controls” section, “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” in the “Starting and
driving” and “Wheels and tires” section in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this
Owner’s Manual.
TACHOMETER
The tachometer indicates engine speed in revo-
lutions per minute (rpm) . Do not rev the engine
into the red zone
1.
CAUTION
When engine speed approaches the red
zone, shift to a higher gear or reduce en-
gine speed. Operating the engine in the
red zone may cause serious engine
damage.
ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
The gauge indicates the engine coolant tempera-
ture. The engine coolant temperature is within the
normal range
1when the gauge needle points
within the zone shown in the illustration.
The engine coolant temperature varies with the
outside air temperature and driving conditions.
LIC0738LIC0739
2-6Instruments and controls

CAUTION
If the gauge indicates coolant tempera-
ture near the hot (H) end of the normal
range, reduce vehicle speed to decrease
temperature. If the gauge is over the nor-
mal range, stop the vehicle as soon as
safely possible. If the engine is over-
heated, continued operation of the ve-
hicle may seriously damage the engine.
See “If your vehicle overheats” in the “In
case of emergency” section for immediate
action required.
FUEL GAUGE
The gauge indicates theapproximatefuel level
in the tank.
The gauge may move slightly during braking,
turning, acceleration, or going up or down hills.
The gauge needle returns to E (Empty) after the
ignition key is turned to OFF.
The low fuel warning light comes on when the
amount of fuel in the tank is getting low.
Refill the fuel tank before the gauge regis-
ters E (Empty) . The
indicates that the fuel-filler door is
located on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
CAUTION
● If the vehicle runs out of fuel, theMalfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may
come on. Refuel as soon as possible.
After a few driving trips. the
light
should turn off. If the light remains on
after a few driving trips, have the ve-
hicle inspected by a NISSAN dealer.
● For additional information, see “Mal-
function Indicator Light (MIL)” later in
this section.
LIC0740
Instruments and controls2-7

ENGINE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE
The gauge indicates the engine lubrication sys-
tem oil pressure while the engine is running. The
needle should be in the middle of the gauge when
the engine is running.
CAUTION
●This gauge is not designed to indicate
low engine oil level. Use the dipstick to
check the oil level. (See “Engine oil” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.)
● If the gauge needle does not move with
the proper amount of engine oil, have
the vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer. Continued vehicle operation in
such a condition could cause serious
damage to the engine.
VOLTMETER
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the voltmeter indicates the battery volt-
age. When the engine is running, it indicates the
generator voltage.
While cranking the engine, the volts drop below
the normal range. If the needle is not in the normal
range (11 – 15 volts)
1while the engine is
running, it may indicate that the charging system
is not functioning properly. Have the system
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
LIC0741WIC1299
2-8Instruments and controls