1996 NISSAN FRONTIER ground clearance

reduce 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 converter, causing it
to overheat. Do not keep driving if the
engine misfires, or if noticeable loss
of performance or other unusual op-
erating conditions are detected. Have
the vehicle inspected promptly by an
authorized 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.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have higher ground clear-
ance than passenger cars in order to make
them capable of performing in a wide variety
of off-road applications. Specific designcharacteristics give them a higher center of
gravity than ordinary cars. Higher ground
clearance provides a better view of the
road, allowing you to anticipate problems.
Utility vehicles are not designed for corner-
ing at the same speeds as conventional
2-wheel drive vehicles any more than low-
slung sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If at
all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this
type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover.
Avoiding Collision and Rollover
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner may result in loss of control
or an accident. Be alert and drive defen-
sively at all times. Obey all traffic regula-
tions. Avoid excessive speed, high speed
cornering, or sudden steering maneuvers,
because these driving practices could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle.As
with any vehicle, a loss of control could
result in a collision with other vehicles or
objects, or cause the vehicle to roll over,
particularly if the loss of control causes
the vehicle to slide sideways.Be attentiveat all times, and avoid driving when tired.
Never drive when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs (including prescription or
over-the-counter drugs which may cause
drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt as
outlined in the ``Seat Belts'' section of this
manual, and instruct your passengers to do
the same.
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Your NISSAN is designed for both normal
and off-road use. It has a higher ground
clearance and a narrower track to make it
suitable for off-road use. These characteris-
tics give the vehicle a higher center of
gravity than ordinary passenger cars. An
advantage of the higher ground clearance is
a better view of your surroundings, allowing
you to anticipate problems. However, avoid
driving in deep water or mud as your NIS-
SAN is mainly designed for leisure use,
unlike a conventional off-road vehicle.
Please observe the following precautions:
CAUTION
cDrive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Always wear
your seat belts to help keep you and
your passengers in position when
driving over rough terrain.
cDo not drive across steep slopes.
Instead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road
vehicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.cMany hills are too steep for any ve-
hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you
may not be able to control your
speed. If you drive across them, you
may roll over.
cStay alert when driving to the top of
a hill. At the top there could be a
drop-off or other hazard that could
cause an accident.
cIf your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill,
never attempt to turn around. Your
vehicle could tip or roll over. Always
back straight down in reverse gear.
Never back down in neutral (N) or
with the clutch depressed, using
only the brake, as this could cause
loss of control.
c
Heavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and
fade, resulting in loss of control and
an accident. Apply brakes lightly and
use a low gear to control your speed.
cIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN 4-wheel drive
vehicle has a higher center of gravitythan a 2-wheel drive vehicle and can
tip over more easily. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as conventional
2-wheel drive vehicles any more
than low-slung sports cars are de-
signed to perform satisfactorily un-
der off-road conditions. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a
rollover accident.
cUnsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure it so that it will
not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
cAvoid raising the center of gravity by
loading things on the roof or equip-
ping the vehicle with tires larger than
specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over. Put
heavy loads in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible.
cDo not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could jerk
and injure your hands. Instead drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
DRIVING YOUR
4-WHEEL DRIVE SAFELY
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ZX

cImproper service for a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire may result in
serious personal injury. If it is nec-
essary to repair the TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire, contact your
NISSAN dealer.
Changing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
speed rating and load carrying capacity as
originally equipped. Recommended types
and sizes are shown in ``Wheel/tire size'' in
the ``Technical and consumer information''
section. 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 ad-
versely affect the ride, braking, handling,
ground clearance, body-to-tire clearance,
snow chain clearance, speedometer cali-
bration, headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to acci-
dents and could result in serious per-
sonal injury.
If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have the
same offset dimension. Wheels of a differ-ent offset could cause early tire wear, poor
vehicle handling characteristics and/or in-
terference with the brake discs/drums. Such
interference can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake pad/shoe
wear.
CAUTION
Do not install a deformed wheel or tire
even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warning.
4-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
CAUTION
Always use tires of the same 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 your
NISSAN dealer.
CAUTION
ONLY use spare tires specified for each
4-wheel drive model.
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.
Care of wheels
cWash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
cClean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
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cDo not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
cInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pres-
sure or damage the tire bead.
cNISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire
Your vehicle is equipped with a TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire.
To avoid property damage or personal in-
jury when using the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire, observe the following cau-
tions:
CAUTION
cThe spare tire should be used for
emergency use only. It should be
replaced by the standard tire at the
first opportunity to avoid possible
tire or differential damage.cPeriodically check spare tire infla-
tion pressure. Always keep the pres-
sure of the T135/70D16 spare tire at
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 bar). Always
keep the pressure of the P215/75R15
spare tire at 26 psi (180 kPa, 1.8 bar).
cDo not drive the vehicle at speeds
faster than 50 MPH (80 km/h).
c
The transfer control lever must
be in the 2H position to prevent the
transfer case and differential gears
from being damaged.
cDo not use tire chains on a TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire. Tire
chains will not fit properly on a TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY spare tire and
may cause damage to the vehicle.
c
When driving on roads covered with
snow or ice, the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire should be used on
the front wheels and the original tire
used on the rear wheels (drive
wheels). Use tire chains only on the
two rear original tires.cTire tread of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire will wear at a faster
rate than the standard tire. Replace
the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire as soon as the tread wear indica-
tors appear.
cBecause the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire is smaller than the
original tire, ground clearance is re-
duced. To avoid damage to the ve-
hicle, do not drive over obstacles.
Also, do not drive the vehicle
through an automatic car wash since
it might get caught.
cDrive carefully while the TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire is in-
stalled. Avoid sharp turns and
abrupt braking while driving.
cDo not use the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire on other vehicles.
cDo not use more than one TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire at the
same time.
cDo not tow a trailer when the TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY T135/70D16
spare is installed.
7-28
ZX