1997 NISSAN FRONTIER belt

To open the tailgate to the lowest position,
lift the tailgate to an angle of about 45
degrees, then release the stays.
Do not drive the vehicle with the tailgate
down.
WARNING
cIt is extremely dangerous to ride in a
cargo area inside a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these ar-
eas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.cDo not allow people to ride in any
area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and seat belts
cBe sure everyone in your vehicle is
in a seat and using a seat belt
properly.
Removing the tailgate
1. Release the tailgate stays.
2. Hold the tailgate at an angle of about 45
degrees.
3. Pull the tailgate out from the left side
hinge.
4. Remove the tailgate from the right side
hinge.
CAUTION
The tailgate is heavy. Be careful not to
drop it during removal.
IC0279MIC0175
2-6
ZX

Reclining
To recline pull the lever up and lean back. To
bring the seat forward, pull the lever up and
lean your body forward. The seatback moves
forward. Release the lever to lock the seatback
in position.
WARNING
cDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci-
dent you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju-
ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.cFor the most effective protection
when the vehicle is in motion, the
seat should be upright. Always sit
well back in the seat and adjust the
seat belt properly. See ``Precautions
on seat belt usage'' later in this
chapter.
APD0713APD0716
2-9
ZX

This Supplemental Restraint System sec-
tion contains important information concern-
ing the driver's supplemental air bag. The
Supplemental Restraint System Air Bag can
help reduce impact force to the driver in
certain frontal collisions. The supplemental
air bag is designed tosupplementthe
crash protection provided by the seat belt
and isnot a substitutefor it. The seat belt
should always be correctly worn and the
driver seated a suitable distance from the
steering wheel. (See ``Seat belts'' later in
this section for instructions and precautions
on seat belt usage.)
The supplemental air bag operates only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
WARNING
cThe supplemental air bag ordinarily
will not inflate in the event of a side
impact, rear impact, roll over, or
lower severity frontal collision. Al-
ways wear your seat belts to help
reduce the risk or severity of injury
in various kinds of accidents.cThe seat belts and the supplemental
air bag are most effective when you
are sitting back and upright in the
seat. Supplemental air bags inflate
with great force. If you are unre-
strained, leaning forward, sitting
sideways or out of position in any
way, you are at greater risk of injury
or death in a crash and may also
receive serious or fatal injuries from
the supplemental air bag if you are
up against it when it inflates. Always
sit back against the seatback and asfar away as practical from the steer-
ing wheel. Always use the seatbelts.
cKeep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could in-
crease the risk that they are injured
when the supplemental air bag in-
flates.
APD0717
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (supplemental air bag
system)
2-14
ZX

The driver's supplemental air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel. There is no
supplemental air bag on the passenger side.
The supplemental air bag system is designed
to inflate in higher severity frontal collisions,
although it may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. It may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or
lack of it) is not always an indication of proper
supplemental air bag operation.
When the supplemental air bag inflates, a
fairly loud noise may be heard, followed by
the release of smoke. This smoke is notharmful and does not indicate a fire, but
care should be taken not to unintentionally
inhale it, as it may cause irritation and
choking. Those with a history of breathing
trouble should get fresh air promptly.
The supplemental air bag, along with the
use of the seat belt, helps to cushion the
impact force on the face and chest of the
occupant. It can help save lives and reduce
serious injuries. However, an inflating
supplemental air bag may cause facial
abrasions or other injuries. A supplemental
air bag does not provide restraint to the
lower body.The seat belt should be correctly worn and
the driver seated upright as far as practical
away from the steering wheel. Since the
supplemental air bag inflates quickly in or-
der to help protect the occupant, the force of
the supplemental air bag inflating can in-
crease the risk of injury if the occupant is too
close to or against the supplemental air bag
module during inflation.
The supplemental air bag deflates quickly
after a collision.
The supplemental air bag operates only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
WARNING
cDo not attach any objects to the
steering wheel pad. Also, do not
place any objects between any occu-
pant and the steering wheel. Such
objects may become dangerous pro-
jectiles and cause injury if the
supplemental air bag inflates.
cRight after inflation, several supple-
mental air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you
may severely burn yourself.
APD0708
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
SYSTEM
2-15
ZX

PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGE
Your chances of being injured in an acci-
dent and/or the severity of injury may be
greatly reduced if you are wearing your seat
belt and it is properly adjusted. NISSAN
strongly encourages you and all of your
passengers to buckle up every time you
drive, even if your seating position includes
a supplemental air bag.
Some states and Canadian provinces or
territories may specify that seat belts be
worn at all times when a vehicle is being
driven.
WARNING
cEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be prop-
erly restrained and, if appropriate, in
a child restraint.
c
The belt should be properly adjusted
to a snug fit. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an acci-
dent. Serious injury or death can occur
if the seat belt is not worn properly.cAlways route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your chest.
Never run the belt behind your back,
under your arm or across your neck.
The belt should be away from your
face and neck, but not falling off your
shoulder.cPosition the lap belt as low as pos-
sible AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE
WAIST. A lap belt worn too high could
increase the risk of internal injuries in
an accident.
cBe sure the seat belt tongue is se-
curely fastened to the proper buckle.
APD0658APD0718APD0533
SEAT BELTS
2-19
ZX

cDo not wear the belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its
effectiveness.
cDo not allow more than one person
to use the same belt.
cNever carry more people in the ve-
hicle than there are seat belts.
c
Never allow anyone to ride in the
cargo area or in a slide-in camper or
other type cargo area cover while the
vehicle is in motion. These areas do
not contain seat belts. It is not de-
signed for passengers. They could be
injured in sudden braking or collision.
cIf the seat belt warning lamp glows
continuously while the ignition is
turned ON with all doors closed and
all seat belts fastened, it may indi-
cate a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
cAll seat belt assemblies including
retractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected after any colli-
sion at your NISSAN dealer. NISSAN
recommends that all seat belt as-
semblies in use during a collision bereplaced unless the collision was
minor and the belts show no damage
and continue to operate properly.
Seat belt assemblies not in use dur-
ing a collision should also be in-
spected and replaced if either dam-
age or improper operation is noted.
CHILD SAFETY
Children need adults to help protect them.
WARNING
cDo not install a child restraint in the
jump seats (King Cab model). These
seats are not suitable for child re-
straint installation.
c
Infants and children need special pro-
tection. The vehicle's seat belts may
not fit them properly. The shoulder
belt may come too close to the face or
neck. The lap belt may not fit over
their small hip bones. In an accident
an improperly fitting seat belt could
cause serious or fatal injury. Always
use appropriate child restraints.
All U.S. states and provinces of Canada
require the use of approved child restraints
for infants and small children. (See ``Childrestraints for infants and small children''
later in this section for more information.)
In addition, there are many types of child
restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.
Infant or small child
NISSAN recommends that infants or small
children be seated in child restraints that
comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint which fits your vehicle and
always follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions for installation and use.
Children
Children who are too large for child re-
straints should be seated and restrained by
the seat belts which are provided.
If the child's seating position has a shoulder
belt that fits close to the face or neck, the
use of a booster seat (commercially avail-
able) may help overcome this. The booster
seat should raise the child so the shoulder
belt is properly positioned across the top,
middle portion of the shoulder and the lap
belt is low on the hips. The booster seat
should fit the vehicle seat and have a label
2-20
ZX

certifying that it complies with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the
child has grown so the shoulder belt is no
longer on or near the face and neck, use the
shoulder belt without the booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the
cargo areas while the vehicle is mov-
ing. The child could be seriously in-
jured or killed in an accident.
Pregnant women
NISSAN recommends that pregnant women
use seat belts. Contact your doctor for spe-
cific recommendations. The lap belt should
be worn snug and positioned as low as
possible around the hips, not the waist.
Injured persons
NISSAN recommends that injured persons
use seat belts, depending on the injury.
Check with your doctor for specific recom-
mendations.
3-POINT TYPE WITH RETRACTOR
WARNING
Every person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should wear a seat belt at
all times.
Fastening the belt
1. Adjust the seat.
WARNING
cDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci-
dent you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju-
ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.
cFor most effective protection when
the vehicle is in motion, the seat
should be upright. Always sit well
back in the seat and adjust the seat
belt properly.
2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retrac-
tor and insert the tongue into the buckle
until it snaps.
APD0500
2-21
ZX

The retractor is designed to lock during
a sudden stop or on impact. A slow
pulling motion permits the belt to move,
and allows you some freedom of move-
ment in the seat.
3. Position the lap belt portionlow on the
hipsas shown.
4. Pull the shoulder belt portion toward the
retractor to take up extra slack.
The front passenger side seat belt has a
cinching mechanism for child seat installa-
tion. It is referred to as the automatic locking
mode.
When the cinching mechanism is activated
the seat belt cannot be extracted again until
the seat belt tongue is detached from the
buckle and the seat belt is fully retracted.
Refer to ``Child restraints for infants and
small children'' later in this section for more
information.
The automatic locking mode should be
used only for child seat installation. Dur-
ing normal seat belt use by a passenger,
the locking mode should not be acti-
vated. If it is activated it may cause
uncomfortable seat belt tension.
Unfastening the belt
To unfasten the belt, press the button on the
buckle. The seat belt automatically retracts.
Checking seat belt operation
Seat belt retractors are designed to lock belt
movement by two separate methods:
1) When the belt is pulled quickly from the
retractor.
2) When the vehicle slows down rapidly.
To increase your confidence in the belts,
check the operation as follows:
cGrasp the shoulder belt and pull quicklyforward. The retractor should lock and
restrict further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this
check, or if you have any questions about
seat belt operation, see your NISSAN
dealer.
Replacing front seat belt (3-point
type only)
The front passenger seat belt is an energy
absorber type. Replace the belt when the
loop has been pulled out and ``REPLACE
BELT'' is visible. This indicator means the
seat belt has been loaded and must be
replaced.
PD1024M
2-22
ZX