1997 NISSAN FRONTIER stop start

Welcome To The World Of NISSAN
Your new Nissan is the result of our dedication to
produce the finest in safe, reliable and economi-
cal transportation. Your vehicle is the product of
a successful worldwide company that manufac-
tures cars and trucks in over 17 countries and
distributes them in 170 nations.
Nissan vehicles are designed and manufactured
by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. which was founded in
Tokyo, Japan in 1933, and Nissan affiliates world
wide, collectively growing to become the fifth
largest automaker in the world. In addition to cars
and trucks, Nissan also makes textile machinery,
fork-lift trucks, marine engines, boats and other
products.
Nissan has made a substantial and growing
investment in North America, starting with the
opening of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. in
1960, and continuing with the production of some
cars and trucks at one of the world's mostmodern manufacturing facilities, Nissan Motor
Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A. in Smyrna,
Tennessee, vehicle styling at Nissan Design
International in San Diego, California, and engi-
neering at Nissan Research and Development in
Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. and its dealers
indirectly employ about 60,000 Americans.
Nissan is also a substantial contributor to the
Canadian economy. Nissan Canada Inc., its sup-
pliers and over 170 dealers employ approxi-
mately 4,500 people. These include company
employees and the staffs of Nissan dealers all
across Canada. In addition, many Canadians
work for companies that supply Nissan and Nis-
san dealers with materials and services ranging
from operation of port facilities and transportation
services to the supply of lubricants, parts and
accessories.Nissan pioneered the use of electronics and
computers in automobiles, and has led the indus-
try in improving both performance and fuel effi-
ciency through new engine designs and the use
of synthetic materials to reduce vehicle weight.
The company has also developed ways to build
quality into its vehicles at each stage of the
production process, both through extensive use
of automation and Ð most importantly Ð
through an awareness thatpeopleare the cen-
tral element in quality control.
From the time the parts arrived from our suppli-
ers until you took delivery of your new Nissan,
dozens of checks were made to ensure that only
the best job was being done in producing and
delivering your vehicle. Nissan also takes great
care to ensure that when you take your Nissan to
your dealer for maintenance, the service techni-
cian will perform his work according to the quality
standards that have been established by the
factory.
Safety has also been built into your Nissan. As
you know, seat belts are an integral part of the
safety systems that will help protect you and your
passengers in the event of a sudden stop or an
accident. We urge you to use the belts every time
you drive the vehicle.
The Nissan story of growth and achievement
reflects our major goal: to provide you, our
customer, with a vehicle that is built with quality
and craftsmanship Ð a product that we can be
proud to build and you can be proud to own.
AFW0001
The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.
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orBrake warning
light
This light functions for both the parking
brake and the foot brake systems.
Parking brake indicator
The light comes on when the parking brake
is applied.
Low brake fluid warning
The light warns of a low brake fluid level. If
the light comes on while the engine is
running with the parking brake not applied,
stop the vehicle and perform the following:
1.
Check the brake fluid level. Add brake fluid
as necessary. See ``Brake and clutch fluid''
in the ``Do-it-yourself operations'' section.
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the
warning system checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
WARNING
c
Your brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the warning light is on.
Driving could be dangerous. If you
judge it to be safe, drive carefully to
the nearest service station for repairs.
Otherwise have your vehicle towed.c
Pressing the brake pedal with the en-
gine stopped and/or low brake fluid
level may increase your stopping dis-
tance and require greater pedal effort
as well as pedal travel.
cIf the level is below the minimum mark
on the brake fluid reservoir, do not
drive until the brake system has been
checked at a NISSAN dealer.
High beam indicator light
This blue light comes on when the headlight
high beams are on and goes out when the
low beams are selected.
Seat belt warning light and
chime
The light and chime remind you to fasten
your seat belts. If the driver's seat belt is
NOT securely fastened when the ignition
key is turned to ON or START, the chime
sounds five times and the light illuminates.
Supplemental air bag
warning light
When the ignition key is in the ON or START
position, the supplemental air bag light illu-minates for about 7 seconds and then turns
off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the
supplemental air bag needs servicing and
your vehicle must be taken to your nearest
authorized NISSAN dealer:
1. The supplemental air bag light does not
come on and remain on for 7 seconds
and then go off as described above.
2. The supplemental air bag light flashes
intermittently or remains on.
3. The supplemental air bag light does not
come on at all.
Unless checked and repaired, the Supple-
mental Restraint System (Supplemental air
bag system) may not function properly. For
additional details on the Supplemental Re-
straint System (Supplemental air bag sys-
tem), see the ``Pre-driving checks and ad-
justments'' section.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning
light is on, it could mean that the air
bag will not operate in an accident.
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orRear anti-lock brake
warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate a potential problem
with the rear anti-lock brake system. Have the
system checked by your NISSAN dealer.
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the
rear anti-lock function ceases but the ordi-
nary brakes continue to operate normally.
If the light comes on while you are driving,
contact your NISSAN dealer for repair.
The rear anti-lock brake system may only
be effective when driving in the 2-wheel
drive mode.
When driving in the 4-wheel drive mode, if the
front wheels lock, the rear wheels also lock. If
this happens, the rear anti-lock brake system
may stop functioning, but the ordinary brakes
operate normally. The warning light then
comes on. The above condition is not a mal-
function, and the rear anti-lock brake system
recovers once the engine is turned off and
restarted. The warning light then goes off. For
further description of the rear anti-lock brake
system, refer to ``Rear anti-lock brake system''
in the ``Starting and driving'' section.
Overdrive off indicator light
(if so equipped)
This light comes on when the overdrive
switch is pushed to the OFF position.
Key reminder chime
The chime sounds when the driver's door is
opened and the key is left in the ignition
switch. Take the ignition key when you
leave the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime sounds if the driver's door is opened
with the headlight switch on unless the ignition
key is in the ON position. Turn the headlight
switch off when you leave the vehicle.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires re-
placement, it makes a high pitched scraping
sound when the vehicle is in motion whether
or not the brake pedal is depressed. Have
the brakes checked as soon as possible if
the warning sound is heard.
orMalfunction indi-
cator light (MIL)
If the malfunction indicator light comes onsteady or blinks while the engine is running,
it may indicate a potential emission control
problem.
The malfunction indicator light will come on
in one of two ways:
cMalfunction indicator light on steady - -
An emission control system malfunction
has been detected. Have the vehicle
inspected by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. You do not need to have your
vehicle towed to the dealer.
cMalfunction indicator light blinking - - An
engine misfire has been detected which
may damage the emission control sys-
tem. To reduce or avoid emission control
system damage:
cdo not drive at speeds above 45 MPH
(72 km/h).
c
avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
cavoid steep uphill grades.
cif possible, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator light may stop
blinking and come on steady.
Have the vehicle inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer. You do not need to
have your vehicle towed to the dealer.
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WARNING
Do not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
Do not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a dan-
gerous gas, and can cause uncon-
sciousness or death.
cIf you suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering the vehicle, drive with
all windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
cDo not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage.cDo not park the vehicle with the
engine running for any extended
length of time.
c
If a special body, camper, or other
equipment is added for recreational
or other usage, follow the manufac-
turer's recommendation to prevent
carbon monoxide entry into the ve-
hicle. Do not occupy these areas
while the engine is running even if the
vehicle is parked. (Some recreational
vehicle appliances such as stoves,
refrigerators, heaters, etc. may also
generate carbon monoxide.)
cThe exhaust system and body
should be inspected by a qualified
mechanic whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust system.
d.
You have had an accident involv-
ing damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission control
device installed in the exhaust system. Ex-
haust gases in the converter are burned at
high temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
WARNING
cThe exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. Keep people or
flammable materials away from the
exhaust pipe.
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Depos-
its from leaded gasoline will seri-
ously reduce the three-way cata-
lyst's ability to help reduce exhaust
pollutants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the converter,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep
PRECAUTIONS WHEN
STARTING AND DRIVING
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cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cCheck fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake and clutch fluid, and win-
dow washer fluid as frequently as pos-
sible, at least whenever you refuel.
cCheck that all windows and lights are
clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cLock all doors.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights
when key is turned to the ON (3) position.The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled by a microcom-
puter to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
If your vehicle is equipped with 4-wheel
drive, see ``
Transfer case shifting pro-
cedures for 4-wheel drive vehicles'' later in
this section.
Starting the vehicle
cAfter starting the engine, fully depress
the foot brake pedal and push the shift
lever button before shifting the selector
lever to the R, D, 2 or 1 position. Be sure
the vehicle is fully stopped before at-
tempting to shift the selector lever.
cKeep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the shift lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
c
Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
This automatic transmission is designedso the foot brake pedal MUST be depressed
before shifting from P to any drive position
while the ignition switch is ON.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of P
and into any of the other gear positions if
the ignition key is turned to LOCK or if
the key is removed.
When the battery charge is low, the shift
lever can be moved if the ignition switch
is in the ACC position.
WARNING
cDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P or N to R, D, 2
or 1. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose con-
trol and have an accident.
cCold engine idle speed is high, so
use caution when shifting into a for-
ward or reverse gear before the en-
gine has warmed up.
cNever shift to P or R while the ve-
hicle is moving. This could cause an
accident.
BEFORE STARTING THE
ENGINEDRIVING WITH AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
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cOn slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.
CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this pur-
pose.
Shifting with automatic transmission
Push the button to shift into P, R or from D
to 2. All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle
is parked or when starting the engine. Al-
ways be sure the vehicle is at a complete
stop. For maximum safety, depress the
brake pedal, then push in the selector lever
button and move the lever to the P position.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then shiftthe lever into the P position.
Shifting from P (Park)
If the ignition switch is in the ON position
and the foot brake pedal is depressed, but
the shift lever still cannot be moved out of P
(Park), use the following procedure:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the key and turn it clockwise to
the ACC position.
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
ASD0701
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These instructions for starting the vehicle in
N (Neutral) should only be used until service
can be obtained.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Shift into this
position only after the vehicle has com-
pletely stopped.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to N and restart a
stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all typical forward driv-
ing.
2 (Second gear):
Use for hill climbing, effective engine brak-
ing on downhill grades or starting on slip-
pery roads.
Do not downshift into the 2 position at speeds
over 62 MPH (100 km/h), and do not exceed
62 MPH (100 km/h) in the 2 position.
1 (Low gear):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine brak-
ing on steep downhill grades.
Do not downshift into the 1 position at
speeds over 62 MPH (100 km/h), and do not
exceed 30 MPH (48 km/h) in the 1 position.
Accelerator downshift
Ð In D position Ð
For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully de-
press the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into second
gear or first gear, depending on the vehicle
speed.
Overdrive switch
ON: For typical driving, push the overdrive
switch ON
with the selector lever
in the D position. The transmission is
upshifted into OVERDRIVE as the ve-
hicle speed increases.
The overdrive does not engage until the
engine has warmed up.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
where engine braking would be ad-
vantageous, push the switch OFF
.When cruising at a low speed or
climbing a gentle slope, you may feel
ASD0702
4-8
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the accelerator pedal fully and hold it
to help start the engine.
cIn the summer, when restarting the
engine within 30 minutes after it has
been stopped, keep the accelerator
pedal fully depressed while starting.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.
4.Warm-up
Always allow the engine to idle for at
least 30 seconds after starting. Drive at a
moderate speed for a short distance first,
especially in cold weather.To apply:pull the lever out.
To release:
1. Firmly apply foot brake.
2. Manual transmission models:
Place the gearshift in the N (neutral)
position.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the gearshift lever to the P (park)
position.
3. While pulling out on the parking brake
lever slightly, turn the lever and push it in
completely.4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
WARNING
cBe sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead
to an accident.
cDo not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
cDo not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
cDo not leave children unattended in
a vehicle. They could release the
parking brake and cause an
accident.
IC0177
PARKING BRAKE
OPERATION
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