TO SHIFT TRANSFER
CASE:SHIFT PROCEDURE FOR MANUAL-LOCK FREE-RUNNING HUBS
From 2H to 4H1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Set both free-running hubs in the LOCK position.
3. Move the transfer lever to 4H. It is not necessary to depress the clutch pedal.
From 4H to 2HMove the transfer lever to 2H. This can be done at any speed, and it is not necessary to depress the clutch pedal. Perform
this operation when driving straight.
NOTE:
For two-wheel drive operation, set the free-running hubs in the FREE position. Disengaging the MANUAL LOCK
hubs will allow for better fuel economy, quieter ride and less component wear.
From 4H to 4L or 4L to
4H1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal, or place the selector lever in the P (Park) position.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to the desired 4L or 4H position. Change gears quickly and smoothly.
From 2H to 4L1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Set free-running hubs in the LOCK position.
3. Depress the clutch pedal, or place the selector lever in the P (Park) position.
4. Depress the transfer lever and move it to 4L. Change gears quickly and smoothly.
From 4L to 2H1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal, or place the selector lever in the P (Park) position.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to 2H. Chnage gears quickly and smoothly.
NOTE:
Follow the NOTE shown in shifting from 4H to 2H.
Starting and driving5-23
ZX
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
NISSAN is mainly designed for leisure use,
unlike a conventional off-road vehicle.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
IDrive 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.
IDo 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.IMany 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.
IStay 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.
IIf 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 N (neutral) or
with the clutch depressed, using
only the brake, as this could cause
loss of control.
I
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.
IIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN four-wheel drive
vehicle has a higher center of gravitythan a two-wheel drive vehicle and can
tip over more easily. The vehicle is not
designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional two-wheel
drive vehicles any more than low-
slung sports cars are designed to per-
form satisfactorily under off-road con-
ditions. Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly could result in loss of con-
trol and/or a rollover accident.
IUnsecured 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.
IAvoid 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.
IDo 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
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SAFELY
5-24Starting and driving
ZX
IBefore operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
IAlways drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become very
hot. Particular care should be taken
if you are barefoot.
ILower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With its
higher center of gravity, your
NISSAN is more affected by gusty
side winds. Slower speeds ensure
better vehicle control.
IDo not drive beyond the perfor-
mance of the tires even with 4WD.
IAccelerating quickly, steering or
braking may cause loss of control.
IInstall the same size of winter tires
on all four (four) wheels (such as
studless tires) or install tire chains
to the rear wheels when driving on
slippery roads (e.g., after a snow)
and drive carefully using 4WD.
IBe sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water asspecified in ``Wet brakes'' under the
heading ``Brake system,'' later in this
section.
IAvoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured.
IWhenever you drive off-road
through sand, mud or water as deep
as the wheel hub, more frequent
maintenance may be required. For
details, refer to ``Maintenance for off-
road driving'' in the ``Maintenance''
section of this manual.
Checking water entry
If you have driven in deep water or mud,
check water entry in the clutch housing by
removing the blind plug at the bottom of the
transmission case. After checking, be sure
to reinstall the plug.
ADI0726
Starting and driving5-25
ZX
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions .......................................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ....................8-3
Engine cooling system ...........................................8-5
Checking engine coolant level ...............................8-5
Changing engine coolant .......................................8-6
Engine oil ...............................................................8-9
Checking engine oil level .......................................8-9
Changing engine oil .............................................8-10
Changing engine oil filter .....................................8-12
Automatic transmission fluid (atf) .........................8-13
Temperature conditions for checking atf..............8-13
Power steering fluid..............................................8-14
Brake and clutch fluid ...........................................8-15
Window washer fluid ............................................8-15
Battery ..................................................................8-16
Jump starting ........................................................8-17
Drive belts ............................................................8-18Spark plug replacement .......................................8-19
Air cleaner housing filter ......................................8-21
Wiper blades ........................................................8-23
Parking brake check.............................................8-24
Brake pedal ..........................................................8-24
Brake booster .......................................................8-25
Clutch pedal .........................................................8-26
Fuses ....................................................................8-27
Light bulbs ............................................................8-28
Headlights ............................................................8-28
Bulb replacement .................................................8-29
Front fog light bulb replacement (if so
equipped) .............................................................8-31
Wheels and tires...................................................8-32
Four-wheel drive models ......................................8-35
Clutch housing .....................................................8-37
ZX
Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. If
the fluid level is below the MIN line or the
brake warning light comes on, addDOT 3
fluid up to the MAX line.
Check the clutch fluid level in the reservoir
(manual transmission only). If the fluid level
is below the MIN line, addDOT 3fluid up to
the MAX line.
If fluid must be added frequently, the system
should be thoroughly checked by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.For further brake and clutch fluid specifica-
tion information, refer to ``Capacities and
recommended fuel/lubricants'' in the ``Tech-
nical and consumer information'' section of
this manual.
WARNING
Use only new fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake and clutch
systems. The use of improper fluids
can damage the brake system and af-
fect the vehicle's stopping ability.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted
surfaces. This will damage the paint. If
fluid is spilled, wash with water.USA Only
Check the window washer fluid level in the
reservoir tank and add fluid if necessary.
Add a washer solvent to the water for better
cleaning. In the winter season, add a wind-
shield washer anti-freeze. Follow the manu-
facturer's instructions for the mixture ratio.
Canada Only
Add fluid when the low washer fluid warning
light comes on. Add windshield washer sol-
vent to the water for better cleaning. In the
winter season, add windshield washer anti-
freeze.
ADI0716ADI1034
BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID WINDOW WASHER FLUID
Do-it-yourself8-15
ZX
Press the pedal by hand and be sure the
free travel is within the above limit. If free
travel is out of the range shown above, see
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
ADI0528
CLUTCH PEDAL
8-26Do-it-yourself
ZX
Checking water entry
If you have driven in deep water or mud,
check water entry in the clutch housing by
removing the blind plug at the bottom of the
transmission case. After checking, be sure
to reinstall the plug.
ADI0726
CLUTCH HOUSING
Do-it-yourself8-37
ZX
sure no wheel nuts are missing, and check for
any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) for 2WD vehicles
and 3,750 miles (6,000 km) for 4WD ve-
hicles.
Wheel alignment and balanceIf the ve-
hicle should pull to either side while driving
on a straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing
may be needed.
Windshield wiper blades*Check for
cracks or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Doors and hoodCheck that all doors and
the hood operate properly. Also ensure that
all latches lock securely. Lubricate hinges,
latches, rollers and links if necessary. Make
sure that the secondary latch keeps the
hood from opening when the primary latch
is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.Lights*Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
INSIDE THE VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing periodic maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Additional information on the following
items with an ``*'' is found in the ``Do-it-
yourself'' section of this manual.
Warning lights and chimesMake sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield wiper and washer*Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defrosterCheck that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly
and in sufficient quantity when operating the
heater or air conditioner.
Steering wheelCheck for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free-
play, hard steering or strange noises.SeatsCheck seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and all
latches lock securely in every position.
Check that the head restraints move up and
down smoothly and the locks (if so
equipped) hold securely in all latched posi-
tions.
Seat beltsCheck that all parts of the seat
belt system (e.g., buckles, anchors, adjust-
ers and retractors) operate properly and
smoothly, and are installed securely. Check
the belt webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or
damage.
Accelerator pedalCheck the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Clutch pedal*Make sure the pedal oper-
ates smoothly and check that it has the
proper free travel.
BrakesCheck that the brakes do not pull
the vehicle to one side when applied.
Brake pedal and booster*Check the pedal
for smooth operation and make sure it has
the proper distance under it when de-
pressed fully. Check the brake booster func-
Maintenance
9-3
ZX