2000 NISSAN XTERRA ECU

Getting the roof rack torxdriver
1. Open the back door.
2. Roll back the cargo area carpet.
3. Remove the roof rack torxdriver.
The front and rear crossbars can be ad-
justed forward, backward, or be removed.
Use the torxdriver located in the tool kit to
loosen both crossbar adjusting screws.
Position the crossbar as needed and then
tighten the crossbar adjusting screws. Placeyour cargo between the bars, and secure
with rope. Always check the tightness of the
cross bar adjusting screws.
ACE1051
AIC1146
3-12Pre-driving checks and adjustments
ZX

WARNING
ODo 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 pos-
sibly fatal injuries to people or ani-
mals.
OProperly secure all cargo to help
prevent it from sliding or shifting. Do
not place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
ODo not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless car-
bon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is
a dangerous. It can cause uncon-
sciousness or death.OIf you suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering the vehicle, drive with
all windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
ODo not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage.
ODo not park the vehicle with the
engine running for any extended
length of time.
OKeep the back door and rear win-
dows closed while driving, other-
wise exhaust gases could be drawn
into the passenger compartment. If
you must drive with the back door or
rear windows open, follow these pre-
cautions:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the air recirculation switch
OFF and the fan control at 4 (high)
to circulate the air.
OIf electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the back door or
the body, follow the manufacturer's
recommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.O
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.
OThe 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.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN
STARTING AND DRIVING
5-2Starting and driving
ZX

OMany 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.
ODo not shift gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
OStay 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.
OIf 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 R (Reverse)
gear. Never back down in N (Neutral)
or with the clutch depressed
(manual transmission vehicles), us-
ing only the brake, as this could
cause loss of control.
OHeavy 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.
OUnsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
OTo avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capactiy of the roof rack/gear bin (if
so equipped) and evenly distribute
the load. Secure heavy loads in the
cargo area as far forward and as low
as possible. Do not equip the vehicle
with tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your ve-
hicle to roll over.
ODo not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving
offroad. The steering wheel could
move suddenly and injure your
hands. Instead drive with your fin-
gers and thumbs on the outside of
the rim.OBefore operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
OAlways drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.
OLower your speed when encoutering
strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is
more affected by strong side winds.
Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
ODo not drive beyond the perfor-
mance of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
OAccelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
OIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN four wheel
drive vehicle has a higher center of
gravity than a two wheel drive ve-
hicle. The vehicle is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as
conventional two wheel drive ve-
hicles. Failure to operate this vehicle
Starting and driving
5-5
ZX

COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for three
hours or more or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on the
tire placard affixed to the inside of the
glove box lid.
ORetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
5. Securely store the flat tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
WARNING
Always make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly se-
cured after use. Such items can be-
come dangerous projectiles in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must
be followed.
WARNING
OIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting
in severe injury or death. It could
also damage your vehicle.
OExplosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
ODo not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, clothing
or painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulphuric acid solution
which can cause severe burns. If the
fluid should come into contact with
anything, immediately flush the con-
tacted area with water.
OKeep battery out of the reach of
children.
OThe booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.OYour vehicle has and automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other ob-
jects away from it.
OWhenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye pro-
tectors (for example, goggles or in-
dustrial safety spectacles) and
remove rings, metal bands, or any
other jewelry. Do not lean over the
battery when jump starting.
JUMP STARTING
6-8In case of emergency
ZX

OWhen towing with the front wheels
on the ground or with the rear
wheels on the ground (if you do not
use towing dollies): Move the trans-
fer control lever into the 2H position.
OWhen towing with the front wheels
on the ground: Turn the ignition key
to the OFF position and move the
transmission shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position. To move the se-
lector lever to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion on automatic transmission mod-
els, turn the ignition key to the ACC
position. After moving the selector
lever to the N (Neutral) position, turn
the ignition key to the OFF position
and secure the steering wheel in the
straight ahead position with a rope
or similar device. Never place the
ignition key in the LOCK position.
This will result in damage to the
steering lock mechanism.
OWhen towing manual transmission
models with rear wheels on the
ground: Always release the parking
brake and move the transmission
shift lever to the N (Neutral) position.OBe sure to place the transfer control
lever into the 2H position, and the
transmission selector lever into the
N (Neutral) position.
OAlways attach safety chains before
towing.
TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (rear) wheels off the
ground as illustrated.
ACE1037
6-12In case of emergency
ZX

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
OPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For manual trans-
mission models, move the shift lever
to N (Neutral). For automatic trans-
mission models, move the shift lever
to P (Park).
OBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing
any parts replacement or repairs.
ONever leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
ONever connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.O
If you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts, and any other moving parts.
OIt is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
OAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
OIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
ONever get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
OKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
OOn gasoline engine models with the
multiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by an authorized NISSAN
dealer because the fuel lines are
under high pressure even when the
engine is off.
CAUTION
ODo not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine off
and wait until it cools down.
ONever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized
component connector while the igni-
tion is on.
OAvoid contact with used engine oil.
Improperly disposed engine oil
and/or other vehicle fluids can dam-
age the environment. Always con-
form to local regulations for disposal
of vehicle fluid.
This ``Do-it-yourself'' section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect your warranty coverage.If in
doubt about any servicing, have it done
by an authorized NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
ZX

If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
OMajor cooling system repairs should be
performed by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. The service procedures can be
found in the appropriate NISSAN Ser-
vice Manual.
OImproper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine over-
heating.
WARNING
OTo avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the coolant
when the engine is hot.
ONever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
1. Open the radiator drain valve. Open the
drain plugs on the engine block.
2.
Open the radiator cap to drain the coolant.
3. Flush the cooling system by running
fresh water through the radiator.
4. Close the radiator drain valve and drain
plug on the engine block securely.5. See ``Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants'' in the ``Technical and
consumer information'' section for cool-
ing system capacity. Fill the radiator
slowly with the proper mixture of coolant
and water. Fill the reservoir tank slowly
up to the MAX level.
8-6Do-it-yourself
ZX

5. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove
and replace it at this time. See ``Chang-
ing engine oil filter'' later in this section.
WARNING
OProlonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin can-
cer.
OTry to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
OKeep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The
engine oil is hot.
Waste oil must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
6. Clean and reinstall the drain plug and a
new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench. Do not use excessive
force.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb (29 to 39 Nzm)7. Refill engine with a recommended oil
through the oil filler opening then install
the oil filler cap securely.
See ``Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants'' in the ``Technical and
consumer information'' section for drain
and refill capacity.
The drain and refill capacity depends on
the oil temperature and drain time. Use
these specifications for reference only.
Always use the dipstick to determine
when the proper amount of oil is in the
engine.
8. Start the engine. Check for leakage
around the drain plug and oil filter. Cor-
rect as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait several
minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.ADI1064
Do-it-yourself8-11
ZX