2000 NISSAN XTERRA engine

Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake linings and pads faster,
and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear, and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshift to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade.
WARNING
OWhile driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an acci-
dent.
OIf the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
Normal Operation
The anti-lock brake system does not oper-
ate at speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10
km/h). (The speeds vary according to road
conditions.)
When driving, the anti-lock brake system
controls the wheels so they will not lock
when braking abruptly or when braking on a
slippery road. Thus, difficult steering and
swerving of the vehicle due to locked
wheels is minimized. The system detects
the wheel rotation rate and electronically
controls the pressure applied to each brake.
Slight vibration on the brake pedal accom-
panied by noise usually occurs while the
ABS system is operating. Such vibration
and noise encountered during abrupt brak-
ing is not a problem, but indicates that the
system is functioning.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors and hydraulic solenoids con-
trolled by a computer. The computer has a
built-in diagnostic feature that tests the sys-
tem each time you start the engine and
move the vehicle at a low speed in forward
or reverse. When the self-test occurs, youmay hear a ``clunk'' noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal
and is not an indication of any malfunction. If
the computer senses any malfunction, it
switches the anti-lock brake system off and
turns on the ABS brake warning light in the
dashboard. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the
anti-lock function will cease but the ordinary
brakes will continue to operate normally. The
ABS brake warning light will then come on.
If the light comes on while you are driving,
contact an authorized NISSAN dealer for
repair.
Using the System
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)
Starting and driving5-25
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WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophisti-
cated device, but it cannot prevent acci-
dents resulting from careless or danger-
ous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control under braking on
slippery surfaces, but remember that the
stopping distance on slippery surfaces
will be longer than on normal surfaces
even with the anti-lock brake system.
Stopping distances may also be longer
on rough, gravel, or snow covered roads,
or if you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle
in front of you. Ultimately, the responsi-
bility for safety of self and others rests in
the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
OWhen replacing tires, install the speci-
fied tire size on all four wheels.
OWhen installing a spare tire, make sure
it is the proper size and type as speci-
fied on the tire placard. For tire placard
location information refer to ``Tire plac-
ard'' in the ``Technical and consumer
information'' section of this manual.
Freeing a frozen door lock
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key be-
fore inserting it in the key hole.
Anti-freeze
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC),
check anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base) to
assure proper winter protection. For details,
see ``Engine cooling system'' in the ``Do-it-
yourself'' section of this manual.
Battery
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the bat-
tery fluid may freeze and damage the bat-
tery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the
battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see ``Battery'' in the ``Do-it-yourself''
section of this manual.
Draining of coolant water
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-ing the vehicle. For details, see ``Changing
engine coolant'' in the ``Do-it-yourself'' section
of this manual.
Tire equipment
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced
in snowy and icy conditions. If you oper-
ate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use on all four
wheels of MUD & SNOW or ALL SEA-
SON tires. Please consult your NISSAN
dealer for the tire type, size, speed rating
and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces pro-
hibit their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial laws before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
3. Tire chains may be used. Use of tire
chains may be prohibited according to
location. Check the local laws before
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-26Starting and driving
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installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are
installed according to the chain manufac-
turer's suggestions.Use only SAE
Class ``S'' chains.Other types may
damage your vehicle. Use chain tension-
ers when recommended by the tire chain
manufacturer to ensure a tight fit. Loose
end links of the tire chain must be se-
cured or removed to prevent the possi-
bility of whipping action damage to the
fenders or undercarriage. If possible,
avoid fully loading your vehicle when
using tire chains. In addition, drive at a
reduced speed, otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely af-
fected. Never install tire chains on a
TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire. Do
not use tire chains on dry roads.
Special winter equipment
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
1. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-
move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.2. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support.
3. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.
4. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
Driving on snow or ice
WARNING
OWet ice (32ÉF, 0ÉC and freezing rain),
very cold snow, or ice can be slick
and very hard to drive on. The ve-
hicle will have much less traction or
``grip'' under these conditions. Try to
avoid driving on wet ice until the
road is salted or sanded.
OWhatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting too fast, the drive wheels
will lose even more traction.
O
Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
OAllow greater following distances on
slippery roads.OWatch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
ODo not use the cruise control on
slippery roads.
OSnow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep
snow clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around your vehicle.
Engine block heater (if so equipped)
An engine block heater to assist extreme
cold temperature starting is available
through an authorized NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
Do not use your heater with an un-
grounded electrical system or two-
pronged (cheater) adapters. You can be
injured by an electrical shock if you use
an ungrounded connection.
Starting and driving
5-27
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A first aid kit is located on the back door trim
panel. To remove the first aid kit, unfasten
the two straps.If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below:
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the
parking brake. Shift the manual transmis-
sion into R (Reverse), or the automatic
transmission into P (Park).
WARNING
O
The transfer control lever
must be in the 2H, 4H or 4L position.
O
Do not leave the transfer control le-
ver in the N (Neutral) position. Other-
wise, the vehicle could roll unexpect-
edly even if the manual transmission
is in any gear or the automatic trans-
mission is in the P (Park) position.
This could result in serious personal
injury or property damage.
4. Turn off the engine.
ACE1041
FIRST AID KIT FLAT TIRE
6-2In case of emergency
ZX

ONever jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
ONever use blocks on or under the
jack.
ONever use the tool tray as a jacking
surface.
ODo not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
ODo not start or run engine while
vehicle is on the jack. It may cause
the vehicle to move. This is espe-
cially true for vehicles with limited
slip differential carriers.
WARNING
OIncorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
ODo not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the
nuts to become loose.
Installing the spare tire
1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface
between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the spare tire on and tighten
the wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten the
wheel nuts alternately and evenly until
they are tight.
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts se-
curely in the sequence as illustrated.
Lower the vehicle completely.
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel
nuts to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
87 to 108 ft-lb (118 to 147 Nzm)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
specification at each lubrication interval.
Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pres-
sure.
CE0116
In case of emergency6-7
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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

ODo not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
WARNING
Always follow the instructions be-
low. Failure to do so could result in
damage to the charging system and
cause personal injury.
1.
If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their
batteries into close proximity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift
selector lever to N (Neutral) (on auto-
matic transmission models, move the
lever to P (Park)). Switch off all unneces-
sary electrical systems (lights, heater, air
conditioner, etc.).
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped). Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence
as illustrated.
CAUTION
OAlways connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (þ) to body
ground (for example, engine lift
bracket, etc.) Ð not to the battery.
OMake sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that the cable
clamps do not contact any other
metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
and let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster
vehicle at about 2,000 r/min, and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, turn the key
off and wait 3 to 4 seconds before
trying again.
7. After starting your engine, carefully dis-
connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable.
ACE1018
In case of emergency6-9
ZX

8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped).
Be sure to dispose of the cloth used to
cover the vent holes as it may be con-
taminated with corrosive acid.CAUTION
OAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push or tow started. This may
cause transmission or other vehicle
damage.
ONever try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it. When the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge read-
ing), or if you feel a lack of engine power, or
detect abnormal noise, etc., take the follow-
ing steps:
WARNING
ODo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
OTo avoid the danger of being
scalded, never remove the radiator
cap while the engine is still hot.
When the radiator cap is removed,
pressurized hot water will spurt out,
possibly causing serious injury.
ODo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road,
apply the parking brake and move the
gearshift lever to N (Neutral), or the au-
tomatic transmission into P (Park).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner (if so
equipped). Open all of the windows,
move the heater or air conditioner tem-
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
6-10In case of emergency
ZX