2000 NISSAN XTERRA fuel cap

Overdrive off indicator light
(automatic transmission only)
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 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.
Malfunction indicator light
(MIL)
If the malfunction indicator light comes on
steady or blinks while the engine is running,
it may indicate a potential emission control
problem.
The malfunction indicator lamp may also
come on steady if the fuel filler cap is loose
or missing, or if the vehicle runs out of fuel.
Check to make sure the fuel filler cap is
installed and closed tightly, and that the
vehicle has at least three gallons of fuel in
the fuel tank.
After a few driving trips, the
lamp
should turn off if no other potential emission
control system problem exists.
Operation
The malfunction indicator light will come on
in one of two ways:
O
Malfunction indicator lamp on steady þ An
emission control system malfunction has
been detected. Check the fuel filler cap. If
the fuel filler cap is loose or missing, tighten
or install the cap and continue to drive the
vehicle. The
lamp should turn off
after a few driving trips. If thelampdoes not turn off after a few driving trips,
have the vehicle inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer. You do not need to
have your vehicle towed to the dealer.
OMalfunction indicator light blinking þ An
engine misfire has been detected which
may damage the emission control sys-
tem. To reduce or avoid emission control
system damage:
Odo not drive at speeds above 45 MPH
(72 km/h).
O
avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
Oavoid steep uphill grades.
Oif 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.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, reduced
fuel economy, and possible damage to
the emission control system.
Instruments and controls
2-11
ZX

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Key .........................................................................3-2
Door locks ..............................................................3-2
Power door locks (if so equipped) .........................3-3
Child safety rear door lock .....................................3-4
Multi-remote control system (if so equipped).........3-4
Battery replacement ...............................................3-7
Illuminated entry system ........................................3-8
Hood release ..........................................................3-9
Glove box ...............................................................3-9Back door lock......................................................3-10
Roof rack with gear basket (if so equipped) ........ 3-11
Step rail ................................................................3-13
Fuel filler cap ........................................................3-14
Tilting steering wheel (if so equipped) .................3-15
Outside mirror remote control (if so equipped) ....3-15
Outside mirrors .....................................................3-16
Inside mirror .........................................................3-17
Vanity mirror (if so equipped) ...............................3-17
ZX

The fuel filler cap is a screw-on ratcheting
type. Turn the cap counter clockwise to
remove. Tighten the cap clockwise until
ratcheting clicks are heard.
WARNING
OGasoline is extremely flammable and
highly explosive under certain con-
ditions. You could be burned or se-
riously injured if it is misused or
mishandled. Always stop the engine
and do not smoke or allow open
flames or sparks near the vehicle
when refueling.OFuel may be under pressure. Turn
the cap one-half turn and wait for
any ``hissing'' sound to stop to pre-
vent fuel from spraying out and
causing possible personal injury.
Then remove the cap.
ODo not attempt to top off the fuel
tank after the fuel pump nozzle shuts
off automatically. Continued refuel-
ing may cause fuel overflow, result-
ing in fuel spray and possibly fire.
OUse only an original equipment type
fuel filler cap as a replacement. It has
a built-in safety valve needed for
proper operation of the fuel system
and emission control system. An in-
correct cap can result in a serious
malfunction and possible injury.
ONever pour fuel into the throttle body
to attempt to start your vehicle.
CAUTION
OIf fuel is spilled on the vehicle body,
flush it away with water to avoid
paint damage.
OTighten until the fuel filler cap clicks.
Failure to tighten the fuel filler cap
properly may cause the
mal-
function indicator lamp (MIL) to illu-
minate. If the
lamp illuminates
because the fuel filler cap is loose or
missing, tighten or install the cap
and continue to drive the vehicle.
The
lamp should turn off after
a few driving trips. If thelamp
does not turn off after a few driving
trips, have the vehicle inspected by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
OFor additional information, see the
(Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL)(in
the(Instruments and Controls(sec-
tion earlier in this manual.
APD1082
FUEL FILLER CAP
3-14Pre-driving checks and adjustments
ZX

Put the fuel filler cap in the cap holder while
refueling.Tilt operation
Pull the lock lever down and adjust the
steering wheel up or down to the desired
position.
Push the lock lever up firmly to lock the
steering wheel in place.
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. You could lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.Push the right or left side of the switch to
adjust the right or left side mirror, then
control the lever.
The ignition switch must be in the ON or
ACC position for the power mirrors to oper-
ate.
APD1083PD1238MAPD1039
TILTING STEERING WHEEL
(if so equipped)OUTSIDE MIRROR REMOTE
CONTROL (if so equipped)
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-15
ZX

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
OThe exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. Keep people,
animals or flammable materials
away from the exhaust system com-
ponents.
ODo 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
ODo 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.
OKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-rich fuel flow into the three-way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat.
Do not keep driving if the engine
misfires, or if noticeable loss of per-
formance or other unusual operating
conditions are detected. Have the
vehicle inspected promptly by an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
OAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three-way catalyst.
ODo not race the engine while warm-
ing it up.
ODo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-
ROAD DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of
vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than
passenger cars to make them capable of
performing in a variety of on-pavement and
offroad applications. This gives them ahigher center of gravity than ordinary cars.
An advantage of higher ground clearance is
a better view of the road, allowing you to
anticipate problems. However, they are not
designed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional two-wheel drive vehicles
any more than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily under off-
road conditions. If at all possible, avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers particu-
larly at high speeds. As with other vehicles
of this type, failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of control or
vehicle rollover.
Be sure to read the driving safety precau-
tions later in this section.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden
steering maneuvers, because these driving
Starting and driving
5-3
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