2001 NISSAN FRONTIER Owners Manual

turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF.
The ON/OFF switch should ONLY
be used
to turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF when the following government criteria
exists:
cInfants (less than 1 year old) in rear
facing child restraints MUST
be placed
in the front passenger seat.
cChildren ages 1-12 years MUST
be
placed in the front passenger seat.
c
The passenger has a medical condition
which, according to a physician, causes
the air bag to pose a special risk and
makes the potential harm from the air-
bag greater than the potential harm
from turning off the air bag.
Seat belts and child restraints should al-
ways be properly used. See ªPrecautions
on seat belt usageº and ªChild restraintsº
later in this section for details.
To turn the passenger supplemental air bag
OFF, insert the ignition key in the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch and
turn the switch clockwise to the OFF position.
Then remove the key. When the ignition is
turned to the ON or START position thepassenger air bag OFF indicator light will
illuminate to indicate the air bag is OFF. To
turn the passenger supplemental air bag ON,
insert the ignition key in the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch and
turn the switch counter clockwise to the ON
position. Then remove the key. When the
ignition is turned to the ON or START posi-
tion the passenger air bag OFF indicator light
will illuminate for 7 seconds to indicate the
system is working properly and then go out to
indicate that the passenger supplemental air
bag is ON.
When the switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion, the passenger supplemental air bag is
enabled and could inflate in a frontal colli-
sion. When the switch is turned to the OFF
position, the passenger supplemental air
bag is disabled and will not inflate in a
frontal collision. The passenger supplemen-
tal air bag OFF indicator light on the instru-
ment panel illuminates when the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch is
turned to the OFF position. The driver's side
supplemental air bag always remains en-
abled and is not affected by the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch.
The passenger supplemental air bag light,displaying OFF in the center of the instru-
ment panel, monitors the position of the
passenger supplemental air bag ON/OFF
switch. When the ignition key is in the ON or
START position, the light illuminates for
about 7 seconds and then turns off if the air
bag is ON/OFF switch is in the ON position,
or stays on if the passenger supplemental
air bag ON/OFF switch is in the OFF posi-
tion.
WARNING
cDo not switch the air bag OFF unless
you meet the federal government cri-
teria outlined previously. This ve-
hicle (except Crew Cab models) is
equipped with seat belts with a(load
limiter(feature. The seat belts are
designed to work with the air bags to
reduce the risk of injury in a colli-
sion. The seat belts are designed to
release additional belt webbing dur-
ing some collisions to reduce the
concentration of force on the occu-
pant's chest area. In a collision with
the airbag turned OFF, the seat belt
may allow the occupant enough for-
ward movement to incur serious or
fatal injuries.
1-18Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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cKeep the passenger supplemental
air bag ON/OFF switch turned ON
unless
a rear-facing child restraint
must be used in the front seat, if
children ages 1-12 must be placed in
the front seat, or if the passenger
has a medical condition, which, ac-
cording to a physician, causes the
air bag to pose a special risk of harm
(the federal government criteria). If
the switch is OFF, the air bag will not
inflate in a collision as designed and
the extra protection provided by the
air bag may be lost.
cBe sure to turn the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch
OFF when using a rear facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
If it is not OFF, the air bag may inflate
in a collision. The force of the rapidly
inflating air bag could cause serious
injury or kill the child in the child
restraint. Children ages 1-12 and
persons with special medical condi-
tions may also be at risk from an
inflating air bag.cIf the supplemental air bag warning
light located in the instrument panel
next to the speedometer comes on
when the passenger supplemental
air bag OFF light is also illuminated,
something may be wrong with the air
bag system. Infants, children ages
1-12 or persons with special medical
conditions should not use the front
passenger seat until the system is
checked by your NISSAN dealer.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-19
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SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LABELS
Warning labels about the supplemental air
bag system are placed in the vehicle as
shown in the illustration.
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
The supplemental air bag warning light,
displaying
in the instrument panel,
monitors the circuits of the supplemental air
bag and pre-tensioner seat belt systems.
The circuits monitored by the supplemental
air bag warning light are the diagnosis sen-
sor unit, the supplemental air bag modules,
pre-tensioner seat belts and all related wir-
ing.
When the ignition key is in the ON or START
position, the supplemental air bag warning
WRS0061WRS0062
1-20Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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light illuminates for about 7 seconds and
then turns off. This means the system is
operational.
If any of the following system conditions
occur, the supplemental air bag and pre-
tensioner seat belt systems need servicing
and should be taken to an authorized
NISSAN dealer:
cThe supplemental air bag warning light
remains on after approximately 7 sec-
onds.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the Supplemental
Restraint System (supplemental air bag or
pre-tensioner seat belt systems) may not
function properly. It must be checked and
repaired.WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning
light is on, it could mean that the
supplemental air bag or pre-tensioner
seat belt systems will not operate in an
accident.
Repair and replacement procedure
The supplemental air bag modules are de-
signed to inflate on a one-time-only basis.
As a reminder, unless it is damaged, the
supplemental air bag warning light remains
illuminated after inflation has occurred.
Repair and replacement of the supplemen-
tal air bag system should be done only by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
To ensure long-term functioning, the
supplemental air bag system must be
inspected 10 years after the date of
manufacture noted on the certification
label located on the driver side door
jamb pillar.
When maintenance work is required on the
vehicle, the supplemental air bag system
and related parts should be pointed out to
the person conducting the maintenance.The ignition key must always be in the LOCK
position when working under the hood or
inside the vehicle.
WARNING
cOnce the supplemental air bag in-
flates, the supplemental air bag
module will not function again and
should be replaced by an authorized
NISSAN dealer. The supplemental air
bag module cannot be repaired.
cThe supplemental air bag system
should be inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer if there is any
damage to the front end portion of
the vehicle, or replaced if the supple-
mental air bag has inflated.
cIf you need to dispose of the supple-
mental air bag or scrap the vehicle,
contact an authorized NISSAN
dealer. Correct supplemental air bag
disposal procedures are set forth in
the appropriate NISSAN Service
Manual. Incorrect disposal proce-
dures could cause personal injury.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-21
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PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGE
Your chances of being injured in an acci-
dent and/or the severity of injury may be
greatly reduced if you are wearing your seat
belt and it is properly adjusted. NISSAN
strongly encourages you and all of your
passengers to buckle up every time you
drive, even if your seating position includes
a supplemental air bag.
Most U.S. States and Canadian prov-
inces or territories specify that seat belts
be worn at all times when a vehicle is
being driven.
WARNING
cEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be prop-
erly restrained and, if appropriate, in
child restraints.
c
The seat belt should be properly ad-
justed to a snug fit. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an acci-
dent. Serious injury or death can occur
if the seat belt is not worn properly.cAlways route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your chest.
Never run the belt behind your back,
under your arm or across your neck.
The belt should be away from your face
and neck, but not falling off your shoul-
der.cPosition the lap belt as low and snug
as possible AROUND THE HIPS,
NOT THE WAIST. A lap belt worn too
high could increase the risk of inter-
nal injuries in an accident.
ARS1154ARS1100
SEAT BELTS
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cBe sure the seat belt tongue is se-
curely fastened to the proper buckle.
cDo not wear the seat belt inside out
or twisted. Doing so may reduce its
effectiveness.
cDo not allow more than one person
to use the same seat belt.
cNever carry more people in the ve-
hicle than there are seat belts.c
Never allow anyone to ride in the cargo
area or in a slide-in camper or other
type cargo area cover while the vehicle
is in motion. These areas do not con-
tain seat belts. It is not designed for
passengers. They could be injured in
sudden braking or a collision.
cIf the seat belt warning light glows
continuously while the ignition is
turned ON with all doors closed and
all seat belts fastened, it may indi-
cate a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked by an au-
thorized NISSAN dealer.
c
All seat belt assemblies including
retractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer after any colli-
sion. NISSAN recommends that all
seat belt assemblies in use during a
collision be replaced unless the col-
lision was minor and the belts show
no damage and continue to operate
properly. Seat belt assemblies not in
use during a collision should also be
inspected and replaced if either dam-
age or improper operation is noted.
CHILD SAFETY
Children need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.
The proper restraint depends on the child's
size. Generally, infants up to about 1 year
and less than 20 pounds (9 kg) should be
placed in rear facing child restraints. Front
facing child restraints are available for chil-
dren who outgrow rear facing child re-
straints.
WARNING
cBe sure to turn the passenger
supplemental air bag ON/OFF switch
OFF when using a rear facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat
in models so equipped. If it is not
OFF, the air bag may inflate in a
collision. The force of the rapidly
inflating air bag could cause serious
injury or kill the child in the child
restraint. See(Passenger supple-
mental air bag ON/OFF switch and
light(earlier in this section.
c
In crew cab models, never install a
rear facing child restraint in the
front passenger seat. An inflating
ARS1103
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-23
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supplemental air bag could seri-
ously injure or kill your child. A rear
facing child restraint must only be
used in the rear seat.
cDo not install a child restraint in the
jump seats (King Cab model). These
seats are not suitable for child re-
straint installation.
cDo not install a child restraint in the
center position of the front bench-
seat if the type of restraint used
interferes with operation of the driv-
ing controls.
cInfants and children need special
protection. The vehicle's seat belts
may not fit them properly. The shoul-
der belt may come too close to the-
face or neck. The lap belt may not
fitover their small hip bones. In an
accident, an improperly fitting seat
belt could cause serious or fatal in-
jury. Always use appropriate child
restraints.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces or
territories require the use of approved child
restraints for infants and small children. See``Child restraints'' later in this section for
more information.
In addition, there are many types of child
restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.
NISSAN recommends that all pre-teen
children be restrained in the rear seat if
possible. According to accident statis-
tics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
This is especially important because
your vehicle has a supplemental re-
straint system (Supplemental air bag
system) for the front passenger (For pre-
cautions, see ``Supplemental restraint
system'' earlier in this section). Also, see
``Passenger air bag ON/OFF switch and
light'' earlier in this section.
Infants and small children
NISSAN recommends that infants and small
children be seated in child restraints that
comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint which fits your vehicle and
always follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions for installation and use.
Larger children
Children who are too large for child re-
straints should be seated and restrained by
the seat belts which are provided.
If the child's seating position has a shoulder
belt that fits close to the face or neck, the
use of a booster seat (commercially avail-
able) may help overcome this. The booster
seat should raise the child so the shoulder
belt is properly positioned across the top,
middle portion of the shoulder and the lap
belt is low on the hips. The booster seat
should fit the vehicle seat and have a label
certifying that it complies with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the
child has grown so the shoulder belt is no
longer on or near the face and neck, use the
shoulder belt without the booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the
cargo areas while the vehicle is mov-
ing. The child could be seriously in-
jured or killed in an accident or sudden
stop.
1-24Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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PREGNANT WOMEN
NISSAN recommends that pregnant women
use seat belts. The seat belt should be worn
snug, and always position the lap belt as
low as possible around the hips, not the
waist. Place the shoulder belt over your
shoulder and across your chest. Never run
the lap/shoulder belt over your abdominal
area. Contact your doctor for specific rec-
ommendations.
INJURED PERSONS
NISSAN recommends that injured persons
use seat belts, depending on the injury.
Check with your doctor for specific recom-
mendations.
THREE-POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
WITH RETRACTOR
WARNING
cEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be prop-
erly restrained and, if appropriate, in
a child restraint.
c
Do not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will not
be against your body. In an accidentyou could be thrown into it and re-
ceive neck or other serious injuries.
You could also slide under the lap belt
and receive serious internal injuries.
cFor most effective protection when
the vehicle is in motion, the seat
should be upright. Always sit well
back in the seat and adjust the seat
belt properly.
Fastening the seat belts
1. Adjust the seat.
2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retrac-
tor and insert the tongue into the buckle
until you hear and feel the latch engage.
The retractor is designed to lock during
a sudden stop or on impact. A slow
pulling motion permits the seat belt to
move, and allows you some freedom of
movement in the seat.ARS1104
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