2001 NISSAN XTERRA service

Welcome to the growing family of new NIS-
SAN owners. This vehicle has been deliv-
ered to you with confidence. It was produced
using the latest techniques and strict quality
control.
This manual was prepared to help you un-
derstand the operation and maintenance of
your vehicle so that you may enjoy many
miles (kilometers) of driving pleasure.
Please read through this manual before op-
erating your vehicle.
In the U.S., a separate Warranty Informa-
tion and Maintenance Log Booklet or in
Canada, a Warranty and Roadside Assis-
tance Information Booklet explains de-
tails about the warranties covering your
vehicle and vehicle maintenance sched-
ules. Additionally, a separate Customer
Care/Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will
explain how to resolve any concerns you
may have with your vehicle, as well as
clarify your rights under your state's
lemon law.
Your NISSAN dealership knows your vehicle
best. When you require any service or have
any questions, they will be glad to assist you
with the extensive resources available to
them.
READ FIRST - THEN DRIVE
SAFELY
Before driving your vehicle please read thisowner's manual carefully. This will ensure
familiarity with controls and maintenance
requirements, assisting you in the safe op-
eration of your vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
REMINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and complete trip for
you and your passengers!
²NEVER drive under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
²ALWAYS observe posted speed lim-
its and never drive too fast for con-
ditions.
²ALWAYS use your seat belts and
appropriate child restraint systems.
Pre-teen children should be seated
in the rear seat.
²ALWAYS provide information about
the proper use of vehicle safety fea-
tures to all occupants of the vehicle.
²ALWAYS review this owner's manual
for important safety information.For descriptions specified for four-wheel
drive models, a
mark is placed at
the beginning of the applicable
sections/items.
As with other vehicles with features for
off-road use, failure to operate four-
wheel drive models correctly may result
in loss of control or an accident. Be sure
to read ``Driving safety precautions'' in
the ``Starting and driving'' section of this
manual.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD DRIV-
ING
This vehicle will handle and maneuver
differently from an ordinary passenger
car because it has a higher center of
gravity for off-road use. As with other
vehicles with features of this type, fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or an
accident.
Be sure to read ªOn-pavement and off-
road driving precautionsº, and ``Avoid-
ing collision and rollover'', and ªDriv-
ing safety precautionsº, in the
ªStarting and drivingº section of this
manual.
The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.
Foreword
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Welcome To The World Of NISSAN
Your new NISSAN is the result of our dedication
to produce the finest in safe, reliable and eco-
nomical transportation. Your vehicle is the prod-
uct of a successful worldwide company that
manufactures cars and trucks in over 17 coun-
tries and distributes them in 170 nations.
NISSAN vehicles are designed and manufac-
tured by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. which was
founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1933, and NISSAN
affiliates world wide, collectively growing to be-
come the fifth largest automaker in the world. In
addition to cars and trucks, NISSAN also makes
forklift trucks, marine engines, boats and other
diversified products.
NISSAN has made a substantial and growing
investment in North America. NISSAN's commit-
ment is nearly $4 billion dollars in capital invest-
ments in facilities across the continent. Some of
the facilities include the Nissan Manufacturingfacility in Smyrna, Tennessee, vehicle styling
design at Nissan Design International in San
Diego, California, and engineering at Nissan
Technical Center North America in Farmington
Hills, Michigan. Additionally, NISSAN employs
nearly 18,000 people throughout the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. An additional
71,000 people work for the 1,500 NISSAN and
INFINITI dealers across North America.
NISSAN is also a substantial contributor to the
Canadian economy. Nissan Canada Inc., its sup-
pliers and over 140 dealers employ approxi-
mately 4,500 people. These include company
employees and the staffs of NISSAN dealers all
across Canada. In addition, many Canadians
work for companies that supply NISSAN and
NISSAN dealers with materials and services
ranging from operation of port facilities and trans-portation services to the supply of lubricants,
parts and accessories.
NISSAN pioneered the use of electronics and
computers in automobiles, and has led the indus-
try in improving both performance and fuel effi-
ciency through new engine designs and the use
of synthetic materials to reduce vehicle weight.
The company has also developed ways to build
quality into its vehicles at each stage of the
production process, both through extensive use
of automation and Ð most importantly Ð
through an awareness thatpeopleare the cen-
tral element in quality control.
From the time the parts arrived from our suppli-
ers until you took delivery of your new NISSAN,
dozens of checks were made to ensure that only
the best job was being done in producing and
delivering your vehicle. NISSAN also takes great
care to ensure that when you take your NISSAN
to your dealer for maintenance, the service tech-
nician will perform his work according to the
quality standards that have been established by
the factory.
Safety has also been built into your NISSAN. As
you know, seat belts are an integral part of the
safety systems that will help protect you and your
passengers in the event of a sudden stop or an
accident. We urge you to use the seat belts every
time you drive the vehicle.
The NISSAN story of growth and achievement
reflects our major goal: to provide you, our
customer, with a vehicle that is built with quality
and craftsmanship Ð a product that we can be
proud to build and you can be proud to own.
WFW0002
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NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE PROGRAM
NISSAN CARES ...
Both NISSAN and your NISSAN dealer are dedicated to serving all your automotive needs. Your satisfaction with
your vehicle and your NISSAN dealer are our primary concerns. Your NISSAN dealer is always available to assist
you with all your automobile sales and service needs.
However, if there is something that your
NISSAN dealer cannot assist you with or
you would like to provide NISSAN directly
with comments or questions, please con-
tact our (NISSAN's) Consumer Affairs De-
partment using our toll-free number:
For U.S. mainland customers
1-800-NISSAN-1
(1-800-647-7261)
For Hawaii customers
(808) 836-0888 (Oahu Number)
For CANADIAN customers
1-800-387-0122
The Consumer Affairs Department will ask
for the following information:
Ð Your name, address, and telephone
number
Ð Vehicle identification number (on dash-
board)
Ð Date of purchase
Ð Current odometer reading
Ð Your NISSAN dealer's name
Ð Your comments or questions
OR
You can write to NISSAN with the informa-tion on the left at:
For U.S. mainland and Alaska custom-
ers
Nissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 191
Gardena, California 90248-0191
For Hawaii customers
Nissan Motor Corporation in Hawaii
2880 Kilihau St.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
For Canada customers
Nissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4Z5
We appreciate your interest in NISSAN and thank you for buying a quality NISSAN vehicle.
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Installation of electrical equipment
shouldalso be done by an authorized
NISSAN dealer. The yellow Supple-
mental Restraint System (SRS) wir-
ing should not be modified or dis-
connected. Unauthorized electrical
test equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the supple-
mental air bag system.
OThe SRS wiring harnesses (except
the pre-tensioner seat belt system)
are covered with yellow insulation
either just before the harness con-
nectors or over the complete har-
ness for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the supplemental
air bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this owner's manual.
Pre-tensioner seat belt system
(For front seats)
WARNING
OThe pre-tensioner seat belt cannot
be reused after activation. It must bereplaced together with the retractor
and buckle as a unit.
OIf the vehicle becomes involved in a
frontal collision but the pre-
tensioner is not activated, be sure to
have the pre-tensioner system
checked and, if necessary, replaced
by your NISSAN dealer.
ONo unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring
of the pre-tensioner seat belt sys-
tem. This is to prevent accidental
activation of the pre-tensioner seat
belt or damage to the pre-tensioner
seat belt operation. Tampering with
the pre-tensioner seat belt system
may result in serious personal in-
jury.
OWork around and on the pre-
tensioner system should be done by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
Installation of electrical equipment
should also be done by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer. Unauthorized
electrical test equipment and prob-
ing devices should not be used onthe pre-tensioner seat belt system.
OIf you need to dispose of the pre-
tensioner or scrap the vehicle, con-
tact an authorized NISSAN dealer.
Correct pre-tensioner disposal pro-
cedures are set forth in the appropri-
ate NISSAN Service Manual. Incor-
rect disposal procedures could
cause personal injury.
The front seat pre-tensioner seat belt sys-
tem activates in conjuction with the supple-
mental air bag. Working with the seat belt
retractor, it helps tighten the seat belt the
instant the vehicle becomes involved in
certain types of collisions.
The pre-tensioner is encased with the seat
belt's retractor. These seat belts are used
the same as conventional seat belts.
When the pre-tensioner seat belt activates,
smoke is released and a loud noise may be
heard. The smoke is not harmful, but care
should be taken not to intentionally inhale it
as it may cause irritation and choking.
If any abnormality occurs in the pre-
tensioner system, the supplemental air bag
warning light
will flash intermit-
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-11
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WARNING
OOnce 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.
OThe 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.
OIf 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.
PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGE
Your chances of being injured in an accident
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 supplemen-
tal 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
OEvery 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.
OThe 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
accident. Serious injury or death can
occur if the seat belt is not worn
properly.
ARS1154
SEAT BELTS
1-14Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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WARNING
O
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the warning light is on.
Driving could be dangerous. If you
judge it to be safe, drive carefully to
the nearest service station for repairs.
Otherwise have your vehicle towed be-
cause driving it could be dangerous.
OPressing the brake pedal with the
engine stopped and/or low brake
fluid level may increase your stop-
ping distance and require greater
pedal effort as well as pedal travel.
OIf the brake fluid level is below the
MINIMUM or MIN mark on the brake
fluid reservoir, do not drive until the
brake system has been checked at
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
Charge warning light
If this light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate the charging system
is not functioning properly. Turn the engine
off and check the generator belt. If the belt is
loose, broken, missing or if the light remains
on, see an authorized NISSAN dealer imme-
diately.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving if the belt is
loose, broken or missing.
Door open warning light
This light comes on when any of the doors
are not closed securely while the ignition
key is in the ON position.
Engine oil pressure warning
light
This light warns of low engine oil pressure. If
the light flickers or comes on during normal
driving, pull off the road in a safe area, stop
the engineimmediatelyand call an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
The oil pressure warning light is not
designed to indicate a low oil level. Use
the dipstick to check the oil level.See
``Engine oil'' in the ``Do-it-yourself'' section
of this manual.
CAUTION
Running the engine with the oil pres-
sure warning light on could cause seri-ous damage to the engine almost im-
mediately. Turn off the engine as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Low fuel warning light
(if so equipped)
This light comes on when the fuel in the tank
is low. Refuel as soon as it is convenient,
preferably before the fuel gauge reaches E
(Empty).
There will be a small reserve of fuel
remaining in the tank when the fuel
gauge needle reaches E (Empty).
Low washer fluid warning
light (Canada only)
This light comes on when the washer tank
fluid is at a low level. Add washer fluid as
necessary. See ``Window washer fluid'' in
the ``Do-it-yourself'' section of this manual.
Seat belt warning light and
chime
The light and chime remind you to fasten
your seat belts. The light illuminates when-
ever the ignition key is turned to ON or
Instruments and controls
2-9
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The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
is charged with a refrigerant designed with
the environment in mind.
This refrigerant does not harm the
earth's ozone layer.
Special charging equipment and lubricant is
required when servicing your NISSAN air
conditioner. Using improper refrigerants or
lubricants causes severe damage to your
air conditioner system. See ªAir conditioner
system refrigerant and lubricant recommen-
dationsº in the ``Technical and consumer
information'' section of this manual.
An authorized NISSAN dealer will be able to
service your environmentally ``friendly'' air
conditioner system.
WARNING
The air conditioner system contains
refrigerant under high pressure. To
avoid personal injury, any air condi-
tioner service should be done by an
experienced technician with proper
equipment.
WHA0100
SERVICING AIR
CONDITIONER
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems4-9
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All Preset Scan
Pressing the Preset Scan button (>1.5 sec-
onds) scans all the permanent preset
memory banks (A, B or C) from 1-6 for 5
seconds. If the Travel Preset is ON, all the
travel preset memory banks (A, B, or C)
from 1-6 are scanned for 5 seconds.
Canceling preset scan mode
Pressing any button except CLOCK, EJECT
and PTY cancels the Preset Scan mode.
RDS (Radio Data System)
RDS stands for Radio Data System, and is
a data information service transmitted by
some radio stations on the FM band (not AM
band) encoded within a regular radio broad-
cast. Currently, most RDS stations are in
large cities, but many stations are now
considering broadcasting RDS data.
RDS can display:
OStation call sign, such as ªWHFR 98.3º.
OStation name, such as ªThe Grooveº.
OMusic or programming type such as
ªClassicalº, ªCountryº, or ªRockº.
OTraffic reports about delays or construc-
tion.
If the station broadcasts RDS information,
the RDS icon is displayed. The RDS infor-
mation will be displayed according to the
option chosen in the RDS setup mode. (FM
& RDS is the default.) Press the RDS button
again to display the frequency for 3 sec-
onds. The radio will then return to the nor-
mal display. If the station does not broad-
cast RDS information, the RDS icon will not
be displayed.Setting RDS Mode
Press the RDS button (>3 seconds) until the
display showsªRDS SET MODEº. This
display will last 2 seconds and then change
toªTRAFFIC-OFFº. Press TUNE/FF-REV
(
or) to toggle the RDS traffic mode
from ªOFFº to ªONº. Press the RDS button
again to set your traffic mode selection.
The display changes toªSHOWºfor the
second part of the RDS mode selection.
Press TUNE/FF-REV (
or) to switch
between the following RDS display modes:
OªFM & RDSº: the radio display will show
the station's broadcast frequency and the
station's name.
OªRDS ONLYº: the radio display will show
the station's name only.
OªRDS TEMPº: the radio display will show
the station's name for 5 seconds and
then display only the radio station's
broadcast frequency.
PTY (Program Type)
PTY can be used to search for a certain
program type. Certain areas have a limited
number of stations that transmit RDS. Many
stations transmit call letters and frequencies
LHA0086
4-30Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
ZX