2002 NISSAN FRONTIER engine

CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
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
c
The transfer control lever
must be in the 2H, 4H or 4L position.
c
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.5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and
to signal professional road assistance
personnel that you require assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the ve-
hicle and stand in a safe place away from
traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
cMake sure the parking brake is se-
curely applied and the manual trans-
mission is shifted into R (Reverse),
or the automatic transmission into P
(Park).
cNever change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or slippery areas.
This is hazardous.
cNever change tires if oncoming traf-
fic is close to your vehicle. Wait for
professional road assistance.
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocks at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the
flat tire to prevent the vehicle from rolling
when it is jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the ve-
hicle may move and result in personal
injury.
MCE0001
FLAT TIRE
6-2In case of emergency
ZX

Jacking up the vehicle and remov-
ing the wheel
Always refer to the proper illustrations for
the correct placement and jack-up points for
your specific vehicle model and jack type.
WARNING
cNever get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by the jack.
cUse only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use
the jack provided with your vehicle
on other vehicles. The jack is de-
signed for lifting only your vehicle
during a tire change.
cUse the correct jack up points; Never
use any other part of the vehicle for
jack support.
cNever jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
cNever use blocks on or under the
jack.
cDo not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
cDo not start or run the 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.
WCE0014
In case of emergency6-5
ZX

To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must
be followed.
WARNING
cIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting
in severe injury or death. It could
also damage your vehicle.
cExplosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
cDo 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.
cKeep battery out of the reach of
children.
cThe booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.cYour vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keeps hands and other
objects away from it.
cWhenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye pro-
tectors (e.g., goggles or industrial
safety spectacles) and remove rings,
metal bands, or any other jewelry.
Do not lean over the battery when
jump starting.cDo not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1.
If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their
ACE1018
JUMP STARTING
6-8In case of emergency
ZX

batteries into close proximity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) (on automatic trans-
mission models, move the selector lever
to P (Park)). Switch off all unnecessary
electrical systems (lights, heater, air con-
ditioner, 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
cAlways connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (þ) to body
ground (for example, engine lift
bracket, etc.)Ðnot to the battery.
cMake 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.
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
cAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push started. This may cause
transmission damage.
cThree-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing.
The three-way catalyst may be dam-
aged.
cNever 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.
PUSH STARTING
In case of emergency6-9
ZX

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
cDo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
cTo 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.
cDo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road,
apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to N (Neutral). On automatic
transmission models, move the selector
lever to 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-
perature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climb-
ing a long hill on a hot day, run the engine
at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 r/min)
until the temperature gauge indicator re-
turns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. Wait until
no steam or coolant can be seen before
proceeding.
5. Open the hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking, or the water pump belt is missing
or loose, or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or to get caught in, engine belts or
the engine cooling fan. The engine
cooling fan can start at any time when
the coolant temperature is high.
7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with the
engine running. Add coolant to the res-
ervoir tank if necessary. Have your ve-
hicle repaired at an authorized NISSAN
dealer.
IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
6-10In case of emergency
ZX

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements .....................................8-2
General maintenance .............................................8-3
Explanation of general maintenance
items ..................................................................8-3
Exterior maintenance.........................................8-3
Interior maintenance ..........................................8-3
Maintenance precautions .......................................8-5
Engine compartment check locations ....................8-7
Engine cooling system .........................................8-10
Checking engine coolant level ........................8-10
Changing engine coolant ................................8-11
Engine oil .............................................................8-11
Checking engine oil level ................................8-11
Changing engine oil ........................................8-13
Changing engine oil filter.................................8-14
Automatic transmission fluid ................................8-15
Temperature conditions for checking ..............8-15
Power steering fluid..............................................8-17
Brake and clutch fluid...........................................8-17
Window washer fluid ............................................8-18
Window washer fluid reservoir ........................8-18
Battery ..................................................................8-18Jump starting ...................................................8-20
Drive belts ............................................................8-20
Spark plugs ..........................................................8-21
Replacing spark plugs
(except supercharger) .....................................8-22
Replacing spark plugs
(with supercharger)..........................................8-23
Air cleaner ............................................................8-23
Windshield wiper blades ......................................8-25
Cleaning ..........................................................8-25
Replacing .........................................................8-25
Parking brake and brake pedal ............................8-26
Checking parking brake...................................8-26
Checking brake pedal .....................................8-26
Brake booster ..................................................8-27
Clutch pedal .........................................................8-28
Checking clutch pedal .....................................8-28
Fuses ....................................................................8-29
Passenger compartment .................................8-29
Keyfob battery replacement .................................8-30
Lights ....................................................................8-31
Headlights ........................................................8-31
ZX

Your new NISSAN has been designed to
have minimum maintenance requirements
with longer service intervals to save you
both time and money. However, some day-
to-day and regular maintenance is essential
to maintain your NISSAN's good mechani-
cal condition, as well as its emission and
engine performance.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure
that the scheduled maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives
proper maintenance. You are a vital link in
the maintenance chain.
Scheduled maintenance
For your convenience, both required and
optional scheduled maintenance items are
described and listed in your ``Nissan Service
and Maintenance Guide.'' You must refer to
that guide to ensure that necessary mainte-
nance is performed on your Nissan at regu-
lar intervals.
General maintenance
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normalday-to-day operation of the vehicle. They
are essential if your vehicle is to continue to
operate properly. It is your responsibility to
perform these maintenance procedures
regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks re-
quires minimal mechanical skill and only a
few general automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done
by yourself, a qualified technician or, if you
prefer, an authorized NISSAN dealer.
Where to go for service
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the
systems checked and tuned by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists who and are kept up-to-date with the
latest service information through technical
bulletins, service tips, and in-dealership
training programs. They are completely
qualified to work on NISSAN vehicles
beforethey work on your vehicle, rather
than after they have worked on it.
You can be confident that an authorized
NISSAN dealer's service department per-forms the best job to meet the maintenance
requirements on your vehicle Ð in a reliable
and economic way.
MAINTENANCE
REQUIREMENTS
8-2Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

Additional information on the following
items with an ``*'' is found later in this
section.
Warning lights and chimesMake sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield wiper and washer*Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defrosterCheck that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly
and in sufficient quantity when operating the
heater or air conditioner.
Steering wheelCheck for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free-
play, hard steering or strange noises.
SeatsCheck seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and all
latches lock securely in every position.
Check that the head restraints move up and
down smoothly and the locks (if so
equipped) hold securely in all latched posi-
tions.
Seat beltsCheck that all parts of the seat
belt system (e.g., buckles, anchors, adjust-ers and retractors) operate properly and
smoothly, and are installed securely. Check
the belt webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or
damage.
Accelerator pedalCheck the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Clutch pedal*Make sure the pedal oper-
ates smoothly and check that it has the
proper free travel.
BrakesCheck that the brakes do not pull
the vehicle to one side when applied.
Brake pedal and booster*Check the pedal
for smooth operation and make sure it has
the proper distance under it when de-
pressed fully. Check the brake booster func-
tion. Be certain to keep the floor mat away
from the pedal.
Parking brake*Check that the lever has
the proper travel and confirm that your
vehicle is held securely on a fairly steep hill
with only the parking brake applied.
Automatic transmission P (Park) posi-
tion mechanismCheck that the lock re-
lease button on the selector lever operatesproperly and smoothly. On a fairly steep hill
check that your vehicle is held securely with
the selector lever in the P position without
applying any brakes.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically (e.g., each time you
check the engine oil or refuel).
Additional information on the following
items with an ``*'' is found later in this
section.
Windshield washer fluid*Check that there
is adequate fluid in the reservoir.
Engine oil level*Check the level after
parking the vehicle on a level surface with
the engine off. Wait a few minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Brake and clutch fluid levels*Make sure
that the brake and clutch fluid level is be-
tween the MIN and MAX lines on the reser-
voir.
Power steering fluid level* and lines
Check the level when the fluid is cold, with
the engine off. Check the lines for proper
attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX