2002 NISSAN XTERRA maintenance

If you have a flat tire, see the ``In case of
emergency'' section of this manual.
TIRE PRESSURE
Maximum inflation pressure
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire pressure (including the
spare) at least once a month and always
prior to long distance trips. Tire pressure
should be checked when tires are COLD.
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tireplacard affixed to the inside of the glove box
lid.
Incorrect tire pressure may adversely
affect tire life and vehicle handling.
COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more or driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km) at moderate
speeds.
WARNING
OImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident
O
The vehicle weight capacity is indi-
cated on the F.M.V.S.S. certification
label. Do not load your vehicle be-
yond this capacity. Overloading your
vehicle may result in reduced tire life,
unsafe operating conditions due to
premature tire failure, or unfavorable
handling characteristics and could
also lead to a serious accident. Load-
ing beyond the specified capacity
may also result in failure of other
vehicle components.OBefore taking a long trip, or whenever
you have loaded your vehicle heavily,
use a tire pressure gauge to ensure
that the tire pressure is at the speci-
fied level.
ODo not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (137 km/h) unless it is equipped
with high speed rated tires. Driving
faster than 85 MPH (137 km/h) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
DI0047
WHEELS AND TIRES
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-37
ZX

TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., Summer, All Season or Snow) and
construction. An authorized NISSAN
dealer may be able to help you with
information about tire type, size, speed
rating and availability. Replacement
tires may have a lower speed rating
than the factory equipped tires, and
may not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tire.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance for
use all year around, including snowy and icy
road conditions. All Season Tires are iden-tified by ``ALL SEASON'' and/or ``M&S'' on
the tire sidewall. Snow tires have better
snow traction than All Season tires and may
be more appropriate in some areas.
Summer tires
NISSAN specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance on
dry roads. Summer tire performance in
snow and ice will be substantially reduced.
Summer tires do not have the tire traction
rating ``M&S'' on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy
or icy conditions, NISSAN recommends the
use of ``SNOW'' or ``ALL SEASON'' tires on
all four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating
to the original equipment tires. If you do not,
it can adversely affect the safety and han-
dling of your vehicle.
If you install snow tires, they must be the
same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed
ratings than factory equipped tires and maynot match the potential maximum vehicle
speed. Never exceed the maximum speed
rating of the tire.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S.
States and Canadian provinces prohibit
their use. Check local, state and provincial
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.
TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited accord-
ing to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are the proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are installed
according to the chain manufacturer's sug-
gestions.Use only SAE class ``S'' chains.
Other types may damage your vehicle. Use
chain tensioners when recommended by
the tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight
fit. Loose end links of the tire chain must be
secured or removed to prevent the possibil-
ity 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. Oth-
8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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erwise, your vehicle may be damaged
and/or vehicle handling and performance
may be adversely affected.
Never install tire chains on a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with chains in such conditions can cause
damage to the various mechanisms of the
vehicle due to some overstress. When driv-
ing on clear paved roads, be sure to change
to 2WD.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires ev-
ery 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
See ``Flat tire'' in the ``In case of emergency''
section for tire replacing procedures.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
98 ft-lb (133 Nzm)
WARNING
OAfter rotating the tires, check and
adjust the tire pressure.
ORetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
ODo not include the spare tire in the
tire rotation.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
ADI1115
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-39
ZX

Tire wear and damage
WARNING
OTires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging
or objects caught in the tread. If
excessive wear, cracks, bulging or
deep cuts are found, the tire(s)
should be replaced.
OThe original tires have a built-in
tread wear indicator. When the wear
indicators are visible, the tire(s)
should be replaced.OImproper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).
Replacing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carrying
capacity as originally equipped. Recom-
mended types and sizes are shown in
``Wheel/tire size'' in the ``Technical and con-
sumer information'' section of this manual.
WARNING
O
The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction
(bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread
patterns can adversely affect the ride,braking, handling, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain clear-
ance, speedometer calibration, head-
light aim and bumper height. Some of
these effects may lead to accidents and
could result in serious personal injury.
OIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause premature tire wear, de-
grade vehicle handling characteris-
tics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interfer-
ence can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake
pad/shoe wear. Refer to ªWheel/tire
sizeº in the ªTechnical and con-
sumer informationº section of this
manual for wheel off-set dimen-
sions.
ODo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have unknown
structural damage and could fail
without warning.
MDI0004
8-40Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

OThe use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
OFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance information
booklet (Canada).Four-wheel drive models
CAUTION
Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted
or radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may
damage the transmission, transfer
case and differential gears.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked
and corrected as necessary. Contact an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balanc-ing the front wheels on the vehicle could
lead to transmission damage.
OFor additional information regarding tires,
refer to ``Important Tire Safety Informa-
tion'' in the Warranty Information Booklet
(US) or ``Tire Safety Information'' in the
Warranty and Roadside Assistance infor-
mation booklet (Canada).
Care of wheels
OWash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
OClean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
ODo not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
OInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pres-
sure or damage the tire bead.
ONISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-41
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MEMO
8-42Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ........9-2
Fuel recommendation
(except supercharger) .......................................9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ...........9-6
Recommended SAE viscosity number ..............9-7
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ...............................9-8
Specifications .........................................................9-9
Engine ...............................................................9-9
Wheels and tires..............................................9-10
Dimensions and weights ................................. 9-11
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ....................................................9-12
Vehicle identification .............................................9-12
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ........9-12
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) .............................................9-12
Engine serial number ......................................9-13
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ............................9-13
Emission control information label ..................9-14
Tire placard......................................................9-14
Air conditioner specification label ....................9-14Installing front license plate..................................9-15
Vehicle loading information ..................................9-15
Terms ...............................................................9-15
Determining vehicle payload capacity .............9-16
Securing the load ............................................9-16
Loading tips .....................................................9-17
Payload weight capacity ..................................9-18
Measurement of weights .................................9-19
Towing a trailer .....................................................9-19
Maximum load limits ........................................9-19
Towing load/specification chart .......................9-21
Towing safety ...................................................9-22
Trailer tow harness and module
(if so equipped)................................................9-23
Uniform tire quality grading ..................................9-25
Emission control system warranty .......................9-26
Reporting safety defects (US only) ......................9-27
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
test (US only) .......................................................9-27
Owner manual/service manual order
information ............................................................9-29
In the event of a collision ................................9-30
ZX

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the ``Maintenance and do-it-yourself'' section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)Recommended Fluids & Lubricants
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel without supercharger 19-3/8 gal 16-1/8 gal 73.4Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
with supercharger 19-3/8 gal 16-1/8 gal 73.4Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
at least 91 AKI (RON 96)*1
Engine oil
Drain and Refill
KA24DE With oil filter 3-3/4 qt 3-1/8 qt 3.5OAPI Certification Mark *2
Without oil filter 3-1/2 qt 2-7/8 qt 3.3O
API grade SG/SH, Energy Conserving I &
II or API grade SJ, Energy Conserving *2
VG33E/VG33ER With oil filter 3-1/2 qt 2-7/8 qt 3.3OILSAC grade GF-I & II
Without oil filter 3-1/8 qt 2-5/8 qt 3.0
Cooling system (with heater and reservoir tank)
KA24DE M/T 4X2 7-3/4 qt 6-3/8 7.350% Genuine NISSAN Anti-freeze coolant
or equivalent
VG33E/
VG33ERA/T & M/T 11-5/8 qt 9-5/8 qt 10.95 50% Demineralized or Distilled water
*1: For further details, see ``Fuel recommendation''.
*2: For further details, see ``Recommended SAE engine oil viscosity''.
CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED FUEL/
LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
ZX