2003 NISSAN FRONTIER Engine control

cAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
cDrive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
cAvoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.
cUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high gear
as soon as possible.
cAvoid unnecessary engine idling.
cKeep your engine tuned up.
cFollow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
cKeep the tires inflated to the correct pressure.
Low tire pressure increases tire wear and low-
ers fuel economy.
cKeep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
cAir conditioner operation lowers fuel economy.
Use the air conditioner only when necessary.
cWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag.cUse 4H or 4L position only when nec-
essary. Four-wheel drive operation lowers fuel
economy.
To move the transfer case lever:
: Push down on the lever to shift
: Shift without pushing down on the lever
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
WARNING
cWhen parking always make sure the
transfer control lever is in the 2H, 4H or
4L position and the parking brake is
applied.
WSD0067
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY USING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
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WARNING
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
c
The transfer control lever must
be in the 2H, 4H or 4L position and the
parking brake set to prevent the vehicle
from rolling.cNever place the transfer control lever in
the N (Neutral) position. Otherwise, the
vehicle could roll unexpectedly even if
the manual transmission is in gear or
the automatic transmission is in the P
(Park) position. This could result in se-
rious injury or property damage.cSafe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) for
automatic transmission models or in an
appropriate gear for manual transmis-
sion models. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
or roll away and result in an accident.
Make sure the shift lever has been
pushed as far forward as it can go and
cannot be moved without depressing
the foot brake pedal.
cNever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
cDo not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
cIf the ATP lamp is ON, this indicates that
the automatic transmission P (Park) po-
sition will not function and the transfer
control shift lever is in the N (Neutral)
position. Failure to engage the transfer
control lever in the 2H, 4H or 4L position
could result in the vehicle moving unex-
pectedly, resulting in serious personal
injury or property damage.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
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2.Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse) posi-
tion. When parking on an uphill grade, place
the shift lever in 1st gear.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
s1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel gen-
tly touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
s2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and move
the vehicle back until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
s3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road so
the vehicle will move away from the center of
the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key.The power assisted steering is designed to use a
hydraulic pump, driven by the engine, to assist
steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, especially
in sharp turns and at low speeds.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
much harder to operate.The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and stopping dis-
tance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brake linings and pads faster, and reduce gas
mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
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WARNING
cWhile driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
cIf the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return
to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high
speeds until the brakes function correctly.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes at
each wheel so the wheels do not lock when
braking abruptly or when braking on slippery sur-
faces. The system detects the rotation speed at
each wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure toprevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By
preventing wheel lockup, the system helps the
driver maintain steering control and helps to mini-
mize swerving and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system (4-wheel ABS)
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system does not operate at
speeds below3-6MPH(5-10km/h) . (The
speeds vary according to road conditions.)
When driving, the anti-lock brake system con-
trols the wheels so they will not lock when brak-
ing abruptly or when braking on a slippery road.
Thus, difficult steering and swerving of the ve-
hicle due to locked wheels is minimized. The
system detects the wheel rotation rate and elec-
tronically controls the pressure applied to each
brake. Slight vibration on the brake pedal accom-
panied by noise usually occurs while the ABS
system is operating. Such vibration and noise
encountered during abrupt braking is not a prob-
lem, but indicates that the system is functioningproperly. However, the pulsation may indicate
that road conditions are hazardous and extra care
is required while driving.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of electronic
sensors and hydraulic solenoids controlled by a
computer. The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle at a low speed in
forward or reverse. When the self-test occurs,
you may hear a ‘‘clunk’’ noise and/or feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and is not
an indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-lock
brake system off and turns on the ABS brake
warning light on the instrument panel. The brake
system then operates normally, but without anti-
lock assistance.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the anti-
lock function will not operate, but the standard
vehicle brake system will continue to operate
normally. The ABS brake warning light will then
come on.
If the light comes on during the self-test or while
driving, take the vehicle to a NISSAN dealer for
repair.
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WARNING
cThe anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with the anti-lock brake
system. Stopping distances may also
be longer on rough, gravel or snow cov-
ered roads, or if you are using tire
chains. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness. Always
maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the re-
sponsibility for safety of self and others
rests in the hands of the driver.
cTire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the speci-
fied size of tires on all four wheels.cWhen installing a spare tire, make sure
it is the proper size and type as speci-
fied on the tire placard. For tire placard
location information, refer to “Tire plac-
ard” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
cRefer to “Wheels and tires” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.When driving on slippery surfaces or suddenly
avoiding obstacles on roads, the vehicle might
swerve or slip. With the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system, sensors detect these movements
and control the braking and engine output to help
improve vehicle stability while driving.
cWhen the vehicle dynamic control system is
operating, the slip indicator in the instrument
panel blinks.
cWhen only the traction control system portion
of the vehicle dynamic control system is oper-
ating, the slip indicator will also blink.
cIf the slip indicator blinks, the vehicle is under
slippery conditions. Be sure to drive carefully.
See “Slip indicator light”, and “Vehicle dy-
namic control off indicator light” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section.
cIndicator light
If malfunction occurs in the system, the
andindicator lights come on in the in-
strument panel.
As long as these warning lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled.
The VDC system uses a Brake Limited Slip Dif-
ferential (LSD) system to improve vehicle trac-
tion. The brake LSD system works when one of
the driving wheels is spinning on a slippery sur-
face. The brake LSD system brakes the spinning
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
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wheel which distributes the driving power to the
other drive wheel. If the vehicle is operated with
the vehicle dynamic control system off, all VDC
and TCS functions will be turned off. The brake
LSD system and ABS will still operate with the
VDC system OFF. If the brake LSD system or the
ABS is activated, the slip indicator light will blink
and you may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal.
While the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the hood. This is normal and
indicates that the VDC system is working prop-
erly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.WARNING
cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
designed to help improve driving stabil-
ity but does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when
driving and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
cIf suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs and bushings
are not standard equipment or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the vehicle dy-
namic control off indicator light may
come on.
cWhen driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners,
the vehicle dynamic control system may
not operate properly or the vehicle dy-
namic control off indicator light may
come on. Do not drive on these types of
roads.
cIf the tires other than the recommended
ones are used, the vehicle dynamic con-
trol system may not operate properly or
the vehicle dynamic control off indica-
tor light may come on.cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
not a substitute for winter tires or tire
chains on a snow covered road.
Starting and driving5-29
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SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
cA scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
cA sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack
to give it firm support.
cA shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
cExtra window washer fluid to refill the reservoir
tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
cWet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain) ,
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
cWhatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even
more traction.cAllow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
cAllow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
cWatch for slippery spots (glare ice) .
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch of
ice is seen ahead, brake before reach-
ing it. Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
cDo not use the cruise control on slip-
pery roads.
cSnow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
An engine block heater to assist in extreme cold
temperature starting is available through a
NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
Do not use your heater with an un-
grounded electrical system or two-
pronged (cheater) adapters. You can be
injured by an electrical shock if you use an
ungrounded connection.
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CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions be-
low.
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 transmission into R
(Reverse) , or the automatic transmission
into P (Park) .
WARNING
cThe transfer control lever must
be in the 2H, 4H or 4L position.
cDo not leave the transfer control lever in
the N (Neutral) position. Otherwise, the
vehicle could roll unexpectedly even if
the manual transmission is in any gear
or the automatic transmission 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 person-
nel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
cMake sure the parking brake is securely
applied and the manual transmission is
shifted into R (Reverse) , or the auto-
matic 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 traffic is
close to your vehicle. Wait for profes-
sional road assistance.
cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the low tire pressure warn-
ing system will not function. Contact
your NISSAN dealer as soon possible
for tire replacement and/or system re-
setting. (For models with the low tire
pressure warning system)
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blockss1at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire
s2to prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is
jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and result in personal injury.
WCE0044
In case of emergency6-3
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