2003 NISSAN XTERRA Owners Manual

WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the supplemental
front air bag, supplemental curtain side-
impact air bag systems (if so equipped)
and/or pre-tensioner seat belt systems
will not operate in an accident.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
Cruise main switch indicator
light (if so equipped)
The light comes on when the cruise control main
switch is pushed. The light goes out when the
main switch is pushed again. When the cruise
main switch indicator light comes on, the cruise
control system is operational.
Cruise set switch indicator
light (if so equipped)
The light comes on while the vehicle speed is
controlled by the cruise control system. If the light
blinks while the engine is running, it may indicate
the cruise control system is not functioning prop-
erly. Have the system checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
4–wheel drive indicator light
(if so equipped)
This light comes on when the transfer shift con-
trol lever is in the 4H or 4L position.
WARNING
cWhen parking always make sure the
transfer control lever is in the 2H, 4H or
4L position and the parking brake is
applied.
cFailure to engage the transfer control
lever in 2H, 4H or 4L could result in the
vehicle moving unexpectedly, which
could cause serious personal injury or
property damage.
High beam indicator light
(Blue)
This blue light comes on when the headlight high
beams are on and goes out when the low beams
are selected.
The high beam indicator light also comes on
when the passing signal is activated.
Malfunction indicator lamp
(MIL)
If this indicator lamp comes on steady or blinks
while the engine is running, it may indicate a
potential emission control malfunction.
The malfunction indicator lamp may also come on
steady if the fuel filler cap is loose or missing, or if
the vehicle runs out of fuel. Check to make sure
the fuel filler cap is installed and closed tightly,
and that the vehicle has at least 3 gallons of fuel
in the fuel tank.
After a few driving trips, the
lamp should
turn off if no other potential emission control
system malfunction exists.
Operation
The malfunction indicator lamp will come on in
one of two ways:
cMalfunction indicator lamp on steady — An
emission control system malfunction has
been detected. Check the fuel filler cap. If
the fuel filler cap is loose or missing, tighten
or install the cap and continue to drive the
vehicle. The
lamp should turn off after
a few driving trips. If thelamp does
not turn off after a few driving trips, have the
vehicle inspected by a NISSAN dealer. You
do not need to have your vehicle towed to
the dealer.
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cMalfunction indicator lamp blinking — An
engine misfire has been detected which may
damage the emission control system. To re-
duce or avoid emission control system dam-
age:
– do not drive at speeds above 45 MPH
(72 km/h) .
– avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
– avoid steep uphill grades.
– if possible, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator lamp may stop blinking
and come on steady. Have the vehicle inspected by
a NISSAN dealer. You do not need to have your
vehicle towed to the dealer.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without hav-
ing the emission control system checked
and repaired as necessary could lead to
poor driveability, reduced fuel economy,
and possible damage to the emission con-
trol system.
Overdrive off indicator light
(automatic transmission mod-
els only)
This light comes on when the overdrive function
is OFF.
The automatic transmission overdrive function is
controlled by the overdrive switch.
Slip indicator light (if so
equipped)
This indicator light will blink when the traction con-
trol system is limiting wheel spin. Slippery road
conditions may exist if the slip indicator blinks on. If
this happens, adjust your driving accordingly.
The slip indicator light also comes on when you
turn the ignition key to the ON position. The light
will turn off after about 2 seconds if the system is
operational. If the light does not come on or go
off, have the traction control system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
The system operates in all transmission shift lever
positions, but the system can upshift the transmis-
sion only as high as the indicated shift lever position.
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The appropriate light flashes when the turn signal
switch is activated.Both lights flash when the hazard switch is turned
on.
Vehicle dynamic control off
indicator light (if so equipped)
This indicator light comes on when the vehicle
dynamic control off switch is pushed to OFF. This
indicates the vehicle dynamic control system is
not operating.
Push the vehicle dynamic control off switch again
or restart the engine and the system will operate
normally. See “Vehicle dynamic control (VDC)
system” in the “Starting and driving” section of
this manual.
The vehicle dynamic control light also comes on
when you turn the ignition key to the ON position.
The light will turn off after about 2 seconds if the
system is operational. If the light stays on or
comes on along with the SLIP indicator light
while you are driving, have the vehicle dynamic
control system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
While the vehicle dynamic control system is op-
erating, you might feel slight vibration or hear the
system working when starting the vehicle or ac-
celerating, but this is normal.
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AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear warnings.
When a brake pad requires replacement, it
makes a high pitched scraping sound when the
vehicle is in motion, whether or not the brake
pedal is depressed. Have the brakes checked as
soon as possible if the warning sound is heard.
Key reminder chime
A chime sounds if the driver’s door is opened
while the key is left in the ignition switch. Remove
the key and take it with you when leaving the
vehicle.
Light reminder chime
With the ignition switch in the OFF position, a
chime sounds when the driver’s door is opened if
the headlights or parking lights are on.
Turn the headlight control switch off before leav-
ing the vehicle.
VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
The vehicle security system provides visual and
audio alarm signals if parts of the vehicle are
disturbed.
Security indicator light
The security indicator light shows the status of
the vehicle security system.
The light operates whenever the ignition switch is
in the LOCK, OFF, or ACC position.
The vehicle security system has four phases. For
each phase the operation of the security indicator
light is different.
LIC0372LIC0093
SECURITY SYSTEMS
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How to arm the vehicle security sys-
tem
1. Close all windows.(The system can be
armed even if the windows are open.)
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Close the hood and all doors. Lock all doors.
The doors can be locked with the key, power
door lock switch or with the keyfob.
Keyfob operation:
cPush the
button on the keyfob.
All doors lock. The hazard lights flash
twice and the horn beeps once to indicate
all doors are locked.
cWhen the
button is pushed with
all doors locked, the hazard lights flash
twice and the horn beeps once as a re-
minder that the doors are already locked.
The horn may or may not beep once.
Refer to “Silencing the horn beep feature”
later in this section.
c
If a door is open and you push thebutton the doors lock but the horn does not
chirp and the hazard lights do not flash.
cConfirm that the SECURITY indicator light
comes on. The SECURITY light stays on for
about 30 seconds and then begins to flashonce every 3 seconds. The system is now
armed. If, during this 30-second time period,
a door is unlocked by the key or the keyfob,
or the ignition key is turned to ACC or ON,
the system will not arm.
cIf the key is turned slowly when locking
the door, the system may not arm. Fur-
thermore, if the key is turned exces-
sively to the unlock position, the sys-
tem may be disarmed when the key is
removed. If the indicator light fails to
glow for 30 seconds, unlock the door
once and lock it again.
cEven when the driver and/or passen-
gers are in the vehicle, the system will
arm with all doors and the hood closed
and locked and the ignition key in the
OFF position. Turn the ignition key to
the ACC or ON to turn the security
system off.
The vehicle security system is NOT armed if 1 of
the following occurs:
cA door is unlocked or the ignition key is
turned to the ACC or ON position during the
30 seconds in which the SECURITY light
stays on.
cThe SECURITY light blinks at a steady 1/2
second on - 1/2 second off rate (a door or
LIC0053
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the hood is open and the key is not in the
ACC or ON position) . When the ignition key
is turned to the ACC or ON position, the
SECURITY light turns off.
Vehicle security system activation
The vehicle security system will give the following
alarm:
cThe headlights blink and the horn sounds
intermittently. In addition, the starter motor
does not operate.
cThe alarm automatically turns off after about
50 seconds. However, the alarm reactivates
if the vehicle is tampered with again. The
alarm can be shut off by unlocking a door
with the key, or by pressing the
button
on the keyfob.
The alarm is activated by:
copening a door without using the key or
keyfob (even if the door is unlocked by re-
leasing the inside lock knob) .
copening the hood.
How to stop an activated alarm
The alarm stops only by unlocking a door with the
key or by pressing thebutton on the key-
fob.
The alarm does not stop if the ignition
switch is turned to ACC or ON.
Silencing the horn beep feature
If desired, the horn beep feature can be deacti-
vated using the keyfob.
To deactivate:Press and hold both the
andbuttons at the same timefor at least
2 seconds.
The hazard lights will quickly flash 3 times to
confirm that the horn beep feature has been
deactivated.
To activate:Press and hold both the
andbuttons at the same timefor at least
2 seconds once more.
WIC0325
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The hazard lights will quickly flash once and the
horn will sound once to confirm that the horn
beep feature has been reactivated.
Deactivating the horn feature does not silence
the horn if the alarm is triggered.
If the system does not operate as described
above, have it checked by a NISSAN dealer.
1. Intermittent (if so equipped)
2. Low speed
3. High speed
4. Wash
5. Intermittent control (if so equipped)
6. Mist
SWITCH OPERATION
The ignition switch must be in the ON position for
the wipers or washer to be activated.
Push the lever down to operate the windshield
wipers. Pull the lever toward you to operate the
washer.cIntermittent (if so equipped) — intermittent
wiper operation.
cLow speed — continuous low speed opera-
tion.
cHigh speed — continuous high speed op-
eration.
cWash —
pull the lever toward you to operate
the washer function. Operating the washer
automatically cycles the wipers several times.
cIntermittent control (if so equipped) — inter-
mittent wiper operation can be adjusted
from 1-19 seconds by turning the time con-
trol knob.
cMist — push the lever up to activate the mist
feature.
WARNING
In freezing temperatures the washer solu-
tion may freeze on the windshield and
obscure your vision which may lead to an
accident. Warm the windshield with the
defroster before you wash the windshield.
CAUTION
cDo not operate the washer continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
WIC0240
WINDSHIELD WIPER AND WASHER
SWITCH
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cDo not operate the washer if the reser-
voir tank is empty.
cDo not fill the window washer reservoir
tank with washer fluid concentrates at
full strength. Some methyl alcohol
based washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if spilled
while filling the window washer reser-
voir tank.
cPre-mix washer fluid concentrates with
water to the manufacturer’s recom-
mended levels before pouring the fluid
into the window washer reservoir tank.
Do not use the window washer reservoir
tank to mix the washer fluid concen-
trate and water.To operate the wiper, push the switch to
the
side.
To operate the washer, push and hold the switch
down to the
side. The wiper will cycle
twice.
CAUTION
cDo not operate the washer continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
cDo not operate the washer if the reser-
voir tank is empty.
WARNING
In freezing temperatures the washer solu-
tion may freeze on the window and ob-
scure your vision. Warm the rear window
with the defroster before you wash the
rear window.
WIC0326
REAR WINDOW WIPER AND
WASHER SWITCH
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To defrost the rear window glass, start the engine
and push the rear window defroster switch on.
The rear window defroster indicator light on the
switch comes on. Push the switch again to turn
the defroster off.
The rear window defroster automatically turns off
after approximately 15 minutes.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inner side of the rear
window, be careful not to scratch or dam-
age the rear window defroster.
HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH
Lighting
s1When turning the switch to theposi-
tion, the front parking, tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights come on.
s2When turning the switch to theposi-
tion, the headlights come on and all the other
lights remain on.
WIC0327
Type A
WIC0242
Type B
WIC0243
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER
SWITCHHEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL
SWITCH
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