2004 NISSAN ARMADA change wheel

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, tire pressure will not be
indicated and the low tire pressure
warning system will not function. Con-
tact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
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.
Getting the spare tire and tools
1. Remove the jack tool kit from the floor stor-
age area in the cargo area.
2. Remove the cargo area storage bin cover.3. Unscrew and remove the jack.
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4. Assemble the two pieces of the jack rod.
Find the oval-shaped opening above the
middle of the license plate. Pass the
T-shaped end of the jack rod through the
opening and direct it toward the spare tire
winch, located directly above the spare tire.
CAUTION
Do not insert the jack rod straight as it is
designed to be inserted at an angle as
shown.5. Fit the square end of the jack rod into the
square hole of the wheel nut wrench to form
a handle.
6. Seat the T-shaped end of the jack rod into
the T-shaped opening of the tire winch. Ap-
ply pressure to keep the jack rod engaged in
the spare tire winch and turn the jack rod
counterclockwise to lower the spare tire.
7. Once the spare tire is completely lowered,
reach under the vehicle, remove the retainer
chain, and carefully slide the tire from under
the rear of the vehicle.
CAUTION
Be sure to center the spare tire suspend-
ing plate on the wheel and then lift the
spare tire.
Jacking up vehicle and removing the
damaged tire
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 designed 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 start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack. It may cause the
vehicle to move. This is especially true
for vehicles with limited slip
differentials.
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When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication frequently.
Lights*Clean the headlights on a regular basis.
Make sure that the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights are all
operating properly and installed securely. Also
check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts*When checking the tires,
make sure no wheel nuts are missing, and check
for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) .
Tires*Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If neces-
sary, adjust the pressure in all tires, including the
spare, to the pressure specified. Check carefully
for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Wheel alignment and balanceIf the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect uneven or
abnormal tire wear, there may be a need for wheel
alignment. If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
cFor additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet .WindshieldClean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a dam-
aged windshield repaired by a qualified repair
facility.
Windshield wiper blades*Check for cracks or
wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when per-
forming periodic maintenance, cleaning the ve-
hicle, etc.
Additional information on the following
items with an “*” is found later in this sec-
tion.
Accelerator pedalCheck the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure the pedal does not bind
or require uneven effort. Keep the floor mat away
from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) position
mechanismOn a fairly steep hill check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any brakes.
Brake pedal and booster*Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure it has the proper
distance under it when depressed fully. Checkthe brake booster function. Be certain to keep the
floor mat away from the pedal.
BrakesCheck that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
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.
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 positions.
Seat beltsCheck that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjusters
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Steering wheelCheck for changes in the steer-
ing system, such as excessive freeplay, hard
steering or strange noises.
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.
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1. Wear indicator
2. Location mark
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
cTires should be periodically inspected
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.cThe original tires have built-in tread
wear indicators. When the wear indica-
tors are visible, the tire(s) should be
replaced.
cImproper service of the spare tire may
result in serious personal injury. If it is
necessary to repair the spare tire, con-
tact a NISSAN dealer.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. Recommended types and
sizes are shown in “Wheels and tires” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
WARNING
cThe use of tires other than those recom-
mended 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 clearance,
speedometer calibration, headlight aim
and bumper height. Some of these ef-
fects may lead to accidents and could
result in serious personal injury.
cIf the wheels are changed for any rea-
son, always replace with wheels which
have the same off-set dimension.
Wheels of a different off-set could
cause premature tire wear, degrade ve-
hicle handling characteristics and/or
interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can
lead to decreased braking efficiency
and/or early brake pad/shoe wear. Re-
fer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Techni-
cal and consumer information” section
of this manual for wheel off-set
dimensions.
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cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be
indicated and the low tire pressure
warning system will not function. Con-
tact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
cDo not install a deformed wheel or tire
even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warning.
cThe use of retread tires is not
recommended.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling
and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can get
out of balance. Therefore, they should be bal-
anced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to mechanical damage.cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet .
Care of wheels
cWash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
cClean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
cDo not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
cInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of
pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
cNISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in areas
where it is used during winter.
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cDo not load your vehicle any heavier than
the GVWR or the maximum front and rear
GAWRs. If you do, parts of your vehicle
can break, tire damage could occur, or it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
This could result in loss of control and
cause personal injury.
cOverloading not only can shorten the
life of your vehicle and the tire, but can
also cause unsafe vehicle handling and
longer braking distances. This may
cause a premature tire failure which
could result in a serious accident and
personal injury. Failures caused by
overloading are not covered by the ve-
hicle’s warranty.
MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHTS
Secure loose items to prevent weight shifts that
could affect the balance of your vehicle. When
the vehicle is loaded, drive to a scale and weigh
the front and the rear wheels separately to deter-
mine axle loads. Individual axle loads should not
exceed either of the gross axle weight ratings
(GAWR) . The total of the axle loads should not
exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) .
These ratings are given on the vehicle certifica-
tion label. If weight ratings are exceeded, move or
remove items to bring all weights below the rat-
ings.
WARNING
Overloading or improper loading of a
trailer and its cargo can adversely affect
vehicle handling, braking and perfor-
mance and may lead to accidents.
CAUTION
cDo not tow a trailer or haul a heavy load
for the first 500 miles (800 km) . Your
engine, axle or other parts could be
damaged.
cFor the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and do not make starts at full
throttle. This helps the engine and other
parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Your new vehicle was designed to be used pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo. Remember
that towing a trailer places additional loads on
your vehicle’s engine, drive train, steering, brak-
ing and other systems.
ANissan Trailer Towing Guide (U.S. only)is
available from a NISSAN dealer. This guide in-
cludes information on trailer towing ability and the
special equipment required for proper towing.
MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loads
Never allow the total trailer load to exceed the
value specified in the following Towing
Load/Specification Chart found later in this sec-
tion. The total trailer load equals trailer weight
plus its cargo weight.
cWhen towing a trailer load of 1,000 lbs.
(454 kg) or more, trailers with a brake sys-
tem MUST be used.
The maximum GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) should not exceed the value specified in
the following Towing Load/ Specification Chart.
The GCWR equals the combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo)
plus the total trailer load. Towing loads greater
than these or using improper towing equipment
could adversely affect vehicle handling, braking
and performance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but also
the places you plan to tow. Tow weights appro-
priate for level highway driving may have to be
reduced on very steep grades or in low traction
situations (for example, on slippery boat ramps) .
Temperature conditions can also affect towing.
For example, towing a heavy trailer in high outside
TOWING A TRAILER
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cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cLoad the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half.
cCheck your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and
trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a
trailer to the vehicle.
cBe certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing.
cAlways block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is
not recommended; however, if you must do
so, first block the wheels and apply the park-
ing brake, and then move the transmission
shift selector lever into the P (Park) position.
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the wheels
and applying the parking brake, transmission
damage could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower gear
and use the engine braking effect. When go-
ing up a long grade, downshift the transmis-
sion to a lower gear and reduce speed to
reduce chances of engine overloading and/or
overheating. However, for long steep grades,
do not stay in 1st gear when driving above 35
MPH (56 km/h) or 2nd gear when driving
above 58 MPH (93 km/h) .
cIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented byopening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help sta-
bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
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cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually
cDo not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
cSome states or provinces have specific
speed limits for vehicles that are towing trail-
ers. Obey the local speed limits.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
Tow mode
Tow mode should be used when pulling a heavy
trailer or hauling a heavy load. Press the tow button
to activate the tow mode. The tow indicator in the
instrument panel illuminates when the tow mode is
selected. Press the Tow button again to turn the
tow mode OFF. The Tow mode is automatically
cancelled when the key is turned OFF.
The Tow mode does the following:
cReduces transmissions shifts when pulling a
trailer or hauling a load.
cProvides similar shift feel to driver when the
vehicle is towing.
The Tow mode should be used when the vehicle
and trailer weight is at least 75% of the vehicle’s
GCWR. Tow mode is most useful in the following
driving conditions when towing a heavy trailer or
hauling a heavy load:
cRolling terrain.
cStop and go traffic.
cBusy parking lots.Driving the vehicle in the Tow mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not cause
any damage. However, fuel economy may be
reduced and the transmission/engine driving
characteristics may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
Technical and consumer information9-23
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