2004 NISSAN XTERRA steering

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
Low tire pressure warning system................5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving precau-
tions..........................................5-4
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-4
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-5
Driving safety precautions.......................5-5
Ignition switch.....................................5-7
Automatic transmission..........................5-7
Manual transmission............................5-8
Key positions..................................5-8
Before starting the engine..........................5-9
Starting the engine................................5-9
Driving the vehicle................................5-10
Automatic transmission (if so equipped)..........5-10
Manual transmission...........................5-14
Parking brake....................................5-16
Cruise control (if so equipped).....................5-16
Precautions on cruise control...................5-16
Cruise control operations.......................5-17Break-in schedule................................5-18
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-18
Using four wheel drive (4WD).............5-19
Transfer case shifting procedures...............5-19
Auto-lock free-running hubs............5-20
Parking/parking on hills............................5-22
Power steering...................................5-23
Brake system....................................5-23
Brake precautions.............................5-23
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)...................5-24
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-25
Cold weather driving..............................5-27
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-27
Anti-freeze....................................5-27
Battery.......................................5-27
Draining of coolant water.......................5-27
Tire equipment................................5-27
Special winter equipment.......................5-28
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-28
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-28
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2004 Xterra(xtr)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X

CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce the three-way catalyst’s ability to
help reduce exhaust pollutants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich
fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep driv-
ing if the engine misfires, or if notice-
able loss of performance or other un-
usual operating conditions are
detected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly by a NISSAN dealer.
cAvoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause
the engine to misfire, damaging the
three-way catalyst.
cDo not race the engine while warming it
up.
cDo not push or tow your vehicle to start
the engine.
LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING
SYSTEM
The low tire pressure warning system monitors
tire pressure of all tires (except the spare tire) .
The low tire pressure warning system will activate
only when the vehicle is driven at speeds above
20 MPH (32 km/h) . Also, this system may not
detect a sudden drop in tire pressure (for ex-
ample a flat tire while driving) .
Tire pressure rises and falls depending on the
heat caused by the vehicle’s operation and the
outside temperature. Low outside temperature
can lower the temperature of the air inside the tire
which can cause a lower tire inflation pressure.
This may cause the low tire pressure warning
light to illuminate.
If the warning light illuminates in low ambient
temperature as described above, check the tire
pressure for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pressure shown
on the tire placard to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF.
Frequently check the tire pressure and adjust
pressure of each tire properly.
Low tire pressure warning
If the vehicle is being driven with very low tire
pressure (lower than 28 psi, 193 kPa) , the lowtire pressure warning light comes on and the
chime sounds for about 10 seconds.
For additional information regarding the above
warning, see “Warning/indicator lights and au-
dible reminders” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section.
WARNING
cIf the low tire pressure warning light
flashes while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Serious vehicle
damage could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in serious
personal injury. Check the tire pressure
for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pres-
sure shown on the tire placard to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF.
If you have a flat tire, replace it with a
spare tire as soon as possible. (See
“Flat tire” in the “In case of emergency”
section for changing a flat tire.)
c
Starting and driving5-3
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Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
11/20/03Ðcathy
X

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 inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pressure
sensors.
CAUTION
Do not place metalized film or any metal
parts (antenna, etc.) on the windows. This
may cause poor reception of the signals
from the tire pressure sensors, and the
low tire pressure warning system will not
function properly.
FCC Notice:
Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the manufacturer compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules and RSS-210 of Industry
Canada.Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interface, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired op-
eration of the device.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than passenger
cars to make them capable of performing in a variety
of on-pavement and off-road applications. This
gives them a higher center of gravity than ordinary
cars. An advantage of higher ground clearance is a
better view of the road, allowing you to anticipate
problems. However, they are not designed for cor-
nering at the same speeds as conventional two-
wheel drive vehicles any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily
under off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid
sharp turns at high speeds. As with other vehicles of
this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
Be sure to read the driving safety precautions
later in this section.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss of
control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey
all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed,
high speed cornering, or sudden steering ma-
neuvers, because these driving practices could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle.As with
any vehicle, loss of control could result in a
collision with other vehicles or objects, or
cause the vehicle to roll over, particularly if
the loss of control causes the vehicle to
slide sideways.Be attentive at all times, and
avoid driving when tired. Never drive when under
the influence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which may
cause drowsiness) . Always wear your seat belt
as outlined in the “Safety – Seats, seat belts and
supplemental air bags” section of this manual,
and also instruct your passengers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in colli-
sions and rollovers.In a rollover crash, an
unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person wearing a seat belt.
5-4Starting and driving
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Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X

cUnsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Prop-
erly secure all cargo so it will not be
thrown forward and cause injury to you
or your passengers.
cTo avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capactiy of the roof rack/gear bin (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as pos-
sible. Do not equip the vehicle with tires
larger than specified in this manual.
This could cause your vehicle to roll
over.
cDo not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move sud-
denly and injure your hands. Instead
drive with your fingers and thumbs on
the outside of the rim.
cBefore operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
cAlways drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.cLower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center
of gravity, your NISSAN is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
cDo not drive beyond the performance
capablity of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
cAccelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
cIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your NISSAN four-wheel drive vehicle
has a higher center of gravity than a
two-wheel drive vehicle. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional two-wheel
drive vehicles. Failure to operate this
vehicle correctly could result in loss of
control and/or a rollover accident.
cAlways use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted,
or radial) , and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the rear
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.cBe sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water. See
“Brake system” later in this section for
“Wet brakes”.
cAvoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it
rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
cWhenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent maintenance
may be required. See “Periodic mainte-
nance” in the “NISSAN Service and
Maintenance Guide.”
5-6Starting and driving
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2004 Xterra(xtr)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
On automatic transmission models, the ignition
lock is designed so the key cannot be turned to
LOCK position and removed until the shift selec-
tor lever is moved to the P (Park) position.
When removing the key from the ignition, make
sure the shift selector lever is in the P (Park)
position.
If the selector lever is not returned to P (Park)
position, the key cannot be moved to the LOCK
position.When the key cannot be turned to the LOCK
position, proceed as follows to remove the key.
1. Move the shift selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Turn the ignition key slightly toward the ON
position.
3. Turn the key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key.
The shift selector lever is designed so it cannot
moved out of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned to OFF
position or if the key is removed from the switch.
The shift selector lever can be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ACC position. This
allows the vehicle to be moved if the bat-
tery is discharged. The shift selector lever
can also be moved if the ignition switch is
in the ON position and the foot brake pedal
is depressed.
There is an OFF position between the
LOCK and ACC positions. The OFF position
is indicated by a “1” on the key cylinder.
When the ignition is in the OFF position,
the steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove or turn the key to the LOCK
position while driving. The steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle and could result in
serious vehicle damage or personal injury.
WSD0041
IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-7
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Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X

MANUAL TRANSMISSION
The ignition switch includes a device that helps
prevent accidental removal of the key while driv-
ing.
The key can only be removed when the ignition
switch is in the LOCK position.
On manual transmission models, to turn the igni-
tion key to LOCK position from ACC or ON
position, turn the key to OFF, push the key in, then
turn the key to LOCK.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove or turn the key to the LOCK
position while driving. The steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle and could result in
serious vehicle damage or personal injury.
KEY POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (Manual transmission model) (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking the
steering wheel.
ACC: (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not running.
ON: Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and the
electrical accessories.START: (4)
This position starts the engine. As soon as the
engine has started, release the key. It automati-
cally returns to the ON position.WSD0052
5-8Starting and driving
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2004 Xterra(xtr)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X

Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift selector lever
may not be moved from the P (Park) position even
with the brake pedal depressed and the shift
selector lever button pushed.
To move the shift selector lever, release the shift
lock and push the shift selector lever button. The
shift selector lever can be moved to N (Neutral) .
However, the steering wheel will be locked un-
less the ignition switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion.
To release the shift lock, complete the following
procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
sA.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
slot, and push down
sB.
5. Push the shift selector lever button
sCand
move the shift selector lever to N (Neutral)
position
sDwhile holding down the shift
lock.
6. Turn the key to the ON position to unlock the
steering wheel. Now the vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.If the shift selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the auto-
matic transmission system as soon as possible.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Overdrive switch
Each time your vehicle is started, the transmis-
sion is automatically “reset” to overdrive ON.
ON: With the engine running and the
shift selector lever in the D (Drive)
position, the transmission upshifts
into Overdrive as vehicle speed
increases.
Overdrive does not engage until the engine
has reached operating temperature.
WSD0063
Starting and driving5-13
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2004 Xterra(xtr)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X

cThe SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control main switch is turned ON
while pushing the RES/ACCEL,
COAST/SET, or CANCEL switch (located
on the steering wheel) . To properly set the
cruise control system, use the following pro-
cedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions:
cWhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
cIn heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in
speed.
cOn winding or hilly roads.
cOn slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) .
cIn very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control is
set. Should this occur, depress the clutch
pedal and turn the main switch off imme-
diately. Failure to do so may cause engine
damage.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 90 MPH (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the main
switch. The CRUISE indicator light in the instru-
ment panel comes on.
To set cruising speed,accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The SET indicator light in the
instrument panel comes on. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set
speed.
cTo pass another vehicle,depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
cThe vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If thishappens, drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed,use one of the
following three methods.
cPush the CANCEL button; the SET indicator
light in the instrument panel goes out.
cTap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light
goes out.
cTurn the main switch off. Both the CRUISE
indicator light and SET indicator light in the
instrument panel go out.
The cruise control is automatically canceled and
the SET light in the instrument panel goes out if:
cyou depress the brake or clutch pedal while
pushing the RES/ACCEL or COAST/SET
switch. The preset speed is deleted from
memory.
cthe vehicle slows down more than 8 MPH
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
cyou depress the clutch pedal (manual trans-
mission) , or move the shift selector lever to N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission) .
To reset at a faster cruising speed,use one
of the following three methods.
cDepress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
Starting and driving5-17
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2004 Xterra(xtr)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
10/23/03Ðdebbie
X