2006 NISSAN XTERRA 4WD

operational. If the light does not come on or does
not go off, have the traction control system
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
If the battery is removed or discharged, the trac-
tion control system is disabled and the slip indi-
cator light will not turn off after 2 seconds when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
To reset the system, you must perform the reset
procedure. Refer to “Vehicle dynamic control
(VDC) system” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
If the light does not go off after performing the
reset procedure, have the traction control system
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Transfer 4LO position
indicator light (
model)
The light should turn off within 1 second after
turning the ignition switch to ON.
This light comes on when the 4WD shift switch is
set in the 4LO position with the ignition key in the
ON position.
The transfer case may be damaged if you shift the
switch while driving.
Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator
light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift switch
to 4LO.The indicator light may blink while shifting
from one drive mode to the other.
The 4LO indicator light must stop blinking and
remain illuminated or turn off before shifting the
transmission into gear. If the transmission selec-
tor lever is shifted from the N position to any other
gear when the 4LO indicator light is blinking, the
vehicle may move unexpectedly.
When you shift between 4H and 4LO, follow the
instructions below:
cFor automatic transmission models, stop the
vehicle and shift the transmission selector
lever to the N position with the brake pedal
depressed, then depress and turn the 4WD
shift switch to 4LO or 4H.
cFor manual transmission models, stop the
vehicle and shift the transmission selector
lever to the N position with the clutch pedal
depressed, then depress and turn the 4WD
shift switch to 4LO or 4H.
You cannot move the transfer 4WD shift switch
between 4H and 4LO unless you stop the vehicle
and shift the transmission selector lever to the N
position with the brake pedal (AT models) or
clutch pedal (MT models) depressed.
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
This indicator light comes on when the vehicle
dynamic control off switch is pushed to OFF, the
transfer case is in the 4LO position (
model) , or when the vehicle dynamic control sys-
tem is not functioning properly. 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.
Instruments and controls2-17
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WARNING
cNever rely solely on the hill descent
control system to control vehicle speed
when driving on steep downhill grades.
Always drive carefully when using the
hill descent control system and decel-
erate the vehicle speed by depressing
the brake pedal if necessary. Be espe-
cially careful when driving on frozen,
muddy or extremely steep downhill
roads. Failure to control vehicle speed
may result in a loss of control of the
vehicle and possible serious injury or
death.cThe hill descent control may not control
the vehicle speed on a hill under all load
or road conditions. Always be prepared
to depress the brake pedal to control
vehicle speed. Failure to do so may re-
sult in a collision or serious personal
injury.
CAUTION
When the hill descent control system op-
erates continuously for a long time, the
temperature of the brake pads may in-
crease and the hill descent control system
may be temporarily disabled (the indicator
light will blink) . If the indicator light does
not come on continuously after blinking,
stop using the system.
The hill descent control system is designed to
reduce driver workload when going down steep
hills. The HDC system helps to control vehicle
speed so the driver can concentrate on steering
the vehicle.
To activate the HDC system:
cthe automatic transmission selector lever
must be in forward or reverse gear,
cthe 4WD switch must be in the 4L position
and the vehicle speed must be under 15
mph (25 km/h) orcthe 4WD switch must be in the 4H position
and the vehicle speed must be under 21
mph (35 km/h) , and
cthe HDC system switch must be ON.
The HDC indicator light will come on when the
system is activated. Also, the stop/tail lights illu-
minate while the HDC system applies the brakes
to control vehicle speed.
If the accelerator or brake pedal is depressed
while the HDC system is on, the system will stop
operating temporarily. As soon as the accelerator
or brake pedal is released, the HDC system
begins to function again if the HDC operating
conditions are fulfilled.
The HDC indicator light blinks if the switch is on
and all conditions for system activation are not
met or if the system becomes disengaged for any
reason.
To turn off the HDC system, push the switch to
the OFF position.
For additional information, see “Hill descent con-
trol (HDC) system on indicator light” earlier in this
section and “Hill descent control (HDC) system”
in the “Starting and driving” section of this
manual.
LIC0743
HILL DESCENT CONTROL (HDC)
SWITCH (if so equipped)
Instruments and controls2-27
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The Electronic Locking Rear Differential (E-Lock)
system can help provide added traction if the
vehicle is stuck or becoming stuck.
To activate the E-Lock system:
cthe 4WD switch must be in the 4LO position
(4-wheel drive vehicles) ,
cthe vehicle must be stopped or moving at 4
mph (7 km/h) or less, and
cthe E-Lock system switch must be turned
ON.When the E-Lock switch is turned ON, the indi-
cator light will flash until the system engages.
However, if all operation conditions listed above
are not met or the system becomes disengaged,
the indicator light will continue to flash.
The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) system is disabled
and the ABS light illuminates when the E-Lock
system is ON. Also, the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system is disabled and the VDC light
illuminates when the E-Lock system is ON.
See “Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system” in the “Starting and Driving” section for
further explanation and system limitations.WARNING
cNever leave the E-Lock system ON
when driving on paved or hard-surfaced
roads. Turning the vehicle may result in
the rear wheels slipping and result in an
accident and personal injury. After us-
ing the E-Lock system to free the ve-
hicle, turn the system OFF.cUse the E-Lock system only when free-
ing a stuck vehicle. Try the 4LO position
before using the E-Lock system. Never
use the E-Lock system on a slippery
road surface such as snow or ice sur-
face. Using the E-Lock system when
driving in these road conditions may
cause unexpected movement of the ve-
hicle during engine braking, accelerat-
ing or turning, which may result in an
accident and serious personal injury.
CAUTION
cAfter using the E-Lock system, turn the
switch OFF to prevent possible damage
to driveline components from extended
use.
cDo not drive over 12 MPH (20 km/h)
when the system is engaged. Doing so
could result in possible damage to the
driveline.
cDo not turn on the E-lock system while
the tires are spinning. Doing so could
damage drivetrain components.LIC0729
ELECTRONIC LOCKING REAR
DIFFERENTIAL (E-Lock) SYSTEM
SWITCH (if so equipped)
2-28Instruments and controls
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5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)..........5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions....................................5-5
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-5
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-5
Driving safety precautions.......................5-6
Ignition switch.....................................5-7
Automatic transmission..........................5-7
Manual transmission............................5-8
Key positions..................................5-9
Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System
(if so equipped)................................5-9
Before starting the engine..........................5-9
Starting the engine...............................5-10
Driving the vehicle................................5-11
Automatic transmission.........................5-11
Manual transmission...........................5-14
Parking brake....................................5-16
Cruise control (if so equipped).....................5-17
Precautions on cruise control...................5-17Cruise control operations.......................5-18
Break-in schedule................................5-19
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-19
Using four wheel drive (4WD).............5-20
Transfer case shifting procedures...............5-20
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-25
Parking/parking on hills............................5-27
Power steering...................................5-28
Brake system....................................5-28
Brake precautions.............................5-28
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)...................5-29
Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-30
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-30
Hill descent control (HDC) system (if so equipped) . . . 5-32
Hill start assist (HSA) system (if so equipped).......5-32
Cold weather driving..............................5-33
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-33
Anti-freeze....................................5-33
Battery.......................................5-33
Draining of coolant water.......................5-33
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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.”
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The ignition lock is designed so the key cannot be
turned to the LOCK position and removed until
the shift selector 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.
WSD0041
IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-7
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cWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag.
c
Use 4H or 4L position only when
necessary. Four-wheel drive operation low-
ers fuel economy.
CAUTION
cDo not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing on dry, hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise, tire wear
and increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on when
you are driving on dry hard surface
roads:
– in the 4H position, shift the 4WD shift
switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for automatic
transmission vehicles, stop the ve-
hicle and shift the transmission se-
lector to the N position with the
brake pedal depressed and shift the
4WD shift switch to 2WD.– in the 4LO position for manual trans-
mission vehicles, stop the vehicle
and shift the transmission shift lever
to the N position with the clutch
pedal depressed and shift the 4WD
shift switch to 2WD.
cIf the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
The part time 4WD system provides 3 positions
(2WD, 4H and 4LO) , so you can select the
desired drive mode according to the driving con-
ditions.
2WD or 4WD shift procedure:
USING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
(4WD)
5-20Starting and driving
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4WD Shift
Switch PositionWheels
DrivenIndicator Light
Use Conditions 4WD Shift Procedure
4WD shift Transfer 4LO
position
2WDRear wheels
For driving on dry, paved roads (Economy
drive) or state dynamometer I/M testingMove the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> 4H
4WD shift indicator light will indicate transfer shift position engaged.
4H4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy or snow-
covered roads
Neutral
*1
May blinkNeutral disengages the automatic transmis-
sion mechanical parking lock, which will
allow the vehicle to roll. Do not leave the
transfer shift position in Neutral.*21. Stop the vehicle.
2. For automatic transmission vehicles: Shift the transmission selector to the (N) po-
sition with the brake pedal depressed.
For manual transmission vehicles: Shift the transmission shift lever to the (N) posi-
tion with the clutch depressed.
3. For automatic transmission vehicles: Depress and turn the 4WD shift switch to
4LO or 4H with the brake pedal depressed.
For manual transmission vehicles: Depress and turn the 4WD switch to 4LO or 4H
with the clutch pedal depressed.
THE TRANSFER CASE DOES NOT ENGAGE BETWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO
4H) UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST STOPPED THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED THE BRAKE
PEDAL AND MOVED THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO NEUTRAL FOR AUTO-
MATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES
YOU MUST MOVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL. *3
4LO
4 wheels
IlluminatedFor use when maximum power and traction
is required (for example: on steep grades or
rocky, sandy, muddy roads)
*1: Before moving the transmission selector or shift lever from neutral, wait until the 4LO indicator light stays on steady. This indicates that the 4WD shift procedure is completed and the transfer gear is correctly
set in the 4LO position. If the vehicle is shifted into gear before the indicator is on steady, the transfer gear may grind, not engage correctly or stay in the neutral position.
- If the 4WD warning light illuminates, perform the following procedure to return the transfer case to correct operating condition.
1. Turn off the engine by turning the ignition switch9OFF9.
2. Start the engine.
- Check that the 4WD warning light turns off. If the 4WD warning light illuminates, have the system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
3. Apply the parking brake, for automatic transmission vehicles, depress the brake pedal and move the transmission selector to Neutral position. Formanual transmission vehicles, move the transmission shift lever
to Neutral position.
4. With the brake pedal depressed on automatic transmission vehicles or with the clutch pedal depressed on manual transmission vehicles, move the 4WDshift switch to desired mode.
- Be sure to wait until the transfer gear change completes before shifting the transmission selector or transmission shift lever from Neutral position.
*2: While changing in and out of 4LO, the ignition key must be ON and the vehicle’s engine must be running for a shift to take place and for the indicator lights (4WD shift and 4LO position indicator) to be operable.
Otherwise, the shift will not take place and no indicator lights will be on or flashing.
*3: Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift switch to 4LO. The
indicator light (if so equipped) will also turn on when 4LO is selected. See “Vehicle dynamic
control system” later in this section.
Starting and driving5-21
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The transfer case 4WD shift switch is used to
select either 2WD or 4WD depending on the
driving conditions. There are three types of drive
modes available, 2WD, 4H and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically controls the
transfer case operation. Rotate the switch to
move between each mode, 2WD, 4H and 4LO.
To change into or out of 4LO, the vehicle
MUST be stationary, shift the transmission
selector or transmission shift lever to Neu-
tral (N) , and for automatic transmission
vehicles depress the brake pedal or for
manual transmission vehicles depress the
clutch pedal. The switch must be de-
pressed and turned when changing into or
out of 4LO.
WARNING
cWhen parking, apply the parking brake
before stopping the engine and make
sure that the 4WD shift indicator light is
on and the ATP warning light goes off.
Otherwise, the vehicle could unexpect-
edly move even if the automatic trans-
mission is in the P position.cThe 4LO indicator light must stop blink-
ing and remain illuminated or turn off
before shifting the transmission into
gear. If the transmission selector or
transmission shift lever is shifted from
the (N) position to any other gear when
the 4LO indicator light is blinking, the
vehicle may move unexpectedly.
CAUTION
cNever shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
cThe 4H position provides greater trac-
tion. Avoid excessive speed, as it will
cause increased fuel consumption and
higher oil temperatures, and could
damage drivetrain components.
Speeds over 62.5 MPH (100 km/h) in 4H
is not recommended.
cThe 4LO position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 31 MPH
(50 km/h) .
cWhen driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD or 4H position.
Do not move the 4WD shift switch when
making a turn or reversing.cDo not shift the 4WD shift switch (be-
tween 2WD and 4H) while driving on
steep downhill grades. Use the engine
brake and low automatic transmission
gears (D1 or D2) or manual transmis-
sion (1st gear or 2nd gear) for engine
braking.
cDo not operate the 4WD shift switch
(between 2WD and 4H) with the rear
wheels spinning.
cDo not drive on dry hard surface roads
in the 4H or 4LO position. Driving on dry
hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise and tire wear.
NISSAN recommends driving in the
2WD position under these conditions.
cThe 4WD transfer case may not be
shifted between 4H and 4LO at low am-
bient temperatures and the transfer
4LO position indicator light may blink
even when the 4WD shift switch is
shifted. After driving for a while you can
change the 4WD transfer case between
4H and 4LO.
When driving on rough roads,
cSet the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4LO.
cDrive carefully according to the road surface
conditions.
5-22Starting and driving
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