2010 NISSAN FRONTIER coolant temperature

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.
Windshield defrosterCheck that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and in
sufficient quantity when operating the heater or
air conditioner.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time you
check the engine oil or refuel) .
Battery*Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines. Ve-
hicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe conditions require frequent checks of the
battery fluid level.
Brake and clutch fluid levels*Make sure that
the brake and clutch fluid level is between the
MIN and MAX lines on the reservoir.
Engine coolant level*Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold.Engine drive belts*Make sure the drive belts
are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level surface with the engine off.
Wait more than 10 minutes for the oil to drain
back into the oil pan.
Exhaust systemMake sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by a NISSAN dealer. See the
carbon monoxide warning in the “Starting and
driving” section of this manual.
Fluid leaksCheck under the vehicle for fuel, oil,
water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from the
air conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected imme-
diately.
Power steering fluid level* and linesCheck
the level when the fluid is cold, with the engine
off. Check the lines for proper attachment, leaks,
cracks, etc.Radiator and hosesCheck the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections.
UnderbodyThe underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances from the
underbody, otherwise rust may form on the floor
pan, frame, fuel lines and exhaust system. At the
end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, in those areas
where mud and dirt may have accumulated. See
the “Appearance and care” section of this
manual.
Windshield washer fluid*Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself

The engine cooling system is filled at the factory
with Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant to provide year-round anti-
freeze and coolant protection. The anti-freeze
solution contains rust and corrosion inhibitors.
Additional engine cooling system additives are
not necessary.
WARNING
cNever remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap when the engine is hot.
Wait until the engine and radiator cool
down. Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping from
the radiator. See precautions in “If your
vehicle overheats” found in the “In case
of emergency” section of this manual.
cThe radiator is equipped with a pres-
sure type radiator cap. To prevent en-
gine damage, use only a genuine
NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
When adding or replacing coolant, be sure
to use only a Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent with the
proper mixture ratio of 50% anti-freeze
and 50% demineralized or distilled water.
The use of other types of coolant solu-
tions other than a Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent may
damage the engine cooling system.
Outside temperature
down toGenuine
NISSAN
Long Life
Antifreeze/
Coolant or
equivalentDemineral-
ized or dis-
tilled water
°C °F
-35 -30 50% 50%
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold.If the coolant level is below
the MIN level, add coolant to the MAX level. If the
reservoir is empty, check the coolant level in the
radiatorwhen the engine is cold.If there is
insufficient coolant in the radiator, fill the radiator
with coolant up to the filler opening and also add
it to the reservoir up to the MAX level.
The engine coolant reservoir is a pressur-
ized tank. When installing the cap, tighten
it until a clicking sound is heard.
VQ40DE
LDI0436
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
8-8Maintenance and do-it-yourself

If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the engine coolant.
The service procedure can be found in the
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the en-
gine is hot.
cNever remove the radiator or engine
coolant reservoir cap when the engine
is hot. Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping from
the radiator.
cAvoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
cKeep coolant out of the reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine.Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Re-
insert it all the way.
QR25DE
LDI0466
VQ40DE
WDI0672
ENGINE OIL
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9

To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
cWhile going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
cIf the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
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.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
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.
cDownshift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
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.
cNISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.
9-34Technical and consumer information

WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic con-
ditions and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C. Al-
low the engine to idle until the gauge needle
points between the C and H (normal oper-
ating temperature) .
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h) , then quickly release the accelerator
pedal completely and keep it released for at
least 10 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of
53 - 60 MPH (86 - 96 km/h) for at least 9
minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 through 5 at least 10 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3 min-
utes.
8. Stop the vehicle. Place the shift selector in
the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.9. Turn the engine off.
10. Repeat steps1-8atleast one more time.
If steps 1 through 7 are interrupted, repeat the
preceding step. Any safe driving mode is accept-
able between steps. Do not stop the engine until
step 7 is completed.This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Re-
corder (EDR) . The main purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or near crash-like situa-
tions, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understand-
ing how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR
is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record such data as:
cHow various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
cWhether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
cHow far (if at all) the driver was depressing
the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
cHow fast the vehicle was traveling.
cSounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better understand-
ing of the circumstances in which crashes and
injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data are recorded by
your vehicle only if a nontrivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g. name, gender, age and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with
the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
9-38Technical and consumer information

C.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-11
Cold weather driving..............5-37
Compact disc (CD) player...........4-27
Compass display.................2-9
Console box...................2-39
Controls
Audio controls (steering wheel).......4-35
Heater and air conditioner controls . .4-2, 4-10
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant...........8-9
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Corrosion protection...............7-5
Cruise control..................5-20
Cup holders...................2-42
Curtain side-impact and rollover air bag. . . .1-69
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-29
Defroster switch
Rear window defroster switch.......2-26
Dimensions and weights.............9-9
Dimmer switch for instrument panel......2-29
Door locks.....................3-3
Door open warning light.............2-15
Drive belt.....................8-18
Driving
Cold weather driving............5-37
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-13
Driving with manual transmission......5-17
Precautions when starting and driving. . . .5-2E
Economy - fuel..................5-22
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system......................5-30
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system switch..................2-34
Emission control information label.......9-12
Emission control system warranty.......9-37
Engine
Before starting the engine..........5-12
Block heater.................5-39
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant...........8-9
Changing engine oil.............8-11
Changing engine oil filter..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Checking engine oil level...........8-9
Engine compartment check locations. . . .8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine cooling system............8-8
Engine oil...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-6
Engine oil pressure warning light......2-15
Engine oil viscosity..............9-6
Engine serial number............9-11
Engine specifications.............9-8
Starting the engine.............5-12
Engine oil pressure gauge............2-8
Event data recorders..............9-38
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide).........5-2F
First aid kit.....................6-2
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch)......2-30
Flat tire.......................6-3
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-5
Fluid
Brake fluid..................8-14
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Clutch fluid..................8-14
Engine coolant.................8-8
Engine oil...................8-9
Power steering fluid.............8-13
Window washer fluid............8-15
F.M.V.S.S. certification label...........9-11
Fog light switch.................2-30
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system)......1-65
Front seats.....................1-2
Fuel
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Fuel economy................5-22
Fuel gauge...................2-7
Fuel octane rating...............9-5
Fuel recommendation.............9-4
Fuel-filler cap.................3-10
Fuel-filler door and cap...........3-10
Fuel-filler lid.................3-10
Fuses.......................8-24
Fusible links...................8-25
10-2

G
Garage door opener, HomeLinkTUniversal
Transceiver....................2-51
Gascap..................3-10, 3-10
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine oil pressure gauge..........2-8
Fuel gauge...................2-7
Odometer...................2-4
Speedometer.................2-4
Tachometer..................2-6
Trip computer.................2-5
Trip odometer.................2-4
Voltmeter....................2-8
General maintenance...............8-2
Glove box.....................2-40
H
Hands-free phone system, BluetoothT.....4-37
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-30
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-26
Headlight control switch............2-26
Headlights....................8-28
Heated seats...................2-32
Heater
Heater and air conditioner controls . .4-2, 4-10
Heater operation............4-4, 4-11
Hill descent control switch...........2-33
Hill descent control system...........5-36
Hill start assist system..............5-37
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver........2-51
Hood release...................3-10Horn.......................2-31
I
Ignition switch...................5-9
Immobilizer system.........2-24, 3-2, 5-11
Important vehicle information label.......9-11
In-cabin microfilter................8-20
Increasing fuel economy.............5-22
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders)....................2-13
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror........3-14
Inside mirror...................3-13
Instrument brightness control..........2-29
Instrument panel...............0-6, 2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch........2-29
Interior light....................2-50
ISOFIX child restraints.............1-28
J
Jump seat.....................1-5
Jump starting...................6-9
K
Key.........................3-2
Keyfob battery replacement...........8-26
Keyless entry system (See remote keyless entry
system).......................3-6L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label.....9-12
C.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-11
Emission control information label.....9-12
Engine serial number............9-11
F.M.V.S.S. certification label.........9-11
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-12
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-10
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-71
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System......................1-28
License plate
Installing the license plate..........9-13
Light
Air bag warning light.........1-72, 2-18
Brake light (See stop light).........8-30
Bulb check/instrument panel........2-14
Bulb replacement..............8-30
Charge warning light............2-15
Fog light switch...............2-30
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-26
Headlight control switch..........2-26
Headlights..................8-28
Interior light..................2-50
Light bulbs..................8-28
Low tire pressure warning light.......2-16
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-18
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-66
Security indicator light............2-20
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-13
Lights
Map lights..................2-51
10-3

Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start.............2-24, 3-2, 5-11
Three-way catalyst................5-3
Tie down hooks.................3-18
Tilting steering wheel..............3-12
Tire
Flat tire.....................6-3
Spare tire................6-4, 8-42
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-12
Tire chains..................8-39
Tire placard..................9-12
Tire pressure.................8-32
Tire rotation..................8-39
Tires of 4-wheel drive............8-41
Types of tires.................8-38
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-36
Wheels and tires...............8-32
Wheel/tire size.................9-9
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light.......2-16
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). . . .5-3
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-30
Towing
2-wheel drive models............6-13
4-wheel drive models............6-14
Flat towing..................9-35
Tow truck towing...............6-12
Towing load/specification..........9-28
Trailer towing.................9-24
Transceiver
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver......2-51
Transmission
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-13
Driving with manual transmission......5-17Travel (See registering your vehicle in
another country).................9-10
Trip computer...................2-5
Trip odometer...................2-4
Truck - camper loading.............9-23
Turn signal switch................2-30
U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-36
V
Vanity mirror...................3-13
Variable voltage control system.........8-17
Vehicle dimensions and weights.........9-9
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . .2-32
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system.....5-34
Vehicle identification...............9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number)................9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. . . .9-10
Vehicle loading information...........9-13
Vehicle recovery..............6-14, 6-15
Vehicle security system.............2-23
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle immobi-
lizer system) , engine start......2-24, 3-2, 5-11
Ventilators.....................4-2
Visors.......................3-12
Voltmeter......................2-8W
Warning
4WD warning light..............2-16
Air bag warning light.........1-72, 2-18
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-14
Battery charge warning light........2-15
Brake warning light.............2-15
Door open warning light...........2-15
Engine oil pressure warning light......2-15
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-30
Low fuel warning light............2-16
Low tire pressure warning light.......2-16
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-18
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-66
Seat belt warning light............2-18
Vehicle security system...........2-23
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-71
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-13
Warning lights..................2-13
Washer switch
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-25
Weights (See dimensions and weights).....9-9
Wheels and tires.................8-32
Wheel/tire size...................9-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle
in another country................9-10
Window washer fluid..............8-15
Windows
Locking passengers’ windows.......2-47
Manual windows...............2-47
Power windows...............2-45
Rear power windows............2-47
Rear sliding window.............2-48
10-6