2010 NISSAN XTERRA steering

●outgoing
● call three one nine oh two
● nine seven pause pause three oh eight
● cancel
● call back number
● call star two zero nine five
● delete phone
● dial eight three zero five one
● record name
● four three pause two nine pause zero
● delete redial number
● phonebook list names
● call eight oh five four one
● correction
● connect phone
● dial seven four oh one eight
● previous entry
● delete
● dial nine seven two six six
● call seven six three oh one ●
go back
● call five six two eight zero
● dial six six four three seven
MANUAL CONTROL
While using the voice recognition system, it is
possible to select menu options by using the
steering wheel controls instead of speaking voice
commands. The manual control mode does not
allow dialing a phone number by digits. The user
may select an entry from the Phonebook or Re-
cent Calls lists. To re-activate voice recognition,
exit the manual control mode by pressing and
holding the PHONE/END (
) button. At that
time, pressing the PHONE/SEND (
) button
will start the Hands Free Phone System.
Operating tips
● To enter manual control mode, start the
voice recognition system and tilt the tuning
(
) switch up or down. The system will
speak Showing Manual Options when
manual controls are initially activated. ●
To browse the menu options, tilt the tuning
(
) switch up or down. The system will
always speak the current menu option. De-
pending on the audio display, it will also
show the current menu option.
● To select the current menu option, press the
PHONE/SEND (
) button.
● To go back to the previous menu, press the
PHONE/END (
) button. If the current
menu is the Main Menu, pressing the
PHONE/END (
) button will exit the
Phone system.
● To exit the manual control mode, press and
hold the PHONE/END (
) button for 5
seconds.
4-50Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems

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
Off-road recovery ...............................5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ..........................5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................5-7
Driving safety precautions .......................5-7
Automatic transmission (if so equipped) ...........5-9
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ............5-10
Key positions ................................. 5-10
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............5-11
Before starting the engine ......................... 5-11
Starting the engine ............................... 5-11
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-12
Automatic transmission (if so equipped) ..........5-12
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ............5-16
Parking brake .................................... 5-18
Cruise control .................................... 5-18
Precautions on cruise control ...................5-18Cruise control operations
.......................5-19
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-20
Increasing fuel economy ........................... 5-20
Using four wheel drive (4WD)
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-21
Transfer case shifting procedures . . . ............5-22
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-27
Parking/parking on hills ............................ 5-29
Power steering ................................... 5-30
Brake system .................................... 5-30
Brake precautions ............................. 5-30
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................5-31
Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system .............5-32
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............5-32
Hill descent control system (if so equipped) .........5-34
Hill start assist system (if so equipped) ..............5-35
Cold weather driving .............................. 5-35
Freeing a frozen door lock ......................5-35
Anti-freeze .................................... 5-35
Battery ....................................... 5-35
Draining of coolant water .......................5-36
Tire equipment ................................ 5-36

●The TPMS will activate only when the vehicle
is driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25
km/h) . Also, this system may not detect a
sudden drop in tire pressure (for example a
flat tire while driving) .
● The low tire pressure warning light does not
automatically turn off when the tire pressure
of all 4 tires are adjusted. After the tires are
inflated to the recommended pressure, the
vehicle must be driven at speeds above 16
MPH (25 km/h) to activate the TPMS and
turn off the low tire pressure warning light.
Use a tire pressure gauge to check the tire
pressure.
● 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 illumi-
nate. If the warning light illuminates in low
ambient temperature, check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires.
● The Tire and Loading Information label (also
referred to as the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label) is located in the
driver’s door opening. For additional information, see “Low tire pressure
warning light” in the “Instruments and controls”
section and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)” in the “In case of emergency” section.
WARNING
●
If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates 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. Driving with under-
inflated tires may permanently damage
the tires and increase the likelihood of
tire failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an acci-
dent and could result in serious per-
sonal injury. Check the tire pressure for
all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure to
the recommended COLD tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label 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.) ●
When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
● Do 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
TPMS will not function properly.
Some devices and transmitters may temporarily
interfere with the operation of the TPMS and
cause the low tire pressure warning light to illu-
minate.
5-4Starting and driving

Some examples are:
– Facilities or electric devices using similar radiofrequencies are near the vehicle.
– If a transmitter set to similar frequencies is being used in or near the vehicle.
– If a computer (or similar equipment) or a DC/AC converter is being used in or near the
vehicle.
FCC Notice:
Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compli-
ance could void the user’s authority to op-
erate 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 interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, in-
cluding interference that may cause undes-
ired operation 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 passen-
ger 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 cornering at the same speeds as
conventional two-wheel drive vehicles any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to per-
form 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 restraint system” section of this
manual, and also instruct your passengers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in collisions
and rollovers. In a rollover crash, an unbelted
or improperly belted person is significantly
more likely to be injured or killed than a
person properly wearing a seat belt.
Starting and driving5-5

OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface. If this
occurs, maintain control of the vehicle by follow-
ing the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The vehicle
must be driven as appropriate based on the con-
ditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
4. When appropriate , slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the ve- hicle to follow the road while vehicle speed
is reduced. Do not attempt to drive the ve-
hicle back onto the road surface until vehicle
speed is reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires return to the
road surface. When all tires are on the road
surface, steer the vehicle to stay in the ap-
propriate driving lane. ●
If you decide that it is not safe to return the
vehicle to the road surface based on vehicle,
road or traffic conditions, gradually slow the
vehicle to a stop in a safe place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can occur
if the tire is punctured or is damaged due to
hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air pressure loss
can also be caused by driving on under-inflated
tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at highway
speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by maintain-
ing the correct air pressure and visually inspect
the tires for wear and damage. See “Wheels and
tires” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section of this manual. If a tire rapidly loses air
pressure or “blows-out” while driving, maintain
control of the vehicle by following the procedure
below. Please note that this procedure is only a
general guide. The vehicle must be driven as
appropriate based on the conditions of the ve-
hicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pressure.
Losing control of the vehicle may cause a
collision and result in personal injury.
●The vehicle generally moves or pulls in
the direction of the flat tire.
● Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
● Do not rapidly release the accelerator
pedal.
● Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not over react.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emergency service
to change the tire or see “Changing a flat
tire” in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
5-6Starting and driving

●Unsecured 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.
●
To avoid raising the center of gravity ex-
cessively, do not exceed the rated capac-
ity 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 possible. Do
not equip the vehicle with tires larger
than specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over.
● Do 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.
● Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
● Always drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.
● Lower 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. ●
Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
●
For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise two wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain damage
or unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
●Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer (such
as the dynamometers used by some
states for emissions testing) , or similar
equipment even if the other two wheels
are raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that your
vehicle is equipped with 4WD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using the
wrong test equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
● Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control. ●
If at all possible, avoid sharp turning ma-
neuvers, particularly at high speeds. Your
NISSAN four-wheel drive vehicle has a
higher center of gravity than a passenger
car. The vehicle is not designed for cor-
nering at the same speeds as passenger
cars. Failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly could result in loss of control
and/or a rollover accident.
●
Always 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.
● Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water. See
“Brake system” later in this section for
“Wet brakes”.
● Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it
rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
● Whenever 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.”
5-8Starting and driving

WARNING
●Never remove the ignition key or place
the ignition switch in the LOCK position
while driving. The steering wheel will
lock (for models with a steering lock
mechanism) . This may cause the driver
to lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
The ignition lock is designed so the ignition
switch cannot be placed in the LOCK position
and the key removed until the shift selector is
moved to the P (Park) position.
When removing the key from the ignition, make
sure the shift selector is in the P (Park) position.
If the shift selector is not returned to P (Park)
position, the ignition switch cannot be moved to
the LOCK position. To remove the key from the ignition switch:
1. Shift the shift selector to the P (Park) posi- tion with the ignition switch in the ON posi-
tion.
2. Place the ignition switch to the LOCK posi- tion.
3. Remove the key from the ignition.
If the shift selector is shifted to the P (Park)
position after the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position or when the ignition switch cannot
be turned to the LOCK position, proceed as
follows to remove the key. 1. Move the shift selector 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 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 can be moved if the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position and the
foot brake pedal is depressed.
WSD0041
Starting and driving5-9

There is an OFF position between the
LOCK and ACC positions. The OFF position
is indicated by a “1” on the ignition switch.
When the ignition is in the OFF position,
the steering wheel is not locked (for mod-
els with a steering lock mechanism) .
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.
If the key will not turn from the LOCK posi-
tion, turn the steering wheel to the left or
right while turning the key to unlock the
key cylinder.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
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 switch to the LOCK position from the ACC or
ON position, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position, push the key in, then place the ignition
switch in LOCK position.
KEY POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (Not used) (1)
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
5-10Starting and driving