2012 NISSAN FRONTIER ECU

For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires
may be used. However, some U.S. states and
Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before installing
studded tires. Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited according to
location. Check the local laws before installing
tire chains. When installing tire chains, make sure
they are the proper size for the tires on your
vehicle and are installed according to the chain
manufacturer’s suggestions.Use only SAE
class “S” chains. Class “S” chains are used on
vehicles with restricted tire to vehicle clearance.
Vehicles that can use Class “S” chains are de-
signed to meet the minimum clearances between
the tire and the closest vehicle suspension or
body component required to accommodate the
use of a winter traction device (tire chains or
cables) . The minimum clearances are determined
using the factory equipped tire size. Other types
may damage your vehicle. Use chain tensioners
when recommended by the tire chain manufac-
turer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the
tire chain must be secured or removed to prevent
the possibility of whipping action damage to the
fenders or underbody. If possible, avoid fully load-
ing your vehicle when using tire chains. In addi- tion, drive at a reduced speed. Otherwise, your
vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely affected.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving with
chains in such conditions can cause damage to
the various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress.
Use only the 2WD range when driving on clear
paved roads.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires
every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) .
See “Flat tire” in the “In case of emer-
gency” section in this manual for tire re-
placing procedures.
As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.
WDI0258
8-40Maintenance and do-it-yourself

9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants.........9-2
Fuel recommendation ...........................9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendations ..........9-6
Air conditioner system (if so equipped)
refrigerant and oil recommendations . .............9-7
Specifications .....................................9-8
Engine ........................................9-8
Wheels and tires ...............................9-9
Dimensions and weights ........................9-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country .................................. 9-10
Vehicle identification .............................. 9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate .........9-10
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) .............................. 9-10
Engine serial number ........................... 9-11
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-11
Emission control information label ...............9-12
Tire and loading information label ................9-12
Air conditioner specification label
(if so equipped) ............................... 9-12
Installing front license plate ........................9-13
Installing front license plate with grommets .......9-13 Installing front license plate without
grommets
.................................... 9-13
Vehicle loading information ........................9-13
Terms ........................................ 9-13
Vehicle load capacity .......................... 9-14
Securing the load .............................. 9-16
Utili-track™ channel system (if so equipped) ......9-17
Loading tips . . . ............................... 9-22
Truck-camper loading information ..................9-23
Crew Cab Models ............................. 9-23
King Cab models .............................. 9-23
Special Body vehicles .......................... 9-23
Location for center of gravity ....................9-23
Vehicle load weight capacity ....................9-24
Measurement of weights .......................9-24
Towing a trailer ................................... 9-24
Maximum load limits ........................... 9-25
T owing

load/specification ....................... 9-28
Towing safety ................................. 9-29
Flat towing .................................... 9-35
Uniform tire quality grading ........................9-36
Emission control system warranty ..................9-37
Reporting safety defects .......................... 9-37

5. Determine the combined weight ofluggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this re-
duces the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity of your vehicle.
Before driving a loaded vehicle, confirm
that you do not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle.
See “Measurement of weights” later in
this section.
Also check tires for proper inflation pres-
sures. See the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label.
SECURING THE LOAD
For your convenience, tie down hooks (if so
equipped) are placed at each corner of the truck
box. These may be used to help secure cargo
loaded into the truck box.
WARNING
● Properly secure all cargo with ropes or
straps to help prevent it from sliding or
shifting. Do not place cargo higher than
the seatbacks. In a sudden stop or col-
lision, unsecured cargo could cause
personal injury.
● Do 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.
LTI0102
9-16Technical and consumer information

1. Side channels
2. Header channel
3. Channel sections
4. Floor channels
UTILI-TRACK™ CHANNEL SYSTEM
(if so equipped)
WARNING
●Properly install and tighten the tie-
down cleats into the Utili-track™ chan-
nel system. Also, do not attach any rope
or straps directly to the channel. Failure
to properly install the tie-down cleats or
attaching ropes or straps directly to the
channel can cause the cargo to become
unsecured. In a sudden stop or colli-
sion, unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
● Properly secure all cargo with ropes or
straps to help prevent it from sliding or
shifting. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause personal
injury.
The Utili-track™ channel system allows you to
move tie-down clamps in the bed to the best
location to secure a load.
The tie-down cleats must be installed so the
clamp is properly seated in the notches in the rail.
If the tie-down cleat is not seated in the notches,
it will not be flush with the rail and cannot be
properly tightened. The bolt in the center of the
cleat must be tightened hand tight (20 – 40
in-lbs) Check the tightness of the tie-down cleat peri-
odically during a trip to make sure the center bolt
has not become loose.
Install the tie-down cleat as follows:
1. Remove the channel protectors by sliding them out the back of the truck bed. Properly
store the channel protectors.
2. Loosen the center bolt completely.
LTI0107
Technical and consumer information9-17

WARNING
Do not install accessories over the gap
between the front and rear side channels.
Doing this could affect the rear structure
in certain rear impacts, which could result
in serious injury.
CAUTION
Properly secure all cargo with ropes or
straps to prevent it from sliding or shifting.
Use the channel end stoppers to help se-
cure items in the channels from sliding off
the end of the truck bed.
Channel end stoppers (if so equipped)
The channel end stoppers should be used to help
prevent accessories installed in the channels
from sliding or shifting off the end of the truck
bed.
They must be installed so they are properly
seated in the detents in the channel.
1 correct installation, 2 incorrect installation
LTI0123WTI0119
Technical and consumer information9-21

Install the channels end stoppers as follows:1. Remove the channel protectors by sliding them out the back of the truck bed. Properly
store the channel protectors.
2. Loosen the bolt on the center of the end stopper with the provided wrench and insert
it into the channel.
3. Position the end stopper to the desired lo- cation on the channel so the nubs on the
bottom of the end stopper fully seat into the
channel detents.
4. Tighten the bolt on the center of the end stopper with the provided wrench.
LOADING TIPS
●The GVW must not exceed GVWR
or GAWR as specified on the
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification
label.
● Do not load the front and rear axle to
the GAWR. Doing so will exceed the
GVWR.
WARNING
● Properly secure all cargo with
ropes or straps to help prevent it
from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or colli-
sion, unsecured cargo could
cause personal injury.
● Do 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 oc-
cur, or it can change the way your
vehicle handles. This could result
in loss of control and cause per-
sonal injury. ●
Overloading not only can shorten
the life of your vehicle and the
tire, but can also cause unsafe
vehicle handling and longer brak-
ing 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 vehicle’s
warranty.
9-22
Technical and consumer information

WARNING
Overloading or improper loading can ad-
versely affect vehicle handling, braking
and performance and may lead to
accidents.
VEHICLE LOAD WEIGHT CAPACITY
The vehicle payload weight capacity shown on
the Tire and Loading Information label, see “Tire
and Loading Information label” in this section,
indicates the maximum total weight of passen-
gers, optional equipment (air conditioning, trailer
hitch, etc) and cargo that your vehicle is designed
to carry.
Before driving a loaded vehicle, confirm that you
do not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for your vehicle. See ’’Vehicle Loading
Information’’ earlier in this section for details.
Also check tires for proper inflation pressures.
See the Tire and Loading Information label.
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 determine axle
loads. Individual axle loads should not ex-
ceed either of the gross axle weight rat-
ings (GAWR) . The total of the axle loads
should not exceed the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) . These ratings are
given on the vehicle certification label. If
weight ratings are exceeded, move or re-
move items to bring all weights below the
ratings.
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
●Do 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.
● For 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.
A NISSAN Towing Guide (U.S. only) is available
on the website at www.nissanusa.com. This
guide includes information on trailer towing ca-
pability and the special equipment required for
proper towing.
TOWING A TRAILER
9-24Technical and consumer information

TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitch
Your vehicle may be equipped with an optional
trailer tow package. The trailer tow package in-
cludes a receiver-type frame mounted hitch. This
hitch is rated for the maximum towing capacity of
this vehicle when the proper towing equipment is
used. Choose a proper ball mount and hitch ball
that is rated for the trailer to be towed. Genuine
NISSAN ball mounts and hitch balls are available
from your NISSAN dealer.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the optional
trailer tow package, check the towing capacity of
your bumper hitch or receiver-type frame
mounted hitch. Choose a proper hitch for your
vehicle and trailer. A genuine NISSAN trailer
hitch is available from your NISSAN dealer. Make
sure the trailer hitch is securely attached to the
vehicle to help avoid personal injury or property
damage due to sway caused by crosswinds,
rough road surfaces or passing trucks.
WARNING
Trailer hitch components have specific
weight ratings. Your vehicle may be ca-
pable of towing a trailer heavier than the
weight rating of the hitch components.
Never exceed the weight rating of the
hitch components. Doing so can cause
serious personal injury or property
damage.
Hitch ball
Choose a hitch ball of the proper size and weight
rating for your trailer:● The required hitch ball size is stamped on
most trailer couplers. Most hitch balls also
have the size printed on the top of the ball.
● Choose the proper class hitch ball based on
the trailer weight.
● The diameter of the threaded shank of the
hitch ball must be matched to the ball mount
hole diameter. The hitch ball shank should
be no more than 1/16” smaller than the hole
in the ball mount. ●
The threaded shank of the hitch ball must be
long enough to be properly secured to the
ball mount. There should be at least 2
threads showing beyond the lock washer
and nut.
Ball mount
The hitch ball is attached to the ball mount and
the ball mount is inserted into the hitch receiver.
Choose a proper class ball mount based on the
trailer weight. Additionally, the ball mount should
be chosen to keep the trailer tongue level with the
ground.
Technical and consumer information9-29