2012 NISSAN XTERRA tow

Foldable outside mirrors
Pull the outside mirror toward the door to fold it.
LPD0259
3-16Pre-driving checks and adjustments

●Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
CAUTION
● Do not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce the three-way catalyst’s ability to
help reduce exhaust pollutants.
● Keep 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.
● Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause
the engine to misfire, damaging the
three-way catalyst.
● Do not race the engine while warming it
up.
● Do not push or tow your vehicle to start
the engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided) ,
should be checked monthly when cold and in-
flated to the inflation pressure recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard
or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to
trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS mal-
function indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi-
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replacement or alter-
nate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replac-
ing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
Starting and driving5-3

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
IGNITION SWITCH
5-10Starting and driving

To reset at a faster cruising speed,use one
of the following three methods.
● Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
● Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you de-
sire, release the switch.
● Push and release the ACCEL/RES switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed in-
creases by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods.
● Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
● Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows to
the desired speed.
● Push and release the COAST/SET switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed de-
creases by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle re-
turns to the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h) .CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ,
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and en-
sure the future reliability and economy of
your new vehicle. Failure to follow these
recommendations may result in short-
ened engine life and reduced engine
performance.
● Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
● Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
● Avoid quick starts.
● Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
● Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged. ●
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
● Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
● Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other ve-
hicles.
● Use a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
● Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
● Keep your engine tuned up.
● Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
● Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● Air conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-22Starting and driving

WARNING
●Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
● Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) for
automatic transmission models or in an
appropriate gear for manual transmis-
sion models. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
or roll away and result in an accident. Make sure the shift selector has been
pushed as far forward as it can go and
cannot be moved without depressing
the foot brake pedal.
● Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
● Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake. 2.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift selector in the R (Reverse)
position. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the shift selector in 1st gear.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
● HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
A
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
B
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
C
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK posi- tion and remove the key.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-31

6 In case of emergency
First aid kit (if so equipped).........................6-2
Flat tire ...........................................6-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..........6-2
Changing a flat tire .............................6-3
Jump starting .....................................6-9 Push starting
..................................... 6-11
If your vehicle overheats ........................... 6-11
Towing your vehicle ............................... 6-12
Towing recommended by NISSAN ..............6-13
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) . . . ......6-14

Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocks1at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire
2to prevent the vehicle from moving when it is
jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and result in personal injury.
Getting the spare tire and tools
1. Fold the rear bench seat cushion forward. Refer to “Folding the 2nd row bench seat” in
the “Safety–Seats, seat belts and supple-
mental restraint system” section earlier in
this manual.
2. Remove the jack and jacking tools. 3. Find the oval-shaped opening above the
middle of the bumper. Pass the T-shaped
end of the jack rod through the opening and
direct it toward the spare tire winch, located
directly above the spare tire.
CAUTION
Do not insert the jack rod straight as it is
designed to be inserted at an angle as
shown.
WCE0044LCE0115LCE0117
6-4In case of emergency

CAUTION
●Do not push start this vehicle. The
three-way catalyst may be damaged.
● Automatic transmission models cannot
be push-started or tow-started. At-
tempting to do so may cause transmis-
sion damage.
● For manual transmission models, never
try to start the vehicle by towing it.
When the engine starts, the forward
surge could cause the vehicle to collide
with the tow vehicle.
WARNING
● Do not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
● To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator cap while the
engine is still hot. When the radiator
cap is removed, pressurized hot water
will spurt out, possibly causing serious
injury.
● Do not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading) , or if
you feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc. take the following steps. 1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake and move the shift selector
to N (Neutral) (manual transmission) or to P
(Park) (automatic transmission) .
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the windows, move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed. 3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or cool-
ant is escaping, turn off the engine.) Do not
open the hood further until no steam or
coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5.
Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking, the
water pump belt is missing or loose, or the
cooling fan does not run, stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling
fan can start at any time.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-11