2013 NISSAN XTERRA power steering

1. Vents (P. 4-15)
2. Headlight/fog light (if so equipped)/turnsignal switch (P. 2-28)
3. Steering wheel switch for audio control
(if so equipped)/Bluetooth® Hands-
Free Phone System (if so equipped)
(P. 4-69, P. 4-64, 4-65)
4. Driver supplemental air bag/horn
(P. 1-44, P. 2-32)
5. Meters, gauges and warning/indicator
lights (P. 2-3, 2-14)
6. Cruise control main/set switches
(P. 5-20)
7. Windshield wiper/washer switch and
rear window wiper/washer switch
(P. 2-26, P. 2-27)
8. Storage (P. 2-37)
9. Audio system controls (P. 4-30)
10. Front passenger supplemental air bag
(P. 1-44)
11. Upper and lower glove box (P. 2-38)
12. Passenger air bag status light (P. 1-53)
13. Power outlet (P. 2-36)
14. Power outlet (P. 2-36)
WIC1447
INSTRUMENT PANEL
0-6Illustrated table of contents

15. Electronic locking rear differential(E-Lock) system switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-34)
Hill descent control switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-33)
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
switch (P. 2-33)
16. Shift selector (P. 5-13)
17. 4WD shift switch (P. 5-27)
18. Climate controls (P.4-16, 4-23)
19. Hazard warning flasher switch (P. 6-2)
20. Ignition switch (P. 5-9)
21. Tilt steering wheel control (P. 3-12)
22. Off road lamps switch (if so equipped)
(P. 2-32)
23. Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-35)
24. Power outside mirror controls
(if so equipped) (P. 3-16)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
Illustrated table of contents0-7

VQ40DE engine
1. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir(P. 8-14)
2. Fuse/fusible link box (P. 8-23)
3. Fuse and relay box (P. 8-23)
4. Engine oil filler cap (P. 8-9)
5. Engine oil dipstick (P. 8-9)
6. Brake fluid reservoir/Clutch fluid
reservoir (M/T model) (P. 8-13)
7. Air cleaner (P. 8-18)
8. Drive belt location (P.8-17)
9. Radiator cap (P. 8-7)
10. Power steering fluid reservoir (P. 8-12)
11. Battery (P. 8-14)
12. Engine coolant reservoir (P. 8-7)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
LII0167
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
0-8Illustrated table of contents

1. Vents (P. 4-15)
2. Headlight/fog light (if so equipped)/turnsignal switch (P. 2-28)
3. Steering wheel switch for audio control
(if so equipped)/Bluetooth® Hands-
Free Phone System (if so equipped)
(P. 4-69, P. 4-64, 4-65)
4. Driver supplemental air bag/horn
(P. 1-44, P. 2-32)
5. Meters, gauges and warning/indicator
lights (P. 2-3, 2-14)
6. Cruise control main/set switches
(P. 5-20)
7. Windshield wiper/washer switch and
rear window wiper/washer switch
(P. 2-26, P. 2-27)
8. Storage (P. 2-37)
9. Audio system controls (P. 4-30)
10. Front passenger supplemental air bag
(P. 1-44)
11. Upper and lower glove box (P. 2-38)
12. Passenger air bag status light (P. 1-53)
13. Power outlet (P. 2-36)
14. Power outlet (P. 2-36)
WIC1447
INSTRUMENT PANEL
2-2Instruments and controls

15. Electronic locking rear differential(E-Lock) system switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-34)
Hill descent control switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-33)
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
switch (P. 2-33)
16. Shift selector (P. 5-13)
17. 4WD shift switch (P. 5-27)
18. Climate controls (P.4-16, 4-23)
19. Hazard warning flasher switch (P. 6-2)
20. Ignition switch (P. 5-9)
21. Tilt steering wheel control (P. 3-12)
22. Off road lamps switch (if so equipped)
(P. 2-32)
23. Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-35)
24. Power outside mirror controls
(if so equipped) (P. 3-16)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
1. Warning/indicator lights
2. Tachometer
3. Speedometer
4. Fuel gauge
5. Voltmeter 6. Odometer/Twin trip odometer/Trip
computer (if so equipped)
7. Engine oil pressure gauge
8. Engine coolant temperature gauge
WIC0911
METERS AND GAUGES
Instruments and controls2-3

The vehicle should be driven with the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system on for most driv-
ing conditions.
If the vehicle is stuck in mud or snow, the VDC
system reduces the engine output to reduce
wheel spin. The engine speed will be reduced
even if the accelerator is depressed to the floor. If
maximum engine power is needed to free a stuck
vehicle, turn the VDC system off.
To turn off the VDC system, push the VDC OFF
switch. The
indicator will come on.
Push the VDC OFF switch again or restart the
engine to turn on the system. See “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) system” in the “Starting and
driving” section.
WARNING
● Never 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. ●
The 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 hill descent control system helps to
control vehicle speed so the driver can concen-
trate on steering the vehicle.
To activate the hill descent control system: ● the 4WD switch must be in the 4L position
and the vehicle speed must be under
15 MPH (25 km/h) or
LIC1548LIC0743
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
OFF SWITCH HILL DESCENT CONTROL SWITCH (if
so equipped)
Instruments and controls2-33

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys .............................................3-2NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System keys .........3-2
Doors ............................................3-3
Locking with key ................................3-3
Locking with inside lock knob ....................3-3
Locking with power door lock switch .............3-4
Automatic door locks ...........................3-4
Child safety rear door lock .......................3-5
Remote keyless entry system .......................3-5
How to use remote keyless entry system ..........3-6
Hood ............................................3-9
Liftgate ...........................................3-9 Fuel-filler door
................................... 3-10
Opening the fuel-filler lid .......................3-10
Fuel-filler cap . . ............................... 3-10
Steering wheel ................................... 3-12
Tilt operation .................................. 3-12
Sun visors ....................................... 3-12
Vanity mirrors (if so equipped) ...................3-14
Mirrors .......................................... 3-14
Rearview mirror (if so equipped) .................3-14
Automatic anti-glare rearview mirror
(if so equipped) ............................... 3-15
Outside mirrors ............................... 3-15

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 ....................5-6
Off-road recovery ...............................5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ..........................5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................5-7
Driving safety precautions .......................5-7
Ignition switch .....................................5-9
Automatic transmission (if so equipped) ..........5-10
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ............5-11
Key positions ................................. 5-11
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............5-11
Before starting the engine ......................... 5-12
Starting the engine ............................... 5-12
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-13
Automatic transmission (if so equipped) ..........5-13
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ............5-17
Parking brake .................................... 5-19
Cruise control .................................... 5-20Precautions on cruise control
...................5-20
Cruise control operations .......................5-20
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-21
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................... 5-22
Increasing fuel economy ........................... 5-23
Using four wheel drive (4WD)
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-23
Transfer case shifting procedures ...............5-24
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-29
Parking/parking on hills ............................ 5-31
Power steering ................................... 5-32
Brake system .................................... 5-32
Brake precautions ............................. 5-32
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................5-33
Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system .............5-34
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............5-35
Hill descent control system (if so equipped) .........5-36
Hill start assist system (if so equipped) ..............5-37
Cold weather driving .............................. 5-38
Freeing a frozen door lock ......................5-38
Anti-freeze .................................... 5-38
Battery ....................................... 5-38