2013 NISSAN XTERRA differential

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

When the vehicle is stuck,● Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4LO.
● Use the Electronic Locking Rear Differential
(E-Lock) system (if so equipped) . Turn the
switch ON while the vehicle is stationary and
apply the throttle to try to free the vehicle.
● If it is difficult to free the vehicle, rock the
vehicle back and forth between reverse and
drive gears.
● If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, place
stones or wooden blocks under the tires.
Then try the recovery procedures above. Tire
chains may be effective.
CAUTION
●Do not spin the tires excessively. Tires
will sink deep into the mud, making it
difficult to free the vehicle.
● Avoid shifting gears with the engine
running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.
4WD shift switch operations
● Shift the 4WD shift switch to either the
2WD, 4H or 4LO position, depending on
driving conditions.
● If the 4WD shift switch is operated
while making a turn, accelerating or
decelerating or if the key switch is
turned off while in the 4H or 4LO posi-
tion, you may feel a jolt. This is not
abnormal. ●
When the vehicle is stopped after mak-
ing a turn, you may feel a slight jolt
after the shift selector is shifted to N or
P. This occurs because the transfer
clutch is released and not because of a
malfunction.
CAUTION
●When driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD or 4H position.
Do not move the 4WD shift switch when
making a turn or reversing.
● Do not shift the 4WD shift switch while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use
the engine brake and low automatic
transmission gears (D1 or D2) or
manual transmission (1st gear or 2nd
gear) for engine braking.
● Do not operate the 4WD shift switch
with the rear wheels spinning.
● Before placing the 4WD shift switch in
the 4H position from 2WD, ensure the
vehicle speed is less than 62 MPH
(100 km/h). Failure to do so can dam-
age the 4WD system.
● Never shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
LSD0145
Starting and driving5-27

●When the warning light comes on, the
2WD mode may be engaged even if the
4WD shift switch is in 4H. Be especially
careful when driving. If corresponding
parts are malfunctioning, the 4WD
mode will not be engaged even if the
4WD shift switch is shifted.
● Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing on dry, hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise, tire wear
and increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on when
you are driving on dry hard surface
roads:
– in the 4H position, shift the 4WD shift switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for automatic transmission vehicles, stop the ve-
hicle and shift the shift selector to
the N position with the brake pedal
depressed and shift the 4WD shift
switch to 2WD. – in the 4LO position for manual trans-
mission vehicles, stop the vehicle
and shift the shift selector to the N
position with the clutch pedal de-
pressed and shift the 4WD shift
switch to 2WD.
● If the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
● The transfer case may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warning
light blinking. The E-Lock system can provide additional trac-
tion and should only be used when a vehicle has
become or is becoming stuck. This system oper-
ates by electronically “locking” the two rear drive
wheels together, allowing them to turn at the
same speed. The system is used when it is not
possible to free a stuck vehicle even when using
the 4LO position (4 wheel drive vehicles) .
When added traction is required, activate the
E-Lock system by pushing the switch ON. See
“Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) sys-
tem switch” in the “Instruments and Controls”
section. Once the system fully engages, the indi-
cator light in the instrument panel will remain ON.
When the system is activated, both rear wheels
will engage, providing added traction.
The rear wheels may momentarily slip or move to
engage the system, and the system will only
engage up to approximately 4 MPH (7 km/h).
Once the vehicle is free, the system should be
turned OFF and driving resumed.
The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) system is disabled
and the ABS light illuminates when the E-Lock
system is ON. Also, the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system is disabled and the VDC light
illuminates when the E-Lock system is ON.
ELECTRONIC LOCKING REAR
DIFFERENTIAL (E-Lock) SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving5-29

●Use the correct jack-up points. Never
use any other part of the vehicle for jack
support.
● Never jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
● Never use blocks on or under the jack.
● Do not start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack. It may cause the
vehicle to move. This is especially true
for vehicles with limited slip
differentials.
● Do not allow passengers to stay in the
vehicle while it is on the jack.
● Never run the engine with a wheel(s) off
the ground. It may cause the vehicle to
move.
Always refer to the illustration for the correct
placement and jack-up points for your specific
vehicle model and jack type.
Carefully read the caution label attached to
the jack body and the following instruc-
tions. 1. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turns by turning counterclockwise with the wheel nut
wrench. Do not remove the wheel nuts
until the tire is off the ground. 2. Place the jack directly under the jack-up
point as illustrated so the top of the jack
contacts the vehicle at the jack-up point. The
front tire jack-up points are indicated by
stamped arrows on the side of the frame. The jack should be used on firm and
level ground.
WCE0154
In case of emergency6-7

Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. Recommended types and
sizes are shown in “Wheels and tires” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
WARNING
●The use of tires other than those recom-
mended or the mixed use of tires of
different brands, construction (bias,
bias-belted or radial) , or tread patterns
can adversely affect the ride, braking,
handling, VDC system, ground clear-
ance, body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to acci-
dents and could result in serious per-
sonal injury.
● If your vehicle was originally equipped
with 4 tires that were the same size and
you are only replacing 2 of the 4 tires,
install the new tires on the rear axle.
Placing new tires on the front axle may
cause loss of vehicle control in some
driving conditions and cause an acci-
dent and personal injury. ●
If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have
the same off-set dimension. Wheels of a
different off-set could cause premature
tire wear, degrade vehicle handling char-
acteristics, affect the VDC system and/or
interference with the brake discs/drums.
Such interference can lead to decreased
braking efficiency and/or early brake
pad/shoe wear. Refer to “Wheels and
tires” in the “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section of this manual for
wheel off-set dimensions.
●When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, tire pressure will not be indi-
cated, 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 install a damaged or deformed
wheel or tire even if it has been re-
paired. Such wheels or tires could have
structural damage and could fail with-
out warning. ●
The use of retread tires is not
recommended.
● For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Four-wheel drive models
CAUTION
Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial) , and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may dam-
age the transmission, transfer case and
differential gears.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recommended
that all four tires be replaced with tires of the
same size, brand, construction and tread pattern.
The tire pressure and wheel alignment should
also be checked and corrected as necessary.
Contact a NISSAN dealer.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-43

Capacity (Approximate)Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Front final drive oil 1-3/4 pt 1-1/2 pt0.85Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90
or API GL-5, Viscosity 80W-90, *9
Rear final drive oil With A/T
With M/T 3-3/8 pt
4-1/4 pt2-7/8 pt
3-1/2 pt 1.6
2.0API GL-5 synthetic gear oil, Viscosity SAE 75W-90 *10
Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil synthetic 75W-140 or API
GL-5 synthetic gear oil, Viscosity SAE 75W-140 *10
Windshield-washer fluid (shared between front and
rear wipers) 1-1/4 gal 1 gal
4.5Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner &
Antifreeze or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Fuel recommendation” in this section.
*2: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations” in this section.
*3: If Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF is not available, Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF may also be used. Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF or Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic transmission, which is not covered by the
NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*4: DEXRON™ VI type ATF may also be used.
*5: Available in mainland USA through a NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see “Air conditioner specification label” in this section.
*7: Using fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and transfer durability, and may damage the transfer, which is not covered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*8: For further details, see “Changing engine oil” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
*9: For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 0°C (32°F) .
*10: See a NISSAN dealer for service for synthetic oil.
Technical and consumer information9-3

Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-30
Child restraint with top tether strap .......1-30
Child safety rear door lock ............3-5
Chimes, audible reminders ...........2-23
Cleaningexteriorandinterior...........7-2
Clock.......................4-40
Clutch Clutchfluid..................8-13
Clutchinterlock(clutchstart)switch......2-35
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-11
Cold weather driving ..............5-38
Compact disc (CD) player ....4-41,4-46,4-52
Compass display ................2-10
Console box ...................2-38
Controlpanelbuttons...............4-2 Brightness/contrast button ..........4-9
Enterbutton..................4-2
Setting button .................4-5
Controls Audiocontrols(steeringwheel).......4-69
Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-15,4-23
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-8
Checking engine coolant level ........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Corrosionprotection ...............7-5
Cruise control ..................5-20
Cupholders...................2-40
Curtain side-impact and rollover air bag ....1-56D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-30
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch.....................2-28
Dimensionsandweights.............9-9
Dimmer switch for instrument panel ......2-31
Display controls (see control panel buttons) . .4-2
Door locks .....................3-3
Door open warning light .............2-16
Drive belt .....................8-17
Driving Cold weather driving ............5-38
Driving with automatic transmission ....5-13
Driving with manual transmission ......5-17
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
E
Economy - fuel ..................5-23
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system ......................5-29
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system switch ..................2-34
Emission control information label .......9-11
Emission control system warranty .......9-30
Engine Before starting the engine ..........5-12
Block heater .................5-39
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-8
Changing engine oil .............8-10 Changing engine oil filter
..........8-11
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 ............8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-6
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-17
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-6
Engine serial

number ............9-10
Engine specifications .............9-8
Starting the engine .............5-12
Engine oil pressure gauge ............2-8
Enterbutton....................4-2
Eventdatarecorders ..............9-32
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .........5-2
Extended storage switch ............8-26
F
First aid kit .....................6-2
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) .......6-2
Flat tire .......................6-3
Floor mat positioning aid .............7-5
Fluid Brake fluid ..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Clutch fluid ..................8-13
Engine coolant .................8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
Power steering fluid .............8-12
Windshield-washer fluid ...........8-14
10-2

Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-44
Switch Autolightswitch...............2-29
Automatic power window switch ......2-48
Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch ....2-35
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
systemswitch................2-34
Foglightswitch ...............2-31
Hazard warning flasher switch ........6-2
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-28
Headlightcontrolswitch ..........2-28
Hill descent control switch .........2-33
Ignition switch .................5-9
Overdrive switch ...............5-17
Power door lock switch ............3-4
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch.....................2-28
Rear window wiper and washer
switches ...................2-27
Turnsignalswitch..............2-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch.....................2-33
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
T
Tachometer ....................2-6
Temperature gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start .............2-25,3-2,5-11
Three-way catalyst ................5-2
Tilting steering wheel ..............3-12 Tire
Flat tire .....................6-3
Spare tire ...................6-5
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-11
Tirechains..................8-41
Tireplacard..................9-11
Tire pressure .................8-34
Tire rotation..................8-41
Tires of 4-wheel drive ............8-43
Types of tires .................8-40
Uniform tire quality grading .........9-29
Wheels and tires ...............8-34
Wheel/tire size .................9-9
Tire pressure Low tire pressure warning light .......2-17
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
Flattowing..................9-28
Towing load/specification ..........9-22
Towtrucktowing...............6-12
Trailer towing .................9-19
Transmission Driving with automatic transmission ....5-13
Driving with manual transmission ......5-17
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country) ......................9-10
Trip computer ...................2-9
Trip odometer ...................2-4
Turn signal switch ................2-31 U
Uniform tire quality grading ...........9-29
USB interface Audio file operation ..........4-56,4-57
V
Vanity mirror ...................3-14
Variable voltage control system .........8-17
Vehicledimensionsandweights.........9-9
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . .2-33
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system .....5-35
Vehicle identification ...............9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ....9-10
V e

hicleloadinginformation...........9-12
Vehicle recovery .................6-14
Vehicle security system .............2-24
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle immobi-
lizer system) , engine start ......2-25,3-2,5-11
Ventilators ....................4-15
Visors.......................3-12
Voice recognition system ............4-95
Voltmeter......................2-8
W
Warning 4WDwarninglight..............2-17
Airbagwarninglight.........1-59, 2-19
Anti-lock brake warning light ........2-15
Battery charge warning light ........2-16
Brake warning light .............2-16
Door open warning light ...........2-16
10-6