VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
.Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
. Do not spin your tires at high
speed. This could cause them to
explode and result in serious in-
jury. Parts of your vehicle could
also overheat and be damaged.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device
designed specifically for vehicle recovery.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.
Attach the tow strap to the towing hook.
CAUTION
.Tow chains or cables must be
attached only to the main struc-
tural members of the vehicle or
the towing hooks. Otherwise, the
vehicle body will be damaged.
. Use the towing hook only to free
a vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc. Never tow the vehicle
for a long distance using only the
towing hook.
. The towing hook is under tre-
mendous force when used to free
a stuck vehicle. Never pull the
hook at an angle.
. Always pull the cable straight out
from the front or rear of the
vehicle.
. Pulling devices should be routed
so they do not touch any part of
the suspension, steering, brake or
cooling systems.
. Pulling devices such as ropes or
canvas straps are not recom-
mended for use in vehicle towing
or recovery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstruc-
tions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires. 4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and
backward.
.Shift back and forth between R(Reverse) and D (Drive).
.Apply the accelerator as little as possible to maintain the rocking
motion.
.Release the accelerator pedal be-
fore shifting between R and D.
.Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH(55 km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional tow-
ing service to remove the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-19
6-20In case of emergency
This section describes the procedure for
manually shifting the vehicle into the 4WD
mode (4L position) in case of an emer-
gency.
WHEN 4WD WARNING LIGHT ILLU-
MINATES
If the 4WD warning light illuminates while
driving, there may be a malfunction in the
4WD system. Stop the vehicle and have
the vehicle checked as soon as possible. It
is recommended you contact a NISSAN
dealer for this service. (See “NISSAN all-
mode 4WD®” (P.5-123).)
When the vehicle is stuck on an uneven
road (desert, mud, etc.) and the 4WD
warning light is illuminated, be sure to
place the 4WD shift switch in the 4L
position. If only the rear wheels are
spinning, this means that the transfer
has not switched to the 4L position
electrically.
If this situation occurs, contact a dealer or
road assistance service for help. If an
immediate service is not available, per-
form the following procedure to switch to
the 4L position manually and free the
vehicle.
CAUTION
Only perform this procedure in an
emergency.
If the vehicle is driven for a long
period of time over a long distance
with a component detached, foreign
material such as water, sand, etc.
may enter from the opening and this
may cause a malfunction in the
drivetrain system. After freeing a
vehicle that has become stuck, it is
recommended you contact a NISSAN
dealer for inspection and repair.
WARNING
.Ensure your safety before per-
forming the operations. The ve-
hicle may move unexpectedly.
. Place the ignition switch in the
OFF position, apply the parking
brake and let the vehicle cool
down.
. Do not perform the following
procedure immediately after
driving the vehicle. Parts such as
exhaust components, the trans- mission, etc. are very hot and
may cause a burn injury.
. Make sure that the parts that will
be operated as well as related
parts cool down before perform-
ing the operation.
. Burrs or projecting portions of
metal components may cause
unexpected injury to your fingers
or arms. Pay special attention in
regard to your safety while re-
moving and installing these
parts. Wear work gloves and pro-
tective arm covers.
CAUTION
While removing and installing the
parts, prevent the removed parts
from getting dirty with water, dirt or
sand. Protect the parts using a cover
such as a clean cloth, etc.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
MANUAL SHIFTING (4WD models)
OPERATING PROCEDURE
Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and apply the parking brake. Let
the vehicle cool down before performing
the following procedure.
SCE0959
4WD shift motor assembly
1. Check that the ignition switch is in theOFF position.
CAUTION
The following procedure includes the
removal of the electrical system
components. Therefore, make sure
that the ignition switch is in the OFF
position before proceeding.
SCE0960
4WD shift motor harness connector
2. Unlock the upper lockof the har-
ness connector of the 4WD shift motor
assembly, then remove the harness
connector.
3. Cover the connector to prevent it from getting dirty, and then fasten
the connector to the vehicle using a
suitable rope so that the connector
does not contact the exhaust muffler,
etc.
In case of emergency6-21
7-8Appearance and care
Temperature
A temperature increase will accelerate
the rate of corrosion to those parts which
are not well ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in
the air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt
use will accelerate the corrosion process.
Road salt will also accelerate the disin-
tegration of paint surfaces.
TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION
.Wash and wax your vehicle often to
keep the vehicle clean.
. Always check for minor damage to the
paint and repair it as soon as possible.
. Keep drain holes at the bottom of the
doors open to avoid water accumula-
tion.
. Check the underbody for accumula-
tion of sand, dirt or salt. If present,
wash with water as soon as possible.
CAUTION
.NEVER remove dirt, sand or other
debris from the passenger com-
partment by washing it out with a
hose. Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
. Never allow water or other liquids
to come in contact with electronic
components inside the vehicle as
this may damage them.
Chemicals used for road surface deicing
are extremely corrosive. They accelerate
corrosion and deterioration of underbody
components such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor
pan and fenders.
In winter, the underbody must be
cleaned periodically.
For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended you consult a
NISSAN dealer.
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ...................................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ........................ 8-3VK56VD engine ....................................................................... 8-3
Engine cooling system ............................................................. 8-4 Checking engine coolant level .................................... 8-5
Changing engine coolant ................................................ 8-5
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..................... 8-6 Checking engine oil level ................................................. 8-6
Changing engine oil and filter ..................................... 8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ............................. 8-8
Power steering fluid ................................................................... 8-8
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
.................. 8-9
Window washer fluid .............................................................. 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
........................ 8-11 Jump starting ........................................................................\
. 8-13
Variable voltage control system ................................... 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
................ 8-13
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
............. 8-14 Replacing spark plugs ..................................................... 8-14
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
............... 8-15 Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-16
Cleaning ........................................................................\
........... 8-16
Replacing ........................................................................\
........ 8-16
Rear window wiper blades ............................................... 8-17
Brakes ........................................................................\
........................ 8-17 Self-adjusting brakes ..................................................... 8-17
Brake pad wear warning ............................................ 8-17
Brake booster ...................................................................... 8-17
Fuses ........................................................................\
........................... 8-18 Engine compartment .................................................... 8-18
Passenger compartment ........................................... 8-20
Intelligent Key battery replacement .......................... 8-21
Lights ........................................................................\
.......................... 8-24
Headlights ........................................................................\
...... 8-24
Exterior and interior lights ........................................ 8-26
Wheels and tires ........................................................................\
8-30
Tire pressure ........................................................................\
8-30
Tire labeling ........................................................................\
.. 8-34
Types of tires ....................................................................... 8-36
Tire chains ........................................................................\
...... 8-37
Changing wheels and tires ...................................... 8-37
8-2Do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always
take care to prevent serious accidental
injury to yourself or damage to the
vehicle. The following are general precau-
tions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
.Park the vehicle on a level sur-
face, apply the parking brake
securely and block the wheels to
prevent the vehicle from moving.
Move the shift lever to P (Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position when
performing any parts replace-
ment or repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or auto-
matic transmission related com-
ponent harnesses disconnected
while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, cloth-
ing, hair and tools away from
moving fans, belts and any other moving parts.
. It is advisable to secure or re-
move any loose clothing and
remove any jewelry, such as
rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection
whenever you work on your ve-
hicle.
. If you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage,
be sure there is proper ventilation
for exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while
it is supported only by a jack. If it
is necessary to work under the
vehicle, support it with safety
stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame
and sparks away from fuel tank
and the battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It
may come on at any time without
warning, even if the ignition key is
in the OFF position and the en-
gine is not running. To avoid
injury, always disconnect the ne-
gative battery cable before work-
ing near the fan. .
Because the fuel lines are under
high pressure even when the
engine is off, it is recommended
you visit a NISSAN dealer for
service of the fuel filter or fuel
lines.CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used
engine oil and coolant. Impro-
perly disposed engine oil, coolant,
and/or other vehicle fluids can
damage the environment. Always
conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to
perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service
Manual order information” (P.10-35).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operat-
ing difficulties or excessive emissions, and
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
could affect your warranty coverage.If in
doubt about any servicing, it is recom-
mended you have it done by a NISSAN
dealer.
JVC0965X
VK56VD ENGINE
1. Window washer fluid reservoir
2. Fuse/fusible link holder
3. Engine oil dipstick
4. Power steering fluid reservoir
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Brake fluid reservoir 7. Fuse/fusible link holder
8. Battery
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Engine coolant reservoir
11. Drive belts
12. Air cleaner
Do-it-yourself8-3
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK LOCATIONS
8-6Do-it-yourself
JVM0728X
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches oper- ating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than
15 minutes for the oil to drain back
into the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the
range
. If the oil level is below,
remove the oil filler cap and pour
recommended oil through the open- ing.
Do not overfill
.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the se-
verity of operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not
covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches oper- ating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack
stands.
.Place the safety jack stands underthe vehicle jack-up points.
.A suitable adapter should be at-
tached to the jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the engine undercover.
.Remove the bolts that hold the undercover in place.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and
support points are used to avoid
vehicle damage.
ENGINE OIL