Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
Anti-lock Braking System will operate to
prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in-
cludes electronic sensors, electric pumps,
hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle at a low
speed in forward or reverse. When the self-
test occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal.
This is normal and does not indicate a mal-
function. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and illumi-
nates the ABS warning light on theinstrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally but without anti-lock
assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) oper-
ates at speeds abov
e3-6mph(5-
10 km/h). The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure. This action is similar to pumping the
brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal and hear a noise
from under the hood or feel a vibration
from the actuator when it is operating. This
is normal and indicates that the ABS is op-
erating properly. However, the pulsation
may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while
driving. ∙ The ABLS system uses automatic brak-
ing to transfer power from a slipping
drive wheel to the wheel on the same
axle with more traction. The ABLS sys-
tem applies braking to the slipping
wheel, which helps redirect power to
the other wheel.
∙ On 4WD models the ABLS system oper- ates in both 4H and 4LO modes. If 4WD
mode is engaged, the ABLS system op-
erates for both drive axles. On 2WD ve-
hicles, the ABLS system operates on the
drive axle only.
∙ The ABLS system is always ON. In some conditions, the system may automati-
cally turn the ABLS system off. If the sys-
tem is automatically turned off, normal
brake function will continue. ABLS will
function even when the VDC system is
turned OFF.
∙ The ABLS does not operate if both wheels on a drive axle are slipping.
ACTIVE BRAKE LIMITED SLIP (ABLS)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-37
∙ When driving on extremely inclinedsurfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
indicator may
flash or the
indicator light may
illuminate. Do not drive on these types
of roads.
∙ When driving on an unstable surface such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator may flash or
the
indicator light may illumi-
nate. This is not a malfunction. Re-
start the engine af ter driving onto a
stable surface.
∙ If wheels or tires other than the NISSAN recommended ones are used,
the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
indicator may
flash or the
indicator light may
illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
∙ Never rely solely on the hill descentcontrol system to control vehicle
speed when driving on steep downhill
grades. Always drive carefully and at-
tentively when using the hill descent
control system and decelerate the ve-
hicle speed by depressing the brake
pedal if necessary. Be especially care-
ful when driving on frozen, muddy or
extremely steep downhill roads. Fail-
ure to control vehicle speed may re-
sult in a loss of control of the vehicle
and possible serious injury or death.
∙ The hill descent control may not con- trol 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 result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
The hill descent control system helps
maintain vehicle speed when driving under
15-21 mph (25-35 km/h) on steeper down-
hill grades. Hill descent control is useful
when engine braking alone in 4H or 4L can-
not control vehicle speed. Hill descent con-
trol applies the vehicle brakes to control
vehicle speed allowing the driver to con- centrate on steering while reducing the
burden of brake and accelerator operation.
∙ When additional braking is required on steep downhill roads, activate the hill
descent control system by pushing the
switch on. For additional information,
refer to “Hill descent control switch” in
the “Instruments and controls” section
of this manual.
∙ Once the system is activated, the indi- cator light will remain on in the instru-
ment panel. For additional information,
refer to “Hill descent control system ON
indicator light” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual.
If the accelerator or brake pedal is de-
pressed while the hill descent control sys-
tem is on, the system will stop operating
temporarily. As soon as the accelerator or
brake pedal is released, the hill descent
control system begins to function again if
the hill descent control operating condi-
tions are fulfilled.
For the best results, when descending
steep downhill grades, the hill descent con-
trol switch should be on and the shif t lever
in 2 (Second gear) or 1 (Low gear) for engine
braking.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving5-41
WARNING
∙ Never rely solely on the hill start assistsystem to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always
drive carefully and attentively. De-
press the brake pedal when the ve-
hicle is stopped on a steep hill. Be es-
pecially careful when stopped on a hill
on frozen or muddy roads. Failure to
prevent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards may result in a loss of control of
the vehicle and possible serious injury
or death.
∙ The hill start assist system is not de- signed to hold the vehicle at a stand-
still on a hill. Depress the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped on a
steep hill. Failure to do so may cause
the vehicle to roll backwards and may
result in a collision or serious personal
injury.
∙ The hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards on
a hill under all load or road conditions.
Always be prepared to depress the
brake pedal to prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards. Failure to do
so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury. When the vehicle is stopped on a hill, the hill
start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied. This helps prevents the
vehicle from rolling backward in the time it
takes the driver to release the brake pedal
and apply the accelerator.
Hill start assist will operate automatically
under the following conditions:
∙ The shif t lever is shif ted to a forward or reverse gear.
∙ The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
Af ter 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll
back and hill start assist will stop operating
completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the
shif t lever is shif ted into N (Neutral) or P
(Park) or on a flat and level road.
WARNING
∙ Always turn and look back before backing up. The RSS is not a substi-
tute for proper backing procedures.
∙ Read and understand the limitations of the Rear Sonar System as con-
tained in this section. Inclement
weather may affect the function of
the RSS; this may include reduced
performance or a false activation.
∙ This system is not designed to pre- vent contact with small or moving
objects.
WSD0103
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM (if so
equipped) REAR SONAR SYSTEM (RSS) (if so
equipped)
5-42Starting and driving
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.......................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ...........8-3
Engine cooling system ..........................8-5
Checking engine coolant level ................8-6
Changing engine coolant .....................8-6
Engine oil ........................................8-7
Checking engine oil level .....................8-7
Changing engine oil ..........................8-8
Changing engine oil filter ....................8-10
5-speed Automatic Transmission
(if so equipped) Fluid (ATF) .......................8-11
Power Steering Fluid (PSF) .......................8-11
Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid ..........8-12
Brake fluid ................................... 8-12
Clutch (if so equipped) fluid ..................8-12
Windshield-washer fluid ........................8-13
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ............8-13
Battery......................................... 8-14
Jump starting ............................... 8-15
Variable voltage control system ................8-16
Drive belt ....................................... 8-16
Spark plugs .................................... 8-17Replacing spark plugs
....................... 8-17
Air cleaner ...................................... 8-18
In-cabin microfilter .......................... 8-19
Windshield wiper blades ........................8-20
Cleaning .................................... 8-20
Replacing ................................... 8-20
Brakes.......................................... 8-21
Fuses ........................................... 8-22
Engine compartment .......................8-23
Passenger compartment ....................8-24
Battery replacement ........................... 8-25
Key fob (if so equipped) ......................8-26
Lights .......................................... 8-27
Headlights ................................... 8-27
Fog lights (if so equipped) ...................8-28
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-29
Wheels
and tires ................................ 8-31
Tire pressure ................................ 8-31
Tire labeling ................................. 8-34
Types of tires ................................ 8-37
Tire chains .................................. 8-38
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-39
CAUTION
∙ Af ter wiper blade replacement, returnthe wiper arm to its original position;
otherwise it may be damaged when
the hood is opened.
∙ Make sure the wiper blades contact the glass; otherwise the arms may be
damaged from wind pressure.
∙ Worn windshield wiper blades can damage the windshield and impair
driver vision.
If you wax the surface of the hood, be care-
ful not to let wax get into the windshield-
washer nozzle . This may cause clogging or
improper windshield-washer operation. If
wax gets into the nozzle, remove it with a
needle or small pin
1.If the brakes do not operate properly, have
the brakes checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this ser-
vice.
Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front and rear disc-type brakes self-
adjust every time the brake pedal is ap-
plied.
WARNING
Have your brake system checked if the
brake pedal height does not return to
normal. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, a high pitched
scraping or screeching sound will be heard
when the vehicle is in motion. The noise will
be heard whether or not the brake pedal is
depressed. Have the brakes checked as
soon as possible if the wear indicator
sound is heard.
LDI3120
BRAKES
Do-it-yourself8-21
secondary latch keeps the hood from
opening when the primary latch is re-
leased.
When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrica-
tion frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and in-
stalled securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When check-
ing the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are
missing, and check for any loose wheel
nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated ev-
ery 5,000 miles (8,000 km).
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
of ten and always prior to long distance
trips. If necessary, adjust the pressure in all
tires, including the spare, to the pressure
specified. Check carefully for damage, cuts
or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the
TPMS transmitter grommet seal, valve core
and cap when the tires are replaced due to
wear or age. Wheel alignment and balance:
If the ve-
hicle should pull to either side while driving
on a straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may
be a need for wheel alignment. If the steer-
ing wheel or seat vibrates at normal high-
way speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield: Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other dam-
age. Have a damaged windshield repaired
by a qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for
cracks or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing scheduled maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, etc. Accelerator pedal:
Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the
pedal does not catch or require uneven
effort. Keep the floor mat away from the
pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mecha-
nism: On a fairly steep hill check that the
vehicle is held securely with the shif t lever
in the P (Park) position without applying any
brakes.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes
down further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer
to stop, have your vehicle checked imme-
diately. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service. Keep the
floor mat away from the pedal.
Brakes: Check that the brakes do not pull
the vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjustment, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Maintenance and schedules9-3
King Cab® 2WD (4 cyl) King Cab® 2WD (6 cyl) King Cab® 4WD (6 cyl) Crew Cab 2WDCrew Cab 4WD
Maximum Towing Capacity*1,
*2, *3 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg) 6,500 lbs. (2,949 kg) 6,300 lbs. (2,858 kg) 6,300 lbs. (2,858 kg) 6,100 lbs. (2,767 kg)
Maximum Tongue Load*2, *3 350 lbs. (158 kg) 650 lbs. (295 kg)630 lbs. (285 kg) 630 lbs. (285 kg)610 lbs. (276 kg)
Maximum Gross Combined
Weight Rating 7,936 lbs. (3,600 kg) 11,230 lbs. (5,094 kg) 11,230 lbs. (5,094 kg) 11,230 lbs. (5,094 kg) 11,230 lbs. (5,094 kg)
Maximum trailer frontal area 30sq feet (2.78 sq meters)
*1:
∙ The towing capacity is calculated using the SAE International SAE J2807 test method. Additional passengers, cargo and/or optional equipment will add weight to the vehicle and reduce your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity.
∙ All towing above 1,000 lbs. (454 kg) requires the use of trailer brakes.
∙ NISSAN recommends the use of a tandem axle trailer whenever towing above 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg).
*2: The maximum towing capacity when using the Genuine NISSAN step bumper as a ball mount is 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg) and 350 lbs. (158 kg)
tongue load.
*3: Use of a weight-distributing hitch system is recommended when towing over 5,000 lbs.
Technical and consumer information10-35
Bumper towing
The Genuine NISSAN step bumper has pro-
visions to install a trailer hitch ball and is
designed to tow trailers of a maximum
weight of 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg).
To install a trailer hitch ball cut out the circle
in the center of the step bumper
A, then
remove it to install the trailer hitch ball.
Weight carrying hitches
A weight carrying or “dead weight” ball
mount is one that is designed to carry the
whole amount of tongue weight and gross
weight directly on the ball mount and on
the receiver.
Weight distribution hitch
This type of hitch is also called a “load-
leveling” or “equalizing” hitch. A set of bars
attach to the ball mount and to the trailer
to distribute the tongue weight (hitch
weight) of your trailer. Many vehicles can’t
carry the full tongue weight of a given
trailer, and need some of the tongue
weight transferred through the frame and
pushing down on the front wheels. This
gives stability to the tow vehicle.
A weight-distributing hitch system (Class
IV) is recommended if you plan to tow trail-
ers with a maximum weight over 5,000 lbs.
(2,268 kg). Check with the trailer and towing
equipment manufacturers to determine if
they recommend the use of a weight-
distributing hitch system. NOTE:
A weight-distributing hitch system may
affect the operation of trailer surge
brakes. If you are considering use of a
weight-distributing hitch system with a
surge brake-equipped trailer, check with
the surge brake, hitch or trailer manufac-
turer to determine if and how this can be
done.
Follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer for installing and using the
weight-distributing hitch system.
General set-up instructions are as follows:
1. Park unloaded vehicle on a level sur- face. With the ignition on and the doors
closed, allow the vehicle to stand for
several minutes so that it can level.
2. Measure the height of a reference point on the front and rear bumpers at the
center of the vehicle.
3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and ad- just the hitch equalizers so that the
front bumper height is within 0 -
.5 inches (0 – 13 mm) of the reference
height measured in step 2. The rear
bumper should be no higher than the
reference height measured in step 2.
LTI0132
Technical and consumer information10-37