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 fol-
lowing are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
∙ Park the vehicle on a level surface, ap-ply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shif t le-
ver to P (Park)
∙ Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or LOCK position when perform-
ing any parts replacement or repairs.
∙ If you must work with the engine run- ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.
∙ It is advisable to secure or remove any loose clothing and remove any jew-
elry, such as rings, watches, etc. be-
fore working on your vehicle.
∙ Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your vehicle. ∙
The automatic engine cooling fan (if so
equipped) may come on at any time
without warning, even if the ignition
switch is in the OFF position and the
engine is not running. To avoid injury,
always disconnect the negative bat-
tery cable before working near the fan.
∙ If you must run the engine in an en-
closed 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 neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.
∙ Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
∙ Because the fuel lines on gasoline en- gine models are under high pressure
even when the engine is off, it is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for service of the fuel filter or
fuel lines.
CAUTION
∙ Do not work under the hood while theengine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down. ∙
Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, engine coolant and/or other vehicle
fluids can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.
∙ Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position.
∙ Never connect or disconnect the bat- tery or any transistorized component
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
This “Do-it-yourself ” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A Genuine NISSAN service manual is also
available. For additional information, refer
to “Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order
information” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect warranty coverage. If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended
that you have it done by a NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
Engine coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.
For additional information on changing the
Cummins 5.0L engine coolant, refer to the
“Titan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches operating 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 between the H
(High) and L (Low) marksB. This is the
normal operating oil level range. If the
oil level is below the L (Low) mark
A,
remove the oil filler cap and pour rec-
ommended oil through the opening.
Do not overfill
C.
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 sever-
ity of operating conditions.
VK56VD engine
LDI2956
VK56VD engine
LDI0371
ENGINE OIL
Do-it-yourself8-7
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the en-
gine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.
For additional information on checking the
Cummins 5.0L engine oil level, refer to the
“Titan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake. 2. Start the engine and let it idle until it
reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Remove the oil filler cap
Aby turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug
B.
6. Remove the drain plug
Bwith a
wrench by turning it counterclockwise
and completely drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove
and replace it at this time. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Changing
engine oil filter” in this section.
∙ Waste oil must be disposed of prop-
erly.
∙ Check your local regulations.
VK56VD engine
LDI2957
8-8Do-it-yourself
WARNING
∙ Prolonged and repeated contact withused engine oil may cause skin
cancer.
∙ Try to avoid direct skin contact with used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
∙ Keep used engine oil out of reach of children.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The en-
gine oil may be hot.
7. Clean and reinstall the drain plug and a new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench. Do not use exces-
sive force.
Drain plug tightening torque: 25 f t-lb (34 N·m) 8. Refill engine with recommended oil
through the oil filler opening, then in-
stall the oil filler cap securely.
For additional information on drain
and refill capacity, refer to “Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capaci-
ties” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
The drain and refill capacity depends
on the oil temperature and drain time.
Use these specifications for reference
only. Always use the dipstick to deter-
mine when the proper amount of oil is
in the engine.
9. Start the engine. Check for leakage around the drain plug and oil filter. Cor-
rect as required.
10. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
For additional information on changing the
Cummins 5.0L engine oil, refer to the “Titan
Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Turn the engine off.
3. Remove bolts
Aand skid plate.
Skid plate (Type A) (if so equipped)
LDI3005
Do-it-yourself8-9
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket mate-
rial remaining on the sealing surface of
the engine. Failure to do so could lead to
an oil leak and engine damage.7. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil.
8. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resis- tance is felt, then tighten an additional
2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:
13 f t-lb (18 N·m)
9. Start the engine and check for leakage around the oil filter. Correct as required.
10. Install skid plate in reverse order of re- moval.
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes. Check the oil level. Add en-
gine oil if necessary.
FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT (stage
1)
For additional information, refer to the “Ti-
tan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT (stage
2)
For additional information, refer to the “Ti-
tan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
DRAINING WATER
For additional information, refer to the “Ti-
tan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
FUEL SYSTEM PRIMING
For additional information, refer to the “Ti-
tan Diesel Owner’s Manual”. For additional information, refer to the “Ti-
tan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
AUTOMATIC REGENERATION
For additional information, refer to the “Ti-
tan Diesel Owner’s Manual”.
FUEL FILTER (CUMMINS 5.0L)
DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF)
Do-it-yourself8-11
Check that the head restraints/headrests
move up and down smoothly and the locks
(if so equipped) hold securely in all latched
positions.
Seat belts:Check that all parts of the seat
belt system (for example, buckles, anchors,
adjusters and retractors) operate properly
and smoothly, and are installed securely.
Check the belt webbing for cuts, fraying,
wear or damage.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering system, such as excessive free-
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check
that the wipers and washer operate prop-
erly and that the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly
and in sufficient quantity when operating
the heater or air conditioner.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically (for example, each
time you check the engine oil or refuel). Battery* (for serviceable batteries):
Check the fluid level in each cell. The fluid
should be at the bottom of the filler open-
ing. Vehicles operated in high tempera-
tures or under severe conditions require
frequent checks of the battery fluid level.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume bat-
tery power when the engine is not
running (Phone chargers, GPS, DVD
players, etc.).
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to
be charged to maintain battery health.
Brake fluid level*: Make sure that the brake
fluid level is between the MIN and MAX lines
on the reservoir.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant
level when the engine is cold. Engine drive belts*:
Make sure the drive
belts are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level af ter
parking the vehicle on a level surface with
the engine off. Wait more than 10 minutes
for the oil to drain back into the oil pan.
Exhaust system: Visually inspect the ex-
haust pipes, muffler and hangers for leaks,
cracks, deterioration and damage. Tighten
connections or replace parts as necessary.
For additional information, refer to “Exhaust
gas (carbon monoxide)” in the “Starting and
driving” section of this manual.
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks af ter the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner af ter use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks or if
fuel fumes are evident, check for the cause
and have it corrected immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines:
Check the level when the fluid is cold, with
the engine off. Check the lines for proper
attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
9-4Maintenance and schedules
NOTE:
Trailer Sway Assist cannot reduce trailer
sway in all situations.∙ Be careful when passing other vehicles. Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than nor-
mal passing. Remember, the length of
the trailer must also pass the other ve-
hicle before you can safely change
lanes.
∙ Use the Tow Mode or downshif t the transmission to a lower gear for engine
braking when driving down steep or
long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
∙ Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in re-
duced braking efficiency.
∙ Increase your following distance to al- low for greater stopping distances
while towing a trailer. Anticipate stops
and brake gradually.
∙ NISSAN recommends that the cruise control (if so equipped) not be used
while towing a trailer. ∙ Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for ve-
hicles that are towing trailers. Obey the
local speed limits.
∙ Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness connections, and trailer wheel lug nuts
af ter 50 miles (80 km) of travel and at
every break.
∙ When launching a boat, don’t allow the water level to go over the exhaust tail
pipe or rear bumper.
∙ Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights before backing the trailer into the
water or the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, refer
to the “Do-it-yourself ” section in this
manual.
Tow mode
Using tow mode is recommended when
pulling a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy
load. Press the TOW MODE switch to acti-
vate tow mode. The indicator light on the
TOW MODE switch illuminates when tow
mode is selected. Press the TOW MODE
switch again to turn tow mode off. Tow mode is automatically canceled when the
ignition switch is turned off.
Tow mode includes the following features:
∙ Grade logic — Adjusts transmission shif ts when pulling a trailer or hauling a
load up a grade.
∙ Downhill Speed Control (DSC) — auto- matically downshif ts when driving
down a grade with a trailer or heavy
load to help control vehicle speed.
Driving the vehicle in the tow mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not
cause any damage. However, fuel
economy may be reduced and the
transmission/engine driving characteris-
tics may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, refer
to the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this
manual.
10-60Technical and consumer information
EngineBefore starting the engine ........5-14
Blockheater.................5-71
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Changing engine coolant .........8-6
Changing engine oil ............8-8
Changing engine oil filter .........8-9
Checking engine coolant level ......8-6
Checking engine oil level .........8-7
Engine compartment check
locations...................8-3
Engine coolant temperature gauge . .2-9
Engine cooling system ..........8-5
Engine oil ...................8-7
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation .............10-7
Engine oil pressure gauge .....2-11, 2-12
Engine oil pressure warning light . . .2-25
Engine oil viscosity .............10-7
Engine serial number ..........10-18
Engine specifications ...........10-9
Engine coolant temperature gauge ....2-9
Engine oil pressure gauge .......2-11, 2-12
Enterbutton...................4-4
EventDatarecorders............10-65
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .......5-2
Explanation of maintenance items .....9-2
Explanation of scheduled maintenance
items .......................9-5
Extended storage switch ..........2-74
Eyeglasscase..................2-81 F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) ....6-2
Flattire......................6-3
Floormatpositioningaid...........7-6
Fluid Brakefluid..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Engine coolant ...............8-5
Engine oil ...................8-7
Powersteeringfluid............8-12
Windshield-washer fluid .........8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .........10-18
Foglightswitch................2-59
Four-Wheel Drive ...............5-45
Front air bag system (See supplemental
restraint system) .............1-60, 1-75
Front and rear sonar system ........5-64
Front-door pocket ...............2-75
Front power seat adjustment ........1-5
Frontseats....................1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Fuel economy ...............5-45
Fuel gauge .................2-10
Fueloctanerating.............10-6
Fuel recommendation ..........10-4
Loose fuel cap warning .........2-45
Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) System Tire pressure ................8-34
Fuel efficient driving tips ...........5-43
Fuel-filler door .................3-25 Fuel gauge
...................2-10
Fuses.......................8-22
Fusiblelinks...................8-24
G
Garage door opener, HomeLink® Universal
Transceiver . .2-93, 2-94, 2-95, 2-96, 2-96, 2-97
Gauge Automatic transmission fluid
temperature gauge ............2-11
Engine coolant temperature gauge . .2-9
Engine oil pressure gauge .....2-11, 2-12
Fuel gauge .................2-10
Odometer ..................2-8
Speedometer ................
2
-8
Tachometer .................2-9
Trip computer ...............2-13
Trip odometer ................2-8
Voltmeter..................2-12
General maintenance .............9-2
Glovebox....................2-78
Grocery hooks .................2-85
H
Hands-free phone system,
Bluetooth®...............4-120,4-133
Hazardwarningflasherswitch........6-2
Headlightaimingcontrol...........2-57
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-54
Headlightcontrolswitch...........2-54
Headlights...................8-28
Headlights,aimingcontrol..........2-57
11-3