•Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions testing) or similar equipment
even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that
your vehicle is equipped with 4WD
before it is placed on a dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment
may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
• Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
• If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN 4WD vehicle has
a higher center of gravity than a pas-
senger car. The vehicle is not de-
signed for cornering at the same
speeds as passenger cars. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a roll-
over accident. •
Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Install tire chains
on the rear wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
• Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately af ter driving in mud or water.
For additional information, refer to
“Wet brakes” in this section.
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured.
• Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Mainte-
nance schedules” in the
“Maintenance and schedules” sec-
tion of this manual.
WARNING
Do not operate the push-button igni-
tion switch while driving the vehicle ex-
cept in an emergency. (The engine will
stop when the ignition switch is pushed
three consecutive times in quick suc-
cession or the ignition switch is pushed
and held for more than 2 seconds.) If
the engine stops while the vehicle is
being driven, this could lead to a crash
and serious injury.
LSD2014
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
5-12Starting and driving
4WD shif t indicator
The 4WD shif t indicator is located in the
vehicle information display.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shif t
indicator will illuminate the position se-
lected by the 4WD shif t switch.
•The 4WD shif t indicator may come on
while shif ting from one drive mode to
the other. When the shif ting is com-
pleted, the 4WD shif t indicator will stay
on.
• If the 4WD vehicle information display warning message comes on, the 4WD in-
dicator goes out.
CAUTION
• If the 4WD shif t indicator indication
changes to 2WD when the 4WD shif t
switch is shif ted to the 4H position at
low ambient temperatures, the 2WD
mode may be being engaged due to
malfunctioning drive system. If the
indicator does not return to normal
and the 4WD vehicle information dis-
play warning message comes on,
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Warning message
Warning message Warning message
comes on when:
Vehicle information
display
4WD Error: See Owner’s Manual There is a malfunction
in the 4–Wheel Drive system
FRT & RR tire size differ- ence: See Owner’s Manual The difference in wheel
rotation is large
CAUTION
• If the warning message comes on
during operation or rapidly af ter
stopping the vehicle for a while, have
your vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• Shif ting between 4H and 4LO is not
recommended when the 4WD warn-
ing message turns on.
• When the warning message comes
on, the 2WD mode may be engaged
even if the 4WD shif t switch is in 4H.
Be especially careful when driving. If
corresponding parts are malfunc-
tioning, the 4WD mode will not be en-
gaged even if the 4WD shif t switch is
shif ted.
• Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or
4LO position on dry hard surface
roads. Driving on dry, hard surfaces in
4H or 4LO may cause unnecessary
noise, tire wear and increased fuel
consumption.
If the 4WD warning message turns on
when you are driving on dry hard sur-
face roads:
– In the 4H position, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 2WD.
LSD2328
Starting and driving5-111
The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake pads faster, and reduce
gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshif t to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade. Overheated
brakes may reduce braking performance
and could result in loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
• While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshif ting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
• If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet. As
a result, your braking distance will be lon-
ger and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake
pedal to heat up the brakes. Do this until
the brakes return to normal. Avoid driving
the vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced,
in order to assure the best braking perfor-
mance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
• The ABS is a sophisticated device, but
it cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that stop-
ping distances on slippery surfaces
will be longer than on normal sur-
faces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if
you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the
driver is responsible for safety.
• Tire type and condition may also af-
fect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
BRAKE SYSTEM
5-116Starting and driving
–When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “Tire
and Loading Information label” in
the “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section of this manual.
– For additional information, refer
to “Wheels and tires” in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels
do not lock during hard braking or when
braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel
and varies the brake fluid pressure to pre-
vent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
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 dis-
tances.
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 the
instrument 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.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a conventional brake booster even
with light pedal force.
Starting and driving5-117
to “Changing engine coolant” in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed toprovide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced
in snowy and icy conditions. If you oper-
ate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four
wheels. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However,
some U.S. states and Canadian prov-
inces prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before install-
ing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
3. Tire chains may be used. For additional information, refer to “Tire chains” in the
“Do-it-yourself ” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
• A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow- drif ts.
• Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield- washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
• Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” un-
der these conditions. Try to avoid
driving on wet ice until the road is
salted or sanded.
• Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shif ting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction. •
Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry
pavement.
• Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
• Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
• Do not use the cruise control (if so
equipped) on slippery roads.
• Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist
with cold temperature starting.
• Engine block heaters should be used when the outside temperature is 0°F
(-17°C) or lower.
Starting and driving5-129
7. Fit the square end of the jack rod into thesquare hole of the wheel nut wrench to
form a handle.
8. Seat the T-shaped end of the jack rod into the T-shaped opening of the tire
winch. Apply pressure to keep the jack
rod engaged in the spare tire winch and
turn the jack rod counterclockwise to
lower the spare tire.
9. Once the spare tire is completely low- ered, reach under the vehicle, guide the
retainer chain through the center of the
tire and carefully slide the tire from un-
der the rear of the vehicle. 10. Securely store the flat tire beneath the
vehicle, from where the full size spare
was removed. To reinstall the wheel, re-
move the center cap (if so equipped)
and insert the retainer chain through
the wheel. Be sure the rubber rim cover
(if so equipped) is centered on the
wheel before lif ting. Use the assembled
jacking rod to slowly rotate the winch
clockwise to raise the wheel to the
vehicle.
11. To reinstall the jack and tool kit, reverse steps 1 through 5.
NOTE:
Inspect the rubber rim cover every six
years and replace as necessary. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
CAUTION
• Be sure to center the spare tire sus-
pending plate on the wheel and then
lif t the spare tire.
• Failure to use the rubber rim cover
may allow the chain to get stuck in
the wheel nut holes when stowed.
Removing bolt-on wheel caps (if
so equipped)
CAUTION
Do not use your hands to pry off wheel
caps or wheel covers. Doing so could
result in personal injury.
The wheel cap
O1is only attached with the
wheel nuts and is separate from the wheel
O2.
WCE0151LCE2367
6-6In case of emergency
Tire and Loading Information
label
1Seating capacity: The maximum
number of occupants that can
be seated in the vehicle.
2Vehicle load limit: For additional
information, refer to “Vehicle
loading information” in the “Tech-
nical and consumer information”
section of this manual.
3Original tire size: The size of the
tires originally installed on the ve-
hicle at the factory.
4Cold tire pressure: Inflate the tires
to this pressure when the tires
are cold. Tires are considered
COLD af ter the vehicle has been
parked for 3 or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at
moderate speeds. The recom-
mended cold tire inflation is set
by the manufacturer to provide the best balance of tire wear, ve-
hicle handling, driveability, tire
noise, etc., up to the vehicle's
GVWR.
5Tire size - refer to “Tire labeling” in
this section.
6Spare tire size.
LDI2926
8-36Do-it-yourself
Checking tire pressure
1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely ontothe valve stem. Do not press too hard or
force the valve stem sideways, or air will
escape. If the hissing sound of air escap-
ing from the tire is heard while checking
the pressure, reposition the gauge to
eliminate this leakage.
3. Remove the gauge. 4. Read the tire pressure on the gauge
stem and compare to the specification
shown on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label.
5. Add air to the tire as needed. If too much air is added, press the core of the valve
stem briefly with the tip of the gauge
stem to release pressure. Recheck the
pressure and add or release air as
needed.
6. Install the valve stem cap.
7. Check the pressure of all other tires, in- cluding the spare.
Size Cold Tire Inflation
Pressure
Front Original
Tire:
265/70R18 270 kPa, 39 psi
P265/70R18 250 kPa, 36 psi
P275/60R20 250 kPa, 36 psi
P275/70R18 250 kPa, 36 psi
LT245/75R17 450 kPa, 65 psi
LT275/65R18 450 kPa, 65 psi
LT265/60R20 450 kPa, 65 psi
Size Cold Tire Inflation
Pressure
Rear Original
Tire:
265/70R18 270 kPa, 39 psi
P265/70R18 250 kPa, 36 psi
P275/60R20 250 kPa, 36 psi
P275/70R18 250 kPa, 36 psi
LT245/75R17 500 kPa, 73 psi
LT275/65R18 450 kPa, 65 psi
LT265/60R20 480 kPa, 70 psi
Spare Tire: Full size
LDI0393
Do-it-yourself8-37