2021 NISSAN ARMADA maintenance

5-122Starting and driving
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the RAB system malfunctions, it will be
turned off automatically, the RAB system
warning light will illuminate, and the
“System fault See Owner’s Manual” warn-
ing message will appear in the vehicle
information display.
Action to take
If the warning light illuminates, park the
vehicle in a safe location, turn the engine
off, and restart the engine. If the warning
light continues to illuminate, have the
RAB system checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
NOTE:
If the RAB system cannot be operated
temporarily, the RAB system warning
light blinks.
WAF0760X
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The sonar sensorsare located on the
rear bumper. Observe the following items
to ensure proper operation of the system:
. Always keep the sonar sensors clean.
. If the sonar sensors are dirty, wipe
them off with a soft cloth while being
careful to not damage them.
. The sonar sensors may be blocked by
temporary ambient conditions such
as splashing water, mist or fog. The
blocked condition may also be caused
by objects such as ice, frost or dirt
obstructing the sonar sensors. Check
for and remove objects obstructing
the area around the sonar sensors. .
Do not subject the area around the
sonar sensors to strong impact. Also,
do not remove or disassemble the
sonar sensors. If the sonar sensors
and peripheral areas are deformed in
an accident, etc., have the sonar
sensors checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
. Do not attach stickers (including
transparent material), install acces-
sories or apply additional paint on
the sonar sensors and their surround-
ing areas. This may cause a malfunc-
tion or improper operation.
. When washing the vehicle using a
high-pressure washer, do not apply
direct washer pressure on the sonar
sensors. This may cause a malfunction
of the sonar sensors.

5-124Starting and driving
7. Avoid idling..Shutting off your engine when safefor stops exceeding 30-60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and
avoid stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no morethan 30 seconds of idling at start-
up to effectively circulate the en-
gine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating temperature more
quickly while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade when-
ever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, open- ing the windows will help to reduce
the inside temperature faster, re-
sulting in reduced demand on your
A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity en-
gine oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation” (P.10-6).)
WARNING
.Do not attempt to raise two
wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine
running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
. Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel
dynamometer or similar equip-
ment 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 dynamometer. Using
the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious ve-
hicle damage or personal injury.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYNISSAN ALL-MODE 4WD® (if so equipped)

— When driving on a steep hill.
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY UNAVAIL-
ABLE
When sonar blockage is detected, the
system will be deactivated automatically.
The system is not available until the
conditions no longer exist.
The sonar sensors may be blocked by
temporary ambient conditions such as
splashing water, mist or fog. The blocked
condition may also be caused by objects
such as ice, frost or dirt obstructing the
sonar sensors.
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer
exist, the system will resume automati-
cally.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The sonar sensors are located on the
front and rear bumpers. (See “Exterior
front” (P.0-3) and “Exterior rear” (P.0-4).)
.Always keep the area near the sonar
sensors clean.
. If the sonar sensors are dirty, wipe
them off with a soft cloth while being
careful to not damage them.
. The sonar sensors may be blocked by
temporary ambient conditions such as splashing water, mist or fog. The
blocked condition may also be caused
by objects such as ice, frost or dirt
obstructing the sonar sensors. Check
for and remove objects obstructing
the area around the sonar sensors.
. Do not subject the area around the
sonar sensors to strong impact. Also,
do not remove or disassemble the
sonar sensors. If the sonar sensors
and peripheral areas are deformed in
an accident, etc., have the sonar
sensors checked by a NISSAN dealer.
. Do not attach stickers (including
transparent material), install acces-
sories or apply additional paint on
the sonar sensors and their surround-
ing areas. This may cause a malfunc-
tion or improper operation.
. When washing the vehicle using a
high-pressure washer, do not apply
direct washer pressure on the sonar
sensors. This may cause a malfunction
of the sonar sensors.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the steering will not work.
Steering will be harder to operate.
The power assisted steering uses a hy-
draulic pump, driven by the engine, to
assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt
breaks, you will still have control of the
vehicle. However, much greater steering
effort is needed, especially in sharp turns
and at low speeds.
Starting and driving5-141
POWER STEERING

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 ........................................................................\
...... 8-26
Exterior and interior lights ........................................ 8-26
Wheels and tires ........................................................................\
8-28
Tire pressure ........................................................................\
8-28
Tire labeling ........................................................................\
.. 8-32
Types of tires ....................................................................... 8-34
Tire chains ........................................................................\
...... 8-35
Changing wheels and tires ...................................... 8-36

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.10-40).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operat-
ing difficulties or excessive emissions, and
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

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

8-14Do-it-yourself
loose, have it replaced or adjusted. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condition and tension in accordance
with the maintenance schedule
shown in the “9. Maintenance and
schedules” section.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
SDI2020
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS
If replacement is required, it is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs
It is not necessary to replace the iridium-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as the
conventional type spark plugs since they
will last much longer. Follow the main-
tenance schedule shown in the “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section, but do
not reuse them by cleaning or regapping.
Always replace spark plugs with recom-
mended or equivalent ones.
SPARK PLUGS

SDI2515
To remove the filter, release the lock pinsand pull the unit upward.
The filter element should not be cleaned
and reused. Replace it according to the
maintenance schedule shown in the “9.
Maintenance and schedules” section.
When replacing the filter, wipe the inside
of the air cleaner housing and the cover
with a damp cloth.
WARNING
. Operating the engine with the air
cleaner removed can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine back-
fires. If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be
burned. Do not drive with the air
cleaner removed, and be careful
when working on the engine with
the air cleaner removed.
. Never pour fuel into the throttle
body or attempt to start the
engine with the air cleaner re-
moved. Doing so could result in
serious injury.
Do-it-yourself8-15
AIR CLEANER