Rear window and/or outside
mirror (if so equipped) defroster
switch
For additional information, see “Rear win-
dow and/or outside mirror (if so equipped)
defroster switch” (P. 2-42).
OPERATING TIPS
The sunload sensor (if so equipped)O1, lo-
cated on the top center of the instrument
panel, helps the system maintain a con-
stant temperature. Do not put anything on
or around this sensor.
•
When the climate system is in automatic
operation and the engine coolant tem-
perature and outside air temperature are
low, the air flow outlet may default to de-
froster mode for a maximum of 2 minutes
30 seconds. This is not a malfunction. Af ter
the engine coolant temperature warms up,
the air flow outlet will return to foot mode
and operation will continue normally.
• When the outside and interior cabin tem- peratures are moderate to high, the in-
take setting may default to turn off air
recirculation to allow fresh air into the
passenger compartment. You may no-
tice air flow from the foot mode, bi-level
mode, or side demist vent outlets for a
maximum of 15 seconds. This may occur
when previous climate setting was sys-
tem off. This is not a malfunction. Af ter
the initial warm air is expelled, the intake
will return to automatic control, air flow
outlet will return to previous settings, and
operation will continue normally. To exit,
press any climate control button.
• Keep the windows closed while the air conditioner is in operation.
LHA4126
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-41
ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode
to reduce the chance of damage if the
coolant temperature becomes too high
(for example, when climbing steep grades
in high temperatures with heavy loads,
such as when towing a trailer). When the
engine temperature reaches a certain
level:
• The engine coolant temperature gaugewill move toward the H position.
• Engine power may be reduced.
• The air conditioning cooling function may be automatically turned off for a short
time (the blower will continue to operate).
Engine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will decrease. Vehicle speed
can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the vehicle may not accelerate at
the desired speed. The transmission will
downshif t or upshif t as it reaches pre-
scribed shif t points. You can also shif t
manually.
As driving conditions change and engine
coolant temperature is reduced, vehicle
speed can be increased using the accel-
erator pedal, and the air conditioning cool-
ing function will automatically be turned
back on. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may
also come on if the engine coolant tem-
perature is not reduced or the air condi-
tioning cooling function does not turn back
on. If
only it remains on, you do not need to
have your vehicle towed, but have it in-
spected soon. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service. For
additional information, see “Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL)” (P. 2-20).
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced en-
gine power and vehicle speed. The re-
duced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance
of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If the vehicle cannot
maintain a safe driving speed, pull to
the side of the road in a safe area. Allow
the engine to cool and return to normal
operation. For additional information,
see “If your vehicle overheats” (P. 6-12).
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause
serious damage to the engine almost
immediately. Such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty. Turn off the engine as
soon as it is safe to do so.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive). Always
depress the brake pedal until shif ting
is completed. Failure to do so could
cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-18Starting and driving
To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engineblock heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least 2–4 hours, de-
pending on outside temperatures, to
properly warm the engine coolant. Use
an appropriate timer to turn the engine
block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts.NOTE:
When using the engine block heater
(if so equipped) on an Applied Vehicle
(engine block heater is plugged in):
• Vehicle should be parked on a levelsurface.
Or
• If a level surface is not available, thevehicle should be parked with the front
of the truck lower than the rear (nose
down).
CAUTION
Use of the engine block heater when
parked with the front of the vehicle
higher than the rear (5 degrees or
more) may cause the engine block
heater to become damaged and/or
inoperative.
Starting and driving5-129
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into con-
tact with, or get caught in, engine belts
or the engine cooling fan. The engine
cooling fan can start at any time.
7. Af ter the engine cools down, check the coolant level in the engine coolant reser-
voir tank with the engine running. Add
coolant to the engine coolant reservoir
tank if necessary. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service. When towing your vehicle, all jurisdictional
and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. Towing in-
structions are available from a NISSAN
dealer. Local service operators are gener-
ally familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, NISSAN recommends hav-
ing a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator
carefully read the following precautions:
WARNING
• Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
• Never get under your vehicle af ter it
has been lif ted by a tow truck.
• If your vehicle has front recovery
hooks as original factory equipment,
do not remove or modif y them. If it
was not equipped with front recov-
ery hooks, do not install them. Either
action could affect proper operation
of the front air bag system resulting
in injury or death.
CAUTION
• When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. Use dollies or flatbed if any of
the listed systems are not working.
• Always attach safety chains before
towing.
For additional information about towing
your vehicle behind a Recreational Vehicle
(RV), see "Flat towing for 2-Wheel Drive
(2WD) vehicle" (P. 10-55) or "Flat towing for
4-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicle" (P. 10-55).
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
NISSAN recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. For addi-
tional information, refer to the diagrams in
this section to ensure that your vehicle is
properly towed.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-13
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 and oil filter ..............8-7
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .............8-13
Power Steering Fluid (PSF) ......................8-13
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-14
Windshield-washer fluid ........................8-15
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ...........8-15
Battery......................................... 8-16
Jump starting ............................... 8-18
Variable voltage control system
(if so equipped) ................................. 8-19
Drive belt ....................................... 8-19
Spark plugs .................................... 8-20
Replacing spark plugs .......................8-20
Air cleaner ..................................... 8-21
In-cabin microfilter .......................... 8-21Windshield wiper blades
........................8-22
Cleaning .................................... 8-22
Replacing ................................... 8-22
Brakes ......................................... 8-23
Fuses .......................................... 8-24
Engine compartment .......................8-24
Passenger compartment ...................8-25
Battery replacement ........................... 8-27
NISSAN Intelligent Key® ......................8-27
Lights .......................................... 8-29
Headlights .................................. 8-29
Fog lights (if so equipped) ...................8-29
Daytime Running Light (DRL)
(if so equipped) .............................. 8-30
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-32
Wheels and tires ............................... 8-35
Tire pressure ................................
8-35
Tir
e labeling ................................. 8-39
Types of tires ................................ 8-41
Tire chains .................................. 8-42
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-43
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,
apply 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
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection when-
ever 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 battery cable before work-
ing 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 nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
• Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
• Because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off,
it is recommended that 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 contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil, engine coolant and/or other ve-
hicle fluids can damage the environ-
ment. Always conform to local regula-
tions for disposal of vehicle fluid.
•
Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
• Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
NOTE:
If the battery is dead the transmission
will not manually shif t to other positions.
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, see
“Owner's Manual/Service Manual order in-
formation” (P. 10-60).
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
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir
when the engine is cold. If the coolant
level is below the MIN level
OB, add coolant
to the MAX level
OA. If the reservoir is empty,
check the coolant level in the radiator
when the engine is cold. If there is insuffi-
cient coolant in the radiator, fill the radiator
with coolant up to the filler opening and
also add it to the reservoir up to the MAX
level
OA. This vehicle contains Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue). The life ex-
pectancy of the factory-fill coolant is
105,000 miles (168,000 km) or 7 years. Mixing
any other type of coolant or the use of
non-distilled water may reduce the life ex-
pectancy of the factory-fill coolant. For ad-
ditional information, see the "Maintenance
and schedules" section of this manual.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service. For additional information on the location
of the engine coolant reservoir, see “Engine
compartment check locations” (P. 8-3).
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the engine
coolant. The service procedure can be
found in the NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine over-
heating.
WARNING
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
• Never remove the radiator or engine
coolant reservoir cap when the en-
gine is hot. Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure fluid escap-
ing from the radiator.
• Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
• Keep coolant out of the reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.
LDI3295
5.6L 8 cylinder (VK56VD engine model) (non-XD model)
LDI2823
5.6L 8 cylinder (VK56VD engine model) (XD model)
8-6Do-it-yourself
WINDSHIELD-WASHER FLUID
RESERVOIR
Fill the windshield-washer fluid reservoir
periodically. Add windshield-washer fluid
when the “Low Washer Fluid” warning mes-
sage shows on the vehicle information dis-
play.
To fill the windshield-washer fluid reservoir,
lif t the cap off the reservoir and pour the
windshield-washer fluid into the reservoir
opening.Add a washer solvent to the washer for
better cleaning. In the winter season, add a
windshield washer antifreeze. Follow the
manufacturer's instructions for the mix-
ture ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when
driving conditions require an increased
amount of windshield-washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner &
Anti-freeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
• Do not substitute engine antifreeze
coolant for windshield-washer fluid.
This may result in damage to the
paint.
• Do not fill the windshield-washer
fluid reservoir with washer fluid con-
centrates at full strength. Some
methyl alcohol based washer fluid
concentrates may permanently stain
the grille if spilled while filling the
windshield-washer fluid reservoir. •
Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates
with water to the manufacturer's
recommended levels before pouring
the fluid into the windshield-washer
fluid reservoir. Do not use the
windshield-washer fluid reservoir to
mix the washer fluid concentrate and
water.
LDI2879
WINDSHIELD-WASHER FLUID
Do-it-yourself8-15