2005 Nissan Frontier Owners Manual

c For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do

tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h).

c Have your vehicle serviced more often than at intervals specified in the recommended Maintenance Schedule in the (cid:147)NISSAN Ser- vice and Maintenance Guide(cid:148).

c When making a turn, your trailer wheels will be closer to the inside of the turn than your vehicle wheels. To compensate for this, make a larger than normal turning radius during the turn.

c Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus- ing vehicle sway. When being passed by larger vehicles, be prepared for possible changes in crosswinds that could affect ve- hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead, and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve- hicle speed. This combination will help sta- bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.

c Be careful when passing other vehicles. Passing while towing a trailer requires con- siderably more distance than normal pass- ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must also pass the other vehicle before you can safely change lanes.

c To maintain engine braking efficiency and electrical charging performance, do not use overdrive.

c Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced braking efficiency.

c Increase your following distance to allow for greater stopping distances while towing a trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually c Do not use cruise control while towing a

trailer.

c Some states or provinces have specific speed limits for vehicles that are towing trail- ers. Obey the local speed limits.

c Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con- nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.

c When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P (Park) position.

When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil should be replaced and transmission oil/fluid should be changed more fre- quently. For additional information, see the (cid:147)Maintenance and do-it-yourself(cid:148) section earlier in this manual.

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Manual Transmission c Always tow with the manual transmission in

Neutral.

c On four-wheel drive vehicles, place the transfer case in the 2H range. Failure to do so will cause the powertrain to bind up.

c After towing 500 miles (805 km), start and idle the engine with the transmission in Neu- tral for two minutes. Failure to idle the engine after every 500 miles (805 km) of towing may cause damage to internal transmission parts.

FLAT TOWING Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground is sometimes called flat towing. This method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor home.

CAUTION

c Failure to follow these guidelines can result in severe transmission damage. c Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-

ways tow forward, never backward.

c DO NOT tow any automatic transmis- sion vehicle with all four wheels on the ground (flat towing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE internal transmission parts due to lack of transmission lubrication. c For emergency towing procedures refer to (cid:147)Towing recommended by NISSAN(cid:148) in the (cid:147)In case of emergency(cid:148) section of this manual.

Automatic Transmission To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly MUST be placed under the towed vehicle(cid:146)s drive wheels. Always follow the dolly manufacturer(cid:146)s recommendations when using their product. 9-32 Technical and consumer information

UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING

DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to federal safety requirements in addition to these grades.

Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A

Treadwear

Treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on tire wear rate when tested under controlled conditions on specified government test courses. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well on the govern- ment course as a tire graded 100. However, relative tire performance depends on actual driv- ing conditions, and may vary significantly due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction AA, A, B and C

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire(cid:146)s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea- sured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and con- crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.

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WARNING

WARNING

The temperature grade for this tire is es- tablished for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive loading, ei- ther separately or in combination, can cause heat build-up and possible tire failure.

The traction grade assigned to your ve- hicle tires is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests and does not in- clude acceleration, cornering, hydroplan- ing or peak traction characteristics.

Temperature A, B and C

Temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C. They represent a tire(cid:146)s resistance to heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem- perature can cause tire material to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure. Grade C corresponds to a performance level which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and B rep- resent higher levels of performance on laboratory test wheels than the minimum required by law.

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY

Your NISSAN vehicle is covered by the following emission warranties: For USA 1. Emission Defects Warranty 2. Emissions Performance Warranty Details of these warranties may be found with other vehicle warranties in your Warranty Infor- mation Booklet which comes with your NISSAN vehicle. If you did not receive a Warranty Informa- tion Booklet, or it is lost, you may obtain a re- placement by writing to: c Nissan North America, Inc.

Consumer Affairs Department P.O. Box 191
Gardena, CA 90248-0191

For Canada Emission Control System Warranty Details of these warranties may be found with other vehicle warranties in your Warranty Infor- mation Booklet which comes with your NISSAN vehicle. If you did not receive a Warranty Informa- tion Booklet, or it is lost, you may obtain a re- placement by writing to: c Nissan Canada Inc. 5290 Orbitor Drive Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4Z5

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REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (US only)

READINESS FOR INSPECTION/ MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST

If you believe that your vehicle has a de- fect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immedi- ately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addi- tion to notifying NISSAN. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot be- come involved in individual problems be- tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN. To contact NHTSA, you may call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327- 4236. You may also write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor ve- hicle safety from the Hotline. You may notify NISSAN by contacting our Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at 1-800-NISSAN-1.

of

9-34 Technical and consumer information

Due to legal requirements in some states and Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re- quired to be in what is called the (cid:147)ready condi- tion(cid:148) for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the emission control system.

The vehicle is set to the (cid:147)ready condition(cid:148) when it is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually, the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary usage of the vehicle.

the

test,

check

If a powertrain system component is repaired or the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be reset to a (cid:147)not ready(cid:148) condition. Before taking the I/M vehicle(cid:146)s inspection/maintenance test readiness condi- tion. Turn the ignition switch ON without starting the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and then blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M test condition is 9not ready9. If the MIL does not blink after 20
seconds, the I/M test condition is 9ready.9 If the MIL indicates the vehicle is in a 9not ready9 con- dition, drive the vehicle through the following pattern to set the vehicle to the ready condition. If you cannot or do not want to perform the driving pattern, a NISSAN dealer can conduct it for you.

WARNING

Always drive the vehicle in a safe and prudent manner according to traffic con- ditions and obey all traffic laws.

1. Start the engine when the engine coolant temperature gauge needle points to C. Al- low the engine to idle until the gauge needle points between the C and H (normal oper- ating temperature).

2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h), then quickly release the accelerator pedal completely and keep it released for at least 10 seconds.

3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of 53 - 60 MPH (86 - 96 km/h) for at least 9
minutes.

4. Stop the vehicle.

5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)

and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.

6. Repeat steps 4 through 5 at least 10 times.

7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h) and maintain the speed for at least 3 min- utes.

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8. Stop the vehicle. Place the transmission se- lector lever in the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.

9. Turn the engine off. 10. Repeat steps 1 - 8 at least one more time. If steps 1 through 7 are interrupted, repeat the preceding step. Any safe driving mode is accept- able between steps. Do not stop the engine until step 7 is completed.

EVENT DATA RECORDERS

Your vehicle is equipped with a variety of comput- ers that monitor and control a number of systems to optimize performance and help service techni- cians with diagnosis and repair. Depending on the equipment on your vehicle, some of the com- puters monitor emission control systems, braking systems and air bag systems, just to name a few. Some data about vehicle operation may be stored in the computers for use during servicing. Other data may be stored if a crash event occurs. For example, air bag readiness, air bag perfor- mance, and seat belt use by the driver or passen- ger may be recorded, depending on vehicle equipment. These types of systems are some- times called Event Data Recorders. Special equipment can be used to access the electronic data that may be stored in the vehicle(cid:146)s computers (sounds are not recorded). NISSAN and NISSAN dealers have equipment to access some of this data; others may also have this equipment. The data may be retrieved during routine vehicle servicing or for special research. It might also be accessed with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee, in response to a request by law enforcement, or as otherwise required or permitted by law.

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OWNER(cid:146)S MANUAL/SERVICE MANUAL ORDER INFORMATION

A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is the best source of service and repair information for your vehicle. Filled with wiring diagrams, illustrations and step-by-step diagnostic and adjustment pro- cedures, this manual is the same one used by the factory trained technicians working at NISSAN dealerships. Also available are genuine NISSAN Owner(cid:146)s Manuals, and genuine NISSAN Service and Owner(cid:146)s Manuals for older NISSAN models. For USA For current pricing and availability of genuine NISSAN Service Manuals for the 2000 model year and later contact: Tweddle Litho Company 1-800-450-9491
www.nissan-techinfo.com For current pricing and availability of genuine NISSAN Service Manuals for the 1999 model year and prior, see a NISSAN dealer, or contact: Resolve Corporation 20770 Westwood Road Strongsville, OH 44136
1-800-247-5321

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Why should you take a chance? In over 40 states, the law says you must be advised if non-genuine parts are used to repair your vehicle. And some states have enacted laws that restrict insurance companies from authoriz- ing the use of non-genuine collision parts during the new vehicle warranty. These laws help pro- tect you, so you can take action to protect your- self. It(cid:146)s your right! If you should need further information visit us at: www.nissanusa.com.

For current pricing and availability of genuine NISSAN Owner(cid:146)s Manuals for the 2005 model year and prior, see a NISSAN dealer, or contact:

Resolve Corporation 20770 Westwood Road Strongsville, OH 44136
1-800-247-5321
For Canada

To purchase a copy of a genuine NISSAN Ser- vice Manual or Owner(cid:146)s Manual please contact your nearest NISSAN dealer. For the phone num- ber and location of a NISSAN dealer in your area call the NISSAN Information Center at 1-800- 387-0122 and a bilingual NISSAN representa- tive will assist you.

Also available are genuine NISSAN Service and Owner(cid:146)s Manuals for older NISSAN models. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION Unfortunately, accidents do occur. In this unlikely event, there is some important information you should know.

Many insurance companies routinely authorize the use of non-genuine collision parts in order to cut costs, among other reasons.

Insist on the use of genuine NISSAN collision parts! If you want your vehicle to be restored using parts made to NISSAN(cid:146)s original exacting specifica- tions (cid:150) if you want to help it to last and hold its resale value, the solution is simple. Tell your insurance agent and your repair shop to only use Genuine NISSAN Collision Parts. NISSAN does not warrant non-NISSAN parts, nor does NISSAN(cid:146)s warranty apply to damage caused by a non-genuine part. Using Genuine NISSAN Parts can help protect your personal safety, preserve your warranty pro- tection and maintain the resale value of your vehicle. And if your vehicle was leased, using Genuine NISSAN Parts may prevent or limit un- necessary excess wear and tear expenses at the end of your lease. NISSAN designs its hoods with crumple zones to minimize the risk that the hood will penetrate the windshield of your vehicle in an accident. Non- genuine (imitation) parts may not provide such built in safeguards. Also, non-genuine parts often show premature wear, rust and corrosion.

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MEMO

9-38 Technical and consumer information

10 Index

4WD warning light .

.2-15

Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system (if so equipped) . Active head restraint . Air bag (See supplemental restraint system) Air bag system

.1-48

Front (See supplemental front impact air bag system) .

Air bag warning labels . Air bag warning light. Air cleaner housing filter . Air conditioner

.1-56
.1-63
.1-64, 2-17
.8-19

Air conditioner operation. Air conditioner service . Air conditioner specification label . Air conditioner system refrigerant and lubrication recommendations . Heater and air conditioner controls . Servicing air conditioner .

Air flow charts . Alarm system (See vehicle security system) . Anchor point locations . Antenna . Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . Anti-lock brake warning light . Audible reminders. Audio system .

.4-5
.4-9
.9-11

.9-6
.4-2
.4-9
.4-6
.2-21
.1-38
.4-26
.5-29
.2-13
.2-21
.4-10

.5-30
.1-7

Autolight switch . Automatic

Compact Disc (CD) changer Compact disc (CD) player . FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD) .4-16, 4-20
player . .4-10
Radio . Steering wheel audio control switch. .4-25
.2-26

.4-23
.4-19

Automatic power window switch . Automatic transmission position indicator .2-17
light Driving with automatic transmission . .5-10
Transmission selector lever lock release .5-12
.3-13

Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .

.2-46

Battery .

Charge warning light . Before starting the engine . Belts (See drive belts) . Booster seats . Brake

.8-15
.2-14
.5-9
.8-18
.1-42

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . Brake booster . Brake fluid . Brake light (See stop light). Brake pedal . Brake system . Brake warning light . Brake wear indicators .

.5-29
.8-24
.8-14
.8-29
.8-23
.5-28
.2-14
.2-21, 8-24

Parking brake check . Parking brake operation . Self-adjusting brakes .

Break-in schedule. Brightness control

Instrument panel

Bulb check/instrument panel. Bulb replacement .

.8-23
.5-16
.8-23
.5-19

.2-28
.2-13
.8-29

.9-2
.4-26
.2-30
.9-12
.4-25
.4-23
.4-19

Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants. Car phone or CB radio . Cargo light switch . Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . CD care and cleaning . CD changer (See audio system). CD player (See audio system) . Check engine indicator light (See malfunction indicator lamp) Child restraint with top tether strap . Child restraints .

.2-18
.1-36
.1-14, 1-15, 1-21, 1-34
.1-21, 1-42
.1-38
.3-6
.2-21
.7-2
.4-17

Precautions on child restraints . Top tether strap anchor point locations .

Child safety rear door lock. Chimes, audible reminders . Cleaning exterior and interior . Clock . Clutch

Clutch fluid .

.8-14

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.

Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch . Cold weather driving . Compact disc (CD) player . Compass display . Console box. Controls

Audio controls (steering wheel) . Heater and air conditioner controls .

Coolant

Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants. Changing engine coolant Checking engine coolant level. Engine coolant temperature gauge .

Corrosion protection . Cruise control . Cup holders . Curtain side-impact and rollover air bag .

.2-33
.5-33
.4-19
.2-9
.2-38

.4-25
.4-2

.9-2
.8-9
.8-8
.2-6
.7-5
.5-17
.2-41
.1-60

Daytime running light system (Canada only) . Defroster switch

.2-27

Rear window and outside mirror defroster switch .

Dimensions and weights . Door locks . Door open warning light . Drive belts . Driving

.2-25
.9-8
.3-3
.2-14
.8-18

Cold weather driving . Driving with automatic transmission . Driving with manual transmission . Precautions when starting and driving .

.5-33
.5-10
.5-14
.5-2

Economy - fuel Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system . Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system switch . Emission control information label . Emission control system warranty . Engine

.5-19

.5-25

.2-32
.9-11
.9-33

.5-9

Before starting the engine . Capacities and recommended .9-2
fuel/lubricants. .8-9
Changing engine coolant .8-10
Changing engine oil .8-12
Changing engine oil filter. .8-8
Checking engine coolant level. .8-9
Checking engine oil level .8-8
Engine compartment check locations. .2-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge . .8-8
Engine cooling system . .8-9
Engine oil . .9-5
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .2-14
Engine oil pressure warning light Engine oil viscosity . .9-5
.9-10
Engine serial number . .9-7
Engine specifications. .5-9
Starting the engine . .2-8
.9-35
.5-2

Engine oil pressure gauge . Event data recorders . Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)