Nissan Frontier: Starting and driving - Starting the engine

Basic Information

1. Apply the parking brake securely before starting the Nissan Frontier.

2. Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral).

P (Park) is the recommended position. The starter system is designed not to operate unless the shift lever is placed in either P (Park) or N (Neutral), helping prevent unintended vehicle movement during engine start.

3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position.

Press the brake pedal firmly, then push the ignition switch to start the engine.

If you need to start the engine immediately, push and release the ignition switch while keeping the brake pedal depressed, regardless of the current ignition switch position.

• If the engine is difficult to start in extremely cold weather or during a restart, press the accelerator pedal slightly, approximately 1/3 of the way to the floor, and hold it there while cranking the engine. Release the accelerator pedal as soon as the engine starts.
• If the engine is difficult to start because it has become flooded, press the accelerator pedal fully to the floor and hold it.

  Push the ignition switch to the ON position to begin cranking the engine. After 5 or 6 seconds, stop cranking by pushing the ignition switch to the LOCK position.

  After cranking, release the accelerator pedal. Then crank the engine again with your foot off the accelerator pedal by pressing the brake pedal and pushing the ignition switch to start the engine. If the engine starts but does not continue running, repeat the procedure carefully.

CAUTION

Do not operate the starter for more than 15 seconds at one time. If the engine does not start, push the ignition switch to the OFF position and wait at least 10 seconds before trying again. Continuous cranking can overheat or damage the starter.

4. Warm-up

After the Nissan Frontier engine starts, allow it to idle for at least 30 seconds. Do not race the engine during warm-up. Begin driving at a moderate speed for a short distance first, especially in cold weather, so the engine and drivetrain can stabilize gradually. In cold weather, keep the engine running for a minimum of 2 to 3 minutes before shutting it off. Repeatedly starting and stopping the engine within a short period of time may make the vehicle harder to start later.

5. To stop the engine, move the shift lever to the P (Park) position and push the ignition switch to the OFF position.

Depending on driving conditions, the Nissan Frontier engine may have a slightly delayed shutoff after the ignition switch is placed in the OFF position. This can occur as part of normal preparation for the next engine start.

NOTE:

The engine may NOT restart within 3 seconds after being turned off.

NOTE:

Care should be taken to avoid conditions that can lead to battery discharge and possible no-start situations, such as:

1. Installing or using electronic accessories for a long time while they consume battery power and the engine is not running, such as phone chargers, GPS units, DVD players, and similar devices.

2. Leaving the vehicle unused for long periods, or driving the Nissan Frontier only on very short trips that do not allow the battery to recharge properly.

In these situations, the battery may need to be charged to maintain good battery condition and reliable starting performance.

Remote Engine Start

When the Nissan Frontier has been started with Remote Engine Start, the ignition switch must be placed in the ON position before the shift lever can be moved from the P (Park) position.

To place the ignition switch in the ON position, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is with you inside the vehicle.

2. Press the brake pedal firmly.

3. Push the ignition switch once to move it to the ON position.

Before driving away after Remote Engine Start, confirm that the engine is running normally, the warning lights are not indicating a problem, and the Nissan Frontier is ready to move safely.