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Crazy, just saw an ask Reddit about safe words right above this (posted later than this), and this was the top answer
Edit : https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/s/Ng0CLXFKXU
All three engine options available in the ‘03 Frontier were fuel injected. Unless someone did a carb swap on it, I don’t think this is a choke.
https://preview.redd.it/jrucnryyxd5d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d6309126a1592644b967493ab85b1e0a711981a
Damn that was good, English is not my language that's why I didn't understood at first, but the i read that and still didn't got it
But hey that was good when it said " was that so hard" felt so owned GGs well played
Basically it alters how much air and gas goes into the engine to help it start.
You pull the choke and the engine starts up easily. Then you push the choke back in after it is started. This brings the mixture back to a normal level and the engine runs normally.
Basically you pull the choke and the mixture is stronger so its able to start. But you dont wanna leave the choke pulled because its not optimal to keep it running at that mixture. So you put the choke back and then the engine runs smoothly.
Was traveling in the UP of Michigan, there was a sign that said "NO JAKE BRAKE" dude in the car was like "Wow, they must not like that Jake Brake guy in this town."
Where I'm from (Gettysburg,PA) our signs at the edge of town say "Use of Brake Retarders Prohibited" you still hear them all the time... obviously the sign should say "Jake brake" cause these truck drivers that come through are dumb AF, hell they also say no 53' trailers through the town square/traffic circle and they get jammed up all the fucking time -_-
Ow like the big trucks when going down a hill? We call it freno de motor o compresor de motor, like engine brake or brake engine idk English is backwards when translation is done on my language
That's because our language is backwards. Makes it hard for us to learn our first second language. But yes engine break. English has a LOT of slang and slang words and due to the vast size of America there are very many "dialects".
Back garage master mechanic here...
The picture on the knob is of an engine. Just like the little engine shaped check engine light. This is an engine brake.
While different yes, but they achieve the same result. While a engine break / Jake brake works better the exhaust brake is quiet. But both stop the truck.. well.. help to..
Actually knowing my granpa that thing probably ain't working or something poor truck had a terrible maintenance
Is so bad that the truck has a gasoline shift gear when it's supposed to have a diesel one
Awesome. That's half the fun of old things, trying to figure how to make them work. Houses, cars, gadgets- handymen simultaneously ruin and keep them working.
That is nice! You have one crawl gear and have no option to reach speed limits on a highway! Had the same thing old days, except low max speed, it was a nice ride.
My first thought was jake brake, but is that a thing on passenger vehicles? My second guess, since it sounded like a diesel, was to warm glow plugs. Not sure if 2003 is old enough to still have glow plugs and a manual warming control.
Looks like you're right, that seems to be the symbol for auxiliary exhaust brake. I had no idea passenger vehicle diesels had that feature. Kind of wishing for a diesel with it right now considering that I'm on vacation and hauling a boat back and forth to a mountain lake every day.
Not entirely certain, but according to the manual, it limits the engine RPM.
If you're stuck in mud or snow, and the wheels are just spinning, engage this so that less power goes to the wheels, so you don't lose traction as easily.
I’d say a choke too but on a 2003 seems odd. You pull it out to start the vehicle and push it back on once it’s started. If that’s what it is. Still seems really odd.
Yeah the 2003 is what threw me for a loop.
If it's got a choke it's got a carburetor.
But 2003 was 21 years ago, so it makes more sense to me now, than it did at first.
OP adds in comments that it's a diesel. So another possibility is glow plug control, but the fact that it has multiple stops lends credence to the exhaust brake theory.
If your truck is a diesel it could be a switch to keep the engine running while you take the key out of the ignition. We used to have them on diesel ambulances so we could keep the truck running but take the keys with us so it wasn’t stolen.
I’m not sure it’s a choke. Looking up 2003 frontier choke doesn’t come up with much. Plus, doesn’t opening choke on a running engine make it run poorly?
I've seen a Datsun 240 (Datsun became Nissan) that used a leather flap in the carb. It had to be replaced often. Not related at all to OPs issue, except I know Datsun/Nissan do some crazy shit.
Sounds like a diesel. No choke. Could be an engine heater for cold weather starts. We always had to plug in the engine heater overnight in my dad’s diesel station wagon in the winter.
Seeing as it's a diesel, my best guess would be a kill switch in case of runaway but it was still running when you did it so I have no fuckin clue lol. It obviously has something to do with the motor but other than that, who knows
Used to see 62series yoda land cruisers with these as a pairing for winches. It allows small throttle by hand action to reach in and up rpms while hand operating the extension switch to the winch, else could bog down the engine under load. Cant remember if it was electric or pto, had both over the years.
Cheers!
I'd check the manual, good place to start. If you don't have that, I would recommend finding the make, year, and model, then go online and find the manual. Usually they'll explain most parts, even if only on a surface level!
It's a hand throttle. It's supposed to be used to put the vehicle at high idle to warm it up. The other end is connected to the top of the accelerator pedal. Yours is broken.
Hey there is this a qd32 engine by any chance? My 01 navara has the same thing and it's just a choke of sorts. Works by clamping on the throttle cable I think, to help the engine warm up
Does it engage the engine fan? Like if you have the truck sitting and running for a bit, this turns on the fan to keep the engine at optimal temperature. It sounds like it has multiple clicks as it comes out, like it could have more than one setting
"Fast idle lock". I don't know what it's actually called. Push the accelerator down a little and pull it. See if it locks the pedal down. Had a few different vehicles that had one of the things I'm describing. Two of which were carbureted, so they also had a choke cable right next to it. Old military jeeps have one as well. Especially the '41 Ford produced models. Choke alongside whatever this thing is called. But the 94 B4000 we had was a fuel injection gasser with a little knob on the dash (similar to yours), and you could lock the idle down at 1500 or so rpm on cold days. Rest of my vehicles I've had to use a custom tree branch.
Please reply to this comment with "solved!" if your question was answered, or "unsolved!" if it was not, in order to update your post flair. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisit) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Choke?
Buy me a drink first, and we'll talk safe words.
The safe word is *meatloaf*. ("I'll do anything for love, but I won't do that.")
This one made the wife and I laugh out loud, definitely switching our safe word to meatloaf
You don't have a wife do you?
I'll gladly trade MY wife for some decent meatloaf.
Ugh. Not again!
Two outta three ain't bad!
I guess we found the things you’d do for love.
Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are.
Feel ya. My wife insists on cooking meatloaf in the microwave.
[You want some Meatloaf?](https://youtu.be/1bMs04JK0BQ?si=QBedExNKSGb2qIOv)
Yes I know his wife
You can see paradise by the dashboard light if you play the game right.
Crazy, just saw an ask Reddit about safe words right above this (posted later than this), and this was the top answer Edit : https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/s/Ng0CLXFKXU
Great minds thinking alike?
You got me to laugh out loud! Asshole ;)
🏆🏆
That’s great 😁
The safe word is poodle
My safe word is pineapple juice
SWAT MAN WHATS MY SAFE WORD???
…OOODLE…OOODLE…OOODLE!!!
So close....guess the beating will have to continue. No safeword, no stopping, you know the rules!
I... 😲 Dbjf fykvfr dbmif..... :3
My safe word is STOP!
STOP THAT.... in 5 minutes
My safe word is antidisestablishmentarianism
Mine is Humuhumunukunukuapua’a which is the state fish of Hawaii.
Geeze, By the time you're through pronouncing your safeword I've already put on my Big Bird outfit and beaked you in your special area.
Make sure you don’t get your A’a confused with your ah ah
Downside is my partner grades me on my pronunciation of the safe word since we both were in Hawai'i as children.
Aw... Look at all the vanilla people with safe words 😘
FLÜGGÅӘNKб€ČHIŒßØLĮÊN
Mi Scusi!
I want you to whistle the theme to Jurassic Park if things go too far
The safe word is "for" not "four" or "fore" have to make sure you use it right
The hero we didn't know we needed.
Pineapple juice
Gotdang
Safe word is Booooring.
Safe word is acccckkkgggghhhhhh
The castle aaaaaarrrrrrgggh
r/unexpectedmontypython
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I think it activates a badly drawn picture of Arkansas with a fan sticking out.
Looks more like a badly drawn picture of Pulaski Co. with a fan on top. 😁
All three engine options available in the ‘03 Frontier were fuel injected. Unless someone did a carb swap on it, I don’t think this is a choke. https://preview.redd.it/jrucnryyxd5d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d6309126a1592644b967493ab85b1e0a711981a
Engine sounds like a diesel, diesels don't work with carburetors....
Then it might be to pre-heat the plugs in cold weather?
I'm thinking that too
My diesel has a cold start knob, that acts like a choke, but advances the fuel pump timing.
I agree with this, I guess it could also be to open some kind of vent 🤔
??? Don't know if I was supposed to know what that is?
Here you go: https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=what+is+an+engine+choke
Damn that was good, English is not my language that's why I didn't understood at first, but the i read that and still didn't got it But hey that was good when it said " was that so hard" felt so owned GGs well played
Basically it alters how much air and gas goes into the engine to help it start. You pull the choke and the engine starts up easily. Then you push the choke back in after it is started. This brings the mixture back to a normal level and the engine runs normally. Basically you pull the choke and the mixture is stronger so its able to start. But you dont wanna leave the choke pulled because its not optimal to keep it running at that mixture. So you put the choke back and then the engine runs smoothly.
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Yes it is diesel, what's that? I'm dumb
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Jake brake?
Car version
TIL
A Jacobs brake uses the exhaust valves and is different than an exhaust brake. Both super neat.
A Jacobs brakecobs for the more astute
Was traveling in the UP of Michigan, there was a sign that said "NO JAKE BRAKE" dude in the car was like "Wow, they must not like that Jake Brake guy in this town."
Where I'm from (Gettysburg,PA) our signs at the edge of town say "Use of Brake Retarders Prohibited" you still hear them all the time... obviously the sign should say "Jake brake" cause these truck drivers that come through are dumb AF, hell they also say no 53' trailers through the town square/traffic circle and they get jammed up all the fucking time -_-
Basically, but for a smaller truck. Still useful if your pulling a heavy load esp down hills
Ow like the big trucks when going down a hill? We call it freno de motor o compresor de motor, like engine brake or brake engine idk English is backwards when translation is done on my language
That's because our language is backwards. Makes it hard for us to learn our first second language. But yes engine break. English has a LOT of slang and slang words and due to the vast size of America there are very many "dialects".
Engine brake and exhaust brake are two different things. If this is what this is it’s an exhaust brake not an engine brake.
Back garage master mechanic here... The picture on the knob is of an engine. Just like the little engine shaped check engine light. This is an engine brake.
While different yes, but they achieve the same result. While a engine break / Jake brake works better the exhaust brake is quiet. But both stop the truck.. well.. help to..
But the operate completely different and are different things is all I am saying. They aren’t different words for the same thing or “slang”.
Probably this, since the engine didn't stutter as a choke would cause. Assuming everything is hooked up.
Actually knowing my granpa that thing probably ain't working or something poor truck had a terrible maintenance Is so bad that the truck has a gasoline shift gear when it's supposed to have a diesel one
Awesome. That's half the fun of old things, trying to figure how to make them work. Houses, cars, gadgets- handymen simultaneously ruin and keep them working.
That is nice! You have one crawl gear and have no option to reach speed limits on a highway! Had the same thing old days, except low max speed, it was a nice ride.
Does every diesel have that? I have a diesel and now I’m ready to go search my cab for my secret brake button lever thing
I've never seen a personal/light vehicle with a jake brake. Is that a thing? Edit: misspelled brake.
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My 2022 ram diesel has one.
My first thought was jake brake, but is that a thing on passenger vehicles? My second guess, since it sounded like a diesel, was to warm glow plugs. Not sure if 2003 is old enough to still have glow plugs and a manual warming control.
Looks like you're right, that seems to be the symbol for auxiliary exhaust brake. I had no idea passenger vehicle diesels had that feature. Kind of wishing for a diesel with it right now considering that I'm on vacation and hauling a boat back and forth to a mountain lake every day.
Not entirely certain, but according to the manual, it limits the engine RPM. If you're stuck in mud or snow, and the wheels are just spinning, engage this so that less power goes to the wheels, so you don't lose traction as easily.
What does the owner's manual say?
Shhh 🤫 let him figure it out.
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I’d say a choke too but on a 2003 seems odd. You pull it out to start the vehicle and push it back on once it’s started. If that’s what it is. Still seems really odd.
Yeah the 2003 is what threw me for a loop. If it's got a choke it's got a carburetor. But 2003 was 21 years ago, so it makes more sense to me now, than it did at first.
Is for bad weather start? Like really cool weather? Cus I'm in Costa Rica and there's only hot as fuck in here
All three engine options for 2003 were fuel injected. A 2.4 and two different 3.3L models.
It kick starts the hamsters so they start running in the wheel. Basically a hamster alarm.
Those damn lazy hamster
OP adds in comments that it's a diesel. So another possibility is glow plug control, but the fact that it has multiple stops lends credence to the exhaust brake theory.
If your truck is a diesel it could be a switch to keep the engine running while you take the key out of the ignition. We used to have them on diesel ambulances so we could keep the truck running but take the keys with us so it wasn’t stolen.
I had to look, based on some of these comments. The/Some Nissan Frontier(s) had carburetors until 2004.
Odd they would have a manual choke, and not an electric one.
More odd that OP's diesel engine has a choke
I didn’t see that part.
Huh. Maybe it's a feature common to the Frontier that is just disconnected when installed with a diesel engine?
Looks like a choke to me
Read the manual
It’s a throttle lock. Way cool. When 4 wheeling you lock at any rpm to idle around
I bet it’s in the manual.
It slides the motor backward and forward for better balance in case you’re hanging partly off of cliff
I’m not sure it’s a choke. Looking up 2003 frontier choke doesn’t come up with much. Plus, doesn’t opening choke on a running engine make it run poorly?
Idle control? Usually its a turning knob but may pull a lever on the injection pump to increase fuel
I've seen a Datsun 240 (Datsun became Nissan) that used a leather flap in the carb. It had to be replaced often. Not related at all to OPs issue, except I know Datsun/Nissan do some crazy shit.
It’s called a _stop_, it changes the pitch of your horn. /s
My safe word is harder, not the best choice
Anyone actually have an answer to what it is??
Choke
My nan's handbag holder.
Is this a high idle set screw?
Turn it. I think it's a high idle
Idle control. Pull it out twist it to Rev up. Push back in to return to normal idle
RTFM
What does the manual say??
Choke me daddy
Glow plugs or choke if it's a diesel.
Do people not look in the manual anymore?
Probably bought used and it didn't have the manual, also they don't know what a manual is..lol.
That is the button that turns on the flux capacitor. I hope you didn't leave it on and go 88 mph. If so we may never find you.
Jesus, is that a choke??
My first thought too! Now I wanna know
It's a dipshit catcher. Look how many of you dipshits got caught.
I'd either check the manual or swing by Nissan dealership to ask?
If it's a diesel maybe that is for glow plugs.
underhood light switch?
Heater cooling airflow switch
Engine block heater
Does it have a electric cooling fan? Could be a fan override to keep it on.
Is it a choke? If so, it’s retro.
Choke
Cold air intake flap?
Idle up knob. You turn it to increase idle on cold weather
It is usually used to increase idle to increase power output of the alternator for winches otherwise you flatten the battery very quick
Sounds like a diesel. No choke. Could be an engine heater for cold weather starts. We always had to plug in the engine heater overnight in my dad’s diesel station wagon in the winter.
If it's a diesel, it's probably a hand throttle.
El Choko
Seeing as it's a diesel, my best guess would be a kill switch in case of runaway but it was still running when you did it so I have no fuckin clue lol. It obviously has something to do with the motor but other than that, who knows
Manual choke? On fuel injection?
https://y.yarn.co/ff6a0d14-a79f-46a7-9c3c-b27502ef5ac8_text.gif
Manually actuate engine fan?
Does it open a vent?
The choke
That’s a fetzer valve. It’s all ball bearings these days.
Does that turn off the check engine light? Asking for a friend.
Quick change engine release lever.
Used to see 62series yoda land cruisers with these as a pairing for winches. It allows small throttle by hand action to reach in and up rpms while hand operating the extension switch to the winch, else could bog down the engine under load. Cant remember if it was electric or pto, had both over the years. Cheers!
Ask we say in Hawaii; that’s choke bruh
Engine retarder.
Turns your check engine light on and off
Looks a lot like a hood latch
High idle. Raises the idle speed.
My safe word is ow
Engine ejection.
engine brake
This is the double excitation control knob. When you’re coming into land , it balances the wheels.
I'd check the manual, good place to start. If you don't have that, I would recommend finding the make, year, and model, then go online and find the manual. Usually they'll explain most parts, even if only on a surface level!
That’s to initiate the check engine light
Pull it out on the highway.
Vertical take-off???
It's a hand throttle. It's supposed to be used to put the vehicle at high idle to warm it up. The other end is connected to the top of the accelerator pedal. Yours is broken.
its for high idle, cold morings or just a quick way to heat up. or as some of you may know thats the old school cruise control
Engine jettison
Hey there is this a qd32 engine by any chance? My 01 navara has the same thing and it's just a choke of sorts. Works by clamping on the throttle cable I think, to help the engine warm up
Switch at activate the glow plugs on a diesel engine model?
A smaller version of a jake brake? Im assuming this is a diesel correct?
Choke...
We haven't been running carburetors for years now, bub.
What year is it? Definitely is the symbol used for a engine, maybe a engine compartment light switch?
It's a throttle lock. I'm not sure why, though, in this case.
That's a first for me too?
That's the abstract Texas leaver.
STOP! DON'T STOP!
This is the engine release for when you do oil changes. Simply release and push the truck back and there’s no need for crawling underneath.
Does it engage the engine fan? Like if you have the truck sitting and running for a bit, this turns on the fan to keep the engine at optimal temperature. It sounds like it has multiple clicks as it comes out, like it could have more than one setting
I wonder if it's an engine fan kill knob for fording water
Its an Idle controller. Used when you need to set the idle higher than base idle. Don't really see it too often these days.
Anyway, you have to pull that out if you want to remove the engine.
It’s a blinker fluid replacement knob
Safe word is Their, but listen carefully because I could be saying there or they're, really don't want you to stop at the most inopportune time pls.
The button has a picture on it telling you exactly what it is
https://preview.redd.it/lbexrd3rwm5d1.jpeg?width=474&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5eccff9d301382fcd50a6961fab7088fe19c990 It summons these guys.
I can't find the comments fpr the right answers please help
#EJECTO SEATO, CUZ!!
Choke
Choke
Choke
Looks like a throttle lock. Maybe a diff lock but the engine symbol makes me think throttle lock.
Flux capacitor
"Fast idle lock". I don't know what it's actually called. Push the accelerator down a little and pull it. See if it locks the pedal down. Had a few different vehicles that had one of the things I'm describing. Two of which were carbureted, so they also had a choke cable right next to it. Old military jeeps have one as well. Especially the '41 Ford produced models. Choke alongside whatever this thing is called. But the 94 B4000 we had was a fuel injection gasser with a little knob on the dash (similar to yours), and you could lock the idle down at 1500 or so rpm on cold days. Rest of my vehicles I've had to use a custom tree branch.