How do you switch the 2000 Xterra into 4 wheel drive and what do the "2H, 4H, N, and 4L" mean? Thanks for your help.

step 1. open glove box
2. open owners manual
3. read owners manual
4. re-read owners manual

2h = 2 wheel drive
4h = 4 wheel high
n = neutral
4l = 4 lo

Thanks. The problem is, there was no owner's manual...We bought it used. I hope you can help.

go buy an owners manual. you'll need it for things like this and for service schedules.

going under 30mph (or stopped) grab the shift lever and pull back, you'll see the green light on the dash come on. thats 4 wheel high, use for higher speeds like highways with snow.
pull back again to get it into neutral, the light on the dash should go out. push down on the lever and pull back to get to 4 wheel low, used only for speeds below 25mph (offroading).
reverse the above to get it back to 2wd.

anytime you use 4wd you have to reverse to unlock it. put it in 2wd and reverse until the light on the dash turns off (around 30ft).

get an owners manual from a nissan dealer asap!!

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Download the PDF of the owner's manual here (http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/nissan/deptog.asp?dept%5Fid=35)

Or just look above your visor. :rolleyes:

(but I agree you should get or download the owners manual so you know about your truck.)

In addition to Evergreen's instructions I would suggest coming to a full stop before going into 4-Lo. Also put it in neutral before moving the lever out of 4wd.

You can get a manual cheap on e-bay