1986 Nissan-Datsun Truck PL720 Service Manual

• Coverage and document layout: A 641-page PDF indexed to the 1986 Nissan-Datsun Truck PL720 2WD with the 1952cc 2.0L SOHC Z20 engine. Pages 1-264 contain vehicle service information, specifications, locations, and diagrams; pages 265-641 contain a 141-entry Nissan technical service bulletin and recall index with the bulletin text.
• Z20 ignition and fuel-control work: Covers distributor disassembly, replacement, and timing reference; dual-plug switching control; early- and late-type ignition coil testing; detonation control; fuel-pump circuit diagnosis; and ECC power, ground, sensor, switch, and solenoid checks.
• Carburetor and emissions repair: Details DFP-342/384 carburetor disassembly, inspection, assembly, float and fuel-level adjustment, choke and throttle settings, idle-mixture work, BCDD testing and adjustment, EGR, EVAP, PCV, catalytic-converter, and high-altitude control systems.
• Transmission, clutch, and axle procedures: Includes L3N71B automatic-transmission identification, symptom diagnosis, removal and installation, band, linkage, kickdown, torque-converter, and vacuum-diaphragm work; FS5W71B manual-transmission diagrams and removal; clutch bleeding and adjustment; and H190, C200, and H233B differential setup procedures using the listed J25407 and J-34309 tool sets.
• Electrical diagnosis and wiring: Provides DMM-based open-, short-, ground-, continuity-, and voltage-drop testing, connector and relay identification, harness locations, fuse and power-distribution diagrams, and system circuits for starting, charging, ignition, lighting, gauges, HVAC, wipers, and accessories.
• Specifications and troubleshooting: Supplies component-specific torque tables, capacities, approved fluids, wear and clearance limits, electrical test specifications, calibration data, and symptom charts for improper idle, hard starting, stalling, and driveability complaints.

This ALLDATA 10.10 service-information compilation is built for hands-on diagnosis and repair rather than a casual maintenance overview. It is best suited to professional technicians and experienced owners who are comfortable with a DMM, timing light, vacuum equipment, CO testing, and drivetrain setup tools. The header identifies the PL720 2WD/Z20 application, while some subsections also carry related 1982-86 Pickup, 1986.5, dual-rear-wheel, 4WD, California, Canada, Z24i, and VG30i information; those entries must be matched to the truck's actual equipment before a repair procedure or specification is selected.

Engine Management, Carburetion, and Emissions

The engine-control material follows the electronically controlled carburetor system through open- and closed-loop mixture control, fuel shutoff, idle-up, mixture heating, and spark-plug switching. Component tests cover the ECC control unit, exhaust-gas and coolant-temperature sensors, throttle and clutch switches, altitude switch, air/fuel-ratio solenoid, anti-dieseling solenoid, mixture heater, and detonation-control circuit. The emission chapters add operational checks for the thermal vacuum valves, EGR control hardware, charcoal canister purge system, thermostatic air cleaner, and high-altitude conversion components.

Illustrations include the DFP-342/384 carburetor exploded view, FS5W71B transmission diagrams, ECC Wiring Diagram, Fuse Panel & Power Distribution - Except Fuel Injected Engine, Ignition System Wiring Circuit, and Water Temperature Sensor Resistance Specifications chart. Component-location pages cover the engine compartment, passenger compartment, and chassis harness sections, while connector, splice, relay, symbol, and wire-color references support circuit tracing.

Drivetrain and Chassis Repair Depth

The automatic-transmission section combines symptom-to-component fault lists with removal, installation, adjustment, and inspection procedures. Manual-transmission coverage is more selective, centering on FS5W71B diagrams, transmission removal, clutch hydraulic bleeding, and pedal adjustment. Rear-axle material goes further into differential disassembly, side-bearing preload, final assembly, drive-pinion height, and pinion-bearing preload for several carrier families. Axle-shaft, hub, wheel-bearing, and selected 2WD/4WD front-drive procedures are also included.

Bulletins, Scope, and Shop Cautions

The second half of the PDF is a broad Nissan bulletin library, not 377 pages of PL720-only repair data. It includes PL720-relevant items such as manual-transmission shift-fork cautions, power-steering seal installation, driveline vibration, parking-brake adjustment, engine-control hesitation, and recalls, alongside later all-model guidance for brakes, charging systems, A/C service, fluids, and shop equipment. Always check each bulletin's Applied Vehicle statement before using it on this truck.

This is an ALLDATA repair-information export, not a page-for-page reproduction of the original Nissan factory service manual. Its base service content is selective and does not provide a full internal Z20 engine-overhaul chapter. The cautions are still highly specific: solvent can damage the carburetor's diaphragms, float, electrical parts, and plastic bushings, while drills or wire can ruin calibrated passages. A steering-gear bulletin also warns that installing the rack oil seal in the wrong order lets the rack teeth cut the seal lip and cause a leak. Support the vehicle and removed drivetrain components correctly, isolate the battery before electrical repair, and use approved refrigerant-recovery practices for the R-12 A/C system.