1996 NISSAN QUEST ignition

cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cMaintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically, for example, each
time you check engine oil.
cCheck that all windows and lights are
clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cLock all doors.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights
when key is turned to the ON position.The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled by a microcom-
puter to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the rec-
ommended operating procedures for this
transmission. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
cAfter starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before shifting the selec-
tor lever to the R, N, D, 2 or 1 position. Be
sure the vehicle is fully stopped before
attempting to shift the selector lever.
This automatic transmission is designed
so the foot brake pedal MUST be de-
pressed before shifting from P to any drive
position while the ignition switch is ON.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of P
and into any of the other gear positions if
the ignition key is turned to ACC, LOCK,
or if the key is removed from the switch.
When the battery charge is low, the shift
lever can be moved if the ignition switch
is in the ACC position.1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
shift into a driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot
brake, then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
cCold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
cAvoid revving up the engine while the
vehicle is stopped. This could cause
unexpected vehicle movement.
Driving precautions
To help prevent transmission damage:
cDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P or N to: R, D, 2 or
1. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed.
cNever shift to P or R while the vehicle
is moving.
cWhen stopping the vehicle on an up-
hill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brakes should be used for this
purpose.
BEFORE STARTING THE
ENGINEDRIVING WITH AN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4-5
ZX

P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle
is parked or when starting the engine. Al-
ways be sure the vehicle is at a complete
stop. For maximum safety, depress the
brake pedal, pull the lever toward you, and
move the lever to the P position. Apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, apply
the parking brake first, then shift the lever
into the P position.
Shifting from P (Park)
If the ignition switch is in the ON position
and the foot brake pedal is depressed, butthe shift lever still cannot be moved out of P
(Park), follow these instructions:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the ignition key and turn it clock-
wise to the first position (ACC).
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the gear-
shift lever to N (Neutral) and start the
engine.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. Depress
the brake pedal then pull the shift lever
toward you and move it to the R position.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to N and restart a
stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.2 (Second gear):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
Do not downshift into 2 at speeds over 63
MPH (100 km/h). Do not exceed 63 MPH
(100 km/h) in 2.
1 (Low gear):
Use 1 when climbing steep hills slowly or
driving slowly through deep snow, sand or
mud, or for maximum engine braking on
steep downhill grades.
Do not exceed 38 MPH (60 km/h) in 1.
Do not shift into 1 at speeds over 38 MPH
(60 km/h).
Accelerator downshift
Ð In D position Ð
For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully de-
press the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into third gear,
second gear or first gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the Fail-safe operation occurs, the
next time the key is turned to the ON
ASD0552
4-6
ZX

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral). (P preferred.)
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
P and into any of the other gear posi-
tions under the following conditions:
cThe ignition key is turned to the
OFF position.
cThe ignition key is turned to the ON
position without depressing the
foot brake pedal.
The starter is designed not to operate
if the selector lever is in one of the
driving positions.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but
fails to run, repeat the above procedure.
Ð If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold or hot weather, de-
press the accelerator pedal and hold it
to help start the engine.Ð In the summer, when restarting the
engine within 30 minutes after it has
been stopped, keep the accelerator
pedal slightly depressed while start-
ing.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, wait 10 seconds before crank-
ing again, otherwise the starter could
be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Drive at moderate
speeds for a short distance first, espe-
cially in cold weather.To apply:Firmly depress the parking brake.
To release:Pull the release lever. Before
driving, be sure the parking brake warning
light goes out.
ASD0012
STARTING THE ENGINE PARKING BRAKE
OPERATION
4-8
ZX

CAUTION
Do not park the vehicle over flammable
materials such as dry grass, waste pa-
per or rags, as they may burn easily.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the gearshift lever to the P (Park)
position.CAUTION
Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park)
position. Make sure the shift lever has
been pushed up as far as it can go and
cannot be moved without pulling it to-
wards you.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling
into the street when parked on a sloping
driveway, it is a good practice to turn the
wheels as illustrated.cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
s1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
s2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
s3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK posi-
tion and remove the key.
CAUTION
cNever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
cNever leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
ASD0007
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
4-12
ZX

7. After the engine cools down completely,
check the coolant level in the reservoir
tank with the engine running. Add coolant
to the reservoir tank if necessary. Have
your vehicle repaired at the nearest NIS-
SAN dealer.
Inertia fuel shut-off switch
When the vehicle is involved in a collision,
the inertia fuel shutoff switch is designed to
automatically stop the flow of fuel to the
engine. The impact forces needed to trigger
the switch do not have to be great. Parking
lot bumping or road impacts (such as driving
over potholes) may trigger the switch.
Once the inertia fuel shutoff switch is trig-
gered, it must be reset before the engine
can be started. If your engine cranks but
does not start after a collision, take the
following stops to correctly reset the switch:1. Turn the key in the ignition to OFF.
2. Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel.
3. If you do not see or smell fuel, push down
the red reset button on the fuel pump
shut-off switch.
4. Turn the ignition key ON for a few sec-
onds, then turn it OFF.
5. Check under the vehicle again for leaking
fuel. If you see or smell fuel, do not start
your vehicle again. If no fuel is detected,
try to start your vehicle again.
WARNING
cIf you see or smell fuel, do not reset
the switch or try to start your ve-
hicle. You could injure yourself or
others. Have all the passengers get
out of the vehicle and call the local
fire department or a towing service.ACE0018
AFTER AN ACCIDENT
5-10
ZX

When towing your vehicle, all state (provin-
cial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from your
NISSAN dealer. Local service operators are
generally familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental
damage to your vehicle, NISSAN recom-
mends that you have a service operator tow
your vehicle. It is advisable to have the
service operator carefully read the following
precautions.
CAUTION
cWhen towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working con-
dition. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.
cNever use a tow bar that attaches to
the bumper when you tow your ve-
hicle. It may damage the bumper and
cause damage to the transmission.cWhen towing with the front wheels
on dollies:
Turn the ignition key to the OFF
position and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
place the ignition key in the LOCK
position. This will result in damage
to the steering lock mechanism.
Move the gearshift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.
cWhen towing with the rear wheels on
the ground, release the parking
brake.
cAttach safety chains for all towing.
TOW TRUCK TOWING
5-11
ZX

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
cPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the gearshift
lever to neutral (N).
cBe sure the ignition key is OFF when
performing any replacement or repair.
cDo not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
cBe sure to turn the ignition key to the
OFF or LOCK position. When the igni-
tion key is in the ON or ACC position,
the cooling fan may start to operate
suddenly even when the engine is not
running.
cIf you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.cIt is advisable to remove ties and any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
cIf you must run the engine in an en-
closed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases.
cNever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.
cKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and the battery.
cNever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent connector while the ignition is
on.
cOn gasoline engine models with the
multiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.
cFailure to follow these or other com-
mon sense guidelines may lead to
serious injury or vehicle damage.cImproperly disposed motor oil and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the envi-
ronment. Always conform to local
regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This ``Do-it-yourself operations'' section
gives instructions regarding only those
items which are relatively easy for an owner
to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect your warranty coverage.If in
doubt about any servicing, have it done
by your NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
7-2
ZX

WARNING
Be sure the ignition key is OFF.
1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of
unusual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness.
If the belt is loose or in poor condition,
have it replaced or adjusted by your
NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for con-
dition and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule in this manual.WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch
are off and that the parking brake is
engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the plugs. An incorrect socket
can cause damage.1. Disconnect the spark plug cables from
the spark plugs.
When disconnecting, always hold the boots,
not the cables.
ADI0060ADI0061
DRIVE BELTS SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT
7-12
ZB13-DX