
Metal or chrome tape usage
The cassette player is automatically set to
high performance play when playing a metal
or chrome cassette tape.
The indicator will come on when playing a
metal or chrome cassette tape.
Ejecting the cassette tape
Push the EJECT button. The tape automati-
cally comes out.
Precautions on cassette player
operation
cTo maintain good quality sound,
NISSAN recommends using cassette
tapes of 60 minutes or shorter in
length.
cCassette tapes should be removed
from the player when not in use. Store
cassettes in their protective cases,
away from direct sunlight, heat, mois-
ture and magnetic sources.
cDirect sunlight can cause the cassette
to become deformed. The use of a
deformed cassette may cause the cas-
sette to jam in the player.cDo not use a cassette that has a label
which is peeling and loose. If used,
the label could jam in the player.
cIf a cassette has loose tape, insert a
pencil through one of the cassette
hubs and rewind the tape firmly
around the hubs. Loose tape may
cause tape jamming and wavering
sound quality.
cOver a period of time, the playback
head, capstan and pinch roller may
gather a tape coating residue as the
tape passes over the head. This resi-
due accumulation can cause a weak
or wavering sound and should be re-
moved periodically with a head clean-
ing tape. If the residue is not removed
periodically, the player may need to
be disassembled for cleaning.The antenna cannot be shortened but can
be removed. Turn its base counterclockwise
to remove the antenna.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove the antenna before
washing the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, or the antenna may be damaged.
MANUAL ANTENNA
3-20
ZX

4Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................4-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............................4-2
Three-way catalyst .................................................4-2
On-pavement and off-road driving precautions .....4-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .........................4-4
Ignition switch .........................................................4-4
Manual transmission ..............................................4-4
Automatic transmission ..........................................4-5
Before starting the engine ......................................4-6
Driving with automatic transmission (if so
equipped) ...............................................................4-6
Driving with manual transmission ..........................4-9
Starting the engine ...............................................4-10
Parking brake operation .......................................4-11Cruise control .......................................................4-12
Break-in schedule ................................................4-14
Increasing fuel economy ......................................4-14
Transfer case shifting procedures for 4-wheel
drive vehicles........................................................4-15
Auto-lock free-running hubs .................................4-16
Manual-lock free-running hubs.............................4-19
Driving your 4-wheel drive safely .........................4-21
Tires of 4-wheel drive...........................................4-22
Parking/parking on hills ........................................4-23
Power steering system .........................................4-24
Brake system........................................................4-25
Rear anti-lock brake system (R-ABS) ..................4-25
Cold weather driving ............................................4-27
ZX

WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the blood
stream reduces coordination, delays
reaction time and impairs judgement.
Driving after drinking alcohol increases
the likelihood of being involved in an
accident injuring yourself and others.
Additionally, if you are injured in the
accident alcohol can increase the se-
verity of injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. How-
ever, you must choose not to drive under
the influence of alcohol. Every year thou-
sands of people are injured or killed in
alcohol related accidents. Although the local
laws vary on what is considered to be
legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol
affects all people differently and most
people underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don't mix!
And that's true for drugs, too (over the
counter, prescription, and illegal drugs).
Don't drive if your ability to operate your
vehicle is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or
some other physical condition.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
The switch includes an anti-theft steering
lock device.
The key can only be removed when the
switch is in the LOCK position.
On manual transmission models, to turn the
ignition key to LOCK from ACC or ON, turn
the key to OFF and press in the key release
button, then turn the key to LOCK.
To lock the steering wheel, remove the
key. To unlock the steering wheel, insert
the key and turn it gently while rotating
the steering wheel slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
ASD0700
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVINGIGNITION SWITCH
4-4
ZX

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
On automatic transmission models, the ig-
nition lock is designed so the key cannot be
turned to LOCK and removed until the shift
lever is moved to the P position.
When removing the key from the ignition,
make sure the shift lever is in the P position.
When the key cannot be turned to the LOCK
position, proceed as follows to remove the
key:
1) Move the shift lever into the P position.2) Turn the ignition key slightly in the ON
direction.
3) Turn the key toward the LOCK position.
4) Remove the key.
The shift lever is designed so it cannot be
moved out of P and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned to
OFF or if the key is removed from the
switch.The shift lever can be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ACC position.
The shift lever can also be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ON position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed.
To lock the steering wheel, remove the
key. To unlock the steering wheel, insert
the key and turn it gently while rotating
the steering wheel slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
Key positions
LOCK Normal parking position (0)
OFF (Manual transmission model) (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel. When removing the key
from the key cylinder, push the key release
button at this position and turn the key to
LOCK.
ACC (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accesso-
ries such as the radio when the engine is
not running.
ON (Normal operating position) (3)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
START (4)
This position starts the engine. As soon as
the engine has started, release the key. It
automatically returns to the ON position.
ASD0023
4-5
ZX

cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cCheck fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake and clutch fluid, and win-
dow washer fluid as frequently as pos-
sible, at least whenever you refuel.
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 (3) position.The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled by a microcom-
puter to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
If your vehicle is equipped with 4-wheel
drive, see ``
Transfer case shifting pro-
cedures for 4-wheel drive vehicles'' later in
this section.
Starting the vehicle
cAfter starting the engine, fully depress
the foot brake pedal and push the shift
lever button before shifting the selector
lever to the R, D, 2 or 1 position. Be sure
the vehicle is fully stopped before at-
tempting to shift the selector lever.
cKeep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the shift lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
c
Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
This automatic transmission is designedso the foot brake pedal MUST be depressed
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 LOCK or if
the key is removed.
When the battery charge is low, the shift
lever can be moved if the ignition switch
is in the ACC position.
WARNING
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. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose con-
trol and have an accident.
cCold engine idle speed is high, so
use caution when shifting into a for-
ward or reverse gear before the en-
gine has warmed up.
cNever shift to P or R while the ve-
hicle is moving. This could cause an
accident.
BEFORE STARTING THE
ENGINEDRIVING WITH AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
4-6
ZX

cOn slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.
CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this pur-
pose.
Shifting with automatic transmission
Push the button to shift into P, R or from D
to 2. All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
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, then push in the selector lever
button and move the lever to the P position.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then shiftthe 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, but
the shift lever still cannot be moved out of P
(Park), use the following procedure:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the key and turn it clockwise to
the ACC position.
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
ASD0701
4-7
ZX

During the first 1,000 miles (1,609 km),
follow these recommendations for the future
reliability and economy of your new vehicle.
Failure to follow these recommendations
may result in vehicle damage or shortened
engine life.
cDo not run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
cDo not drive over the following speed
limits:
2-wheel drive models:
55 MPH (88 km/h)
4-wheel drive models
(2H or 4H position):
55 MPH (88 km/h)
4-wheel drive models
(4L position):
30 MPH (48 km/h)
cDo not accelerate at full throttle in any
gear.
cAvoid quick starts.
cAvoid hard braking as much as possible.
cDo not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(805 km).c
For the first 300 miles (483 km), it is
recommended that you drive in the
2-wheel drive (2H) position with the free-
running hubs set in LOCK if your vehicle
is equipped with manual-lock free-
running hubs.
cAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelera-
tor position.
cDrive at moderate speeds on the high-
way. Driving at high speeds lowers fuel
economy.
cAvoid unnecessary stopping and brak-
ing. Maintain a safe distance behind
other vehicles.
cUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
cAvoid unnecessary engine idling.
SD0001
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL
ECONOMY
4-14
ZX

cDo not leave the transfer control le-
ver in the N position. Otherwise, the
vehicle could roll unexpectedly even
if the manual transmission is in gear
or the automatic transmission is in
the P position.
cFailure to engage the transfer con-
trol lever in 2H, 4H, or 4L could result
in the vehicle moving unexpectedly,
which in turn could result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
Your NISSAN is equipped with one of two
4WD systems, auto-lock free-running hubs
or manual-lock free-running hubs.The auto-lock free-running hub is designed
to allow for automatic 4-wheel drive en-
gagement when the shift lever is moved to
the 4H or 4L position. If your vehicle is
equipped with this system, follow these op-
erational cautions:
CAUTION
cThe auto-locking hubs will make a
clicking noise when engaging and
disengaging. This is normal.cAccelerating quickly from a stop af-
ter shifting from 2-wheel drive to
4-wheel drive may not allow engage-
ment of the auto-locking free-
running hubs and may cause a clat-
tering noise. Continued use of the
vehicle with this noise may damage
the hub lock. In such a case, release
the accelerator pedal to reduce the
engine speed or stop the vehicle.
cIf the auto-locking hubs make a clat-
tering noise after shifting from
4-wheel drive to 2-wheel drive, stop
and move the vehicle about 7 to 10
feet (2 to 3 m) in reverse.
cUnder extremely cold conditions
[below 5ÉF (-15ÉC)], the front axle
shafts may rotate even with the
transfer lever in the 2H position. If
this occurs, the auto-locking hubs
may make a clattering noise. To
avoid this, drive first in 4-wheel drive
to warm up the vehicle and differen-
tial gear oil. Then, shift to 2-wheel
drive.
SD0021
AUTO-LOCK
FREE-RUNNING HUBS
4-16
ZX