1997 NISSAN QUEST transmission

the ``Do-it-yourself operations'' section.
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the
warning system checked by your NIS-
SAN dealer.
WARNING
cYour brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the warning light is
on. Driving could be dangerous. If
you judge it to be safe, drive care-
fully to the nearest service station
for repairs. Otherwise, have your ve-
hicle towed.
cPressing the brake pedal with the
engine stopped and/or low brake
fluid level may increase your stop-
ping distance and braking will re-
quire greater pedal effort as well as
pedal travel.
cIf the brake fluid level is below the
minimum mark on the brake fluid
reservoir, do not drive until the brake
system has been checked at a NIS-
SAN dealer.
orABSAnti-lock brake
warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate something wrong
with the anti-lock portion of the brake sys-
tem. Have the system checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the
anti-lock function ceases, but the brakes
continue to operate normally.
If the light comes on while you are driv-
ing, contact your NISSAN dealer for re-
pair.
Overdrive off indicator light
This light comes on during driving when the
overdrive switch is pressed to prevent over-
drive operation.
The O/D OFF indicator light comes on for
two seconds each time the ignition key is
turned ON. This shows the light is function-
ing properly.
If the O/D OFF indicator light blinks for
approximately 8 seconds after coming on for
2 seconds, have your NISSAN dealer check
the transmission and repair it if necessary.
The automatic transmission is equipped
with an electronic Fail-Safe mode. This sys-
tem allows the vehicle to be driven even in
the event of damage to the electrical cir-
cuits. If this occurs, the gears automatically
engage and lock into 3rd gear.
NOTE: See the ``Fail-safe'' section in the
``Starting and driving'' section before visiting
your NISSAN dealer.
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The appropriate light flashes when the turn
signal lever is activated.
Both lights flash when the hazard switch is
turned on.
High beam indicator light
This light comes on when the headlight high
beam is on and goes out when the low
beam is selected.
Cruise indicator light
The light comes on while the vehicle speed
is controlled by the cruise control system. If
the CRUISE indicator blinks, have the sys-
tem checked by your NISSAN dealer.
1-8
ZX

4Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................4-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............................4-2
Three way catalyst .................................................4-2
Avoiding collision and rollover................................4-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .........................4-3
Ignition switch .........................................................4-4
Before starting the engine ......................................4-5
Driving with an automatic transmission .................4-5
Overdrive switch .....................................................4-7
Starting the engine .................................................4-8Parking brake operation .........................................4-9
Cruise control .......................................................4-10
Break-in schedule ................................................4-12
Increasing fuel economy ......................................4-12
Parking/parking on hills ........................................4-13
Power steering system .........................................4-14
Brake system........................................................4-14
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(if so equipped) ....................................................4-15
Cold weather driving ............................................4-16
ZX

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.
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 control 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.
cOn slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.
BEFORE STARTING THE
ENGINEDRIVING WITH AN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4-5
ZX

CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brakes should be used for this
purpose.
Shifting with automatic transmission
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, but
the 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.
ASD0552
4-6
ZX

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 depress
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
position, the O/D OFF light blinks for ap-
proximately 8 seconds after coming on for 2
seconds. While the vehicle can be driven
under these circumstances, please note
that the gears in the automatic transmission
will be locked in 3rd gear.
NOTE: If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the Fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur even
if all electrical circuits are functioning prop-
erly. In this case, turn the ignition key OFF
and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the key
back to the ON position. The vehicle should
return to its normal operating condition. If it
does not return to its normal operating condi-
tion, have your NISSAN dealer check the
transmission and repair, if necessary.
OVERDRIVE SWITCH
Each time your vehicle is started, the trans-
mission is automatically ``reset'' to overdrive
ON.
ON: For normal driving the overdrive
switch is engaged. The transmission
is upshifted into overdrive as the
vehicle speed increases.
The overdrive does not engage until the
engine has warmed up.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
where engine ``braking'' would be
advantageous, push the overdrive
switch. The O/D OFF light illumi-
ASD0561
4-7
ZX

nates. When cruising at a low speed
or climbing a gentle slope, you may
feel uncomfortable shift shocks as
the transmission shifts between 3rd
and overdrive repeatedly. In this
case, press the overdrive switch.
The O/D OFF indicator light comes
on at this time.
When driving conditions change, press the
overdrive switch again. The O/D OFF indi-
cator light goes out.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the O/D OFF
light illuminated. This reduces the fuel
economy.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, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise 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.
STARTING THE ENGINE
4-8
ZX

WARNING
Do not park the vehicle over flammable
materials such as dry grass, waste pa-
per or rags. They may ignite and cause
a fire.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the gearshift lever to the P (Park)
position.WARNING
Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park)
position. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or
roll away and result in an accident.
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 rollinginto 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.
WARNING
cNever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
cNever leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
ASD0007
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
4-13
ZX

If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below:
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the
parking brake. Move the gearshift lever
to the P (Park) position.
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and
to signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
6.
Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
cMake sure the parking brake is se-
curely applied and the automatic
transmission is shifted into P.
cNever change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or slippery areas.
This is hazardous.
cNever change tires if oncoming traf-
fic is close to your vehicle. Wait for
professional road assistance.
Getting the tools and spare tire
Remove the jack and the tool kit from the
jack storage compartment in the luggage
area. Remove the lug wrench from the tool
kit.
ACE0015
FLAT TIRE
5-2
ZX