CD CARE AND CLEANING
cHandle a CD by its edges. Never touch
the surface of the disc.
cTo clean a disc, wipe the surface from
the center to the outer edge using a
clean, soft cloth. Do not wipe the disc
using a circular motion.
Do not use a conventional record cleaner
or alcohol intended for industrial use.
cA new disc may be rough on the inner
and outer edges. Remove the rough
edges by rubbing the inner and outeredges with the side of a pen or pencil as
illustrated.
CAUTION
cDuring cold weather or rainy days,
the player may malfunction due to
the humidity. If this occurs, remove
the CD and dehumidify or ventilate
the player completely.
cThe player may skip while driving on
rough roads.
cThe CD player sometimes cannot
function when the compartment tem-
perature is extremely high. Decrease
the temperature before use.
cDo not expose the CD to direct sun-
light.
cDo not touch the playing surface of
the disc.
cDo not use 8 cm discs. They may
cause player damage even if using
with the optional adapter.
cRecordable compact discs (CD-R)
may not function properly in the CD
player.The manual antenna on your vehicle re-
mains in the up position at all times. The
antenna cannot be shortened, but can be
removed. When you need to remove the
antenna, turn the antenna rod counterclock-
wise.
To install the antenna rod, turn the antenna
clockwise. Tighten the antenna rod to speci-
fication using a suitable tool such as a
open-end wrench. The antenna rod tighten-
ing specification is 3.4 - 3.6 Nzm(30-32
in-lb). Do not use pliers to tighten the an-
tenna as they can leave marks on the an-
tenna surface. The antenna rod can not be
hand tightened to the proper specification.
CAUTION
Always properly tighten the antenna
rod during installation or the antenna
rod may break during vehicle operation.
CAR PHONE OR CB RADIO
Microphone installed model
If equipped with a genuine NISSAN cellular
phone, your NISSAN features a non-
directional microphone in the steering col-
umn cover, so it is not necessary to look at
LHA0049
ANTENNA
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems4-35
ZX
5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............................5-2
Three way catalyst .................................................5-2
Avoiding collision and rollover................................5-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .........................5-3
Ignition switch .........................................................5-4
Key positions ..........................................................5-4
Before starting the engine ......................................5-5
Starting the engine .................................................5-5
Driving the vehicle ..................................................5-6
Parking brake .........................................................5-9
Cruise control .........................................................5-9
Break-in schedule ................................................5-11
Increasing fuel economy ......................................5-12Parking/parking on hills ........................................5-13
Power steering .....................................................5-14
Brake system........................................................5-14
Braking precautions .............................................5-14
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ..............................5-15
Cold weather driving ............................................5-16
Freeing a frozen door lock ...................................5-16
Anti-freeze ............................................................5-16
Battery ..................................................................5-16
Draining of coolant water .....................................5-16
Tire equipment .....................................................5-16
Special winter equipment .....................................5-17
Driving on snow or ice .........................................5-17
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ...................5-18
ZX
CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Depos-
its from leaded gasoline seriously
reduce the three way catalyst's abil-
ity to help reduce exhaust pollut-
ants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the three-way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat. Do not
keep driving if the engine misfires,
or if noticeable loss of performance
or other unusual operating condi-
tions are detected. Have the vehicle
inspected promptly by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
cAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three way catalyst.
cDo not race the engine while warm-
ing it up.
cDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden
steering maneuvers, because these driving
practices could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle.As with any vehicle, loss of
control could result in a collision with
other vehicles or objects, or cause the
vehicle to roll over, particularly if the
loss of control causes the vehicle to
slide sideways.Be attentive at all times,
and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or
drugs (including prescription or over-the-
counter drugs which may cause drowsi-
ness). Always wear your seat belt as out-
lined in the ªSeats, restraints and
supplemental air bag systemsº section of
this manual, and also instruct your passen-
gers to do so.
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 an
accident alcohol can increase the se-
verity of the 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 alcohol affects
all people differently and most people un-
derestimate 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.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVING
Starting and driving5-3
ZX
The ignition switch includes an anti-theft
steering lock device. The key can only be
removed when the ignition switch in the
LOCK position.
The ignition lock is designed so the key
cannot be turned to LOCK and removed
until the shift lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
The shift lever is designed so it cannot be
moved out of P (Park) and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition key is
turned to LOCK, or if the key is removed
from the switch.The shift lever can be moved out of P
(Park) only after the ignition switch is in
the ON position, and the foot brake pedal
is depressed.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key
to the LOCK position. 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 or turn the key to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing 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)
OFF
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel, if the key is left in the
ignition.ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accesso-
ries such as the radio when the engine is
not running.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and the electrical accessories.
START
This position activates the starter motor,
which starts the engine.
WSD0002
IGNITION SWITCH
5-4Starting and driving
ZX
cMove the selector lever to N (Neutral).
The CRUISE light goes out.
To reset at a faster cruising speed,use
one of the following three methods:
a) Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push
and release the COAST/SET switch.
b) Push and hold the RES/ACCEL switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you
desire, release the switch.
c) Push and release the RES/ACCEL
switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed increases by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed,use
one of the following three methods.
a) Tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle
attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
b) Push and hold the COAST/SET switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle
slows down to the desired speed.
c) Push and release the COAST/SET
switch. Each time you do this, the setspeed decreases by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To resume the preset speed,push and
release the RES/ACCEL switch. The ve-
hicle resumes the last set cruising speed
when the vehicle speed is over 30 MPH (48
km/h).
Precautions
cIf the cruise control system malfunctions,
it cancels automatically. The CRUISE
light in the instrument panel then blinks to
warn the driver.
cWhen the CRUISE light blinks, turn the
CRUISE main switch OFF and have the
system checked by an authorized NIS-
SAN dealer.
cThe CRUISE light in the instrument panel
may blink when the CRUISE main switch
is turned ON while pushing either the
RES/ACCEL, COAST/SET, or the CAN-
CEL switch (located on the steering
wheel). To properly set the cruise control
system, perform the steps in the order
indicated.During the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km),
follow these recommendations for the future
reliability and fuel economy of your new
vehicle. Failure to follow these recommen-
dations may result in vehicle damage or
shortened engine life.
cDo not drive over the legal speed limit
and do not run the engine over 4,000
RPM. Avoid driving for long periods at
constant speed, either fast or slow.
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
(800 km).
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE
Starting and driving5-11
ZX
The power assisted steering is designed to
use a hydraulic pump, driven by the engine,
to aid steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks,
you still have control of the vehicle. How-
ever, much greater steering effort is
needed, especially in sharp turns and at low
speeds.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be much harder to operate.The brake system has two separate hydrau-
lic circuits. If one circuit develops a problem
you will still have braking at two wheels.
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brake
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you can
stop the vehicle by depressing the brake
pedal. However, greater foot pressure on
the brake pedal is required to stop the
vehicle, and the stopping distance is longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This overheats the brakes,
wears out the brake linings and pads faster
and reduces fuel economy.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down
a slope or long grade. Overheated brakes
may reduce braking performance and could
result in loss of vehicle control.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet. As aresult, your braking distance is longer and
the vehicle may pull to one side during
braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal
to heat up the brakes. Do this until the
brakes return to normal. Avoid driving the
vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
WARNING
cWhile driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or acceleration could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an acci-
dent.
cIf the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
5-14Starting and driving
ZX
The anti-lock brake system controls the
brakes at each wheel so the wheels do not
lock when braking abruptly or when braking
on slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies the
brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel
from locking and sliding. By preventing wheel
lockup, the system helps the driver maintain
steering control and helps to minimize swerv-
ing and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system does not operate
at speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
(The speeds vary according to road condi-
tions.) When the anti-lock brake system
senses one or more wheels are close to
locking up, the actuator (under the hood)
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure (like pumping the brakes very quickly).
While the actuator is working, you may feel apulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise
or vibration from the actuator under the hood.
This is normal and indicates the anti-lock
brake system is working properly. However,
the pulsation may indicate road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while
driving.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the ve-
hicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
``clunk'' noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the com-
puter senses any malfunction, it switches
the anti-lock brake system OFF and turns
on the ABS brake warning light in the dash-
board. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test, or
while driving, take the vehicle to an authorized
NISSAN dealer for repair.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent
accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces, but re-
member that the stopping distance on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on
normal surfaces, even with the anti-
lock brake system. Stopping distances
may also be longer on rough, gravel or
snow covered roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the responsibility for safety
of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may
also affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)
Starting and driving5-15
ZX
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 inertia fuel
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
If you see or smell fuel, do not reset the
switch or try to start your vehicle. 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.When towing your vehicle, U.S. States, Ca-
nadian Provinces and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from an
authorized 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
recommends that you have a service opera-
tor tow your vehicle. It is advisable to have
the service operator carefully read the fol-
lowing precautions.
WARNING
cNever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
cNever get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
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 front wheel drive, auto-
matic transmission models with the
rear wheels on the ground (if you do
not use towing dollies), release the
parking brake.
cAlways attach safety chains before
towing.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-12In case of emergency
ZX