
Station memory operations:
Twelve stations can be set for the FM band
(six for FM1, six for FM2) and six stations can
be set for the AM band.
1. Push the FM-AM band select button toselect AM, FM1 or FM2. The selected band
illuminated in the display.
2. Tune to the desired station using the
SEEK/SCAN or TUNE buttons.
3. Push the desired select button for more
than 1.5 seconds. For example, in the
illustrations ch2 is to be memorized. The
radio mutes when the select button is
pushed.
4. The indicator ch2 will come on and the
sound will resume. Memorizing is now com-
plete.
5. Other station select buttons can be set in
the same manner.
If the battery cable is disconnected, or if the
radio fuse opens, the radio memory is can-
celled. In that case, reset the desired stations.
Cassette tape player operationTurn the ignition key to ACC or ON, then
carefully insert a cassette tape into the tape
door.
The cassette tape automatically pulls into the
player. The word TAPE and moving digital
squares illuminate on the right side of the
display window.
CAUTION
Do not force the cassette tape into the
tape door. This could cause player dam-
age.
The cassette tape automatically changes di-
rections to play the other side when the first
side is complete. At this time, the moving
digital squares illuminate on the left side of the
display window.
PLAY:
When the TAPE/CD button is pushed with the
radio turned on and the tape loaded, the radio
will automatically be turned off and the tape
will play.
If the TAPE/CD button is pushed during either
the FF, REW, APS FF or APS REW function,
the cassette tape enters the normal play
mode.
When the TAPE/CD button is pushed with the
CD playing, the tape will play.
SAA0447
4-22
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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5 Starting and drivingPrecautions when starting and driving ...................... 5-2
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide).......................... 5-2
Three way catalyst ............................................... 5-3
On-pavement and offroad driving precautions ..... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover .............................. 5-4
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ....................... 5-4
Driving safety precautions .................................... 5-4
Ignition switch............................................................ 5-6
Automatic transmission ........................................ 5-6
Manual transmission ............................................ 5-7
Key positions ........................................................ 5-8
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system ...................... 5-8
Before starting the engine ......................................... 5-9
Starting the engine .................................................... 5-9
Driving the vehicle ................................................... 5-10
Automatic transmission ...................................... 5-10
Manual transmission .......................................... 5-14
Parking brake .......................................................... 5-16
Cruise control (if so equipped) ................................ 5-17
Precautions on cruise control ............................. 5-17
Cruise control operations ................................... 5-17Break-in schedule ................................................... 5-19
Increasing fuel economy ......................................... 5-19
Using part time four wheel drive (4WD) ................. 5-20
Transfer case shifting procedures ...................... 5-21
Using all-mode four wheel drive (4WD) .................. 5-23
Transfer case shifting procedures ...................... 5-23
Parking/parking on hills ........................................... 5-30
Power steering ........................................................ 5-31
Brake system .......................................................... 5-32
Braking precautions............................................ 5-32
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ............................ 5-32
Cold weather driving ............................................... 5-34
Freeing a frozen door lock ................................. 5-34
Anti-freeze .......................................................... 5-34
Battery ................................................................ 5-34
Draining of coolant water ................................... 5-34
Tire equipment ................................................... 5-34
Special winter equipment ................................... 5-35
Driving on snow or ice ....................................... 5-35
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ................. 5-35
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONThe automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this trans-
mission. Follow these procedures for maxi-
mum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment. If your vehicle is equipped with four
wheel drive, see ªUsing four wheel driveº later
in this section.
IAfter starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the selector lever
button before shifting the selector lever to
the D, R, 2 or 1 position. Be sure the vehicle
is fully stopped before attempting to shift
the selector lever.
This automatic transmission is designed
so that the foot brake pedal MUST be de-
pressed before shifting from P to any drive
position while the ignition switch is ON.
The selector 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 from the switch.
When the battery charge is low, the selec-
tor lever can be moved if the ignition switchis in the ACC position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the selector lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
WARNING
IDo 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.
ICold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
INever shift to P or R while the vehicle
is moving. This could cause an acci-
dent.
IOn 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 purpose.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE5-10
Starting and driving
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FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCKTo prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.ANTI-FREEZEIn the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base) to assure
proper winter protection. For details, see ªEn-
gine cooling systemº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº
section.BATTERYIf the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
ªBatteryº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section.DRAINING OF COOLANT WATERIf the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-
ing the vehicle. See ªEngine cooling systemº in
the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section for Changing
Engine Coolant.
TIRE EQUIPMENT1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, NISSAN
recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or
ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Please consult your NISSAN dealer for the
tire type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some Prov-
inces and States prohibit their use, so,
before installing studded tires, check local,
state and provincial laws.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
3. TIRE CHAINS may be used if desired.
Make sure they are of proper size for the
tires on your vehicle and are installed ac-
cording to the chain manufacturer's sug-
gestions. Use of tire chains may be prohib-
ited according to location. Check the local
laws before installing tire chains. When
installing tire chains, make sure they are of
proper size for the tires on your vehicle andare installed according to the chain manu-
facturer's suggestions.Use only SAE
Class S chains.Other types may damage
your vehicle. Use chain tensioners when
recommended by the tire chain manufac-
turer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of
the tire chain must be secured or removed
to prevent the possibility of whipping action
damage to the fenders or underbody. If
possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle
when using tire chains. In addition, drive at
a reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely af-
fected.
Do not use the chains on dry roads.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not drive with tire chains on paved roads
which are clear of snow. Driving with chains
in such conditions can cause damage to the
various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress. When driving on clear
paved roads, be sure to change to 2WD.
4. For four wheel drive:
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING5-34
Starting and driving
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to Neutral position (On automatic transmis-
sion models, move the selector lever to P
(Park)). Switch off all unnecessary electri-
cal systems (light, heater, air conditioner,
etc.).
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped). Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as
illustrated.
CAUTION
IAlways connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (þ) to body
ground, (for example, strut mounting
bolt, engine lift bracket, etc. Ð not to
the battery).
IMake sure that cables do not touch
moving parts in the engine compart-
ment and that clamps do not contact
any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the other vehicle and let
it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the other vehicleat about 2,000 rpm, and start your engine in
the normal manner.
CAUTION
Do not keep starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, turn the key
off and wait 3 to 4 seconds before trying
again.
7. After starting your engine, carefully discon-
nect the negative cable and then the posi-
tive cable.
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped). Be
sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes as it may be contaminated
with corrosive acid.
CAUTION
IAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push started. This may cause
transmission damage.
IThree way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three way catalyst may be
damaged.
INever try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it; when the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.PUSH STARTING
6-10
In case of emergency
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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.
WARNING
IPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
Neutral. For an automatic transmis-
sion, move the selector lever to the P
(Park) position.
IBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing
any replacement or repair.
IIf you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving fans
belts and any other moving parts.
IIt is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and any jewelry,such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
IAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
IIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
INever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
IKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and battery.
IYour vehicle is equipped with an au-
tomatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warning,
even if the ignition key is in the OFF
position and the engine is not run-
ning. To avoid injury, always discon-
nect the negative battery cable before
working near the fan.
IOn gasoline engine models with themultiport 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.
CAUTION
IDo not work under the engine hood
while it is hot. Turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
INever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent connector while the ignition
key is on.
INever leave the engine or the auto-
matic transmission related compo-
nent harness connector discon-
nected while the ignition key is on.
IAvoid direct contact with used engine
oil and coolant. Improperly disposed
engine oil, engine coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the envi-
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS8-2
Do-it-yourself
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PASSENGER COMPARTMENTIf any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and the headlight
switch are OFF.
2. Pull to open the fuse box cover/coin tray.
3. Pull down the fuse box cover/coin tray to
remove it.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
5. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new
fuse.6. If a new fuse opens again, have the elec-
trical system checked and repaired by your
NISSAN dealer.
MULTI-REMOTE CONTROLLER
BATTERY REPLACEMENTReplace the battery as follows:
1. Open the lid using a suitable tool.
SDI1169
SPA1046
Do-it-yourself
8-25
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