N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to N (Neutral) 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 above 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 downshift into 1 at speeds above 38
MPH (60 km/h).Accelerator downshift--
In D position--
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 transmission will remain 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 properly.
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 re-
turn to its normal operating condition, have an
authorized NISSAN dealer check the trans-
mission 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.
Overdrive (4th gear) does not engage
until the engine has reached operating
temperature.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
ASD0561
5-8Starting and driving
ZX
where engine braking is necessary,
push the overdrive switch once. The
O/D OFF indicator light illuminates at
this time.
When cruising at a low speed or climbing a
gentle slope, you may feel uncomfortable
shift shocks as the transmission shifts be-
tween 3rd gear and overdrive repeatedly. In
this case, press the overdrive switch.
When driving conditions change, press the
overdrive switch to turn the overdrive on.
The O/D OFF indicator 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.WARNING
cBe sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead
to an accident.
cDo not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
cDo not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
c
Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the park-
ing brake and cause an accident.
To engage:Firmly depress the parking
brake.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position.
3. Press and release the parking brake
completely.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
ASD1017
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-9
ZX
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
cIf the cruise control system malfunctions,
it cancels automatically. The SET indica-
tor light in the instrument panel then
blinks to warn the driver.
cIf the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
CRUISE main switch OFF and have the
system checked by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
cThe SET indicator light in the instrument
panel may blink when the CRUISE main
switch is turned ON while pushing eitherthe RES/ACCEL, COAST/SET, or the
CANCEL switch (located on the steering
wheel). To properly set the cruise control
system, perform the steps in the order
indicated.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when
driving under the following conditions:
cWhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
cIn heavy traffic or in traffic that var-
ies in speed.
cOn winding or hilly roads.
cOn slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.).
cIn very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CRUISE CONTROL
OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at speeds
between 29 and 90 MPH (47 and 144 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.To turn the cruise control on,push the
CRUISE main switch. The indicator light on
the switch comes on.
To set at cruising speed,accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. The SET
light in the instrument cluster comes on.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Your vehicle maintains the set speed.
cTo pass another vehicle,depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previ-
ously set speed.
cThe vehicle may not maintain the set
speed when going up or down steep hills.
If this happens, drive without the cruise
control.
To cancel the preset speed,follow any of
these three methods.
a) Push the CANCEL button; the SET light
in the instrument panel goes out.
b) Tap the brake pedal; the SET light goes
out.
c)Push the cruise control OFF switch. Both
the main switch indicator and SET lights go
out.
WSD0015
CRUISE CONTROL
5-10Starting and driving
ZX
cIf you depress the brake pedal while
pushing the RES/ACCEL switch, the
RES/ ACCEL function is cancelled.
In order for the RES/ACCEL switch to
operate, the COAST/SET must be used
to re-engage the system.
cThe cruise control automatically cancels
if the vehicle slows down more than 5
MPH (8 km/h) below the set speed.
cMove the selector lever to N (Neutral).
The SET 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 set
speed 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 29 MPH (47
km/h).During the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km),
follow these recommendations for the future
reliability and fuel economy of your new
vehicle.
cAvoid 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 malfunctions, 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.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)
The anti-lock brake system controls the
brakes at each wheel so the wheels do not
lock when braking abruptly or when braking
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
5-14Starting and driving
ZX
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 a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise
or vibration from the actuator under the hood.
This is normal and indicates the anti-lockbrake 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
sophisticated device, but it cannot pre-
vent 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.
Starting and driving
5-15
ZX
cWhenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye pro-
tectors (for example, goggles or in-
dustrial safety spectacles) and
remove rings, metal bands, or any
other jewelry. Do not lean over when
jump starting.
cDo not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
cYour vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other ob-
jects away from it.
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another ve-
hicle, position the two vehicles to bring
their batteries close to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the gear-
shift lever to the P (Park) position. Switch
off all unnecessary electrical systems
(lights, 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
cAlways connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (þ) to body
ground (for example, the strut
mounting bolt, engine lift bracket,
etc.)Ðnot to the battery.
ACE1009
In case of emergency6-9
ZX
In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of
it.
In the following cases, please wash your
vehicle as soon as possible to protect the
paint surface:
cafter a rainfall to prevent possible dam-
age from acid rain.
cafter driving on coastal roads.
cwhen contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface.c
when dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, store or park your ve-
hicle inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in
a shady area or protect the vehicle with a
body cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint sur-
face
when putting on or removing a body
cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using
a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
cDo not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical
detergents, gasoline or solvents.
cDo not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the surface may become
water-spotted.cAvoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so that the paint surface is
not scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt. There-
fore, these areas must be regularly cleaned.
Take care that the drain holes in the lower
edge of the door are open. Spray water
under the body and in the wheel wells to
loosen the dirt and wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to
remove built-up residue and to avoid a
``weathered'' appearance.
An authorized NISSAN dealer can assist
AI1002M
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care
ZX