1) Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2) Turn the ignition key slightly in the ON direc-
tion.
3) Turn the key toward the LOCK position.
4) Remove the key.
If the key is removed from the ignition switch, the
selector lever cannot be moved from P (Park).
The selector lever can be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ONposition and
the foot brake pedal is depressed.
There is an OFF position in between LOCK and
ACC, although it does not show on the lock
cylinder. When the ignition is in OFF the steering
wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.
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 steer-
ing 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.
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONThe switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
The ignition 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, first turn
the key to OFF and turn the key to LOCK while
pushing the key in.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
SSD0082C
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Starting and driving
03.1.28/R50-D/V5
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
Check fluid levels such as engine oil, coolant,
brake and clutch fluid, window washer fluid
as frequently as possible, at least whenever
you refuel.
Check to be sure that all windows and light
lenses are clean.
Visually inspect tires for their appearance and
condition. Also check tires for proper infla-
tion.
Lock all doors.
Position seat and adjust head restraints.
Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
Check the operation of warning lights when
key is turned to the ON (3) position.1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the selector lever to P (Park position) or
N (Neutral position). (P preferred)
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.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the selector lever is in one of the driving
positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the gearshift lever to N (Neutral posi-
tion), and depress the clutch pedal to the
floor while starting the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
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.
If the engine is very hard to start in extremely
cold weather or when restarting, depress theaccelerator pedal a little (approximately 1/5
to the floor) and hold it then crank the engine.
Release the key and the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
If the engine is very hard to start because it is
flooded, depress the accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and hold it. Crank the engine
for 5 to 6 seconds. After cranking the engine,
release the accelerator pedal. Crank the en-
ginewith 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.
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
Always allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE5-10
Starting and driving
03.1.28/R50-D/V5
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 transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum ve-
hicle performance and driving enjoyment. If your
vehicle is equipped with four wheel drive, see
“Using four wheel drive” later in this section.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the selector lever
button before shifting the selector 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 that the foot brake pedal MUST be
depressed 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.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed andpush 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
Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P or Nto 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.
Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
Never shift to P or R while the vehicle
is moving forward. Never shift to P or
D while vehicle is moving rearward.
These could cause an accident.
On 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 VEHICLE
Starting and driving
5-11
03.1.28/R50-D/V5
ShiftingPush 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. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped.The brake
pedal must be depressed and the selector
lever button pushed in to move the selec-
tor lever from N(Neutral) or any drive
position to P (Park).Apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brakefirst, then move the lever to the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting R
(Reverse).The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and selector lever button pushed
in to move the selector lever from P (Park),
N(Neutral) or any drive position to R (Re-
verse).
N(Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
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, effective engine braking on
downhill grades or starting on slippery roads.
Do not downshift into the 2 position at speeds
over the following speeds and do not exceed the
following speeds in the 2 position:
Two wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)Four wheel drive:
(Part time)
2H and 4H positions 50 MPH (80 km/h)
4L position 19 MPH (30 km/h)
(All-mode)
2WD and AUTO positions
60 MPH (95 km/h)
4H position 50 MPH (80 km/h)
4LO position 22 MPH (35 km/h)
1 (Low gear):
Use this position 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 shift into 1 position at speeds over the
following speeds:
Two wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)
Four wheel drive:
(Part time)
2H and 4H positions 50 MPH (80 km/h)
4L position 19 MPH (30 km/h)
SSD0092
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Starting and driving
03.1.28/R50-D/V5
Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low, the select lever may
not be moved from the P position even with the
brake pedal depressed and the select lever
button pushed.
To move the select lever, remove the shift lock
cover using a flat-bladed screwdriver, and push
the shift lock release button and select lever
button with the parking brake securely applied
and the brake pedal firmly depressed. The select
lever can be moved to N (Neutral).
To push the shift lock release button, follow the
procedure as illustrated.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) have
your NISSAN dealer check the automatic trans-
mission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved
from the P position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and others.
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 second gear or first gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
Overdrive switchEach time your vehicle is started, the transmis-
sion is automatically reset to overdrive on.
ON: For normal driving the overdrive switch
is engaged. The transmission is up-
shifted 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 advan-
tageous, push the overdrive switch. The
O/D OFF light illuminates. When cruis-
SSD0106
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Starting and driving
03.1.28/R50-D/V5
When the vehicle is stopped for a
period of time, for example at a stop
light, shift to N(Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
To apply:pull the lever up.
To release:
1. Firmly apply foot brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the gearshift lever in the N (Neutral)
position.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
3. While pulling up on the lever slightly, push
the button and lower completely.4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
WARNING
Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead
to an accident.
Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
Do not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the park-
ing brake and cause an accident.
PD1001M
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving
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03.1.28/R50-D/V5
erator pedal. Your vehicle will maintain the set
speed.
To pass another vehicle,depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the pedal,
the vehicle will return to the previously set
speed.
The 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 switch; The SET light will go
out.b) Tap the brake pedal; The SET light will go
out.
c) Turn the main switch off. Both the CRUISE
indicator and SET indicator lights will go out.
If you depress the brake pedal while pushing
the ACCEL/RES set switch and reset at the
cruising speed, turn the main switch off once
and then turn it on again.
The cruise control will automatically be can-
celled if the vehicle slows down more than 8
MPH (13 km/h) below the set speed.
Depress the clutch pedal (manual transmis-
sion), or move the selector lever to N position
(automatic transmission). The SET light will
go out.
To reset at a faster cruising speed,follow
either of these three methods:
a) Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the SET/COAST switch.
b) Push and hold the ACCEL/RES set switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you
desire, release the switch.
c) Push, then quickly release the ACCEL/
RES set switch. Each time you do this, the
set speed will increase by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).To reset at a slower cruising speed,follow
either of these three methods:
a) Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle
attains the desired speed, push the
SET/COAST switch and release it.
b) Push and hold the SET/COAST switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows
down to the desired speed.
c) Push, then quickly release the SET/
COAST switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed will decrease by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To resume the preset speed,push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES set switch. The vehicle
will resume the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h).
PrecautionsThe CRUISE indicator may sometimes blink
when the cruise control switch (Main switch)
is turned ON while pushing the ACCEL/RES
switch or SET/COAST switch or CANCEL
switch (located on the steering wheel). To
properly set the cruise control system per-
form the steps above in the order indicated.
(This is a fail-safe mode. Turn the main switch
OFF and turn it ON again without pushing the
set switch to return to normal operation.)
SSD0219D
Starting and driving
5-19
03.1.28/R50-D/V5
Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
Keep the tires inflated at the correct pres-
sure. Low pressure will increase tire wear and
waste fuel.
Keep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment will cause increased tire
wear and lower fuel economy.
Air conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
When cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag.
Use 4H or 4L position only when necessary.
Four wheel drive operation lowers fuel
economy.2H— (2WD, high range) Only the rear wheels
are driven. Use for driving under the same
conditions as standard 2WD vehicle, or state
dynamometer I/M testing.
4H— (4WD, high range) Four wheels are driven.
Use when driving on roads where it is difficult to
drive in the 2H position (i.e., driving at normal
speeds on snow covered, icy, wet, muddy or
sandy roads).
The 4H position provides greater power
and traction. Avoid excessive speed, as it
will cause increased fuel consumption and
higher oil temperature, and could damage
drivetrain components. Speeds over 50MPH (80 km/h) in 4H are not recom-
mended.
4L— (4WD, low range) Four wheels are driven.
Use when climbing or descending steep hills, or
during hard driving in sand, mud or deep snow.
The 4L position provides maximum power
and traction. Avoid raising vehicle speed
excessively, as the maximum speed is ap-
proximately 30 MPH (50 km/h).
N— No wheels are driven. Always keep the
transfer lever out of the N position. Shift the lever
quickly and smoothly when moving across the N
position with the vehicle stopped.
WARNING
When parking the vehicle, apply the
parking brake and shift the transfer
control lever in the 2H, 4H or 4L
position.
Do not leave the transfer control le-
ver in the Nposition. Otherwise, the
vehicle could roll unexpectedly even
if the manual transmission is in any
gear or the automatic transmission in
the P position. If the ATP light is on,
this indicates that the automatic
SSD0128
USING PART TIME FOUR WHEEL
DRIVE (4WD)
Starting and driving
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03.1.28/R50-D/V5