
Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift selector lever
may not be moved from the P (Park) position even
with the brake pedal depressed.
To move the shift selector lever, release the shift
lock. The shift selector lever can be moved to N
(Neutral) . However, the steering wheel will be
locked unless the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position. This allows the vehicle to be moved
if the battery is discharged.To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover as
shown.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position while holding down the shift
lock release.
6. Turn the key to the ON position to unlock the
steering wheel. Now the vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.
If the shift selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the auto-
matic transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunction-
ing stop lights could cause an accident
injuring yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please note
that the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, 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 con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair it if nec-
essary.
LSD0090
Starting and driving5-13
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4WD Shift
Switch
PositionWheels DrivenIndicator Light
Use Conditions 4WD Shift Procedure
4WD shift Transfer
4LO position
AUTORear wheels or 4
wheels
For driving on paved or slippery roadsMove the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> AUTO <—> 4H
4WD shift indicator light will indicate transfer shift
position engaged.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MOVE THE AUTO-
MATIC TRANSMISSION SELECT LEVER TO THE N
POSITION IN THIS OPERATION. PERFORM THIS
OPERATION WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.
2WDRear wheels
For driving on dry, paved roads (Economy drive) or
state dynamometer I/M testing
4H4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy or snow-covered roads
Neutral
*1
May blinkNeutral disengages the automatic transmission me-
chanical parking lock, which will allow the vehicle to
roll. Do not leave the transfer shift position in Neu-
tral.*21. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move the automatic transmission selector lever
to the N position.
3. Push the 4WD shift switch and move it to 4LO
or 4H.
YOU CANNOT MOVE THE TRANSFER 4WD SHIFT
SWITCH BETWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO
4H)UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST STOPPED THE VE-
HICLE AND MOVED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMIS-
SION SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL. *3
4LO4 wheelsIlluminatedFor use when maximum power and traction is re-
quired (for example: on steep grades or rocky, sandy,
muddy roads)
*1: The transfer 4LO position indicator light may blink. Stop the vehicle. Be sure to shift the 4WD shift switch after the automatic transmission leverhas been shifted to the N position.
If the indicator light keeps blinking after the 4WD shift procedure in the previous page, drive slowly without abrupt maneuvers for a while. Then the light will turn on or off.
• Avoid making a turn or abrupt starts while shifting to 4LO. Otherwise gears may grind, damaging the drive system.
*2: While changing in and out of 4LO, the ignition key must be ON and the vehicle’s engine must be running for a shift to take place and for the indicator lights (4WD shift and
4LO position indicator) to be operable. Otherwise, the shift will not take place and no indicator lights will be on or flashing.
*3: Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift switch to 4LO.
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cIf it is difficult to free the vehicle, repeat
forward and backward movement to in-
crease the movement.
cIf the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, tire chains
may be effective.
CAUTION
cDo not spin the tires excessively. Tires
will sink deep into the mud, making it
difficult to free the vehicle.
cAvoid shifting gears with the engine
running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.
4WD shift switch operationscShift the 4WD shift switch to either the
2WD, AUTO, 4H or 4LO position, depend-
ing on driving conditions.
cWith the switch set to the AUTO position,
distribution of torque to the front and rear
wheels changes automatically, depending
on road conditions encountered [ratio; 0 :
100 (2WD)!50 : 50 (4WD)]. This results
in improved driving stability.
cIf the 4WD shift switch is operated
while making a turn, accelerating or
decelerating or if the key switch is
turned off while in the AUTO, 4H or4LO, you may feel a jolt. This is not
abnormal.
cWhen the vehicle is stopped after mak-
ing a turn, you may feel a slight jolt
after the selector lever is shifted to N or
P. This occurs because the transfer
clutch is released and not because of a
malfunction.
CAUTION
cWhen driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD, AUTO or 4H
position. Do not move the 4WD shift
switch when making a turn or reversing.
cDo not shift the 4WD shift switch while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use
the engine brake and low automatic
transmission gears (D1 or D2) for en-
gine braking.
cDo not operate the 4WD shift switch
with the rear wheels spinning.
cBefore placing the 4WD shift switch in
the 4H position from 2WD or AUTO,
ensure the vehicle speed is less than
62.5 MPH (100 km/h) . Failure to do so
can damage the 4WD system.
cNever shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
LSD0093
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4WD warning light
Warning lightComes on or blinks
when:
Comes onThere is a malfunc-
tion in the 4–wheel
drive system
Blinks rapidlyThe transfer case
oil temperature
rises abnormally
Blinks slowlyThe difference in
wheel rotation is
large
The 4WD warning light is located in the meter.
The 4WD warning light comes on when the key
switch is turned to ON. It turns off soon after the
engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD system
when the key switch is ON, the warning light will
either remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator light goes out.High-temperature transfer case oil makes the
warning light blink rapidly (about twice per sec-
ond) . If the warning light blinks rapidly during
operation, stop the vehicle in a safe place imme-
diately. Then if the light goes off after a while, you
can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of front
and rear wheels will make the warning light blink
slowly (about once per two seconds) . Change
the 4WD shift switch into 2WD and do not drive
fast.
CAUTION
cIf the warning light comes on or blinks
slowly during operation or rapidly after
stopping the vehicle for a while, have
your vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
cShifting between 4H and 4LO is not
recommended when the 4WD warning
light turns on.
cWhen the warning light comes on, the
2WD mode may be engaged even if the
4WD shift switch is in AUTO or 4H. Be
especially careful when driving. If corre-
sponding parts are malfunctioning, the
4WD mode will not be engaged even if
the 4WD shift switch is shifted.cDo not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing on dry, hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise, tire wear
and increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on when
you are driving on dry hard surface
roads:
cin the AUTO or 4H position, shift the
4WD shift switch to 2WD.
cin the 4LO position, stop the vehicle,
move the automatic transmission
shift selector lever to the N position
with the brake pedal depressed, and
shift the 4WD shift switch to 2WD.
cIf the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
cThe transfer case may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warning
light blinking rapidly.
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WARNING
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
cSafe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) . Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and re-
sult in an accident. Make sure the shift
lever has been pushed as far forward as
it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.cNever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
cDo not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
sA
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
sB
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:
sC
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-23
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cThe system is designed as an aid to the
driver in detecting large stationary ob-
jects to help avoid damaging the ve-
hicle. The system will not detect small
objects below the bumper, and may not
detect objects close to the bumper or
on the ground.
cIf your vehicle sustains damage to the
rear bumper fascia, leaving it mis-
aligned or bent, the sensing zone may
be altered causing inaccurate measure-
ment of obstacles or false alarms.
The Rear Sonar System (RSS) sounds a tone to
warn the driver of obstacles near the rear bumper
when R (Reverse) is selected. The system may
not detect objects at speeds above 3 mph (5
km/h) and may not detect certain angular or
moving objects.
The RSS detects obstacles up to 6 ft. (1.8
meters) from the rear bumper with a decreased
coverage area at the outer corners of the bumper,
(refer to the illustration for approximate zone cov-
erage areas) . As you move closer to the obstacle,
the rate of the tone increases. When the obstacle
is less than 10 in. (25.0 cm) away, the tone will
sound continuously. If the RSS detects a station-
ary or receding object further than 10 in. (25.0
cm) from the side of the vehicle, the tone willsound for only three seconds. Once the system
detects an object approaching, the tone will
sound again.
The RSS automatically turns on when the gear
selector is placed in R (Reverse) and the ignition
is ON. The RSS OFF switch on the instrument
panel allows the driver to turn the RSS on and off.
To turn the RSS off, the ignition must be ON, and
the gear selector in R (Reverse) . An indicator
light on the switch will illuminate when the system
is turned off. If the indicator light illuminates when
the RSS is not turned off, it may indicate a failure
in the RSS.
Keep the RSS sensors (located on the rear
bumper fascia) free from snow, ice and large
accumulations of dirt (do not clean the sensors
with sharp objects) . If the sensors are covered, it
will affect the accuracy of the RSS.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply de-
icer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the key
hole.
ANTI-FREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the tem-
perature will drop below 32°F (0°C) , check the
anti-freeze to assure proper winter protection.
For details, see ‘‘Engine cooling system’’ in the
‘‘Maintenance and do-it-yourself’’ section of this
manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may
freeze and damage the battery. To maintain maxi-
mum efficiency, the battery should be checked
regularly. For details, see ‘‘Battery’’ in the ‘‘Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself’’ section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system, including the
engine block. Refill before operating the vehicle.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-28Starting and driving
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cDo not allow passengers to stay in the
vehicle while it is on the jack.
cNever run the engine with a wheel(s) off
the ground. It may cause the vehicle to
move.
Always refer to the illustration for the correct
placement and jack-up points for your specific
vehicle model and jack type.
Carefully read the caution label attached to
the jack body and the following instruc-
tions.
1. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turns by
turning counterclockwise with the wheel nut
wrench.Do not remove the wheel nuts
until the tire is off the ground.
NOTE:
Before jacking up the vehicle, make sure
the ignition key is in the OFF position. If the
vehicle is lifted up with the ignition key in
the ON position the auto-leveling suspen-
sion (if so equipped) will become disabled
after 60 seconds. To reset the auto-leveling
suspension, cycle the ignition key ON/OFF
one time.2. Place the jack directly under the jack-up
point as illustrated so the top of the jack
contacts the vehicle at the jack-up point. The
jack-up points are indicated by stamped ar-
rows on the side of the frame.The jack should be used on firm and
level ground.
WCE0097
In case of emergency6-5
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cMake sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and
let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster ve-
hicle at about 2,000 rpm, and start the en-
gine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the 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 the engine, carefully discon-
nect the negative cable and then the positive
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.
WARNING
Automatic transmission models cannot
be push-started or tow-started. Attempt-
ing to do so may cause transmission or
other vehicle damage.
WARNING
cDo not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still
hot. When the radiator or coolant reser-
voir cap is removed, pressurized hot
water will spurt out, possibly causing
serious injury.
cDo not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading and
the illumination of the engine oil pressure/engine
coolant temperature high indicator light) , or if you
feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc. take the following steps.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply
the parking brake and move the shift lever to
P (Park) .
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-9
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