2006 NISSAN 350Z instrument panel

1. Soft top operating switch
2. Soft top indicator light (on the combination
meter)
3. Top side rail
4. Top latch lever
5. Soft top
6. Top storage lid
7. Trunk lid
8. Rear window
9. Rear section of the top
BEFORE OPERATING THE TOPThe soft top of your 350Z Roadster is electrically
operated. You can fully open or close the top
only by pressing the operating switch (on the
lower side of the instrument panel).
The soft top operating switch must be operated
under all of the following conditions:

When the foot brake pedal is depressed.

When the vehicle is stopped.

When the engine is running.
CAUTION
Always keep the engine running while
operating the soft top. The top will also
operate when the ignition switch is in
the ONposition, but run the engine to
prevent a discharged battery.
Be sure to follow the operating instructions, and
all the warnings and cautions in this section.
Improper operation of the top could cause
a system malfunction, damage, or deterio-
ration of the top material and related parts.
WARNING

Park the vehicle in a safe and level
place and apply the parking brake.

Make sure the area is clear of ob-
stacles and there is enough clear-
ance over the top (for example, in a
garage or a covered area). More than
approximately 6.6 ft (2 m) from the
ground is required to open or close
the top safely. Otherwise, the top
may damage any objects above it
SPA1689
Interior/exterior view
SOFT TOP (Roadster models)
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
3-13


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Soft top indicator lightThe soft top indicator light in the instrument
panel shows the conditions of top operation. The
light illuminates when the soft top is being
operated or if it is stopped before reaching the
fully opened or closed position. When the top is
fully opened, the light will turn off. When the top
is fully closed, the light will flash.
When the soft top is in motion, and any of the
following conditions occur, the top will stop
moving:

The vehicle is moved.

The ignition switch is turned to OFF.
The foot brake pedal is released.

The passenger power seat switch (on the
cushion or the seatback) is operated.
Remove your hand from the soft top operating
switch, and push the switch again to move the
top to the fully opened or closed position. The
soft top indicator light will turn off when the top
open operation is completely finished. When
closing the top, the light, which is illuminated,
will begin to flash when the top close operation
is completely finished. Securely engage the top
to the vehicle body by operating the top latch
lever. The light will turn off.
If the soft top indicator light flashes with the
ignition switch ON (whether the top is operated
or not, and when the top is engaged), it may
indicate the top operating system is not func-
tioning properly. Have your vehicle checked by a
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
Automatic passenger seatback tilt
functionThe passenger seatback will automatically tilt
forward when the soft top is operated. This
function is designed to draw your passenger’s
attention to the rear section of the top, which will
come into the passenger compartment from
behind during the top operation. The seatback
will return to the original position when the entiretop operation is completed.
This automatic seatback movement will be
stopped:

When the passenger seat sliding or reclining
switch (on the seat cushion) is operated.

When the power seatback tilt switch (on the
seatback) is operated.

When the seatback tilt cancel switch is
turned to the CANCEL position.
Remove your hand from the soft top operating
switch, and push it again to resume operation.
The passenger seatback will start tilting forward
again from the present position, and the soft top
will start opening or closing. If the top movement
is interrupted at this time, the next time you
resume top operation, the seatback will first tilt
forward from the present position, then the top
will start moving again.
If you need to cancel this function or when a
child restraint is installed in the passenger seat,
push the seatback tilt cancel switch to the
CANCEL position. For the seatback tilt cancel
switch, see “Tilting and reclining passenger’s
seat from driver’s seat” in the “1. Safety —
Seats, seat belts and supplemental restrain sys-
tem” section.
If the seatback tilt cancel switch is in the CAN-
SPA1691
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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OPENER OPERATIONTo open the fuel-filler door, push the opener
switch located below the instrument panel. To
lock, close the fuel-filler door securely.
FUEL-FILLER CAP
1To remove the fuel-filler cap, turn it counter-
clockwise.
2Hang the string of the cap on the hook
Aas
shown while refueling.
The fuel-filler cap is a ratcheting type. Tighten
the cap clockwise until ratcheting clicks are
heard.
WARNING

Gasoline is extremely flammable andhighly explosive under certain condi-
tions. You could be burned or seri-
ously injured if it is misused or mis-
handled. Always stop the engine and
do not smoke or allow open flames
or sparks near the vehicle when refu-
eling.

Fuel may be under pressure. Turn the
cap a third of a turn, and wait for any
“hissing” sound to stop to prevent
fuel from spraying out and possibly
causing personal injury. Then remove
SPA1508
SPA1509A
FUEL-FILLER DOOR
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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When the air intake button is pushed for
longer than 1.5 seconds, both indicator lights
(
and
) will flash twice, and then
the intake air will be controlled automatically.
During this AUTO mode, the indicator light of
the currently selected mode illuminates.

When the air flow control dial is in the
or
position, the air recirculation
mode does not activate.
Air flow controlTurning the air flow control dial selects the air
outlet to:
: Air flows from center and side ventila-
tors.: Air flows from center and side ventila-
tors and foot outlets.: Air flows mainly from foot outlets.: Air flows from defroster and foot out-
lets.: Air flows mainly from defroster outlets.
To turn the system offTurn the fan speed control dial to the OFF
position.
OPERATING TIPSWhen the engine coolant temperature and out-
side air temperature are low, the air flow from the
foot outlets may not operate for a maximum of
150 seconds. However, this is not a malfunction.
After the coolant temperature warms up, the air
flow from the foot outlets will operate normally.
Sensor
A
on the instrument panel helps main-
tain a constant temperature; do not put anything
on or around this sensor.
SAA0603
Display screen, heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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06.1.17/Z33-D/V5.0


instrument panel. The brake system then oper-
ates normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test or while
driving, take the vehicle to a NISSAN dealer for
repair.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces 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 distance 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.

When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires to the front and
rear.

When installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See “Vehicle iden-
tification” in the “9. Technical and
consumer information” section for
the Tire and Loading Information la-
bel location.On slippery surfaces such as wet asphalt roads,
vehicle wheels may spin when the vehicle is
accelerated. This wheel spin reduces accelera-
tion, or causes the vehicle to swerve, thus
decreasing vehicle stability.
When the vehicle drive wheels begin to spin, the
traction control system (TCS) controls the en-
gine torque using an electronic control system,
and it also controls automatic control shifting if
necessary (for automatic transmission models).
This reduces spinning of the drive wheels, and
result in improved vehicle acceleration perfor-
mance. It also improves the vehicle stability by
swerving motion.

When the traction control system is operat-
ing, the slip indicator light in the meter panel
blinks.

If the slip indicator light blinks, the vehicle is
under slippery conditions. Be sure to drive
carefully. See “Slip indicator light” and “Trac-
tion control system (TCS) off indicator light”
in the “2. Instruments and controls” section.

Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the traction control
system, the SLIP and
indicator lights
come on in the meter panel.
As long as these indicator lights are on, the
traction control function (except the ABS) is
canceled. The vehicle will behaves like a
TRACTIONCONTROL SYSTEM
(TCS) (if so equipped)
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Starting and driving


06.1.17/Z33-D/V5.0


model without the traction control system.
WARNING
The traction control system is designed
to prevent the wheels from spinning.
However, it does not prevent vehicle
slipping or spinning due to abrupt steer-
ing operation at high speeds or by care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.
Be especially careful when driving on
slippery surfaces and always drive
safely.When accelerating or driving on a slippery sur-
faces, the tires may spin or slide. With the
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system, sensors
detect these movements and control the braking
and engine output to help improve vehicle sta-
bility.

When the VDC system is operating, the
“SLIP” indicator in the instrument panel
blinks.

When only the Traction Control System
(TCS) portion of the VDC system is operat-
ing, the “SLIP” indicator in the instrument
panel blinks.

If the “SLIP” indicator blinks, the road condi-
tions are slippery. Be sure to adjust your
speed and driving to these conditions. Be
sure to drive carefully. See “Slip indicator
light”, and “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
OFF indicator light” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section.

Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
“SLIP” and “VDC OFF” indicator lights illumi-
nate in the instrument panel. As long as these
indicators are illuminated, the VDC system
function is canceled.
The VDC system uses an Active Brake Limited
Slip (ABLS) system to improve vehicle traction.The ABLS system works when one of the driving
wheels is spinning on a slippery surface. The
ABLS system brakes the spinning wheel, which
distributes the driving power to the other driving
wheel. If the vehicle is operated with the VDC
system turned off, all VDC system functions and
TCS functions will be turned off. The ABLS
system and ABS will still operate with the VDC
system off. When the ABLS system is activated,
the “SLIP” indicator light will blink and you may
hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an indica-
tion of a malfunction.
While the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
feel a vibration from under the hood. This is
normal and indicates that the VDC system is
working properly.
The VDC system computer has a built-in diag-
nostic feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the vehicle for-
ward or backward. When the self-test occurs,
you may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and is not
an indication of a malfunction.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL
(VDC) SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Starting and driving
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TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)This vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS). It monitors tire pres-
sure of all tires except the spare. When the low
tire pressure warning light is lit, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. The sys-
tem also displays pressure of all tires (except the
spare tire) on the trip computer by sending a
signal from a sensor that is installed in each
wheel. If the vehicle is being driven with low tire
pressure, the TPMS will activate and warn you of
it by the low tire pressure warning light (in the
meter panel) or the PSI indicator (on the trip
computer). This system will activate only when
the vehicle is driven at speeds above 16 MPH
(25 km/h). For more details, refer to “Trip com-
puter” and “Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section and “Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS)” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.
WARNING

If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates and/or the PSI indicator
flashes while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt brak-
ing, reduce vehicle speed, pull off the
road to a safe location and stop the
vehicle as soon as possible. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and may
lead to an accident and could result
in serious personal injury. Check the
tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recom-
mended COLD tire pressure shown
on the Tire and Loading Information
label to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF. If you have a flat
tire, replace it with a spare tire as
soon as possible.

When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, tire pressure will
not be indicated, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash. Contact yourNISSAN dealer as soon as possible
for tire replacement and/or system
resetting.

Replacing tires with those not origi-
nally specified by NISSAN could af-
fect the proper operation of the
TPMS.

Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pres-
sure sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIREIf you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.Stopping the vehicle1. Safely move the vehicle off the road away
from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking
brake. Shift the manual transmission into R
(Reverse) position (automatic transmission in
P (Park) position).
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and to
FLAT TIRE6-2
In case of emergency


06.1.17/Z33-D/V5.0


10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock brake system)................................ 5-21
Air bag ON/OFF switch .......................................... 1-13
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front air bag
system) .................................................................. 1-35
Side and curtain (See supplemental side
air bag and curtain side-impact air bag
system) .................................................................. 1-37
Air bag warning labels ............................................. 1-40
Air bag warning light .................................... 1-41, 2-15
Air cleaner housing filter.......................................... 8-18
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ..................................... 4-9
Air conditioner service ............................. 4-9, 4-12
Air conditioner specification label .................. 9-12
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ..................... 4-12, 9-6
Heater and air conditioner (automatic)............ 4-9
Alcohol, drugs and driving......................................... 5-5
Anchor point location, Top tether strap .............. 1-26
Antenna ........................................................................ 4-30
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) .............................. 5-21
Anti-lock brake warning light.................................. 2-12
Appearance care
Exterior appearance care .................................... 7-2
Interior appearance care ..................................... 7-4
Audible reminders ..................................................... 2-18Audio operation precautions .................................. 4-13
Audio system .............................................................. 4-12
Steering wheel audio controls ........................ 4-29
Autochanger
Compact Disc (CD) ........................................... 4-26
Automatic
Anti-glare inside mirror ...................................... 3-26
Automatic adjusting function (front
windows)............................................................... 2-41
Automatic passenger seatback tilt
function......................................................... 1-5, 3-17
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ................ 8-12
Driving with automatic transmission........ 5-6, 5-9
Transmission selector lever lock release ...... 5-12
Avoiding collision and rollover .................................. 5-5
B
Battery .......................................................................... 8-15
Battery saver system ......................................... 2-26
Before starting the engine ......................................... 5-8
Belts (See drive belts) ............................................. 8-17
Booster seats ............................................................. 1-26
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ......................... 5-21
Brake and clutch fluid ....................................... 8-13
Brake booster ...................................................... 8-22
Brake fluid............................................................. 8-14
Brake pedal .......................................................... 8-21Brake pedal check ............................................. 8-21
Brake system ....................................................... 5-20
Parking brake check............................... 5-15, 8-21
Parking brake operation .................................... 5-15
Warning light ....................................................... 2-13
Break-in schedule ..................................................... 5-18
Brightness control, Instrument panel ................... 2-27
Bulbcheck/instrument panel.................................. 2-12
Bulbreplacement ...................................................... 8-26
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants...... 9-2
Car phone or CB radio............................................ 4-30
Card holder ................................................................. 2-34
Cargo (See vehicle loading information)............. 2-34
Cargo net .................................................................... 2-34
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst ................. 5-3
CD care and cleaning .............................................. 4-29
Child restraints ........................................................... 1-17
Booster seats ...................................................... 1-26
Installation on front passenger seat............... 1-20
Precautions on child restraints........................ 1-17
Top tether strap anchor point location ......... 1-26
Child safety ................................................................. 1-12
Chimes, Audible reminders..................................... 2-18
Circuit breaker, Fusible link .................................... 8-23
Cleaning exterior and interior .......................... 7-2, 7-4
Clock ............................................................................ 2-31


06.1.17/Z33-D/V5.0