section and “Pedal position adjustment” and
“Outside mirrors” earlier in this section.
3. Turn the ignition ON.
4. Push the SET switch and, within 5 seconds,
push the memory switch (1 or 2) fully for at
least 1 second.
The indicator light for the pushed memory
switch will come on and stay on for approxi-
mately 5 seconds after pushing the switch.
After the indicator light goes off, the selected
positions are stored in the selected memory
(1 or 2).
If memory is stored in the same memory switch,
the previous memory will be deleted.
Linking a remote keyless entry to a
stored memory positionA remote keyless entry can be linked to a stored
memory position with the following procedure.
1. Follow the steps for storing a memory posi-
tion.
2. While the indicator light for the memory
switch being set is illuminated for 5 seconds,
push the unlock button on the remote keyless
entry. The indicator light will blink. After the
indicator light goes off, the remote keyless
entry is linked to that memory setting.With the key removed from the ignition switch,
push the unlock button on the keyfob. The
driver’s seat, pedals (Brake and Accelerator)
and outside mirrors will move to the memorized
position.
Confirming memory storageTurn the ignition switch to the ON position
and push the SET switch. If the main memory
has not been stored, the indicator light will
come on for approximately 0.5 seconds.
When the memory has stored the position,
the indicator light will stay on for approxi-
mately 5 seconds.Selecting the memorized position1. Set the sift selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
2. Turn the ignition ON.
3. Push the memory switch (1 or 2) fully for at
least 1 second.
The driver’s seat, pedals (Brake and Accel-
erator) and outside mirrors will move to the
memorized position with the indicator light
flashing, and then the light will stay on for
approximately 5 seconds.SYSTEM OPERATIONThe automatic drive positioner system will notwork or will stop operating under the following
conditions:
when the vehicle speed is above 4 MPH (7
km/h).
when any two or more of the memory
switches and the SET switch is simulta-
neously pushed while the automatic drive
positioner is operating.
when the adjusting switch for the driver’s
seat, pedals and outside mirror are operated
while the automatic drive positioner is oper-
ating.
when the memory switch (1 or 2) and the
SET switch is not pushed for at least 1
second.
when the seat has been already moved to the
memorized position.
when no seat position is stored in the
memory switch.
when the engine is started while moving the
automatic drive positioner.
when the shift selector lever is moved from
the P position to any other position (However,
it will not be cancelled if the switch is pushed
while the seat is returning to the previous
positions (entry/exit function).).
3-34
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
5 Starting and drivingPrecautions when starting and driving ............................. 5-2
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .................................. 5-2
Three-way catalyst ........................................................... 5-3
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
(if so equipped) ............................................................... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ...................................... 5-5
On-pavement and offroad driving precautions
(AWD) ................................................................................. 5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .............................. 5-6
Driving safety precautions.............................................. 5-6
Ignition switch (Except for Intelligent Key equipped
model) ....................................................................................... 5-9
Key positions ..................................................................... 5-9
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System (NVIS) ......... 5-10
Ignition switch (Intelligent Key System equipped
model)..................................................................................... 5-10
Ignition switch positions .............................................. 5-11
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System (NVIS) ......... 5-12
Before starting the engine ................................................ 5-12
Starting the engine ............................................................. 5-12
Driving the vehicle ............................................................... 5-13
CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)............. 5-13
M-CVT (CVT with Manual shift mode)..................... 5-16
Parking brake........................................................................ 5-21Cruise control ....................................................................... 5-21
Precautions on cruise control .................................... 5-21
Cruise control operations ............................................ 5-22
Break-in schedule .............................................................. 5-23
Increasing fuel economy .................................................... 5-24
Using all-wheel drive (AWD) (if so equipped) ............ 5-24
AWD lock switch operations...................................... 5-25
AWD warning light ........................................................ 5-27
Parking/parking on hills...................................................... 5-29
Power steering ..................................................................... 5-30
Brake system ........................................................................ 5-30
Braking precautions ...................................................... 5-30
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .................................... 5-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped) .................................................................. 5-32
Cold weather driving .......................................................... 5-34
Freeing a frozen door lock .......................................... 5-34
Antifreeze ......................................................................... 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) ....................... 5-36
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.
Do not shift ranges while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
Be sure to use the engine brake. The
foot brake performance may be re-
duced, resulting in a possible acci-
dent.
Stay alert when driving to the top of a
hill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.
If your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill,
never attempt to turn around. Your
vehicle could tip or roll over. Always
back straight down in R (Reverse)
range. Never back down in N (Neu-
tral), using only the brake, as this
could cause loss of control.Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low range to control your
speed.
Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
To avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as
possible. Do not equip the vehicle
with tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your ve-
hicle to roll over.
Do not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
Always drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.
Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is
more affected by strong side winds.
Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with AWD
engaged.
Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN all-wheel drive
vehicle has a higher center of gravity
than a two-wheel drive vehicle. The
Starting and driving
5-7
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
vehicle is not designed for cornering
at the same speeds as conventional
two-wheel drive vehicles. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a
rollover accident.
Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted or radial), and tread pattern on
all four wheels. Install tire chains on
the front wheels when driving on slip-
pery roads and drive carefully.
Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water.
See “Brake system” later in this sec-
tion for wet brakes.
Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured.
Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. See “Periodic maintenance” in the “Service
and Maintenance Guide”.
Do not drive continuously on sandy
or muddy roads with the front wheels
spinning. The AWD warning light
blinks and the driving mode changes
to 2WD. This could reduce traction
force remarkably. Be especially care-
ful when towing a trailer. (AWD mod-
els)
Do not use 2-wheel chassis dyna-
mometers or 2-wheel free rollers.
(AWD models)
Never operate the accelerator pedal
with the front wheels raised and the
rear wheels on the ground while jack-
ing up or with the front wheels on the
roller and the rear wheels on the
ground. Otherwise, the vehicle could
jump. (AWD models)
When a wheel is suspended due to
running off the road, do not idle the
wheel excessively. (AWD models)
When the vehicle is on a free roller orthe front or rear wheels are jacked
up, do not start the engine. (AWD
models)
5-8
Starting and driving
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
On CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
models, the ignition lock is designed so that the
key cannot be turned to LOCK and removed
until the selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
When removing the key from the ignition, make
sure the selector lever is in the P (Park) position.
If the selector lever is not returned to P (Park)
position, the key cannot be moved toward
LOCK.
When the key cannot be turned toward the
LOCK position, proceed as follows to remove
the key: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)
position.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
1
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.KEY POSITIONSThe switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
LOCK (Normal parking position) (0)
The ignition key can only be removed when the
switch is in this position.
OFF (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking the
steering wheel.
ACC (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not running.
SSD0392
IGNITION SWITCH (Except for
Intelligent Key equipped model)
Starting and driving
5-9
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
2. Turn the ignition switch slightly in the ON
direction.
3. Turn the key toward the LOCK position.
The selector lever can be moved from P
position if the ignition switch is in the ON
position and the foot brake pedal is de-
pressed.
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 counterclock-
wise from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the igni-
tion switch to the LOCK position. To unlock
the steering wheel, push the ignition
switch in and turn it gently while rotating
the steering wheel slightly right and left.
If the battery of the vehicle equipped with
the Intelligent Key system is discharged,
the ignition switch cannot be turned from
the LOCK position, even using the me-
chanical key or valet key.
WARNING
Never turn the ignition switch 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.IGNITION SWITCH POSITIONSPush in the ignition switch to the
B
position
when you turn it.
LOCK (Normal parking position)
A:
The ignition switch can only be locked in the
LOCK position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed in, and turned to the ACC position
C
while carrying the Intelligent Key.
ACC (Accessories)
C:
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not
running.ON(Normal operating position)
D:
This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.
START
E:
This position starts the engine. As soon as the
engine has started, release the knobimmedi-
ately. It will automatically return to the ON posi-
tion.
The ignition switch cannot be turned back to the
LOCK position unless the selector lever is in P
position. (It can be turned only to the
B
posi-
tion.)
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the igni-
tion switch in ACC or ONpositions when
the engine is not running for an ex-
tended period. This can discharge the
battery.
Starting and driving
5-11
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM (NVIS)The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System (NVIS)
will not allow the engine to start without the use
of the registered NVIS key.
If the engine fails to start using the registered
NVIS key, it may be due to interference caused
by another NVIS key, an automated toll road
device or an automated payment device on the
key ring. Restart the engine using the following
procedures:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON position
for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK
position and wait approximately 10 seconds.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 again.
4. Restart the engine while holding the device
(which may have caused the interference)
separate from the registered NVIS key.
If this procedure allows the engine to start,
NISSAN recommends placing the registered
NVIS key on a separate key ring to avoid inter-
ference from other devices.Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
Maintenance items should be checked peri-
odically, for example, each time you check
engine oil.
Check that all windows and lights 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.
Adjust the pedal position.
Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion.1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral). (P preferred.)
The starter is designed not to operate if the
selector lever is in one of the driving posi-
tions.
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 the
accelerator pedal a little (approximately 1/3
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 switch to
START. Release the key when the engine
starts. If the engine starts, but fails to run,
repeat the above procedure.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-12
Starting and driving
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0
If it is necessary to park the vehicle, push the
shift lock release button, then move the selector
lever to the P (Park).
To push the shift lock release button, follow the
procedure as illustrated.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park), have
a NISSAN dealer check the CVT 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. Malfunctioning stop
lights could cause an accident injur-
ing yourself and others.
Do not park the vehicle without shift-
ing to the P (Park) position.Accelerator downshift
— In D position —For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, depend-ing on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
modeThis transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-
comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperature with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer), engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the vehicle may not accelerate above
approximately 40 to 50 MPH (65 to 80 km/h).Fail-safeIf the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated, see “Malfunction indicator lamp
(MIL)” in the “2. Instrument and controls”
section. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then turn
the switch back to the ONposition. The
vehicle should return to its normal operat-ing condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have a
NISSAN dealer check the transmission and
repair if necessary.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually re-
duced. The reduced speed may be lower
than other traffic, which could increase
the chance of a collision. Be especially
careful when driving. If necessary, pull
to the side of the road at a safe place
and allow the transmission to return to
normal operation, or have it repaired if
necessary.
5-20
Starting and driving
05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0