SECONDARY REAR HATCH
RELEASEThe secondary rear hatch release mechanism
allows opening the rear hatch in the event of
discharged battery or emergency.
The release (string) handle is located under the
strut tower bar inside the luggage compartment.
To open the rear hatch from the inside,
firmly pull the release handle to the direc-
tion shown above until the lock releases.
WARNING
Do not drive with the trunk lid open.
This could allow dangerous exhaust
gases to be drawn into the vehicle.
See “Precautions when starting and
driving” in the “5. Starting and driv-
ing” section for exhaust gas.
Closely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously
injured. Keep the car locked, with the
trunk closed when not in use, and
prevent children’s access to car keys.
OPENER OPERATIONThe trunk lid release switch is located between
the license plate lights.
To open the trunk lid, unlock it with one of the
following operations then push the release
switch:
Push the UNLOCK
button on the key-
fobonce. (Pushing the HATCH/TRUNK
button on the keyfob can open the
trunk lid at once without pushing the release
switch.)
Insert the key into the door key cylinder and
turn it counterclockwise once.
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SPA1685
TRUNK LID (Roadster models)
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
The interior trunk lid release mechanism pro-
vides a means of escape for children and adults
in the event they become locked inside the trunk.
The handle
A
is located inside the trunk com-
partment as illustrated.
To open the trunk lid from the inside, pull
the release handle towards you until the
lock releases and push up on the trunk lid.
The release lever is made of a material that
glows in the dark after a brief exposure to
ambient light.
SECONDARY TRUNK LID RELEASEThe secondary trunk lid release mechanism al-
lows opening the trunk lid in the event of dis-
charged battery or emergency.
Remove the cover
1
(located inside of the rear
floor box) using a suitable tool
2
as shown.
Access the release (string) handle3.
To open the trunk lid from the inside, firmly
pull the release handle to the direction
shown above until the lock releases.SPA1688
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
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
SPA2339
Interior/exterior view
SOFT TOP (Roadster models)
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
Top latch leverThe soft top has three locking points to engage
the front edge of the top to the vehicle body.
Operating the top latch lever enables you to lock
or unlock all three locking points at the same
time.
CAUTION
Before opening the top, be sure to
release the top latch. After closing,
securely engage the top to the vehicle
body.
To release the latch (before opening the
top):1Push the safety switch
A
.
2The latch lever
B
is lowered.
3Swing the lever forward until the latch is
released.
To engage the latch (after closing the top):
Check that the top is in the fully closed position.
1Push the safety switch
A
.
2The latch lever
B
is lowered.
3Rotate the lever forward until the front edge
of the top is completely joined to the vehicle
body.
4Rotate the lever toward you and push it up
into the stored position. Make sure the top is
securely engaged to the vehicle body.
The soft top indicator light will flash with the
ignition switch ON when the top is not en-
gaged. See “Soft top indicator light” later in
this section.
When releasing or engaging the top latch,
you may hear the latch operating. This is
normal and not a malfunction.
SPA1690
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
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-
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
CEL position and the passenger seat is occu-
pied, ask the passenger to sit forward when the
top is being opened or closed.Automatic window loweringWhen the soft top operating switch is pressed,
the power windows will automatically be low-
ered completely. The windows do not rise auto-
matically after the top operation is completed.
Use the power window switches to raise them.
OPENING THE TOP1. Apply the parking brake and move the selec-
tor lever to the P (Park) position (for the
automatic transmission model) or the shift
lever to the N (Neutral) position (for the
manual transmission model).
2. Start the engine.
3. Depress the foot brake pedal.
4. Release the front edge of the top from the
vehicle body with the top latch lever.
5. Push OPEN on the soft top operating switch
and hold it until the top is fully opened.•The soft top indicator light will illuminate
while the top is in motion. (In about 20
seconds, the opening movement will finish
and the indicator light turns off.)
•Windows will automatically be fully
opened.
•The passenger seatback will automatically
move forward, unless the seatback tilt
cancel switch is in the CANCEL position.
It will return to the original position after
the top operation. (See “Automatic pas-
senger seatback tilt function” shown on
the previous page of this section.)
6. Release the switch when the top is fully
opened. (The indicator light turns off.)
NOTE:
If you release the switch and press it again
while the top is being opened, the top will
slightly move to the closing direction, then
start moving to the opening direction
again. The top is designed to move in this
way. It is not a malfunction.
SPA1692
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
CLOSING THE TOP1. Apply the parking brake and move the selec-
tor lever to the P (Park) position (for the
automatic transmission model) or the shift
lever to the N (Neutral) position (for the
manual transmission model).
2. Start the engine.
3. Depress the foot brake pedal.
4. Push CLOSE on the soft top operating
switch and hold it until the top is fully closed.
•The soft top indicator light will illuminate
while the top is in motion. (In about 20seconds, the closing movement will fin-
ish.)
•Windows will automatically be fully
opened.
•The passenger seatback will automatically
move forward, unless the seatback tilt
cancel switch is in the CANCEL position.
It will return to the original position after
the top operation. (See “Automatic pas-
senger seatback tilt function” shown on
the previous page of this section.)
5. Release the switch when the top is fully
closed. (The indicator light, which is illumi-
nated, will begin to flash.)
6. Securely engage the front edge of the top to
the vehicle body with the top latch lever. (The
indicator light turns off.)
IF THE TOP DOES NOT OPEN OR
CLOSE ELECTRICALLYIf you cannot operate the soft top with the
operating switch, first check whether all the
following operating conditions are completed:
foot brake pedal is depressed
vehicle is stopped
ignition switch is ON (Run the engine when
operating the top.)If the top still does not move under the above
conditions or has any system malfunction, see a
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible. When you
must close the top by yourself, in the event of
emergency or when an immediate dealer service
is not available, close the top manually according
to the procedures shown in this section.
When closing the soft top manually:
Move the vehicle to a safe place, away from
traffic.
Two people should perform this procedure,
as some of the top parts are extremely heavy.
The top cannot be opened manually.
WARNING
Do not drive with the top partially
opened.
If the top cannot be operated prop-
erly, see a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible to have your vehicle
checked.
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
3-19
06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0
and falls simultaneously. Support the
top by hand so it does not strike the
body.
b. Lower the rear part of the top and push it
onto the top storage lid. The top is locked to
the storage lid, but the bottom of the rear part
is not closed tightly.
CAUTION
After closing the top manually, have
the system checked and/or repaired
by a NISSAN dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
Avoid leaving the vehicle outside for
long periods or driving at high
speeds. The rear of the top is not
locked completely, and this may al-
low wind and rain to get into your
vehicle.CARE OF THE SOFT TOP AND THE
VEHICLE BODYTo use your Roadster safely and comfortably,you need to observe all the warnings and cau-
tions shown in the previous pages. Also, to
maintain a good appearance of the soft top and
the vehicle body, you need to care for them by
cleaning and/or washing properly.
CAUTION
Do not use an automatic car wash or
a high-pressure car wash to clean
your vehicle. The top may be dam-
aged and water may leak into the
inside of the vehicle.
Store the vehicle with the top closed
if it is not to be used for long periods.
Keeping the top stowed for long pe-
riods may cause wrinkles on the sur-
face of the top.
See “Cleaning exterior” in the “7. Appearance
and care” section for detailed instructions.
A protective clear tape is applied to the top
storage lid painted surface where the soft top
contacts the surface. When the top is fully
closed, the tape may transmit some light,
visible from the inside of the vehicle. This
does not affect the water and air tightness of
the seal.The inner surface of the trunk and top storage
lids may show a fibrous, or marbled pattern.
This is the normal appearance of the material
used in these parts.
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06.10.24/Z33-D/V5.0