2008 NISSAN 350Z parking brake

illuminate. The daytime running lights illuminate
once the parking brake is released. The daytime
running lights will remain on until the ignition
switch is turned off.
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH1
Turn signal
Move the lever up or down to signal the turning
direction. When the turn is completed, the turn
signals cancel automatically.2
Lane change signal
To indicate a lane change, move the lever up or
down to the point where lights begin flashing.
INSTRUMENT BRIGHTNESS
CONTROLThe instrument brightness control operates
when the light switch is in the
or
position and the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
To adjust the brightness of instrument panel
lights, press the control switches located on the
left side of the meter panel. Pressing the upper
switchA
will brighten the lights. The lower
switch
B
will dim the lights. Repeatedly press-
ing the lower switch will turn the lights off.
SIC3316
SIC3001
2-26
Instruments and controls


07.7.25/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 ON position, 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
3-13


07.7.25/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
3-18
Pre-driving checks and adjustments


07.7.25/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.
SPA1693
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
3-19


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


and you change the priority level of Phone C to
Level 1, then:
Priority Level 1 = Phone C
Priority Level 2 = Phone B
Priority Level 3 = Phone A
“Delete phone”
E
Use the Delete Phone command to delete a
specific phone or all phones from the BluetoothHands-Free Phone System.The system announces the names of the phones
already paired with the system and their priority
level. The system then gives you the option to
delete a specific phone, all phones or listen to the
list again.Once you chose to delete a phone or all phones,
the system asks you to confirm this action.
NOTE:
When you delete a phone, the associated
phone book for that phone will also be
deleted.
“Select ringtone”
F
Use the Select Ringtone command to select the
tone heard in the vehicle when an incoming call
is received.
The system announces the name of the activephone and asks you to choose from the follow-
ing commands:

“Ringtone” — The system plays a ringtone
and asks if you would like to select that tone.
If you say no, the system plays the next
ringtone available and continues to cycle
through the ringtones until you select one or
quit.

“Silent” — The system asks you to confirm
your wish to disable the ringtone.
“Bluetooth off”
G
Use the Bluetooth Off command to turn off the
Bluetooth
Hands-Free Phone System.
When Bluetooth
Hands-Free Phone System is
off, you will not be able to make or receive calls
using NISSAN Voice Recognition. Also, you will
not have access to the Phone Book.
You can still use the Memo Pad and access
Setup.
To turn on the system again, choose the Blue-
tooth On command from the Setup command.
SPEAKER ADAPTATION (SA) MODESpeaker Adaptation allows up to two out-of dia-
lect users to train the system to improve recogni-
tion accuracy. By repeating a number of com-
mands, the users can create a voice model of theirown voice that is stored in the system. The system
is capable of storing a different speaker adapta-
tion model for memory A and memory B.
If memory A is available, the system will use
memory A to store the model. If memory A is in
use and memory B is available, the system will
use memory B to store the model. If both of the
memory locations are in use, the system will ask
the user to select which memory location should
be overwritten.Training procedureThe procedure for training a voice is as follows.
1. Position the vehicle in a reasonably quiet
outdoor location.
2. Sit in the driver’s seat with the engine run-
ning, the parking brake on, and the transmis-
sion in Park.
3. Press and hold the
button for more
than 5 seconds.
4. The system announces: “Press the PHONE
SEND (
) button for the hands-free
phone system to enter the speaker adapta-
tion mode or press the PHONE END
(
) button to select a different lan-
guage.”
5. Press the
button.
4-42
Display screen, heater, air conditioner and audio systems


07.7.25/Z33-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) ................. 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ..................................... 5-5
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ............................ 5-6
Ignition switch ....................................................................... 5-6
Automatic transmission ................................................. 5-7
Manual transmission ....................................................... 5-7
Key positions ................................................................... 5-8
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System ........................ 5-8
Before starting the engine ................................................. 5-9
Starting the engine ............................................................... 5-9
Driving the vehicle ............................................................. 5-10
Automatic transmission ............................................... 5-10
Manual transmission .................................................... 5-13
Parking brake ...................................................................... 5-15
Cruise control (if so equipped) ...................................... 5-16
Precautions on cruise control ................................... 5-16
Cruise control operations ........................................... 5-17Break-in schedule .............................................................. 5-18
Increasing fuel economy .................................................. 5-18
Parking/parking on hills .................................................... 5-19
Power steering .................................................................... 5-20
Brake system ....................................................................... 5-21
Braking precautions ..................................................... 5-21
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ............................... 5-21
Traction Control System (TCS) (if so equipped) ...... 5-23
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
(if so equipped) .................................................................. 5-23
Cold weather driving ......................................................... 5-25
Freeing a frozen door lock ......................................... 5-25
Anti-freeze ...................................................................... 5-25
Battery ............................................................................. 5-25
Draining of coolant water ........................................... 5-25
Tire equipment .............................................................. 5-25
Special winter equipment .......................................... 5-25
Driving on snow or ice ................................................ 5-25
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ....................... 5-26


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


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.

Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.

Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition key is turned to the ON position.
See “Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders” in the “2. Instruments and con-
trols” section.1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
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.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) position,
and depress the clutch pedal to the floor
while cranking the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
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 theway 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
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.
In cold weather, keep the engine running for
a minimum of 2 to 3 minutes before shutting
it off. Starting and stopping the engine over a
short period of time may make the vehicle
more difficult to start.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving
5-9


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5-speed 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.Starting the vehicleAfter starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the selector lever button
before shifting the selector lever to the R (Re-
verse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual shift
mode position. Be sure the vehicle is fully
stopped before shifting the selector lever.
This automatic transmission model is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal must
be depressed before shifting from P (Park)
to any drive position while the ignition
switch is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) position and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned
to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
key is removed from the ignition switch.1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push 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 (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or
manual shift mode. Always depress
the brake pedal until shifting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an acci-
dent.

Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.

On slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.

Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving forward.Never shift to P (Park) or D (Drive)
while vehicle is moving backward.
These could cause an accident.
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 VEHICLE5-10
Starting and driving


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0