2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID power steering

CD CARE AND CLEANING
cHandle a CD by its edges. Do not bend the
disc. Never touch the surface of the disc.
cAlways place the discs in the storage case
when they are not being used.
cTo clean a disc, wipe the surface from the
center to the outer edge using a clean, soft
cloth. Do not wipe the disc using a circular
motion.
cDo not use a conventional record cleaner or
alcohol intended for industrial use.cA new disc may be rough on the inner and
outer edges. Remove the rough edges by
rubbing the inner and outer edges with the
side of a pen or pencil as illustrated.
STEERING WHEEL SWITCH FOR
AUDIO CONTROL (if so equipped)
1. Source select and Power on switch
2. Tuning switch
3. Volume control switch
LHA0049
Type A
LHA0752
4-36Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems
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– Your cellular phone is locked to prevent it
from being dialed.
cWhen the radio wave condition is not ideal
or ambient sound is too loud, it may be
difficult to hear the other person’s voice dur-
ing a call.
cDo not place the cellular phone in an area
surrounded by metal or far away from the
in-vehicle phone module to prevent tone
quality degradation and wireless connection
disruption.
cWhile a cellular phone is connected through
the BluetoothTwireless connection, the bat-
tery power of the cellular phone may dis-
charge quicker than usual. The BluetoothT
Hands-Free Phone System cannot charge
cellular phones.
cIf the hands-free phone system seems to be
malfunctioning, please refer to “Trouble-
shooting guide” later in this section. You can
also visit www.nissanusa.com/bluetooth for
troubleshooting help.
cRefer to the cellular phone Owner’s Manual
regarding the telephone charges, cellular
phone antenna and body, etc.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions: (1) this device maynot cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation ex-
posure limits set forth for an uncontrolled envi-
ronment. This equipment should be installed and
operated with minimum distance of 8 inches (20
cm) between the radiator and your body. This
Transmitter must not be co-located or operating
in conjunction with any other antenna or transmit-
ter.
USING THE SYSTEM
The NISSAN Voice Recognition system allows
hands-free operation of the BluetoothTPhone
System.
If the vehicle is in motion, some commands may
not be available so full attention may be given to
vehicle operation.
Initialization
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, NISSAN Voice Recognition is initialized,
which takes a few seconds. When completed,
the amber light on the overhead console illumi-
nates and the system is ready to accept voice
commands. If the
button is pressed beforethe initialization completes, the system will an-
nounce “Hands-free phone system not ready”
and will not react to voice commands.
Operating tips
To get the best performance out of the NISSAN
Voice Recognition system, observe the following:
cKeep the interior of the vehicle as quiet as
possible. Close the windows to eliminate
surrounding noises (traffic noises, vibration
sounds, etc.) , which may prevent the system
from recognizing voice commands correctly.
cWait until the tone sounds before speaking a
command. Otherwise, the command will not
be received properly.
cStart speaking a command within 5 seconds
after the tone sounds.
cSpeak in a natural voice without pausing
between words.
Giving voice commands
To operate NISSAN Voice Recognition, press
and release thebutton located on the
steering wheel. The light on the overhead con-
sole flashes to signal you have entered a voice
recognition (VR) session. After the tone sounds,
speak a command.
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-41
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5 Starting and driving
Precautions 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
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-6
Push-Button Ignition Switch........................5-6
Push-button ignition switch positions.............5-7
Intelligent key battery discharge..................5-8
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system................5-9
Before starting the Hybrid System...................5-9
Starting the Hybrid System........................5-10
Driving the vehicle................................5-10
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT)...................5-10
Parking brake....................................5-13
Cruise control....................................5-14
Precautions on cruise control...................5-14Cruise control operations.......................5-14
Break-in schedule................................5-15
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-15
Parking/parking on hills............................5-16
Power steering...................................5-17
Brake system....................................5-17
Brake precautions.............................5-17
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).................5-19
Traction Control System (TCS).....................5-20
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.............5-21
Cold weather driving..............................5-22
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-22
Anti-freeze....................................5-22
Draining of coolant water.......................5-22
Tire equipment................................5-22
Special winter equipment.......................5-22
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-22
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-23
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WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector
lever is in any position while the READY
light is OFF. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal injury
or property damage.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when turning the Hybrid System ON.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped.
The brake pedal must be depressed to
move the selector lever from N (Neutral) or
any drive position to P (Park) .Apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake first, then shift the selector lever
into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
Use this position to back up. Make sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position.The brake pedal
must be depressed to move the selectorlever from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive
position to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. Do
not leave the selector lever in the N (Neutral)
position for a long period of time. In the N (Neu-
tral) position, the gasoline engine operates but
electricity cannot be generated. The high voltage
battery will be discharged requiring unnecessary
engine power to recharge.
Depending on the status of the engine before
shifting into the N (Neutral) position, the engine
may not operate.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
B (Brake) low gear:
Downshift into the B position with your foot off
the accelerator pedal to use engine braking while
driving.
You may feel that engine braking is less effective
than a conventional vehicle when driving at higher
speeds.
Driving with the transmission in the B position for
long periods of time may cause a decrease in fuel
economy.
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift selector lever may not be moved from the P
(Park) position even with the brake pedal de-
pressed and the selector lever button pushed.
If the battery is discharged completely, the steer-
ing wheel cannot be locked or unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel locked.
It will be necessary to jump start or have your
battery charged, see “Jump starting” in the “In
case of emergency” section. Contact your
NISSAN dealer or a professional towing service.
LSD0190
5-12Starting and driving
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WARNING
cIf the Hybrid System is not in the READY
mode or is turned off while driving, the
power assist for the steering will not
work. Steering will be harder to
operate.
cWhen the power steering warning light
illuminates with the Hybrid System in
the READY mode, there will be no
power assist for the steering. You will
still have control of the vehicle but the
steering will be harder to operate. Have
the power steering system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
The power steering system is designed to pro-
vide power assist while driving to operate the
steering wheel with light force.
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent over-
heating of the power steering system and protect
it from getting damaged. While the power assist
is reduced, steering wheel operation will become
heavy. When the temperature of the power steer-
ing system goes down, the power assist level will
return to normal. Avoid repeating such steeringwheel operations that could cause the power
steering system to overheat.
You may hear a sound when the steering wheel is
operated quickly. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion.
If the power steering warning lightPSilluminates
while the Hybrid System is in the READY mode, it
may indicate the power steering system is not
functioning properly and may need servicing.
Have the power steering system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
When the power steering warning light illumi-
nates with the Hybrid System in the READY
mode, there will be no power assist for the steer-
ing but you will still have control of the vehicle. At
this time, greater steering effort is required to
operate the steering wheel, especially in sharp
turns and at low speeds.
For additional information see “Power steering
warning light” in the “Instruments and controls”
section.
WARNING
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the hydraulic brake warning
light and the electronically controlled
brake system warning light is on. Driving
could be dangerous. If you judge it to be
safe, drive carefully to the nearest service
station for repairs. Otherwise, have your
vehicle towed because driving it could be
dangerous.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Regenerative brake
The Hybrid System changes vehicle motion into
electricity. The electricity is used to recharge the
high voltage battery. When applying the brakes,
you may hear a sound coming from the regenera-
tive braking system. This is a normal operating
characteristic of a hybrid vehicle.
The regenerative braking works in the following
conditions:
1. When the accelerator pedal is released, the
Hybrid System makes electricity while the
vehicle slows down during coasting.
2. When the brake pedal is depressed with the
selector lever in “D” or “B”.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-17
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4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence illustrated (
sA,sB,sC,sD,
sE) . Lower the vehicle completely.
WARNING
cIncorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
cDo not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the nuts
to become loose.
cRetighten the wheel nuts when the ve-
hicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.) .
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
83 ft-lb (112 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
specifications at each lubrication interval.Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure: After vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km) .
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tire
and loading information label affixed to the
driver side center pillar.
5. Securely store the flat tire and jacking equip-
ment in the vehicle.
6. Place the spare tire cover and the trunk floor
carpeting over the damaged tire.
7. Close the trunk.
WARNING
cAlways make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly se-
cured after use. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.
cThe spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions un-
der the heading “Wheels and tires” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section of this manual.
WARNING
cIf the Hybrid System stops operating
while driving, the power assist for the
brakes and steering will not work. Brak-
ing and steering will be harder.
cIf the Hybrid System stops operating
while driving, do not open any door until
the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
Opening a door will lock the steering
wheel. This may cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle and could result in
serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
The Hybrid System may stop operating while
driving if the high voltage battery becomes dis-
charged, the 12-volt battery becomes dis-
charged or the fuel tank is empty. If the Hybrid
System stops operating while driving, perform
the following:
1. Reduce your speed gradually. Pull to the
side of the road to a safe area.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Set the “POWER” switch at ACC or OFF,
and try to start the Hybrid System.
4. If the Hybrid System will not start, see “Ve-
hicle does not start” in this section.
HYBRID SYSTEM STOPS
OPERATING WHILE DRIVING
6-6In case of emergency
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6. After the engine and inverter cools down,
check the coolant level in the engine and
inverter coolant reservoir tank with the en-
gine running. Add coolant to the engine and
inverter coolant reservoir tank if necessary.
Have your vehicle repaired at a NISSAN
dealer.When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial in
Canada) and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment could dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are avail-
able from a NISSAN dealer. Local service opera-
tors are generally familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to your
vehicle, NISSAN recommends having a service
operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable to have
the service operator carefully read the following
precautions:
WARNING
cNever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
cNever get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
cWhen towing, make sure that the trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any unit is damaged, dollies must be
used.
cAlways attach safety chains before
towing.For information about towing your vehicle behind
a recreational vehicle (RV) , refer to “Flat towing”
in the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-11
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Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-49
Language setting.................4-6
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System......................1-17
License plate
Installing the license plate.........9-12
Light
Air bag warning light.........1-49, 2-14
Brake light (See stop light).........8-25
Bulb check/instrument panel........2-9
Bulb replacement..............8-25
Charge warning light........2-11, 2-12
Fog light switch...............2-33
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-29
Headlight control switch..........2-29
Headlights..................8-24
Interior light.................2-45
Light bulbs..................8-24
Low tire pressure warning light......2-13
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-24
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-43
Spotlights (See map light).........2-46
Trunk light..................2-47
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-9
Lights
Map lights..................2-46
Lock
Child safety rear door lock..........3-5
Door locks..................3-3
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever......3-20
Glove box lock...............2-38
Power door locks...............3-5
Trunk lid lock opener lever.........3-17
Low fuel warning light......2-13, 2-14, 2-24Low tire pressure warning light........2-13
Low washer fluid warning light.........2-24
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance
General maintenance............8-2
Inside the vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Outside the vehicle..............8-2
Seat belt maintenance...........1-14
Under the hood and vehicle.........8-4
Malfunction indicator light...........2-16
Manual front seat adjustment..........1-2
Map lights....................2-46
Map pocket...................2-36
Meters and gauges................2-3
Instrument brightness control.......2-32
Mirror
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.....3-23
Inside mirror.................3-23
Outside mirrors...............3-24
Vanity mirror.................3-23
N
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system . . .2-27, 5-9
NISSAN voice recognition system.......4-62
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4Odometer.....................2-4
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil............8-11
Changing engine oil filter..........8-12
Checking engine oil level..........8-10
Engine oil..................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirrors.................3-24
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats..........6-10
Owner’s manual order form..........9-26
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-26
P
Parking
Parking brake operation..........5-13
Parking/parking on hills...........5-16
Phone, BluetoothThands-free
system..................4-39, 4-53
Power
Power door locks...............3-5
Power outlet.................2-35
Power rear windows............2-43
Power steering system...........5-17
Power windows...............2-41
Rear power windows............2-43
Precautions
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Precautions on child
restraints............1-15, 1-23, 1-29
10-4
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