
module when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position with the paired cellular phone turned
on and carried in the vehicle.
You can register up to 5 different BluetoothT
cellular phones to the in-vehicle phone module.
However, you can talk on only one cellular phone
at a time.
NISSAN Voice Recognition system supports the
phone commands, so dialing a phone number
using your voice is possible. For more details, see
“NISSAN Voice Recognition System” later in this
section.
Before using the BluetoothTHands-Free Phone
System, refer to the following notes.
cSet up the wireless connection between a
cellular phone and the in-vehicle phone
module before using the hands-free phone
system.
cSome BluetoothTenabled cellular phones
may not be recognized by the in-vehicle
phone module. Please visit
www.nissanusa.com/bluetooth for a recom-
mended phone list.
cYou will not be able to use a hands-free
phone under the following conditions:
– Your vehicle is outside of the cellular ser-
vice area.– Your vehicle is in an area where it is
difficult to receive cellular signal; such as
in a tunnel, in an underground parking
garage, near a tall building or in a moun-
tainous area.
– 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.
cImmediately after the ignition switch is
pushed to the ON position or the DVD-ROM
for the navigation system is inserted into the
player, it may be impossible to receive a call
for a short period of time.
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.
cThe signal strength display on the monitor
will not coincide with the signal strength
display of some cellular phones.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions: (1) this device may
not 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.
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-61
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

The NISSAN Voice Recognition system allows
hands-free operation of the systems equipped on
this vehicle, such as the phone and navigation
systems.
To operate NISSAN Voice Recognition, press
the
button located on the steering wheel.
Then speak the command for the system you
wish to activate. The command given is picked up
by the microphone, and it is performed when it is
properly recognized. At this time NISSAN Voice
Recognition will provide a voice and message (in
the center display) to inform you of the command
results.
USING THE SYSTEM
Initialization
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
NISSAN Voice Recognition is initialized, which
takes a few seconds. When completed, the sys-
tem is ready to accept voice commands. If
the
button is pressed before the initializa-
tion completes, the display will show the mes-
sage: “Phonetic data downloaded. Please wait.”
Giving voice commands
1. Press thebutton.
2. The system announces: “Please say a com-
mand”
3. After the tone sounds and the face icon of
the display changes, speak a command. For
additional information, see “List of voice
commands” later in this section.
4. Voice and message feedback will be pro-
vided when the command is accepted.
cIf the command is not recognized, the sys-
tem announces: “Please say again.” Repeat
the command in a clear voice.cIf you want to cancel the command, press
and hold the
button for 2 seconds
during feedback. The system will announce:
“Voice input is canceled”
cIf you want to adjust the volume of the voice
feedback, press the volume control buttons
(2or +) on the steering wheel while being
provided with the feedback.
Operating tips
To get the best performance out of NISSAN
Voice Recognition, observe the following:
cKeep the interior of the vehicle as quiet as
possible. Close the windows to eliminate the
surrounding noises (traffic noises, vibration
sounds, etc.) , which may prevent the system
from recognizing the voice commands cor-
rectly.
cWait until a tone sounds before speaking a
command. Otherwise, the command will not
be received properly.
cStart speaking a command within 3.5 sec-
onds after the tone sounds.
cSpeak in a natural voice without pausing
between words.
LHA0768
NISSAN VOICE RECOGNITION
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-69
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)..........5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-5
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-5
Push-Button Ignition Switch........................5-6
Push-button ignition switch positions.............5-7
Intelligent key battery discharge..................5-7
Before starting the engine..........................5-8
Starting the engine................................5-9
Driving the vehicle................................5-10
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
(if so equipped)...............................5-10
Manual transmission (if so equipped)............5-14
Parking brake....................................5-16
Cruise control....................................5-17
Precautions on cruise control...................5-17
Cruise control operations.......................5-17Break-in schedule................................5-18
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-19
Parking/parking on hills............................5-20
Power steering...................................5-21
Brake system....................................5-21
Brake precautions.............................5-21
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).................5-22
Traction control system (TCS) (if so equipped).......5-23
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-24
Cold weather driving..............................5-25
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-25
Anti-freeze....................................5-25
Battery.......................................5-25
Draining of coolant water.......................5-26
Tire equipment................................5-26
Special winter equipment.......................5-26
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-26
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-27
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce the three-way catalyst’s ability to
help reduce exhaust pollutants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich
fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep driv-
ing if the engine misfires, or if notice-
able loss of performance or other un-
usual operating conditions are
detected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly by a NISSAN dealer.
cAvoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause
the engine to misfire, damaging the
three-way catalyst.
cDo not race the engine while warming it
up.
cDo not push or tow your vehicle to start
the engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided) ,
should be checked monthly when cold and in-
flated to the inflation pressure recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard
or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,even if under-inflation has not reached the level to
trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS mal-
function indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi-
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replacement or alter-
nate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replac-
ing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
Additional information:
cThe TPMS does not monitor the tire pres-
sure of the spare tire.
Starting and driving5-3
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

WARNING
Do not operate the push-button ignition
switch while driving the vehicle except in
an emergency. (The engine will stop when
the ignition switch is pushed 3 consecu-
tive times in quick succession or the igni-
tion switch is pushed and held for more
than 2 seconds.) If the engine stops while
the vehicle is being driven, this could lead
to a crash and serious injury.
When the ignition switch is pushed without de-
pressing the brake pedal (CVT) or the clutch
pedal (MT) , the ignition switch position will illu-
minate as follows:
Push center
conce to change to ACC.
ctwo times to change to ON.
cthree times to return to OFF.
The ignition switch will automatically return to the
LOCK position when any door is either opened or
closed with the switch in the OFF position.The ignition switch is equipped with an anti-theft
steering lock device.
The ignition lock is designed so that the ignition
switch position cannot be switched to OFF until
the selector lever is moved to the P (Park) posi-
tion (CVT) or N (Neutral) position (MT) .
When the ignition switch cannot be pushed to-
ward the OFF position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position (CVT) or N (Neutral) position (MT) .
2. Push the ignition switch. The ignition switch
position will change to the ON position.
3. Push the ignition switch again to the OFF
position.
The selector lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, push the igni-
tion switch to the LOCK position. To unlock
the steering wheel, push the ignition switch
while slightly turning the steering wheel
right and left.
WSD0223
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
5-6Starting and driving
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the push-button ignition switch cannot be
turned from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation are
displayed on the vehicle information display. See
“Vehicle information display” in the “Instruments
and controls” section.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position):
The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the ACC position while carrying the
Intelligent Key or with the Intelligent Key inserted
in the port.
The ignition switch will lock when any door is
opened or closed with the ignition switched off.
OFF:
The ignition switch is in the off position when the
engine is turned off using the ignition switch. No
lights will illuminate on the ignition switch.
ACC (Accessories):
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not running.ON (Normal operating position):
This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the ignition
switch in ACC or ON positions when the
engine is not running for an extended pe-
riod. This can discharge the battery.
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY
DISCHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is almost dis-
charged, the guide light
sAof the Intelligent Key
port blinks and the indicator appears on the ve-
hicle information display. See “Vehicle informa-
tion display” in the “Instruments and controls”
section.
In this case, inserting the Intelligent Key into the
port
sBallows you to start the engine. Make sure
the Intelligent Key is placed in the correct direc-
tion: The front side faces upward and the key ring
side faces backward as illustrated.
LSD0185
Starting and driving5-7
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

To remove the Intelligent Key from the port, push
the ignition switch to the LOCK position and pull
the Intelligent Key out of the port
sC.NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge
the Intelligent Key battery. If you see the
low battery indicator, replace the battery as
soon as possible. See “Intelligent Key bat-
tery replacement” in the “Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
CAUTION
cNever place anything except the Intelli-
gent Key in the Intelligent Key port. Do-
ing so may cause damage to the
equipment.
cMake sure the Intelligent Key is in the
correct direction when inserting it to
the Intelligent Key port. The engine may
not start if it is in the wrong direction.
cRemove the Intelligent Key from the
Intelligent Key port after the ignition
switch is pushed to the LOCK position.cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cCheck fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid, and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
cCheck that all windows and lights are clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cLock all doors.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position. See “Warning/indicator lights and
audible reminders” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual.
LSD0186
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-8Starting and driving
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X

1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) model:
Move the shift selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector lever is in any of the
driving positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) . Depress
the clutch pedal to the floor.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position.
Depress the brake pedal and the clutch
pedal (if so equipped) and push the ignition
switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push and
release the ignition switch while depressing
the brake pedal with the ignition switch in
any position.cIf the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/3 to the floor) and while
holding, crank the engine. Release the
accelerator pedal when the engine starts.
cIf the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Push the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion to start cranking the engine. After 5 or
6 seconds, stop cranking by pushing the
ignition switch to LOCK. After cranking
the engine, release the accelerator pedal.
Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by depressing the
brake pedal and pushing the push-button
ignition switch to start the engine. 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, push the ignition switch to the
OFF position and wait 10 seconds before
cranking again, otherwise the starter
could be damaged.4.Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 sec-
onds after starting. Do not race the engine
while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather. In cold weather, keep the en-
gine running for a minimum of2-3minutes
before shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time may
make the vehicle more difficult to start.
5. To stop the engine, shift the selector lever to
the P (Park) position (CVT) or to N (Neutral)
and apply the parking brake (MT) and push
the ignition switch to the OFF position.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving5-9
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Altima(alt)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
03/13/07Ðdebbie
X