Black plate (421,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
LOADING TIPS.
The GVW must not exceed GVWR or
GAWR as specified on the F.M.V.S.S./
C.M.V.S.S. certification label.
.
Do not load the front and rear axle to
the GAWR. Doing so will exceed the
GVWR.
WARNING
.
Properly secure all cargo with
ropes or straps to help prevent it
from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the
seatbacks. In a sudden stop or
collision, unsecured cargo could
cause personal injury.
.
Do not load your vehicle any
heavier than the GVWR or the
maximum front and rear
GAWRs. If you do, parts of your
vehicle can break, tire damage
could occur, or it can change the
way your vehicle handles. This
could result in loss of control
and cause personal injury.
.
Overloading not only can short-
en the life of your vehicle andthe tire, but can cause unsafe
vehicle handling and longer
braking distances. This may
cause a premature tire failure,
which could result in a serious
accident and personal injury.
Failures caused by overloading
are not covered by the vehicle’s
warranty.
MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHTSSecure loose items to prevent weight shifts
that could affect the balance of your
vehicle. When the vehicle is loaded, drive
to a scale and weigh the front and the rear
wheels separately to determine axle loads.
Individual axle loads should not exceed
either of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GAWR) . The total of the axle loads should
not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) . These ratings are given
on the vehicle certification label. If weight
ratings are exceeded, move or remove
items to bring all weights below the ratings.
WARNING
Overloading or improper loading of a
trailer and its cargo can adversely affect
vehicle handling, braking and perfor-
mance and may lead to accidents.
CAUTION
.Do not tow a trailer or haul a heavy
load for the first 500 miles (800 km) .
Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
.For the first 500 miles (800 km) that
you tow a trailer, do not drive over
50 MPH (80 km/h) and do not make
starts at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of your
vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Your new vehicle was designed to be used
primarily to carry passengers and cargo. Re-
member that towing a trailer places additional
loads on your vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, steer-
ing, braking and other systems.
A NISSAN Towing Guide (U.S. only) is available
on the website at www.nissanusa.com. This
guide includes information on trailer towing
capability and the special equipment requiredTOWING A TRAILERTechnical and consumer information
9-15
Black plate (422,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
for proper towing.MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loadsNever allow the total trailer load to exceed the
value specified in the “Towing Load/Specifica-
tion” chart. The total trailer load equals trailer
weight plus its cargo weight.
.When towing a trailer load of 1,000 lbs
(454 kg) or more, trailers with a brake
system MUST be used.
The maximum GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) should not exceed the value specified in
the following “Towing Load/Specification” chart.
STI0541
The GCWR equals the combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo)
plus the total trailer load. Towing loads greater
than these or using improper towing equipment
could adversely affect vehicle handling, braking
and performance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but
also the places you plan to tow. Tow weights
appropriate for level highway driving may have to
be reduced on very steep grades or for low
traction situations (for example, on slippery boat
ramps) .
Temperature conditions can also affect towing.
For example, towing a heavy trailer in highoutside temperatures on graded roads can
affect engine performance and cause overheat-
ing. The transmission high fluid temperature
protection mode, which helps reduce the
chance of transmission damage, could activate
and automatically decrease engine power.
Vehicle speed may decrease under high load.
Plan your trip carefully to account for trailer and
vehicle load, weather and road conditions.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced en-
gine power and vehicle speed. The
reduced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance
of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. Pull to the side of the
road to a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation.
See “IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS”
in the “6. In case of emergency” section
of this manual.
CAUTION
Vehicle damage resulting from impro-
per towing procedures are not covered
by NISSAN warranties.
9-16
Technical and consumer information
Black plate (425,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
Unit: lb (kg)
MODELVQ35DE
WEIGHT CVT
MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT*1 3,500 (1,588)
MAXIMUM TONGUE LOAD 350 (159)
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING 8,300 (3,765)
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT*2
Sway Control Device (SCD)
1: All towing above 1,000 lb (454 kg) requires the use of trailer brakes. NISSAN recommends the use of a tandem
axle trailer whenever towing above 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) .
2: A sway control device is recommended for all towing above 2,000 lb (907 kg) . Sway control devices are not
offered by NISSAN. See a professional trailer/hitch outlet for a properly designed sway control device for your
trailer.
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitchChoose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. A genuine NISSAN trailer hitch is
available from a NISSAN dealer. Make sure the
trailer hitch is securely attached to the vehicle to
help avoid personal injury or property damage
due to sway caused by crosswinds, rough road
surfaces or passing trucks.
WARNING
Trailer hitch components have specific
weight ratings. Your vehicle may be
capable of towing a trailer heavier than
the weight rating of the hitch compo-
nents. Never exceed the weight rating
of the hitch components. Doing so can
cause serious personal injury or prop-
erty damage.Hitch ballChoose a hitch ball of the proper size and
weight rating for your trailer:
.The required hitch ball size is stamped on
most trailer couplers. Most hitch balls also
have the size printed on top of the ball.
.Choose the proper class hitch ball based on
the trailer weight.Technical and consumer information
9-19
Black plate (427,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
trailer lights while using the vehicle tail
light, stoplight and turn signal circuits
as a signal source. The module/con-
verter must draw no more than 15
milliamps from the stop and tail lamp
circuits. Using a module/converter that
exceeds these power requirements may
damage the vehicle’s electrical system.
See a reputable trailer dealer to obtain
the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer or
reputable trailer dealer.Trailer brakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.Pre-towing tips.Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it has anabnormal nose-up or nose-down condition;
check for improper tongue load, overload,
worn suspension or other possible causes
of either condition.
.Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
.Keep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
.Load the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.
.Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure,
vehicle tire pressure, trailer light operation,
and trailer wheel lug nuts every time you
attach a trailer to the vehicle.
.Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
.Determine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
Trailer towing tipsIn order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is freefrom traffic. Steering stability, and braking
performance will be somewhat different than
under normal driving conditions.
.Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
.Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
.Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
.Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
.Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. Some states or provinces have
specific speed limits for vehicles that are
towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
.When backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to
the P (Park) position before blockingTechnical and consumer information
9-21
Black plate (430,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
DOT (Department Of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature ATREADWEARThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course
as a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.TRACTION AA, A, B AND CThe traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on spe-
cified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.TEMPERATURE A, B AND CThe temperature grades A (the highest) , B, and
C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, under-inflation, or excessiveloading, either separately or in combi-
nation, can cause heat build-up and
possible tire failure.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING9-24
Technical and consumer information
Black plate (432,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
“ready”.
If the MIL indicates the vehicle is in a “not ready”
condition, drive the vehicle through the following
pattern to set the vehicle to the “ready condi-
tion”. If you cannot or do not want to perform the
driving pattern, a NISSAN dealer can conduct it
for you.
WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic
conditions and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine. Allow the engine to idle
until the engine coolant temperature gauge
needle points between the C and H (normal
operating temperature) .
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h) , then quickly release the accelerator
pedal completely and keep it released for at
least 10 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of
53 to 60 MPH (86 to 96 km/h) for at least 9
minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle. Leave the engine running.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 at least 10 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3
minutes.
8. Stop the vehicle. Place the transmission
selector lever in the P (Park) or N (Neutral)
position.
9. Turn the engine off.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 8 at least one more
time.
If step 1 through 7 is interrupted, repeat the
preceding step. Any safe driving mode is
acceptable between steps. Do not stop the
engine until step 7 is completed.This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data
Recorder (EDR) . The main purpose of an EDR is
to record, in certain crash or near crash-like
situations, such as an air bag deployment or
hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in
understanding how a vehicle’s systems per-
formed. The EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems
for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds
or less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to
record such data as:
.How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
.Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
.How far (if at all) the driver was depressing
the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
.How fast the vehicle was traveling.
.Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better under-
standing of the circumstances in which crashes
and injuries occur.
NOTE: EDR data are recorded by your vehicle
only if a nontrivial crash situation occurs; no data
are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g. name,
gender, age and crash location) are recorded.
However, other parties, such as law enforce-
EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
9-26
Technical and consumer information
Black plate (1,1)
10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).................. 5-27
Advanced air bag system......................... 1-47
Aiming control, Headlights........................ 2-34
Air bag system
Advanced air bag system..................... 1-47
Front passenger air bag and status light.... 1-48
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system.................. 1-51
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag system......... 1-51
Air bag warning labels............................. 1-54
Air bag warning light....................... 1-54, 2-14
Air cleaner housing filter.......................... 8-16
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation...................... 4-26
Air conditioner service......................... 4-30
Air conditioner specification label............ 9-10
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations.............. 4-30, 9-6
In-cabin microfilter............................. 4-30
Alarm, How to stop alarm
(see vehicle security system)..................... 2-27
Alcohol, drugs and driving.......................... 5-7
All-wheel drive (AWD)............................. 5-22
All-wheel drive (AWD) warning light............. 2-10
Antenna............................................. 4-61
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).................. 5-27
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light . . . 2-11
Appearance care
Exterior appearance care........................ 7-2
Interior appearance care........................ 7-4Armrest............................................. 1-10
Ashtray (See cigarette lighter and ashtray)...... 2-41
Audible reminders................................. 2-17
Audio operation precautions...................... 4-31
Audio system....................................... 4-31
Steering wheel audio controls................ 4-60
Autochanger, Compact Disc (CD)............... 4-41
Autolight system................................... 2-33
Automatic
Door locks........................................ 3-6
Drive positioner................................ 3-30
Seat positioner................................. 3-30
Avoiding collision and rollover...................... 5-5
B
Back door (See lift gate).......................... 3-19
Battery.............................................. 8-13
Battery saver system.......................... 2-34
Keyfob battery replacement................... 8-21
Variable voltage control system............... 8-15
Before starting the engine........................ 5-13
Belts (See drive belts)............................. 8-15
Bluetooth
®Hands-Free Phone System
(with navigation system for Canada)............. 4-85
Bluetooth®Hands-Free Phone System
(with navigation system for U.S.)................. 4-75
Bluetooth®hands-free phone system without
navigation system.................................. 4-95
Booster seats...................................... 1-37
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).............. 5-27
Brake fluid...................................... 8-12Brake system................................... 5-26
Parking brake operation....................... 5-18
Warning light................................... 2-11
Break-in schedule.................................. 5-21
Brightness control and display ON/OFF
button................................................. 4-8
Brightness control, Instrument panel............. 2-35
Bulb check/instrument panel...................... 2-10
Bulb replacement .................................. 8-24
C
Cabin air filter...................................... 4-30
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants..... 9-2
Car phone or CB radio............................ 4-74
Cargo (See vehicle loading information)......... 2-49
Cargo cover........................................ 2-46
Cargo floor box.................................... 2-45
Cargo lights........................................ 2-56
Cargo net........................................... 2-49
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst............ 5-2
CD/CF care and cleaning......................... 4-59
Center multi-function control panel................. 4-2
Child restraints..................................... 1-22
Booster seats .................................. 1-37
Installation using LATCH...................... 1-27
Installation using the seat belts............... 1-31
LATCH system................................. 1-24
Precautions on child restraints................ 1-22
Top tether strap................................ 1-25
Child safety......................................... 1-13
Child safety rear door lock.......................... 3-7
Chimes, Audible reminders....................... 2-17
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 23
Black plate (2,1)
10-2Cigarette lighter and ashtray...................... 2-41
Circuit breaker, Fusible link....................... 8-20
Cleaning exterior and interior................. 7-2, 7-4
Clock ............................................... 2-38
Coat hooks......................................... 2-49
Cold weather driving.............................. 5-29
Command (See Bluetooth
®Hands-Free
Phone System).................................... 4-100
Command (See NISSAN voice recognition
system)............................ 4-11, 4-114, 4-132
Compact Disc (CD) changer
(See audio system)................................ 4-41
CompactFlash (CF) player
(See audio system)................................ 4-49
Compass ............................................. 2-7
Console box........................................ 2-44
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid................................................. 8-11
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/ lubricants................................... 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 8-8
Checking engine coolant level.................. 8-7
Corrosion protection................................. 7-5
Cover, Cargo cover................................ 2-46
Cruise control...................................... 5-19
Cup holders........................................ 2-41
CVT, Driving with CVT
(Continuously Variable Transmission)............. 5-14
D
Daytime running light system..................... 2-35
Defroster switch, Rear window and outside
mirror defroster switch............................ 2-31
Dimensions and weights............................ 9-8Display cleaning...................................... 4-5
Display controls
(See center multi-function control panel).......... 4-2
Dot matrix liquid crystal display................... 2-17
Drive belts.......................................... 8-15
Drive positioner.................................... 3-30
Driving
All-wheel drive (AWD)......................... 5-22
Cold weather driving.......................... 5-29
Driving with CVT
(Continuously Variable Transmission)......... 5-14
On-pavement and off-road driving............. 5-5
Precautions when starting and driving......... 5-2
Safety precautions............................... 5-7
DVD player, NISSAN mobile entertainment...... 4-62
E
Economy, Fuel ..................................... 5-21
Elapsed time....................................... 2-22
Emission control information label................ 9-10
Emission control system warranty................ 9-25
Engine
Before starting the engine.................... 5-13
Break-in schedule.............................. 5-21
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................................... 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 8-8
Changing engine oil and filter................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level.................. 8-7
Checking engine oil level........................ 8-8
Coolant temperature gauge..................... 2-6
Engine block heater........................... 5-30
Engine compartment check locations.......... 8-6
Engine cooling system.......................... 8-7Engine oil......................................... 8-8
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation....... 9-5
Engine oil replacement indicator.............. 2-20
Engine oil viscosity.............................. 9-5
Engine serial number ............................ 9-9
Engine specifications............................ 9-7
If your vehicle overheats....................... 6-11
Starting the engine............................ 5-13
Entry/exit function, Automatic drive positioner . . . 3-30
Event Data Recorders (EDR)..................... 9-26
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide).................... 5-2
F
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label............ 9-9
Filter
Air cleaner housing filter...................... 8-16
Changing engine oil and filter................... 8-8
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher switch) . . . 2-36
Flat tire................................................ 6-2
Flat towing.......................................... 9-23
Floor mat cleaning................................... 7-4
Fluid
Brake fluid...................................... 8-12
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................................... 9-2
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid............................................. 8-11
Engine coolant ................................... 8-7
Engine oil......................................... 8-8
Power steering fluid........................... 8-11
Window washer fluid .......................... 8-12
FM-AM radio with Compact Disc (CD)
changer............................................. 4-39
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 23