To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress the
clutch pedal before operating the gear lever. If the
clutch pedal is not fully depressed before the trans-
mission is shifted, a gear noise may be heard. This
could result in damage to the transmission.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift through the
gears in sequence according to the vehicle speed.
Reverse gear:
•To reverse with 5–speed manual transmission,
stop the vehicle and shift the gear lever into the
“N” (Neutral) position then to the R (Reverse)
position.
•To reverse with 6–speed manual transmission,
proceed as follows:
1) Stop the vehicle.
2) Move the gear lever into the “N” position.
3) Pull and hold the gear lever ring
j1 up.
4) Move the gear lever into the R position.
5) Release the gear lever ring and safely drive
the vehicle backwards.
The gear lever ring returns to its original posi-
tion when the gear lever is moved to the “N”
position.
If it is difficult to move the gear lever into R (Re-
verse) or 1st. Shift into “N” (Neutral), then release
the clutch pedal. Fully depress the clutch pedal
again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1st.
DRIVING WITH AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
CAUTION
•The cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or re-
verse gear before the engine has warmed up.
•Avoid revving up the engine while the vehicle
is stopped. This could cause unexpected ve-
hicle movement.
Driving precautions
•Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) while
the vehicle is moving, this could result in dam-
age to the transmission.
•Start the engine in the P (Park) or N (Neutral)
position. The engine will not start in any other
selector position. If it does, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer or qualified
workshop.
•Do not depress the accelerator pedal while
shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Re-
verse), D (Drive), 2 (Second gear) or 1 (Low
gear).
•On an uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The foot-
brake should be used for this purpose, in or-
der to hold the vehicle in place and to prevent
overheating of the transmission.
•Shift into the N (Neutral) position and apply
the handbrake when at a standstill for longer
than a short waiting period.
•Keep the engine at idling speed while shifting
from the N (Neutral) position to any driving
position.
CAUTION (when starting the vehicle):
•DEPRESS THE FOOTBRAKE PEDAL
When the engine is running, shifting the se-
lector lever into the R (Reverse), D (Drive), 2
(Second gear) or 1 (Low gear) position with-
out depressing the brake pedal causes the
vehicle to move slowly. Be sure the brake
pedal is fully depressed and the vehicle is
stopped, before shifting the selector lever.
•BE AWARE OF THE SELECTOR LEVER POSI-
TION
Make sure that the selector lever is in the
desired position. Use the D (Drive), 2 (Second
gear) or 1 (Low gear) to move forwards and
the R (Reverse) to move backwards. Release
the handbrake lever and the footbrake pedal,
then depress the accelerator pedal to start
the vehicle in motion and merge with traffic
(avoid abrupt starting and spinning the
wheels).
•Avoid revving up the engine while the vehicle
is stopped, this could cause unexpected ve-
hicle movement [if the selector lever is in the
R (Reverse), D (Drive), 2 (Second gear) or 1
(Low gear) position] or damage the engine [if
the selector lever is in the N (Neutral) or P
(Park) position].
•WARM THE ENGINE UP
5-12Starting and driving
Accelerator downshift – In the D (Drive)
position
For rapid passing or driving uphill, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the trans-
mission down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
A.RHD models
B.LHD models
Overdrive switch
ON: For normal driving, push the overdrive
switchto“ON
” with the selector lever in
the D (Drive) position. The transmission is
shifted up into OVERDRIVE as the vehicle
speed increases.
The overdrive will not engage until the engine
has warmed up.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes where
engine braking is necessary, push the over-
drive switch “OFF
”. The overdrive off in-dicator light
in the instrument panel
illuminates.
When cruising at low speeds or climbing a
gentle slope, you may feel an uncomfortable
shift shock as the transmission shifts in and
out of the overdrive position repeatedly. In
this case, push the overdrive switch to turn
the Overdrive “OFF”.
When driving conditions change, push the overdrive
switch to turn the overdrive “ON”. The overdrive off
indicator light
in the instrument panel will turn
off.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for extended
periods of time with the overdrive “OFF”. This re-
duces fuel economy.
A.RHD models
B.LHD models
Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the selector lever can-
not be moved from the P (Park) position even with
the brake pedal depressed and the ignition switch in
the ON position.
To move the selector lever, push the shift lock re-
lease button
j1 (as illustrated) and press the selec-
tor lever buttonj2 . It is now possible to move the
selector lever to the N (Neutral) position.
For your safety, make sure the handbrake is applied
and the brake pedal is depressed during the opera-
tion.
If there is any problem moving the lever out of the P
(Park) position, have a NISSAN dealer or qualified
workshop to check the automatic transmission sys-
tem as soon as possible.
Fail-safe
When the Fail-safe operation occurs, the automatic
transmission will be locked in the third gear.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme conditions,
such as excessive wheel spinning and subse-
quent hard braking, the Fail-safe system may be
activated. This will occur even if all electrical cir-
cuits are functioning properly. In this case, turn
the ignition switch “OFF” and wait for 3 seconds.
Then turn the key back to the ON position. The
vehicle should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal operating
condition have your NISSAN dealer or qualified
NSD309Z
NSD310Z
5-14Starting and driving
workshop check the transmission and have the
transmission repaired by a NISSAN dealer or
qualified workshop, if necessary.The speed limiter allows you to set the desired ve-
hicle speed limit. While the speed limiter is acti-
vated, you can perform normal braking and accel-
eration, but the vehicle will not exceed the set speed.
When the vehicle reaches the set speed limit or if
the set speed limit is lower than the actual vehicle
speed, the accelerator pedal will not work until the
vehicle speed drops below the set speed limit.
WARNING
•The speed limiter will not automatically brake
the vehicle to the set speed limit.
•Always observe posted speed limits. Do not
set the speed above them.
•Always confirm the setting status of the speed
limiter in the combination meter display.
•When the speed limiter is set, avoid hard ac-
celeration to reach the set limit to ensure that
the system can limit the speed of the vehicle
correctly.
•When additional floor mats are used, be sure
that they are correctly secured and that they
cannot interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Mats not adapted to the vehicle may prevent
proper operation of the speed limiter.
When the speed limiter is on the cruise control sys-
tem cannot be operated.The speed limiter operation switches are located on
the steering wheel (right hand side)
1.RES (Resume) switch
2.SET switch
3.CANCEL switch
4.Speed limiter main “ON/OFF” switch
5.Cruise control main “ON/OFF” switch (For
NSD359
Vehicles with petrol engine
NSD360
Vehicles with diesel engine
SPEED LIMITER
Starting and driving5-15
The SET indicatorj8 in the combination meter will
be turned off. The set speed valuej9 will remain
displayed. This speed remains stored in the speed
limiter memory.
Resuming a previous set speed:
If a set speed limit has been cancelled, the set speed
value
j9 will remain displayed in the combination
meter and the speed will be stored in the speed lim-
iter memory.
This speed limit can be reactivated by pressing the
RES (Resume) switch
j1 upwards.
If the current vehicle speed is higher than the previ-
ous set speed, the accelerator pedal will not work
and the set speed value
j9 will flash until the vehicle
speed drops below the set speed limit.
Turning the speed limiter off:
The speed limiter system will be turned off when
one of the following operations is performed:
•Push the speed limiter main “ON/OFF” switchj4 . The speed limiter symbolj7 , the LIMIT indi-
catorj6 , the SET indicatorj8 , and the set
speed valuej9 will turn off in the combination
meter display.
•Push the cruise control main “ON/OFF” switchj5 . The speed limiter information in the combi-
nation meter will be replaced with the cruise con-
trol information. For details see “Cruise control
system” later in this section.
•When the vehicle is stopped and the ignition is
turned to the off position.Turning off the speed limiter will erase the set
speed limit memory.
Speed limiter malfunction:
If the speed limiter malfunctions, the set indicator
j8 in the combination meter display will flash.
Turn the speed limiter off by pushing the speed lim-
iter main “ON/OFF” switch
j4 and have the system
checked by a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
Vehicles with diesel engine
Turning the speed limiter on:
The speed limiter can be switched on after engine
start or when driving.
Push the speed limiter main “ON/OFF” switch
j4.
The speed limiter symbolj7 and the LIMIT indica-
torj6 will illuminate in the combination meter dis-
play.
Setting speed limit:
While driving, push the SET switch
j2 upwards or
downwards.
•The speed limit will be set at the current speed.
When driving less than 30 km/h (20 MPH), it will
not be possible to set the speed limit.
When the speed limiter is set, the SET indicator
j8
and the set speed valuej9 illuminate in the combi-
nation meter display.Changing a speed limit:
Use either of the following operations to change an
active speed limit:
•Push and release the SET switchj2 upwards or
downwards. Each time you do this, the set speed
will increase or decrease by 2 km/h (2 MPH).
•Push and hold the SET switch upwards or down-
wards. The set speed will increase or decrease
in steps of 4 km/h (2-3 MPH).
The new set speed limit
j9 will be displayed in the
combination meter display.
Cancelling a speed limit:
To cancel a set speed limit, push the CANCEL
switch
j3 . The SET indicatorj8 in the combination
meter display will be turned off. The set speed value
j9 will remain displayed, as this speed is now stored
in the speed limiter memory.
It is also possible to override the speed limiter by
fully depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the
resistance point.
WARNING
•The vehicle may accelerate when the speed
limiter cancels.
•When additional floor mats are used, be sure
that they are correctly secured and that they
cannot interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Mats not adapted to the vehicle may prevent
proper operation of the speed limiter.
Fully depress the accelerator pedal beyond the re-
Starting and driving5-17
The cruise control system operation switches are
located on the steering wheel (right side).
1.RES (Resume) switch
2.SET switch
3.CANCEL switch
4.Speed limiter main “ON/OFF” switch (For
details, see “Speed limiter” earlier in this sec-
tion)5.Cruise control main “ON/OFF” switch
The cruise control system operating condition is
shown in the combination meter display. For details,
see “Combination meter display (LCD)” in the “1. In-
struments and controls” section.
6.CRUISE indicator
7.Cruise control symbol
8.SET indicator
9.Set speed valuePRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL SYSTEM
Vehicles with petrol engine
The cruise control system will be cancelled auto-
matically and the SET indicatorj8 in the combina-
tion meter display will flash if:
•The cruise control system malfunctions.
•The engine coolant temperature becomes exces-
sively high.
Turn the cruise control system off by pushing the
cruise control main switch
j5 and have the system
checked by a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop
Vehicles with diesel engine
If the cruise control malfunctions, the SET indicatorj8 in the combination meter display will flash.
Turn the cruise control off by pushing the cruise
control main switch
j5 and have the system
checked by a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM
OPERATIONS
The cruise control system can be set at the follow-
ing speeds:
Engine type Minimum speed Maximum speed
1.4 petrol
40 km/h
(25 MPH)148 km/h
(91 MPH)
1.6 petrol MT163 km/h
(100 MPH)
1.6 petrol AT160 km/h
(99 MPH)
1.5 dCi 63 kW
diesel
30 km/h
(20 MPH)147 km/h
(90 MPH)
1.5 dCi 75 kW
diesel165 km/h
(100 MPH)
NSD359
Vehicles with petrol engine
NSD360
Vehicles with diesel engine
NSD362
Starting and driving5-19
•Trailer towing requires more fuel than under nor-
mal circumstances because of a considerable
increase in traction power required and resis-
tance.
•When towing a trailer, observe the following re-
stricted towing speeds:
Speed: below 100 km/h (62 MPH)
CAUTION
While towing a trailer, make sure the engine cool-
ant temperature warning light does not come on,
in order to prevent engine overheating.
TYRE PRESSURE
When towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle tyres to the
maximum recommended COLD tyre pressure, as
indicated on the tyre placard (for full loading). Make
sure the trailer tyre pressures are correct.
CAUTION
Do not tow a trailer when the vehicle is installed
with a temporary-use spare tyre.
SAFETY CHAINS
Always use a suitable chain between the vehicle
and trailer. The chain should be attached to the hitch
and not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chain to permit turning
corners. The chain should not drag on the ground:
passing the chain across the trailer hitch may be the
best practice depending on your trailer.
TRAILER BRAKES
Ensure that trailer brakes are installed as required
by local regulations. Also check that all other trailer
equipment conforms to local regulations.
TRAILER DETECTION (where fitted)
When towing a trailer and the turn signal switch is
used, the electrical system of the vehicle will detect
an additional electrical load of the trailer lighting. As
a result, the direction indicator tone will sound dif-
ferently.
INSTALLATION OF COUPLING
DEVICE
NISSAN recommends that the coupling device for
trailer towing be installed under the following condi-
tions:
•Maximum permissible vertical load on the cou-
pling device: 490N (50 kg, 110 lb)
•The coupling device, mounting points and instal-
lation parts on your vehicle: as shown as an ex-
ample in the illustration.
Follow all of the coupling device manufacturer’s in-
structions for installation and use.
Starting and driving5-25
WARNING
•If the Electrically Power Assisted Steering
warning light (EPAS) illuminates while driv-
ing, the power assist for steering will be dis-
abled. Greater steering efforts are required to
operate the steering wheel, especially in
sharp turns and at low speed. Stop the ve-
hicle as soon as safely possible and contact a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop for fur-
ther assistance.
•In certain circumstances, factors external to
the EPAS system may contribute to the illumi-
nation of the warning light. If the warning light
illuminates, stop the vehicle as soon as safely
possible if driving. Turn the ignition switch to
the “OFF” position and wait for approximately
20 seconds, then turn the ignition switch to
the ON position again. If the light remains illu-
minated, we recommend you to contact a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop. See
“Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section for further details regarding
the EPAS warning light.
The EPAS (Electrically Power Assisted Steering)
system is designed to assist steering.
The steering may appear to feel slightly stiff follow-
ing parking manoeuvres including a great deal of
steering. This is not a malfunction; it is caused by a
control system designed to prevent the motor fromoverheating. No servicing is required. The EPAS
system will return to normal operation the next time
the vehicle is driven.
Similarly, the EPAS system may not provide full as-
sistance during periods of reduced battery voltage
but will recover once normal battery voltage is re-
stored.
If the EPAS warning light comes on while the engine
is running, it may indicate that the EPAS system is
not working properly. As result greater steering ef-
forts are required to steer the steering wheel, espe-
cially in sharp turns and at low speeds. Have the
system checked by a NISSAN dealer or qualified
workshop as soon as possible.
NOTE
Incorrectly inflated tyres can lead to poor steer-
ing ability and make the driver suspect a steering
problem: keep the vehicle’s tyres inflated to the
correct pressure at all times.
CAUTION
Any malfunction or accident that could have dam-
aged the steering components (including actual
or attempted theft damage) should be reported
to a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.The brake system has two separate hydraulic cir-
cuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still have
braking ability with two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brake
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops or the drive belt is bro-
ken, you can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pressure on the
brake pedal will be required to stop the vehicle and
the stopping distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through wa-
ter, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your brak-
ing distance will be longer and the vehicle may pull
to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly pressing the brake pedal to heat up the
brakes. Do this until the brakes return to normal.
Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds until the
brakes function correctly.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brake linings and pads faster and reduce fuel
economy performance.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the brakes
from overheating, reduce speed and downshift to a
lower gear before going down a slope or long down-
POWER STEERING SYSTEM BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-27
hill gradient. Overheated brakes may reduce brak-
ing performance and could result in loss of vehicle
control.
CAUTION
While driving on a slippery surface, be careful
when braking, accelerating or downshifting.
Abrupt braking actions or sudden acceleration
could cause the wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
Be aware that brakes will fade if repeated heavy
brake applications are made.
Driving uphill
When starting on a steep gradient, it is sometimes
difficult to operate the brake (AT models) or both the
brake and clutch (MT models). Use the handbrake
to hold the vehicle. Do not slip the clutch (MT mod-
els). When ready to start, slowly release the hand-
brake while depressing the accelerator pedal and
releasing the clutch (MT models) or depressing the
accelerator pedal (AT models).
Driving downhill
The engine braking action is effective for controlling
the vehicle while descending hills.
The gear lever (MT models) should be placed in a
gear position low enough to obtain sufficient engine
braking.
For AT models, the 2 (Second) or 1 (First) gear
should be selected.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
•The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a so-
phisticated device, but it cannot prevent acci-
dents resulting from careless or dangerous
driving techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slippery sur-
faces. Remember that stopping distances
may also be longer on rough, gravel or snow
covered roads, or if you are using snow
chains. Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately, the
driver is responsible for safety.
•Tyre type and condition may also affect brak-
ing effectiveness.
– When replacing tyres, install the specified
size of tyres on all four wheels.
– When installing a spare tyre, make sure it
is the proper size and type as specified on
the tyre placard. See “Vehicle
identification” in the “9. Technical
information” section for the tyre placard
location.
– For detailed information, see “Wheels and
tyres” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls the
brakes so that the wheels do not lock during hard
braking or when braking on slippery surfaces. The
system detects the rotation speed at each wheeland varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By preventing each
wheel from locking, the system helps the driver to
maintain steering control and helps to minimise
swerving and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. Depress
the brake pedal with firm steady pressure, but do
not pump the brakes. The ABS will operate to pre-
vent the wheels from locking up. Steer the vehicle to
avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may in-
crease the stopping distance.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a “clunk”
noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This
is normal and does not indicate a malfunction. If the
computer senses a malfunction, it switches the ABS
off and illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the self-
test or while driving, have the vehicle checked by a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
5-28Starting and driving