Page 86 of 373

cIf a magnet is located near the com-
pass or the vehicle is driven where the
terrestrial magnetism is disturbed, the
compass display may not indicate the
correct direction.
cIn places where the terrestrial magne-
tism is disturbed, the correction of the
direction starts automatically.
Inaccurate compass direction:
The compass display is equipped with automatic
correction function. If the correct direction is not
shown, follow this procedure.
1. With the display turned on, press and hold
the
switch for about 9 seconds. The
display will read “C.”
2. Calibrate the compass by driving the vehicle
in three complete circles at a maximum
speed of 5 MPH (8 km/h) .
3. After completing the circles the display
should return to normal.
cIf the compass deviates from the correct
indication soon after repeated adjustment,
have the compass checked at an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
WIC0355
2-8Instruments and controls
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 91 of 373

cIf the light illuminates while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or
abrupt braking, reduce vehicle speed,
pull off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
Driving with under-inflated tires may
permanently damage the tires and in-
crease the likelihood of tire failure. Se-
rious vehicle damage could occur and
may lead to an accident and could re-
sult in serious personal injury. Check
the tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label located
in the driver’s door opening to turn the
low tire pressure warning light OFF. If
the light still illuminates while driving
after adjusting the tire pressure, a tire
may be flat. If you have a flat tire, re-
place it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced tire pressure will not be in-
dicated, the TPMS will not function and
the low tire pressure warning light will
flash for approximately 1 minute. The
light will remain on after 1 minute. Con-
tact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
cReplacing tires with those not originally
specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
CAUTION
cThe TPMS is not a substitute for the
regular tire pressure check. Be sure to
check the tire pressure regularly.
cIf the vehicle is being driven at speeds
of less than 16 MPH (25 km/h) , the
TPMS may not operate correctly.
cBe sure to install the specified size of
tires to the 4 wheels correctly.
Master warning light
This light comes on when various vehicle infor-
mation display warnings appear.
NISSAN Intelligent Key™
warning light
The Intelligent Key warning light warns of a mal-
function with the electrical steering lock system
or the Intelligent Key system.
After the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this light comes on for about 2 seconds
and then turns off.
If the light comes on while the engine is stopped,
it may not be possible to free the steering lock or
to start the engine. If the light comes on while the
engine is running, you can drive the vehicle. How-
ever, in these cases, contact a NISSAN dealer for
repair as soon as possible.
See “NISSAN Intelligent Key™ ” in the “Pre-
driving checks and adjustments” section.
Seat belt warning light and
chime
The light and chime remind you to fasten your
seat belts. The light illuminates whenever the
ignition switch is placed in the ON or START
position and remains illuminated until the driver’s
seat belt is fastened. At the same time, the chime
sounds for about 6 seconds unless the driver’s
seat belt is securely fastened.
Instruments and controls2-13
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 92 of 373

The seat belt warning light may also illuminate if
the front passenger’s seat belt is not fastened
when the front passenger’s seat is occupied. For
7 seconds after the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position, the system does not activate the
warning light for the front passenger.
Refer to “Seat belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” section
for precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warning
light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON or
START position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the front
air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag, and preten-
sioner systems need servicing and your vehicle
must be taken to a NISSAN dealer:
cThe supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.Unless checked and repaired, the supplemental
restraint system (air bag system) and/or the pre-
tensioners may not function properly. For addi-
tional details, see “Supplemental restraint sys-
tem” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system” section of this
manual.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the front air bag,
side air bag, curtain air bag systems (if so
equipped) and/or pretensioner systems
will not operate in an accident. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have
your vehicle checked by a NISSAN dealer
as soon as possible.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
For additional information on warnings and indi-
cators, see “Vehicle information display” later in
this section.
Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) position
indicator light (if so equipped)
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this indicator light shows the shift selec-tor position. See “Driving the vehicle” in the
“Starting and driving” section of this manual.
Front passenger air bag status
light
The front passenger air bag status light ()
will be lit and the passenger front air bag will be
OFF depending on how the front passenger seat
is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light operation,
see “Front passenger air bag and status light” in
the “Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental
restraint system” section of this manual.
High beam indicator light
(blue)
This blue light comes on when the headlight high
beams are on and goes out when the low beams
are selected.
The high beam indicator light also comes on
when the passing signal is activated.
Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)
If this indicator light comes on steady or blinks
while the engine is running, it may indicate a
potential emission control malfunction.
2-14Instruments and controls
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 95 of 373
Light reminder chime
With the ignition switch placed in the OFF posi-
tion, a chime sounds when the driver’s door is
opened if the headlights or parking lights are on.
Turn the headlight control switch off before leav-
ing the vehicle.
The vehicle information display
s1is located on
the bottom of the speedometer. It displays such
items as:
ccruise control system information
cIntelligent Key operation information
csome indicators and warnings
cother information
For details about the Intelligent Key, see
“NISSAN Intelligent Key™” in the “Pre-driving
checks and adjustments” section.HOW TO USE THE VEHICLE
INFORMATION DISPLAY
Press thebutton, located on the instru-
ment panel just behind the steering wheel, to
display the following modes:
MPG!MPG/MPH!Time/Miles!Range!
Exterior Temperature!Setting!Warning
WIC1102LIC1103
VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY
Instruments and controls2-17
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 96 of 373
Fuel Economy mode
The fuel economy mode can be selected to dis-
play the instant fuel economy since the last reset.Average speed mode
The average speed mode can be selected to
display the average miles per gallon and miles per
hour since the last reset.Time/Miles (km) mode
The time/miles (km) mode can be selected to
show the time and distance driven since the last
reset.
LIC1093LIC1097WIC1266
2-18Instruments and controls
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 97 of 373
Range mode
The range mode can be selected to give you an
estimation of the distance that can be driven
before refueling. The range is constantly calcu-
lated based on the amount of fuel in the fuel tank
and the actual fuel consumption.Exterior Temperature mode
The exterior temperature mode can be selected
to provide you with the temperature outside of
your vehicle.Setting mode
The setting mode allows you to set reminders or
preferences for alerts, maintenance intervals or
language displays.
In the setting mode screen press
to move
to:
cAlert
cMaintenance
cDisplay
and press
to select the menu.
LIC1095LIC1096LIC1043
Instruments and controls2-19
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 99 of 373
Display mode
The LANGUAGE/UNIT screen will appear when
selecting the “Language/Unit” key and
pressing
.
Language: English or French
Unit: US — mile, °F, MPG
Metric — km, °C, L/100 km
You can select the language and unit using
the
button and pressing.
The settings are automatically saved when you
exit the menu by pressing the BACK button or
any other mode button.Warning mode
The warning mode can be selected to view any
warnings that may be present. Once the screen is
selected you have the option of skipping the
warning or viewing it in detail.
Warnings can be present for issues such as an
open door or low fuel. For more information about
potential warnings see “Vehicle Information Dis-
play indicator lights and warnings” later in this
section.
LIC1047LIC1098
Instruments and controls2-21
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
Page 100 of 373
Vehicle information display warnings
and indicators
1. Door and trunk open warning
2. Push warning (CVT models)
3. Low fuel warning4. Low windshield washer fluid warning
5. No key warning
6. Parking brake warning
7. Shift P warning (CVT models)8. Cruise main switch indicator
9. Cruise set switch indicator
10. Engine start operation indicator (CVT mod-
els)
WIC1275
2-22Instruments and controls
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X