2 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel...................................2-2
Meters and gauges................................2-3
Speedometer and Odometer....................2-4
Tachometer....................................2-5
Engine coolant temperature gauge...............2-5
Fuel gauge....................................2-6
Compass display (if so equipped)...................2-6
Compass display...............................2-7
Warning/indicator lights and audible reminders......2-10
Checking bulbs...............................2-10
Warning lights................................2-11
Indicator lights................................2-14
Audible reminders.............................2-16
Vehicle information display.........................2-17
How to use the vehicle information display.......2-17
Security systems.................................2-25
Vehicle security system.........................2-25
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system.............2-26
Windshield wiper and washer switch...............2-27
Switch operation..............................2-27
Rear window and outside mirror (if so equipped)
defroster switch..................................2-28
Headlight and turn signal switch....................2-29Xenon headlights (if so equipped)...............2-29
Headlight control switch........................2-29
Daytime running light system (Canada only)......2-32
Instrument brightness control...................2-32
Turn signal switch.............................2-33
Fog light switch (if so equipped)................2-33
Hazard warning flasher switch.....................2-33
Horn............................................2-34
Heated seat (if so equipped).......................2-34
Traction Control System (TCS) off switch
(if so equipped)..................................2-35
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off switch
(if so equipped)..................................2-35
Power outlet.....................................2-36
Storage.........................................2-37
Map pockets..................................2-37
Seatback pockets (if so equipped)..............2-37
Storage pouch (if so equipped).................2-38
Sunglasses holder.............................2-38
Cup holders..................................2-40
Glove box....................................2-41
Console box..................................2-41
Storage box (if so equipped)....................2-42
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
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
Your vehicle may have two types of security sys-
tems:
cVehicle security system
cNISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM
The vehicle security system provides visual and
audible alarm signals if someone opens the doors
or trunk lid when the system is armed. It is not,
however, a motion detection type system that
activates when a vehicle is moved or when a
vibration occurs.
The system helps deter vehicle theft but cannot
prevent it, nor can it prevent the theft of interior orexterior vehicle components in all situations. Al-
ways secure your vehicle even if parking for a
brief period. Never leave your Intelligent Key in
the vehicle, and always lock the vehicle when
unattended. Be aware of your surroundings, and
park in secure, well-lit areas whenever possible.
Many devices offering additional protection, such
as component locks, identification markers, and
tracking systems, are available at auto supply
stores and specialty shops. Your NISSAN dealer
may also offer such equipment. Check with your
insurance company to see if you may be eligible
for discounts for various theft protection features.
How to arm the vehicle security
system
1. Close all windows.(The system can be
armed even if the windows are open.)
2. Remove the Intelligent Key from the vehicle.
3. Close all doors, hood and trunk. Lock all
doors. The doors can be locked with the
Intelligent Key, door handle request switch,
power door lock switch or mechanical key.
4. Confirm that the security indicator light
comes on. The security light stays on for
about 30 seconds. The vehicle security sys-
tem is now pre-armed. After about 30 sec-
onds the vehicle security system automati-cally shifts into the armed phase. The
security light begins to flash once every 3
seconds. If, during the 30-second pre-arm
time period, the driver’s door is unlocked by
the key or the keyfob, or the ignition switch is
placed in the ACC or ON position, the sys-
tem will not arm.
cEven when the driver and/or passen-
gers are in the vehicle, the system will
activate with all the doors, hood and
trunk lid locked with the ignition
switch placed in the LOCK position.
When placing the ignition switch in the
ACC or ON position, the system will be
released.Vehicle security system activation
The vehicle security system will give the following
alarm:
cThe headlights blink and the horn sounds
intermittently.
cThe alarm automatically turns off after ap-
proximately 50 seconds. However, the alarm
reactivates if the vehicle is tampered with
again. The alarm can be shut off by unlocking
the driver’s door or trunk lid with the key, or
by pressing the
button on the Intelli-
gent Key.
LIC0301
SECURITY SYSTEMS
Instruments and controls2-25
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
XENON HEADLIGHTS (if so
equipped)
WARNING
cHIGH VOLTAGE
cWhen xenon headlights are on, they
produce a high voltage. To prevent an
electric shock, never attempt to modify
or disassemble. Always have your xe-
non headlights replaced at a NISSAN
dealer.
cXenon headlights provide considerably
more light than conventional head-
lights. If they are not correctly aimed,
they might temporarily blind an oncom-
ing driver or the driver ahead of you and
cause a serious accident. If headlights
are not aimed correctly, immediately
take your vehicle to a NISSAN dealer
and have the headlights adjusted
correctly.
When the xenon headlight is initially turned on, its
brightness or color varies slightly. However, the
color and brightness will soon stabilize.cThe life of xenon headlights will be
shortened by frequent on-off opera-
tion. It is generally desirable not to turn
off the headlights for short intervals
(for example, when the vehicle stops at
a traffic signal) . Even when the daytime
running lights are active (Canada only) ,
the xenon headlights do not turn on.
This way the life of the xenon head-
lights is not reduced.
cIf the xenon headlight bulb is close to
burning out, the brightness will drasti-
cally decrease, the light will start blink-
ing, or the color of the light will be-
come reddish. If one or more of the
above signs appear, contact a NISSAN
dealer.
HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH
Lighting
s1When turning the switch to theposi-
tion, the front parking, tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights come on.
s2When turning the switch to theposi-
tion, the headlights come on and all the other
lights remain on.
Type A
LIC1085
HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL
SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-29
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
CAUTION
Use the headlights with the engine run-
ning to avoid discharging the vehicle
battery.
Autolight system (if so equipped)
The autolight system allows the headlights to be
set so they turn on and off automatically. The
autolight system can:
cTurn on the headlights, front parking, tail,
license plate and instrument panel lights au-
tomatically when it is dark.
cTurn off all the lights when it is light.
cKeep all the lights on for 45 seconds after
you place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and all doors are closed.
Type B
LIC1064
Type C
LIC1063LIC1086
2-30Instruments and controls
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
To turn on the autolight system:
1. Turn the headlight switch to the AUTO posi-
tion
s1.
2. Push the push-button ignition switch to the
ON position.
3. The autolight system automatically turns the
headlights on and off.
Initially, if the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position and a door is opened and left open, the
headlights remain ON for 5 minutes. If another
door is opened during the 5 minutes, then the 5
minute timer is reset.
To turn the autolight system off, turn the switch to
the OFF,
,orposition.Be sure you do not put anything on top of
the autolight sensor located on the top side
of the instrument panel. The autolight sen-
sor controls the autolight; if it is covered,
the autolight sensor reacts as if it is dark
out and the headlights will illuminate. If
this occurs while parked with the engine
off and the ignition switch placed in the ON
position, your vehicle’s battery could be-
come discharged.Headlight beam select
s1To select the high beam function, push the
lever forward. The high beam lights come on
and the
light illuminates.
s2Pull the lever back to select the low beam.
s3Pulling and releasing the lever flashes the
headlight high beams on and off.
Battery saver system
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF position
while the headlight switch is in the
orposition, the headlights will turn off after
5 minutes.
LIC1068LIC1087
Instruments and controls2-31
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
CAUTION
Even though the battery saver feature au-
tomatically turns off the headlights after a
period of time, you should turn the head-
light switch to the OFF position when the
engine is not running to avoid discharging
the vehicle battery.
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT SYSTEM
(Canada only)
The headlights automatically illuminate at a re-
duced intensity when the engine is started with
the parking brake released. The daytime running
lights operate with the headlight switch in the
OFF position or in the
position. Turn the
headlight switch to the
position for full
illumination when driving at night.
If the parking brake is applied before the engine is
started, the daytime running lights do not illumi-
nate. The daytime running lights illuminate when
the parking brake is released. The daytime run-
ning lights will remain on until the ignition switch
is placed in the OFF position.
WARNING
When the daytime running light system is
active, tail lights on your vehicle are not
on. It is necessary at dusk to turn on your
headlights. Failure to do so could cause
an accident injuring yourself and others.
INSTRUMENT BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL
The instrument cluster illuminates when the igni-
tion switch is placed in the ON position.
The instrument brightness control operates when
the headlight control switch is in the
AUTO,
orposition.
Turn the control left or right to adjust the bright-
ness of the instrument panel lights when driving
at night.
LIC1066
2-32Instruments and controls
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH
Turn signal
s1Move the lever up or down to signal the
turning direction. When the turn is com-
pleted, the turn signals cancel automatically.
Lane change signal
s2To signal a lane change, move the lever up or
down to the point where the indicator light
begins to flash, but the lever does not latch.
FOG LIGHT SWITCH (if so equipped)
To turn the fog lights on, turn the headlight switch
to the
position, then turn the fog light
switch to the
position.
To turn the fog lights on with the headlight switch
in the AUTO position (if so equipped) , the head-
lights must be on, then turn the fog light switch to
the
position.
To turn the fog lights off, turn the fog light switch
to the OFF position.
The headlights must be on and the low beams
selected for the fog lights to operate. The fog
lights automatically turn off when the high beam
headlights are selected.Push the switch on to warn other drivers when
you must stop or park under emergency condi-
tions. All turn signal lights flash.
WARNING
cIf stopping for an emergency, be sure to
move the vehicle well off the road.
cDo not use the hazard warning flashers
while moving on the highway unless
unusual circumstances force you to
drive so slowly that your vehicle might
become a hazard to other traffic.
cTurn signals do not work when the haz-
ard warning flasher lights are on.
LIC1088LIC1089LIC0394
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-33
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA_English(nna)
02/03/09Ðdebbie
X