
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cDownshift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
cNISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.cSome states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, eCVT fluid should be
changed more frequently. For additional
information, see the “Maintenance and do-
it-yourself” section earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
Your vehicle is not designed to be flat towed with
all four wheels on the ground.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cDO not tow your vehicle with four
wheels on the ground. This may cause
serious damage to your vehicle.
cDO NOT tow this vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground (flat towing) . Do-
ing so WILL DAMAGE internal transmis-
sion parts due to lack of transmission
lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT)
To tow a vehicle equipped with an eCVT, an
appropriate vehicle dollyMUSTbe placed under
the towed vehicle’s drive wheels.Alwaysfollow
the dolly manufacturer’s recommendations when
using their product.
Technical and consumer information9-23
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima Hybrid Electric
(ahv)
Owners ManualÐCanadian_French(fr_can)
06/16/08Ðdebbie
X

Your NISSAN vehicle is covered by the following
emission warranties:
For USA
1. Emission Defects Warranty
2. Emissions Performance Warranty
Details of this warranty may be found with other
vehicle warranties in your Warranty Information
Booklet which comes with your NISSAN vehicle.
If you did not receive a Warranty Information
Booklet, or it is lost, you may obtain a replace-
ment by writing to:
cNissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 685003
Franklin, TN 37068-5003
For Canada
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found with
other vehicle warranties in your Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet which comes with your NISSAN
vehicle. If you did not receive a Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or it is lost, you may obtain a re-
placement by writing to:
cNissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4Z5If you believe that your vehicle has a de-
fect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immedi-
ately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addi-
tion to notifying NISSAN.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Ve-
hicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-
327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go
to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from http://
www.safercar.gov.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.Always check with local I/M testing requirements
for Hybrid vehicles before taking your vehicle for
testing.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when it
is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually,
the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary
usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the 12-volt battery is disconnected, the vehicle
may be reset to a “not ready” condition. Before
taking the I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Turn the ignition switch ON without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and then
blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M test condition is
“not ready”. If the MIL does not blink after 20
seconds, the I/M test condition is “ready.” If your
vehicle does not pass an I/M test the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) may not come on. Contact a
NISSAN dealer to prepare the vehicle for re-
testing.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARRANTYREPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (US
only)READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
Technical and consumer information9-25
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima Hybrid Electric
(ahv)
Owners ManualÐCanadian_French(fr_can)
06/16/08Ðdebbie
X

10 Index
12-volt battery..................8-15
A
Active Head Restraint..............1-6
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-34
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system)...............1-42
Air bag warning light...........1-49, 2-15
Air cleaner housing filter............8-17
Air conditioner
Air conditioner service...........4-13
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations.............9-6
Heater and air conditioner controls. . . .4-11
Servicing air conditioner..........4-13
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-26
Anchor point locations.............1-19
Antenna.....................4-38
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-10
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)........5-21
Armrests.....................1-5
Audible reminders................2-17
Audio system..................4-14
Compact Disc (CD) changer. . . .4-27, 4-33
Compact disc (CD) player.........4-22FM-AM radio with compact disc
(CD) player.................4-20
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) changer.............4-24, 4-31
Radio....................4-14
Autolight switch.................2-30
Automatic
Automatic power window switch.....2-43
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-13
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.......3-24
AUX jack..............4-23, 4-29, 4-35
B
Battery
Charge warning light........2-11, 2-13
Before starting the vehicle...........5-10
Belt (See drive belt)..............8-15
Block heater
Engine....................5-25
BluetoothThands-free phone
system..................4-39, 4-54
Booster seats..................1-29
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)......5-21
Brake fluid..................8-13
Brake light (See stop light).........8-25
Brake system................5-19
Brake warning light.........2-10, 2-12
Brake wear indicators........2-17, 8-19Parking brake operation..........5-14
Self-adjusting brakes............8-19
Brakes......................8-19
Break-in schedule................5-16
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-32
Brightness/contrast button...........4-7
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-9
Bulb replacement................8-25
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
Car phone or CB radio.............4-39
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning.............4-36
CD changer (See audio system). . . .4-27, 4-33
CD player (See audio system).........4-22
Child restraint with top tether strap......1-18
Child restraints..........1-10, 1-15, 1-17
Precautions on child
restraints............1-15, 1-23, 1-29
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-19
Child safety rear door lock............3-6
Chimes, audible reminders...........2-17
Cleaning exterior and interior..........7-2
Clock.............4-5, 4-21, 4-25, 4-31
(models with navigation system)......4-5
(models without navigation
system)................4-21, 4-25
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima Hybrid Electric
(ahv)
Owners ManualÐCanadian_French(fr_can)
06/16/08Ðdebbie
X

Clock set..............4-5, 4-21, 4-25
C.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-10
Cold weather driving..............5-24
Compact disc (CD) player...........4-22
Compass display.................2-6
Console box...................2-39
Console light..................2-47
Control panel buttons
Brightness/contrast button.........4-7
Setup button.................4-3
Startup screen................4-3
With navigation system...........4-2
Controls
Heater and air conditioner controls. . . .4-11
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-9
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Checking inverter coolant level......8-10
Corrosion protection...............7-6
Cruise control..................5-15
Cup holders...............2-37, 2-38
D
Daytime running light system
(Canada only)..................2-32
Defroster switch
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-29
Dimensions and weights.............9-8
Dimmer switch for instrument panel......2-32
Display controls (see control panel buttons) . .4-2
Door locks....................3-4Drive belt....................8-15
Driving
Cold weather driving............5-24
Driving with Electronically controlled
Continuously Variable Transmission
(eCVT)....................5-11
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
E
Economy - fuel.................5-17
Electronically controlled Continuously Variable
Transmission (eCVT)
Driving with Electronically controlled
Continuously Variable Transmission
(eCVT)....................5-11
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) fluid. . . .8-13
Emission control information label.......9-10
Emission control system warranty.......9-25
Energy flow..................HEV-4
Energy/fuel history..............HEV-5
Engine
Block heater.................5-25
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-9
Changing engine oil............8-11
Changing engine oil filter..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Checking engine oil level..........8-10
Engine compartment check locations. . . .8-7
Engine cooling system............8-8
Engine oil..................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-12
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Engine serial number............9-10
Engine specifications.............9-7
English/metric setting..............4-6
Event data recorders..............9-26
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)........5-2
Eyeglass case..................2-37
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch)......2-33
Flat tire......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-6
Fluid
Brake fluid..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) fluid. . . .8-13
Engine coolant................8-8
Engine oil..................8-10
Inverter coolant................8-9
Window washer fluid............8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-10
Fog light switch.................2-33
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system).....1-42
Front seats....................1-2
Fuel
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Fuel economy................5-17
Fuel gauge..................2-5
10-2
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima Hybrid Electric
(ahv)
Owners ManualÐCanadian_French(fr_can)
06/16/08Ðdebbie
X

Fuel octane rating..............9-4
Fuel recommendation............9-3
Fuel-filler door and cap...........3-21
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever......3-21
Fuses......................8-19
Fusible links...................8-21
G
Garage door opener, HomeLinkTUniversal
Transceiver...................2-48
Gascap.....................3-21
Gauge
Fuel gauge..................2-5
High voltage battery status
meter.................2-5, HEV-4
Odometer...................2-4
Power meter.............2-4, HEV-4
Speedometer.................2-4
Trip odometer.................2-4
General maintenance..............8-2
Glove box....................2-38
Glove box lock.................2-38
Grocery hooks.................2-40
H
Hands-free phone system,
BluetoothT................4-39, 4-54
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-33
Head restraints..................1-6
Active Head Restraint............1-6
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-29
Headlight control switch............2-29Headlights....................8-24
Heated seats..................2-34
Heater
Heater and air conditioner controls. . . .4-11
Heater operation..............4-12
High voltage battery status meter . . .2-5, HEV-4
High voltage components..........HEV-8
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.......2-48
Hood release..................3-18
Horn.......................2-34
Hybrid System
Energy flow................HEV-4
Energy/fuel history............HEV-5
Stops operating while driving........6-7
Vehicle does not start............6-8
Hybrid vehicle characteristics........HEV-9
I
Ignition Switch
Push-Button Ignition Switch.........5-7
Immobilizer system..........2-27, 3-3, 5-9
Important vehicle information label.......9-10
In-cabin microfilter...............8-17
Increasing fuel economy............5-17
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders).....................2-9
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror.......3-24
Inside mirror...................3-24
Instrument brightness control.........2-32
Instrument panel dimmer switch........2-32
Intelligent Key system
Key operating range.............3-9
Key operation................3-10Mechanical key................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation......3-13
Troubleshooting guide...........3-17
Warning signals...............3-17
Interior light...................2-46
Interior trunk lid release.............3-20
Inverter
Checking inverter coolant level......8-10
Inverter cooling system............8-9
ISOFIX child restraints.............1-17
J
Jump starting...................6-8
K
Keyfob battery replacement..........8-22
Keyless entry
With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system)........3-13
Keys, For Intelligent Key system.........3-2
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
C.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-10
Emission control information label.....9-10
Engine serial number............9-10
F.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-10
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-11
10-3
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima Hybrid Electric
(ahv)
Owners ManualÐCanadian_French(fr_can)
06/16/08Ðdebbie
X

Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate......................9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-48
Language setting.................4-6
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System......................1-17
License plate
Installing the license plate.........9-11
Light
Air bag warning light.........1-49, 2-15
Brake light (See stop light).........8-25
Bulb check/instrument panel........2-9
Bulb replacement..............8-25
Charge warning light........2-11, 2-13
Console light................2-47
Fog light switch...............2-33
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-29
Headlight control switch..........2-29
Headlights..................8-24
Interior light.................2-46
Light bulbs..................8-24
Low tire pressure warning light......2-13
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-24
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-43
Security indicator light...........2-17
Spotlights (See map light).........2-47
Trunk light..................2-48
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-9
Lights
Map lights..................2-47
Lock
Child safety rear door lock..........3-6
Door locks..................3-4
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever......3-21
Glove box lock...............2-38Power door locks...............3-5
Trunk lid lock opener lever.........3-18
Vehicle speed sensing door lock
mechanism..................3-6
Low fuel warning light......2-13, 2-14, 2-24
Low tire pressure warning light........2-13
Low washer fluid warning light.........2-24
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance
General maintenance............8-2
Inside the vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Outside the vehicle..............8-2
Seat belt maintenance...........1-14
Under the hood and vehicle.........8-4
Malfunction indicator light...........2-16
Manual front seat adjustment..........1-2
Map lights....................2-47
Map pocket...................2-36
Meters and gauges................2-3
Instrument brightness control.......2-32
Mirror
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.....3-24
Inside mirror.................3-24
Outside mirrors...............3-25
Vanity mirror.................3-24
N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™.............3-7NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system................2-27, 3-3, 5-9
NISSAN voice recognition system.......4-63
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4
Odometer.....................2-4
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil............8-11
Changing engine oil filter..........8-12
Checking engine oil level..........8-10
Engine oil..................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirrors.................3-25
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats..........6-11
Owner’s manual order form..........9-26
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-26
P
Parking
Parking brake operation..........5-14
Parking/parking on hills...........5-18
Phone, BluetoothThands-free
system..................4-39, 4-54
Power
Power door locks...............3-5
Power outlet.................2-35
10-4
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2009 Altima Hybrid Electric
(ahv)
Owners ManualÐCanadian_French(fr_can)
06/16/08Ðdebbie
X