Page 254 of 374

CAUTION
●Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
●Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.
●Stop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
●When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a stop
light) , shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift into
the appropriate gear, then release the clutch
slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress
the clutch pedal before operating the shift selec-
tor. If the clutch pedal is not fully depressed
before the transmission is shifted, a gear noise
may be heard. Transmission damage may occur.Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd, 3rd,
4th and 5th up to 6th gear in sequence according
to vehicle speed.
To back up, lift up on the shift selector ring
1and
then move it to the R (Reverse) position after
stopping the vehicle completely.
The shift selector ring
1returns to its original
position when the shift selector is moved to the N
(Neutral) position.
If it is difficult to move the shift selector into R
(Reverse) or 1 (1st) , shift into N (Neutral) , then
release the clutch pedal. Depress the clutch
pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1 (1st) .
Suggested upshift speeds
The following are suggested vehicle speeds for
shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions
relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual upshift speeds will vary according to road
conditions, the weather and individual driving
habits.
Page 264 of 374

indica-
tor light may come on. Do not drive on
these types of roads.
●If wheels or tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the Traction
Control System may not operate prop-
erly and the
indicator light may
come on.
●The Traction Control System is not a
substitute for winter tires or tire chains
on a snow covered road.The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses
various sensors to monitor driver inputs and ve-
hicle motion. Under certain driving situations, the
system will control braking and engine output to
help keep the vehicle on its steered path.
●When the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system is operating, theSLIPindicator in
the instrument panel blinks:
●If theSLIPindicator blinks, the road condi-
tions may be slippery. Be sure to adjust your
speed and driving to these conditions. See
“Slip indicator light”, and “Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) off indicator light” in the “In-
struments and controls” section.
●Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
SLIPand
indicator lights come on in
the instrument panel.
As long as these indicator lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled.
If the vehicle is operated with the Vehicle Dy-
namic Control system OFF using the VDC OFF
switch, VDC and TCS functions will be turned off.
TheSLIPindicator will flash if wheel spin is
detected. The ABS will still operate with the VDC
system off.When the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the hood. This is normal and
indicates that the VDC system is working prop-
erly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
Page 276 of 374
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage to
the charging system and cause personal
injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their bat-
teries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift se-
lector to N (Neutral) (manual transmission)
or to P (Park) (Continuously Variable Trans-
mission) . Switch off all unnecessary electri-cal systems (lights, heater, air conditioner,
etc.) .
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped) . Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence il-
lustrated (
A,B,C,D).
Page 281 of 374

CAUTION
●Tow chains or cables must be attached
only to the main structural members of
the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle body
will be damaged.
●Do not use the vehicle tie downs to free
a vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
Never tow the vehicle using the vehicle
tie downs or recovery hooks.
●Always pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never
pull the vehicle at an angle.
●Pulling devices should be routed so
they do not touch any part of the sus-
pension, steering, brake or cooling
systems.
●Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure:
1. Make sure the area in front and behind the
vehicle is clear of obstructions.
2. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear
an area around the front tires.
3. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back-
ward.
●Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and D (Drive) (CVT models) or 1st (Low)
and R (Reverse) (MT models) .
●Apply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
●Release the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R (Reverse) and D
(Drive) (CVT models) or 1st (Low) and R
(Reverse) (MT models) .
●Do not spin the tires above 35 mph (55
km/h) .
4. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few
tries, contact a professional towing service
to remove the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-13
REVIEW COPY—2009 Altima(alt)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
09/08/08—debbie
Page 299 of 374
WARNING
●To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the en-
gine is hot.
●Never remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator.
●Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
●Keep coolant out of the reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine.Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Re-
insert it all the way.
Page 300 of 374
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Op-
erating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the engine, and
such damage is not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature, then turn it off.
3. Remove the oil filler
Acap by turning it
counterclockwise.
4. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug
B.
Page 304 of 374
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, immediately wash the surface
with water.
BRAKE FLUID
Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. If the
fluid level is below the MIN line or the brake
warning light comes on, addDOT 3brake fluid up
to the MAX line. If fluid must be added frequently,
the system should be checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
CLUTCH FLUID
Check the clutch fluid level in the reservoir
(manual transmissions only) . If the fluid level is
below the MIN line, add Genuine NISSAN Super
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalentDOT 3fluid
up to the MAX line. If fluid must be added fre-
quently, the system should be checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
For further brake and clutch fluid specification
information, refer to “Capacities and recom-
mended fuel/lubricants” in the “Technical and
consumer information” section of this manual.
LDI0558
BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID
Page 308 of 374
WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch are
off and that the parking brake is engaged
securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to re-
move the spark plugs. An incorrect socket
can damage the spark plugs.
If replacement is required, see your NISSAN
dealer for assistance.
SDI1895
SPARK PLUGS