Black plate (176,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.OFF-ROAD RECOVERYWhile driving, the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface. If this
occurs, maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note that
this procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate based on
the conditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheelwith both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the vehicle
speed is reduced. Do not attempt to drive
the vehicle back onto the road surface until
vehicle speed is reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires return to the
road surface. When all tires are on the road
surface, steer the vehicle to stay in the
appropriate driving lane. .
If you decide that it is not safe to return
the vehicle to the road surface based on
vehicle, road or traffic conditions, gra-
dually slow the vehicle to a stop in a safe
place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSSRapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged due
to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air pressure
loss can also be caused by driving on under-
inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at highway
speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by main-
taining the correct air pressure and visually
inspect the tires for wear and damage.
(
“WHEELS AND TIRES” page 8-29)
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or “blows-out”
while driving maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note that
this procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate based on
the conditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if there is a sudden loss of tire air
pressure. Losing control of the vehicle
may cause a collision and result in
personal injury.
.
The vehicle generally moves or pulls
in the direction of the flat tire.
. Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
. Do not rapidly release the accelera-
tor pedal.
. Do not rapidly turn the steering
wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and contact a roadside emergency service to
change the tire.
5-6
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (184,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
Never shift to the
&P
or
&A↔&M
position while the vehicle is moving
rearward. Doing so could cause loss
of control and an accident.
. The shift lever contains a powerful
magnet. Do not place electronic
medical devices or other electronic
products that are susceptible to
magnetic force close to the shift
lever.
CAUTION
.Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
. Because the vehicle includes a dual
clutch transmission that automati-
cally controls the clutch and shifting
operation of the manual transmis-
sion, whenever the shift lever is in a
position other then
&P
or
&N, the
vehicle will begin to move slowly, in
the same way as when the clutch in
a manual transmission vehicle is
partially engaged. Keep the brake
pedal firmly depressed when the
vehicle is stopped. In some circum-
stances the vehicle may not start moving on its own, however this
does not indicate that there is a
malfunction.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stopped on a hill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal. Doing
so may cause the clutch to overheat and
result in transmission damage. Use the
brakes to prevent the vehicle from
moving.
Operating the shift leverAfter starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and move the shift lever from the
&P
position to the
&R,&N,or
&A↔&M
position. Push
the button to shift into the
&Por&Rposition. All
other positions can be selected without pushing
the button.
5-14
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (191,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
serious injury.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stopped on a hill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal. Doing
so may cause the clutch to overheat and
result in transmission damage. Use the
brakes to prevent the vehicle from
moving.When parking the vehicle1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the foot brake pedal depressed, applythe parking brake.
3. Move the shift lever to the
&Pposition.
4. Check the shift lever position indicator on the instrument panel to confirm that the
&P
position is selected.
5. Push the ignition switch to stop the engine.
WARNING
Before exiting the vehicle, be sure to
move the shift lever to the
&Pposition
and stop the engine. If the engine is
running and the shift lever is not in the
&Pposition, the vehicle may start mov-
ing due to partial engagement of the
clutch or to the effects of gravity on a
slope, or the vehicle may suddenly
accelerate due to accidental operation
of the accelerator pedal, possibly caus-
ing an accident.
The control of the dual clutch transmission,
Bilstein DampTronic
®electronically controlled
shock absorbers and Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) can be changed to the desired modes by
operating the setup switches. Select the desired
mode best suited to the driving conditions.
NOTE:Bilstein DampTronic
®is a registered trade-
mark of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Suspen-
sion GmbH.
Starting and driving
5-21
VDC, TRANSMISSION AND
SUSPENSION SETUP SWITCHES
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (202,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
Failure to do so may result in a
collision or serious personal injury.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stopped on a hill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal. Doing
so may cause the clutch to overheat and
result in transmission damage. Use the
brakes to prevent the vehicle from
moving.
The hill start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards in the time it takes the
driver to release the brake pedal and apply the
accelerator when the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
Hill start assist will operate automatically under
the following conditions:
. The shift lever is moved to a forward or
reverse position.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After 2
seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
hill start assist will stop operating completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the shift lever is moved to the
&Nor
&Pposition or on a
flat and level road.
NOTE:This system does not function when the
Vehicle Dynamic Control VDC) system
warning appears on the vehicle informa-
tion display located in the tachometer.
(
“VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL
(VDC) SYSTEM WARNING” page 2-35)
NOTICE
Follow these recommendations to ob-
tain maximum engine performance and
ensure the future reliability and econo-
my of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may
result in shortened engine life and
reduced engine performance.
Please observe the following types of driving
until the mileage shown below has been
reached.
Until 300 miles (500 km):
. Do not depress the accelerator pedal more
than halfway and avoid rapid acceleration.
. Drive with the engine speed kept at less
than 3,500 RPM.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering, abrupt
braking and driving on poor roads.
300 to 1,200 miles (500 to 2,000 km)
. Avoid rapid acceleration in a low gear (1st to
3rd gears) with the accelerator pedal fully
depressed. Depress the pedal slowly.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering and
abrupt braking.
5-32
Starting and driving
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (205,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
vehicle checked by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
. The power train may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warn-
ing light blinking rapidly.
TIGHT CORNER BRAKING PHE-
NOMENONWhen driving on dry pavement in AWD mode, or
immediately after starting the engine in cold
conditions, when the steering wheel is turned all
the way, the vehicle may behave as if the brakes
had been applied. This phenomenon is known
as the “tight corner braking phenomenon”.
This phenomenon is unique to AWD vehicles,
and occurs due to a difference in speeds
between the front and rear wheels while the
vehicle is turning. This does not indicate that
there is a malfunction. If this phenomenon
occurs, more force will be required to operate
the steering wheel.NOTE:.If the tight corner braking phenomenon
occurs, a slipping sound may be heard
from the tires, or a squeaking sound
may be heard from the drive system.
. If excessive operation continues when
a wheel has come off the road or at
other times when the operation causes a large difference in speed between the
front and rear wheels (the wheels are
spinning) , the oil temperature in the
drive system parts will increase.
In this case, to protect the drive system
parts, the AWD warning light blinks
rapidly and the system switches to
RWD mode or low AWD mode. Keep
the vehicle stopped and idling for a
short time. When the warning light
stops blinking, the vehicle returns from
RWD mode to normal driving mode.
. If you feel an unusual vibration in the
vehicle, even if the warning lights are
not illuminated, have the vehicle in-
spected by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer.
TIRESThis vehicle is equipped with special tires. When
changing the tires, install the designated special
tires. Replacing tires as a set of four with new
ones is recommended. However, if a tire is
punctured or damaged, it may be possible to
replace only the damaged tire. Determining
whether one tire or a complete set of tires
should be replaced is based on a number of
factors including tire wear and condition. Con-
tact your GT-R certified NISSAN dealer. They
can recommend if an individual tire or a complete set should be replaced.
NOTICE
If tires other than the designated tires,
tires with large differences in wear or
tires of different sizes are installed, the
AWD performance will be degraded and
the drive mechanism may be damaged.AWD SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICSThe AWD system automatically distributes the
optimal torque to the front and rear wheels. This
provides both the superior turning performance
of a front wheel drive vehicle and the traction of
a AWD vehicle.
Electronic control continuously distributes tor-
que to the front and rear wheels in the range
from 0:100 (rear-wheel drive mode) to 50:50
(all-wheel drive mode) to match the driving
conditions and road conditions. This allows the
engine output (torque) to be effectively trans-
mitted to the road surface.
Starting and driving
5-35
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (208,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be harder to operate.
The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, espe-
cially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKING PRECAUTIONSThe brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
You may feel a small click and hear a sound
when the brake pedal is fully depressed slowly.
This is not a malfunction and indicates that the
brake assist mechanism is operating properly.Vacuum assisted brakesThe brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, 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 brakesWhen the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking 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 tapping 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 brakesAvoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake and pads faster
and reduce gas mileage.
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 grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
. While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheelstoskidandresultinan
accident.
. If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
5-38
Starting and driving
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (209,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-INBreak in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or
drums/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain
vehicle control during braking on
slippery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Alwaysmaintainasafedistance
from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness. When
replacing tires, install the specified
size of tires on all four wheels.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard
braking or when braking on slippery surfaces. The system detects the rotation speed at each
wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure to
prevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By
preventing each wheel from locking, the system
helps the driver maintain steering control and
helps to minimize swerving and spinning on
slippery surfaces.
Using the systemDepress 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 prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.Self-test featureThe 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 does not indicate that there is
a malfunction. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and illuminates
Starting and driving
5-39
BRAKE ASSIST
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Black plate (210,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
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 GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.Normal operationThe ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 MPH
(5 to 10 km/h) . The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly
applies and releases hydraulic pressure. This
action is similar to pumping the brakes very
quickly. You may feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal and hear a noise from under the hood or
feel a vibration from the actuator when it is
operating. This is normal and indicates that the
ABS is operating properly. However, the pulsa-
tion may indicate that road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while
driving.
The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver inputs
and vehicle motion. Under certain driving situa-
tions, the system will control braking and engine
output to help keep the vehicle on its steered
path.
.The VDC mode can be changed using the
VDC setup switch. (
“VDC, TRANS-
MISSION AND SUSPENSION SETUP
SWITCHES” page 5-21)
. When the VDC system is operating, the
indicator in the instrument panel blinks.
. If the
indicator blinks, the road condi-
tions may be slippery. Be sure to adjust your
speed and driving to these conditions. Be
sure to drive carefully. (
“Slip indicator
light” page 2-29) (
“Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) off indicator light” page 2-
29)
. Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
and
indicator lights illuminate in
the instrument panel. As long as these
indicators are illuminated, the VDC system
function is canceled.
The VDC system uses an Active Brake Limited
Slip (ABLS) function to improve vehicle traction.
The ABLS system works when one of the driving
wheels is spinning on a slippery surface. The ABLS system brakes the spinning wheel, which
distributes the driving power to the other drive
wheel. If the vehicle is operated with the VDC
setup switch pushed and the VDC system
turned off, all VDC systems will be turned off.
The ABLS system and ABS will still operate with
the VDC system off.
While the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise
or feel a vibration from under the hood. This is
normal and indicates that the VDC system is
working properly.
The VDC system 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 forward or backward. When the
self-test occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This
does not indicate that there is a malfunction.
WARNING
.
The VDC system is designed to help
improve driving stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
due to careless or dangerous driv-
ing techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slip-
pery surfaces and always drive care-
5-40
Starting and driving
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \