2009 NISSAN SENTRA instrument panel

CAUTION
When the buzzer sounds and the warning
light illuminates, be sure to check both
the vehicle and the Intelligent Key.
WARNING SIGNALS
To help prevent the vehicle from moving unex-
pectedly by erroneous operation of the Intelligent
Key or to help prevent the vehicle from being
stolen, a chime or buzzer sounds from inside and
outside the vehicle and a warning light comes on
in the instrument panel.
When a chime or beep sounds or the warning
light comes on, be sure to check the vehicle and
the Intelligent Key.
Audible reminder and warning when
locking the doors
When the chime or buzzer sounds from inside
and outside the vehicle, check for the following:
●The ignition switch is placed in the LOCK
position.
●The Intelligent Key is not left inside the ve-
hicle.
●The shift selector is in the P (Park) position.
Audible reminder and warning when
the engine stops
When the P position selecting warning light
(
) in the instrument panel blinks in red:
●Make sure the shift selector is in the P posi-
tion.
When the chime sounds intermittently:
●Make sure the shift selector is in the P posi-
tion and the ignition switch is placed in the
LOCK position.
If the chime sounds continuously when the driv-
er’s door is opened, check the following:
●The selector lever is in the P position and the
ignition switch is placed in the LOCK posi-
tion.
●The mechanical key is not inserted into the
ignition switch.
●The warning chime may stop when one of
the following is performed:
– Returning the ignition switch to the LOCK
position.
– Removing the mechanical key.
– Closing the doors.
Alarm and warning when the engine
starts
When the Intelligent Key system warning light
(
) blinks red and the outside buzzer
sounds, make sure the Intelligent Key is inside the
vehicle.
Warning for low battery power
When the Intelligent Key battery is low, the Intel-
ligent Key system warning light (
) will blink
green for about 30 seconds after the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position. This warning
is to let you know that the battery of the Intelligent
Key will run down soon. Replace it with a new
one. Refer to “Battery replacement” in the “Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself” section.
NISSAN recommends replacing the battery at a
NISSAN dealer.
Preventing the Intelligent Key from
being left in the vehicle
If you lock all doors using the power door lock
switch with the Intelligent Key in the vehicle, all of
the doors unlock immediately and the buzzer will
warn you when the door is closed.
3-20Pre-driving checks and adjustments
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/23/08—debbie


TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Symptom Possible Cause Remedy
When pushing the door handle re-
quest switchThe front door beep sounds for ap-
proximately 2 seconds.The doors cannot be locked.Take out the Intelligent Key from the vehicle and push the door
handle request switch.
When closing the doorsThe front door beep sounds for ap-
proximately 10 seconds.The ignition knob is not placed in the
LOCK position.Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
The key warning light in the instru-
ment panel blinks in red and the front
door warning beep sounds for ap-
proximately 3 seconds.The Intelligent Key is not in the
vehicle.Be sure to carry the Intelligent Key with you.
The front door beep sounds for ap-
proximately 3 seconds and all doors
unlock.The Intelligent Key is left in the
vehicle.Take out the Intelligent Key from the vehicle and close the door.
When opening the driver’s doorA warning chime sounds
continuously.The ignition switch is not in the
LOCK position, or the mechanical
key is inserted into the ignition
switch.Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
Remove the mechanical key from the ignition switch.
When stopping the engine The P (Park) position warning light in
the instrument panel blinks in red.The shift selector is not in the P
(Park) position.Make sure that the shift selector is in the P (Park) position and
place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
When starting the engine The key warning light in the instru-
ment panel blinks in green.The battery charge is low. Replace the battery with a new one. See “Battery replacement”
in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
When turning the ignition switch A warning chime sounds
continuously.The ignition switch is not placed in
the LOCK position.Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
When pushing the ignition switch The Intelligent Key warning light in
the instrument panel illuminates red.The Intelligent Key is not in the
vehicle.If the Intelligent Key warning light illuminates red even while you
are carrying the Intelligent Key, the battery is completely
discharged. Replace the battery with a new one. See “Battery
replacement” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-21
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/23/08—debbie


1. Pull the hood lock release handle1located
below the instrument panel until the hood
springs up slightly.
2. Locate the lever
2in between the hood and
grille and push the lever sideways with your
fingertips.
3. Raise the hood
3.
4. Remove the support rod
4and insert it into
the slot on the underside of the hood
5.
When closing the hood, return the support rod to
it’s original position, lower the hood to approxi-mately 30 cm (12 inches) above the latch and
release it. This allows proper engagement of the
hood latch.
WARNING
●Make sure the hood is completely
closed and latched before driving. Fail-
ure to do so could cause the hood to fly
open and result in an accident.
●If you see steam or smoke coming from
the engine compartment, to avoid injury
do not open the hood.
WARNING
●Do not drive with the trunk lid open. This
could allow dangerous exhaust gases
to be drawn into the vehicle. See “Ex-
haust gas” in the “Starting and driving”
section of this manual.
●Closely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously in-
jured. Keep the car locked, with the rear
seatback and trunk lid securely latched
when not in use, and prevent children’s
access to car keys.
WPD0383
HOODTRUNK LID
3-22Pre-driving checks and adjustments
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/23/08—debbie


To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover as
shown.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector to the N (Neutral)
position while holding down the shift lock
release.
6. Turn the key to the ON position to unlock the
steering wheel. Now the vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.
If the shift selector cannot be moved out of P
(Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the trans-
mission as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunction-
ing stop lights could cause an accident
injuring yourself and others.
Overdrive (O/D) OFF switch
When the O/D OFF switch is pushed with the
shift selector in the D (Drive) position, the
light in the instrument panel illuminates. See
“Overdrive off indicator light” in the “Instruments
and controls” section of this manual.
Use the Overdrive off mode when you need im-
proved engine braking.
To turn off the Overdrive off mode, push the O/D
OFF switch again. The
indicator light will
turn off.
Each time the engine is started, or when the
selector lever is shifted to any position other thanD (Drive) , the Overdrive off mode will be auto-
matically turned off.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, the CVT will
not be shifted into the selected driving position.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated, see “Malfunction indicator light
(MIL)” in the “Instrument and controls” sec-
tion. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then turn
the switch back to the ON position. The
vehicle should return to its normal operat-
ing condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have a
NISSAN dealer check the transmission and
repair if necessary.
LSD0179
5-16Starting and driving
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


WARNING
●Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
●Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
●Do not use the gear shift in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
●Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
To engage:Pull the lever up
A.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the shift selector in the N (Neutral)
position.
CVT models:
Move the shift selector to the P (Park) position.
3. While pulling up on the parking brake lever
slightly, push the button and lower com-
pletely
B.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
1. ACCEL/RES switch
2. COAST/SET switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. ON/OFF switch
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
●If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light in the instrument panel then blinks to
warn the driver.
●If the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control switch off and have the sys-
tem checked by a NISSAN dealer.
WSD0048LSD0176
PARKING BRAKE CRUISE CONTROL (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-19
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


●The SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control switch is turned ON while
pushing the ACCEL/RES, COAST/SET, or
CANCEL switch. To properly set the cruise
control system, use the following proce-
dures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions:
●When it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
●In heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in
speed.
●On winding or hilly roads.
●On slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) .
●In very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control is
set. Should this occur, depress the clutch
pedal and turn the main switch off imme-
diately. Failure to do so may cause engine
damage.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 MPH (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the
ON·OFF switch. The CRUISE indicator light in
the instrument panel comes on.
To set cruising speed,accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The SET indicator light in the
instrument panel comes on. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set
speed.
●To pass another vehicle,depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.●The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed,use one of the
following three methods.
●Push the CANCEL button; the SET indicator
light in the instrument panel goes out.
●Tap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light
goes out.
●Push the ON·OFF switch off. Both the
CRUISE indicator light and SET indicator
light in the instrument panel go out.
The cruise control is automatically canceled and
the SET light in the instrument panel goes out if:
●you depress the brake or clutch pedal while
pushing the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST
switch. The preset speed is deleted from
memory.
●the vehicle slows down more than 8 MPH
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
●you depress the clutch pedal (manual trans-
mission) , or move the shift selector to N
(Neutral) (CVT or A/T)) .
5-20Starting and driving
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


– When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and type
as specified on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See “Tire and
Loading Information label” in the
“Technical and consumer informa-
tion” section of this manual.
– For detailed information, see
“Wheels and tires” in the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section of
this manual.
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 pre-
vent 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 slip-
pery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. De-
press the brake pedal with firm steady pressure,
but do not pump the brakes. The ABS will oper-
ate 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
distances.
Self-test feature
The 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 is normal and does not indicate a
malfunction. If the computer senses a malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and illuminates 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 NISSAN dealer.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above3-6MPH(5
- 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 ap-
plies 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 pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is re-
quired while driving.
Starting and driving5-25
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


10 Index
A
Active Head Restraint..............1-7
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .....................1-40
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system)...............1-47
Side and curtain (See supplemental side
air bag and curtain side-impact air bag
system) ...................1-52
Airbagwarninglabels.............1-55
Airbagwarninglight...........1-55,2-13
Air cleaner housing filter............8-19
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation..........4-11
Air conditioner service...........4-16
Air conditioner specification label.....9-13
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations.............9-7
Heater and air conditioner controls.....4-7
Servicing air conditioner..........4-16
Airflowcharts..................4-13
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-16
Anchorpointlocations.............1-24
Antenna.....................4-38
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-9
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)........5-24
Armrests .....................1-7
Audible reminders................2-15Audio system..................4-16
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-34
Compact disc (CD) player.....4-25,4-29
FM/AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player ....................4-23
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
changer...................4-31
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
player ....................4-27
Radio ....................4-16
Steering wheel audio control switch....4-37
Automatic
Automatic power window switch.....2-33
Automatic door locks...............3-5
AUX jack.................4-26,4-30
Average speed..................4-4
B
Battery......................8-15
Chargewarninglight............2-10
Before starting the engine...........5-10
Belt (See drive belt)..............8-17
Block heater
Engine....................5-27
Bluetoothhands-free phone system.....4-39
Booster seats..................1-35
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)......5-24
Brake fluid..................8-13
Brake light (See stop light).........8-29Brake system................5-24
Brake warning light..............2-9
Brake wear indicators........2-15,8-21
Parking brake operation..........5-19
Self-adjusting brakes............8-21
Brakes......................8-21
Break-in schedule................5-21
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-21
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-9
Bulb replacement................8-29
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
CarphoneorCBradio.............4-39
Cargonet....................2-30
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-14
CD care and cleaning.............4-36
CD changer (See audio system)........4-34
CD player (See audio system).....4-25,4-29
Child restraint with top tether strap......1-23
Child restraints..........1-12,1-20,1-22
Precautions on child
restraints............1-20,1-28,1-35
Top tether strap anchor point
locations...................1-24
Child safety rear door lock............3-6
Chimes,audiblereminders...........2-15
Cleaning exterior and interior..........7-2
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks