1. Headlight/fog light (if so equipped)/
turn signal switch (P. 2-20); Manual
shift paddles (if so equipped) (P.5-14 )
2. Steering wheel switch for audio control
and BluetoothHands-Free Phone
System (if so equipped) (P. 4-37, 4-39)3. Driver’s supplemental air bag/Horn
(P. 1-40, 2-23)
4. Meters and gauges (P. 2-3)
5. Instrument brightness control (P. 2-21)
6. Cruise control main/set switches
(if so equipped) (P. 5-19)7.
Windshield wiper/washer switch (P. 2-18)8. Storage bin (if so equipped) (P. 2-25)
9. Audio system (P. 4-16)
10. Center ventilator (P. 4-7)
11. Passenger’s supplemental air bag
(P. 1-40)
12. Side ventilator (P. 4-7)
13. Control panel display (if so equipped)
(P. 4-2)
14. Engine oil pressure gauge
(if so equipped) (P. 2-6)
15. g (gravity) -force gauge (if so equipped)
(P. 2-5)
16. Hazard warning flasher switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-22)
17. Hazard warning flasher switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-22); Manual shift
mode switch (if so equipped) (P.5-14 )
18. Glove box (P. 2-28)
19. Front passenger air bag status light
(P. 1-40)
20. Climate control (P. 4-7)
21. Shift selector (P. 5-12)
22. Power outlet (P. 2-24)
23. Ignition switch (P. 5-7)
24. Tilt steering (P.3-26)
25. Storage bin (P. 2-25)
26. Hood release lever (P. 3-22)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
WIC1486
INSTRUMENT PANEL
0-6Illustrated table of contents
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks
1. Headlight/fog light (if so equipped)
/turn signal switch (P. 2-20); Manual
shift paddles (if so equipped) (P.5-14 )
2. Steering wheel switch for audio control
and BluetoothHands-Free Phone
System (if so equipped) (P. 4-37, 4-39)3. Driver’s supplemental air bag/Horn
(P. 1-40, 2-23)
4. Meters and gauges (P. 2-3)
5. Instrument brightness control (P. 2-21)
6. Cruise control main/set switches
(if so equipped) (P. 5-19)7.
Windshield wiper/washer switch (P. 2-18)8. Storage bin (if so equipped) (P. 2-25)
9. Audio system (P. 4-16)
10. Center ventilator (P. 4-7)
11. Passenger’s supplemental air bag
(P. 1-40)
12. Side ventilator (P. 4-7)
13. Control panel display (if so equipped)
(P. 4-2)
14. Engine oil pressure gauge
(if so equipped) (P. 2-6)
15. g (gravity) -force gauge (if so equipped)
(P. 2-5)
16. Hazard warning flasher switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-22)
17. Hazard warning flasher switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-22); Manual shift
mode switch (if so equipped) (P.5-14 )
18. Glove box (P. 2-28)
19. Front passenger air bag status light
(P. 1-40)
20. Climate control (P. 4-7)
21. Shift selector (P. 5-12)
22. Power outlet (P. 2-24)
23. Ignition switch (P. 5-7)
24. Tilt steering (P.3-26)
25. Storage bin (P. 2-25)
26. Hood release lever (P. 3-22)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
WIC1486
INSTRUMENT PANEL
2-2Instruments and controls
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks
orAnti-lock Braking System
(ABS) warning light
(if so equipped)Low windshield washer fluid warning light
(if so equipped)Cruise set switch indicator light
(if so equipped)
orBrake warning lightNISSAN Intelligent Key™ warning light
(if so equipped)orFront passenger air bag status
light
Charge warning lightP position selecting warning light (CVT mod-
els) (if so equipped)High beam indicator light (Blue)
Door open warning lightSeat belt warning light and chimeMalfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
Electric power steering warning lightSupplemental air bag warning lightOverdrive off indicator light (CVT models)
Engine oil pressure warning lightContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT) po-
sition indicator light (CVT models)Security indicator light
Low fuel warning light (if so equipped)Cruise main switch indicator light (if so
equipped)Turn signal/hazard indicator lights
Low tire pressure warning light
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
2-8Instruments and controls
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks
Refer to “Seat belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” section
for precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warning
light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON or
START position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the front
air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag, and preten-
sioner systems need servicing and your vehicle
must be taken to a NISSAN dealer:
●The supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
●The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
●The supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Unless checked and repaired, the supplemental
restraint system (air bag system) and/or the pre-
tensioners may not function properly. For addi-
tional details see “Supplemental restraint sys-
tem” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system” section of this
manual.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the front air bag,
side air bag, curtain air bag systems
and/or pretensioner systems will not op-
erate in an accident. To help avoid injury
to yourself or others, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) position
indicator light (CVT models)
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this indicator light shows the shift selec-
tor position. See “Driving the vehicle” in the
“Starting and driving” section of this manual.
Cruise main switch indicator
light (if so equipped)
The light comes on when the cruise control main
switch is pushed. The light goes out when the
main switch is pushed again. When the cruise
main switch indicator light comes on, the cruise
control system is operational.
Cruise set switch indicator
light (if so equipped)
The light comes on while the vehicle speed is
controlled by the cruise control system. If the light
blinks while the engine is running, it may indicate
the cruise control system is not functioning prop-
erly. Have the system checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
orFront passenger air
bag status light
The front passenger air bag status light (
or) will be lit and the passenger front air
bag will be OFF depending on how the front
passenger seat is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light operation,
see “Front passenger air bag and status light” in
the “Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental
restraint system” section of this manual.
High beam indicator light
(blue)
This blue light comes on when the headlight high
beams are on and goes out when the low beams
are selected.
Instruments and controls2-13
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/23/08—debbie
5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)..........5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-5
Off-road recovery...............................5-5
Rapid air pressure loss..........................5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-6
Ignition switch. . ...................................5-7
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ (if so equipped).........5-7
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).........5-8
Manual transmission............................5-9
Key positions..................................5-9
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system...............5-10
Before starting the engine.........................5-10
Starting the engine...............................5-10
Driving the vehicle................................5-12
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
(if so equipped)...............................5-12
Manual transmission (if so equipped)............5-17
Parking brake . . ..................................5-19Cruise control (if so equipped).....................5-19
Precautions on cruise control...................5-19
Cruise control operations.......................5-20
Break-in schedule................................5-21
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-21
Parking/parking on hills............................5-22
Power steering...................................5-23
Brake system....................................5-24
Brake precautions.............................5-24
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
(if so equipped)...............................5-24
Cold weather driving..............................5-26
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-26
Anti-freeze....................................5-26
Battery.......................................5-26
Draining of coolant water.......................5-26
Tire equipment................................5-26
Special winter equipment.......................5-26
Driving on snow or ice
.........................5-26
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-27
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
●Whatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even
more traction.
●Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
●Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
●Watch for slippery spots (glare ice) .
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch of
ice is seen ahead, brake before reach-
ing it. Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
●Do not use the cruise control on slip-
pery roads.
●Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
WARNING
●Do not use your engine block heater
with an ungrounded electrical system
or a 2-pronged adapter. You can be se-
riously injured by an electrical shock if
you use an ungrounded connection.
●Disconnect and properly store the en-
gine block heater cord before starting
the engine. Damage to the cord could
result in an electrical shock and can
cause serious injury.
●Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged ex-
tension cord rated for at least 10 A. Plug
the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-VAC outlet. Failure to use the
proper extension cord or a grounded
outlet can result in a fire or electrical
shock and cause serious personal
injury.
Engine block heaters are available through
NISSAN dealers to assist in cold temperature
starting. The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20° F (-7° C) or
lower.To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine block
heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a
grounded 3 wire, 3 pronged extension cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded 110-
volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in
for at least2-4hours, depending on outside
temperatures, to properly warm the engine
coolant. Use an appropriate timer to turn the
engine block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and prop-
erly store the cord to keep it away from
moving parts.
Starting and driving5-27
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks