Black plate (289,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
Accelerator downshift
— In D (Drive) position —For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, depend-
ing on the vehicle speed.Fail-safeWhen the fail-safe operation occurs, note that
the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spin-
ning and subsequent hard braking, the
fail-safe system may be activated. This will
occur even if all electrical circuits are
functioning properly. In this case, push
the ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition
switch back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating
condition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair if ne-
cessary.
SSD0829
Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low or discharged, the
selector lever may not be moved from the P
(Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed and the selector lever button pushed.
To move the selector lever, perform the following
procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCKposition.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
*A
using a
suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock
*B
using a
suitable tool as illustrated.
5. Push the selector lever button
*C
and move
the selector lever to the N (Neutral) position
*D
while holding down the shift lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. Now the vehicle may
be moved to the desired location.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel locked.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have a NISSAN dealer check the automatic
transmission system as soon as possible.
Starting and driving
5-15
Black plate (292,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
While the S-MODE is off, you can drive the
vehicle as a conventional manual transmission
model.
Note that the status of the S-MODE (on or off) is
memorized even after the ignition switch is
turned off; however, it will be initialized (off)
when the battery is disconnected.
The transmission position indicator
*C
shows
the selected gear: N (Neutral) , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R
(Reverse) .
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) op-
eration:
The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) auto-
matically adjusts the engine speed by controlling
the engine throttle. The accelerator pedal does
not have to be depressed.
The system detects the clutch pedal and shift
lever operations, and then calculates the target
engine speed using the shifting gear position
and the vehicle speed information.
The system provides accurate engine speed
control that helps achieve quick gear shifting
and reduces shift shock on clutch engagement.
. When downshifting:
The engine speed is automatically increased
to the target engine speed before the clutch
is engaged. .
When upshifting:
The engine speed is automatically kept after
the engine speed lowers to the target
engine speed.
Rapid clutch engagement before the engine
speed lowers to the target engine speed
may cause shift shock.
. When depressing the clutch pedal with
the gear engaged:
The engine speed is automatically kept at
the proper engine speed for the engaged
gear.
This function will not operate when low (1st)
gear is selected.
There is a delay between the clutch pedal
operation and the S-MODE operation. Make
sure the engine speed is adjusted before
engaging the clutch again.
SSD0832
Upshift indicator (if so equipped for
Manual Transmission models)The manual transmission up-shift indicator is
located in the tachometer and shows the driver
the timing to shift into a higher gear by
illuminating. The use of the up-shift indicator
will help you to upshift at a constant engine
speed from any gear.
The up-shift indicator will start flashing when the
engine speed reaches about 500 rpm before the
set figure while driving, and then illuminate after
the engine speed reaches the set figure.
The engine speed for upshifting can be set on
the vehicle information display. See “Setting” in
the “2. Instruments and controls” section.
5-18
Starting and driving
Black plate (304,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCKTo prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the
key hole or use the Intelligent Key system.ANTIFREEZEIn the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 328F(0 8C) ,
check antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see “ENGINE
COOLING SYSTEM” in the “8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section.BATTERYIf the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery should
be checked regularly. For additional information,
see “BATTERY” in the “8. Maintenance and do-
it-yourself” section.DRAINING OF COOLANT WATERIf the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “ENGINE COOLING
SYSTEM” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section.
TIRE EQUIPMENTSUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be
substantially reduced in snowy and icy condi-
tions. If you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy
roads, NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Consult a NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. states
and Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see “TIRE
CHAINS” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENTIt is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades. .
A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
.Wet ice (32 8F, 0 8C and freezing rain) ,
very cold snow or ice can be slick
and very hard to drive on. The
vehicle will have much less traction
or “grip” under these conditions. Try
to avoid driving on wet ice until the
road is salted or sanded.
. Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting 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 pave-
ment.
. Allow greater following distances
on slippery roads.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING5-30
Starting and driving
Black plate (321,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
screw the hose securely onto the tire valve.
Check the tire pressure with the pressure
gauge. The temporary repair is completed if
the tire pressure does not drop.
Make sure the pressure is adjusted to the
pressure that is specified on the tire and
loading information label before driving.
10. If the tire pressure drops, repeat the steps from 5 to 9. If the pressure drops again or
under 130 kPa (19 psi), the tire cannot be
repaired with this tire repair kit. Contact
a NISSAN dealer.
The sealant bottle and hose can not be
reused to repair another punctured tire.
Contact a NISSAN dealer to purchase
replacements.
After repairing tireSee a NISSAN dealer for tire repair/replacement
as soon as possible.
WARNING
. After using Emergency Tire Sealant
to repair a minor tire puncture, do
not drive the vehicle at speeds
faster than 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
. Immediately after using Emergency
Tire Sealant to repair a minor tire puncture, take your vehicle to a
NISSAN dealer to inspect, and re-
pair or replace the tire. The Emer-
gency Tire Sealant cannot
permanently seal a punctured tire.
Continuing operation of the vehicle
without a permanent tire repair can
lead to a crash.
. If you used Emergency Tire Sealant
to repair a minor tire puncture, your
NISSAN dealer will also need to
replace the TPMS sensor in addition
to repairing or replacing the tire.
. NISSAN recommends using only
NISSAN Genuine Emergency Tire
Sealant provided with your vehicle.
Other tire sealants may damage the
valve stem seal which can cause the
tire to lose air pressure. To start your engine with a booster battery, the
instructions and precautions below must be
followed.
WARNING
.
If done incorrectly, jump starting
can lead to a battery explosion,
resulting in severe injury or death.
It could also damage your vehicle.
. Explosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
. Do not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, clothing
or painted surfaces. Battery fluid is
a corrosive sulphuric acid solution
which can cause severe burns. If the
fluid should come into contact with
anything, immediately flush the con-
tacted area with water.
. Keep the battery out of the reach of
children.
. The booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.
. Whenever working on or near a
battery, always wear suitable eyeJUMP STARTING
In case of emergency
6-15
Black plate (322,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
protectors (for example, goggles or
industrial safetyspectacles) and
remove rings, metal bands, or any
other jewelry. Do not lean over the
battery when jump starting.
. Do not attempt to jump start a
frozen battery. It could explode
and cause serious injury.
. Your vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other
objects away from it.
SCE0791
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*A
, position the two vehicles (
*A
and
*B)
to bring their batteries into close proximity to
each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply parking brake. Move the selector lever to the P (Park) position (Automatic transmis- sion models) . Move the shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position (Manual transmission
models) . Switch off all unnecessary elec-
trical systems (light, heater, air conditioner,
etc.) .
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so equipped) . Cover the battery with a firmly
wrung out moist cloth
*C
to reduce
explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
*1
?
*2
?
*3
?
*4).
If the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged, the steering wheel will lock
and cannot be turned. Supply power
6-16
In case of emergency
Black plate (323,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
using jumper cables before pushing
the ignition switch and disengaging
the steering lock.
CAUTION
.Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative ( ) to body
ground (as illustrated) — not to the
battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
*A
and let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster vehicle
*A
at about 2,000 rpm, and start
the engine of the vehicle being jump started
*B.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, push the
ignition switch to the OFF position
and wait 10 seconds before trying
again. 7. After starting your engine, carefully discon-
nect the negative cable and then the positive
cable (
*4
?
*3
?
*2
?
*1).
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped) . Be sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes as it may be contaminated
with corrosive acid.
9. Put the battery cover on. Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing.
CAUTION
.
Automatic transmission models
cannot be push-started or tow-
started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.
. Three way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three way catalyst may be
damaged.
. Never try to start the vehicle by
towing it; when the engine starts,
the forward surge could cause the
vehicle to collide with the tow
vehicle.PUSH STARTING
In case of emergency
6-17
Black plate (25,1)
8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
Maintenance requirement..................................... 8-2
Scheduled maintenance ................................... 8-2
General maintenance ...................................... 8-2
Where to go for service ................................... 8-2
General maintenance .......................................... 8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ....................... 8-2
Maintenance precautions ..................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ...................... 8-7
VQ37VHR engine model. ................................. 8-7
Engine cooling system ......................................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level ........................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant ................................. 8-9
Engine oil ......................................................... 8-9
Checking engine oil level ................................. 8-9
Changing engine oil and filter ............................ 8-9
Automatic transmission fluid ................................ 8-11
Power steering fluid .......................................... 8-12
Brake and clutch fluid ....................................... 8-12
Brake fluid .................................................. 8-13
Clutch fluid ................................................. 8-13
Window washer fluid ........................................ 8-13
Battery .......................................................... 8-14
Jump starting .............................................. 8-16
Variable voltage control system ............................ 8-16
Drive belts ...................................................... 8-16 Spark plugs
.................................................... 8-17
Replacing spark plugs ................................... 8-17
Air cleaner ...................................................... 8-18
Windshield wiper blades .................................... 8-18
Cleaning .................................................... 8-18
Replacing ................................................... 8-19
Brakes ........................................................... 8-20
Self-adjusting brakes .................................... 8-20
Brake pad wear warning ................................ 8-20
Fuses ............................................................ 8-20
Engine compartment ..................................... 8-20
Passenger compartment ................................ 8-22
Intelligent Key battery replacement ....................... 8-22
Lights ............................................................ 8-24
Coupe ....................................................... 8-24
Roadster .................................................... 8-25
Headlights .................................................. 8-26
Exterior and interior lights ............................... 8-26
Wheels and tires .............................................. 8-28
Tire pressure ............................................... 8-28
Tire labeling ................................................ 8-31
Types of tires .............................................. 8-33
Tire chains .................................................. 8-34
Changing wheels and tires ............................. 8-35
Emergency tire puncture repair kit
(if so equipped) ........................................... 8-37
Black plate (344,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
Warning lights and chimes:Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and
in sufficient quantity when operating the heater
or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.Under the hood and vehicleThe maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time you
check the engine oil or refuel) .
Battery*: Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe condition require frequent checks of the
battery fluid level.
Brake and clutch fluid levels*: Make sure
that the brake and clutch fluid levels are
between the MAX and MIN lines on the
reservoirs.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts*: Make sure that no belt is
frayed, worn, cracked or oily. Engine oil level*:
Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level spot and turning off the
engine. Wait more than 15 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the oil pan.
Exhaust system: Make sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by a NISSAN dealer. (See
“PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING AND
DRIVING” in the “5. St arting and driving”
section for exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .)
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for fuel,
oil, water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from the
air conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected
immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines: Check
the level with the engine off. Check the lines for
proper attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections. Underbody:
The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan, frame, fuel
lines and around the exhaust system. At the end
of winter, the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to clean
those areas where mud and dirt may accumu-
late. For additional information, see “CLEANING
EXTERIOR” in the “7. Appearance and care”
section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.8-4
Maintenance and do-it-yourself