2010 NISSAN ALTIMA Owners Manual

Front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag systems
The side air bags are located in the outside of the
seatback of the front seats. The curtain air bags
are located in the side roof rails. These systems
are designed to meet voluntary guidelines to help
reduce the risk of injury to out-of-position occu-
pants.However, all of the information, cau-
tions and warnings in this manual still ap-
ply and must be followed. The side air bags
and curtain air bags are designed to inflate in
higher severity side collisions, although they may inflate if the forces in another type of collision are
similar to those of a higher severity side impact.
They are designed to inflate on the side where the
vehicle is impacted. They may not inflate in cer-
tain side collisions.
Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper side air bag and curtain air
bag operation.
When the side air bags and curtain air bags
inflate, a fairly loud noise may be heard, followed
by release of smoke. This smoke is not harmful
and does not indicate a fire. Care should be taken
not to inhale it, as it may cause irritation and
choking. Those with a history of a breathing con-
dition should get fresh air promptly.
Side air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the chest and
pelvic area of the front occupants. Curtain air
bags help to cushion the impact force to the head
of occupants in the front and rear outboard seat-
ing positions. They can help save lives and re-
duce serious injuries. However, an inflating side
air bag and curtain air bag may cause abrasions
or other injuries. Side air bags and curtain air
bags do not provide restraint to the lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far as
practical away from the side air bag. Rear seat
passengers should be seated as far away as
practical from the door finishers and side roof
rails. The side air bags and curtain air bags inflate
quickly in order to help protect the front occu-
pants. Because of this, the force of the side air
bag and curtain air bag inflating can increase the
risk of injury if the occupant is too close to, or is
against, these air bag modules during inflation.
The side air bags and curtain air bag will deflate
quickly after the collision is over.
The side air bags and curtain air bags op-
erate only when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.

●Right after inflation, several side air bag
and curtain air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you may
severely burn yourself.
● No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the side air bag and curtain air bag
systems. This is to prevent damage to or
accidental inflation of the side air bag
and curtain air bag or damage to the
side air bag and curtain air bag systems.
● Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, sus-
pension system or side panel. This
could affect proper operation of the
side air bag and curtain air bag systems.
● Tampering with the side air bag system
may result in serious personal injury.
For example, do not change the front
seats by placing material near the seat-
backs or by installing additional trim
material, such as seat covers, around
the side air bag. ●
Work around and on the side air bag
and curtain air bag system should be
done by a NISSAN dealer. Installation
of electrical equipment should also be
done by a NISSAN dealer. The SRS wir-
ing harnesses* should not be modified
or disconnected. Unauthorized electri-
cal test equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the side air bag
or curtain air bag system.
* The SRS wiring harness connectors are
yellow and orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the side air bag and
curtain air bag systems and guide the buyer to
the appropriate sections in this Owner’s Manual.
Seat belts with pretensioners (Front
seats)

The pretensioner is encased with the seat belt
retractor. These seat belts are used the same way
as conventional seat belts.
When a pretensioner activates, smoke is re-
leased and a loud noise may be heard. This
smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a fire.
Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it may
cause irritation and choking. Those with a history
of a breathing condition should get fresh air
promptly.
After pretensioner activation, load limiters allow
the seat belt to release webbing (if necessary) to
reduce forces against the chest.
If any abnormality occurs in the pretensioner sys-
tem, the supplemental air bag warning
light

When the ignition is placed in the ON position,
the supplemental air bag warning 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 and curtain air bag and
pretensioner systems need servicing:● 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.
Under these conditions, the front air bag, side air
bag and curtain air bag or pretensioner systems
may not operate properly. They must be checked
and repaired. Take your vehicle to the nearest
NISSAN dealer.

2 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel...................................2-2
Meters and gauges ................................2-3
Speedometer and Odometer . ...................2-4
Tachometer ....................................2-5
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...............2-5
Fuel gauge ....................................2-6
Compass display (if so equipped) ...................2-6
Compass display ...............................2-7
Warning/indicator lights and audible reminders ......2-10
Checking bulbs ............................... 2-10
Warning lights ................................ 2-11
Indicator lights ................................ 2-14
Audible reminders ............................. 2-16
Vehicle information display ......................... 2-17
How to use the Vehicle Information Display .......2-17
Security systems ................................. 2-24
Vehicle security system ......................... 2-24
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............2-25
Windshield wiper and washer switch ...............2-26
Switch operation .............................. 2-26
Rear window and outside mirror (if so equipped)
defroster switch .................................. 2-27
Headlight and turn signal switch ....................2-28Xenon headlights (if so equipped) . . .
............2-28
Headlight control switch ........................ 2-29
Daytime running light system (Canada only) ......2-31
Instrument brightness control ...................2-32
Turn signal switch ............................. 2-32
Fog light switch (if so equipped) ................2-32
Hazard warning flasher switch .....................2-33
Horn ............................................ 2-33
Heated seat (if so equipped) .......................2-34
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF switch .........2-34
Power outlet ..................................... 2-35
Storage ......................................... 2-36
Map pockets .................................. 2-36
Seatback pockets (if so equipped) ..............2-36
Storage pouch (if so equipped) .................2-36
Sunglasses
holder............................. 2-37
Cup holders .................................. 2-38
Glove box .................................... 2-39
Console box .................................. 2-39
Storage box (if so equipped) ....................2-40
Covered storage box ........................... 2-40
Grocery hooks ................................ 2-41
Cargo net (if so equipped) ......................2-41

1. Vents (P. 4-18)
2. Headlight/fog light (if so equipped)/turnsignal switch (P. 2-28) 3. Steering wheel switch for audio control
(if so equipped)/Bluetooth Hands-free
Phone System (if so equipped)
(P. 4-96, P. 4-92, P. 4-107)
4. Meters and gauges (P. 2-3) 5. Driver supplemental air bag/horn
(P. 1-42, P. 2-33)
6. Cruise control main/set switch
(P. 5-19)
7. Windshield wiper and washer switch
(P. 2-26)
8. Ignition switch (P. 5-7)
9. Hazard warning flasher switch (P. 2-33)
10. Front passenger air bag status light
(P. 1-51)
11. Front passenger supplemental air bag
(P. 1-42)
12. Glove box (P. 2-39)
13. Navigation system* (if so equipped)
(P. 4-2)
14. Covered storage box (P. 2-40)
15. Heater and air conditioner (automatic)
(P. 4-27)
16. Heater and air conditioner (manual)
(P. 4-19)
17. Shift selector (P. 5-11)
18. Audio system controls (if so equipped)/
Storage (if so equipped)
(P. 4-30, P.2-40)
19. Tilt/telescopic steering wheel controls
(P. 3-27)

20. Vehicle information display controls(P. 2-17)
21. Hood release (P. 3-23)
22. Trunk opener (P. 3-23) Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
switch (P. 2-34)
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ port (P. 5-7)
*: Refer to the separate Navigation System Own-
er’s Manual (if so equipped) .
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
1. Tachometer
2. Speedometer
3. Fuel gauge
4. Engine coolant temperature gauge
5. Odometer/twin trip odometer
6. Twin trip odometer change button 7. Vehicle information display
8. Instrument brightness control