Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of the
exterior lights in the rain or in a car wash. A
temperature difference between the inside and
the outside of the lens causes the fog. This is not
a malfunction. If large drops of water collect
inside the lens, contact a NISSAN dealer.
Removing the headlight bulb
1. Open the hood.
2. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the
rear end of the bulb.4. Turn the bulb retaining ring counterclock-
wise until it is free from the headlight reflec-
tor and then remove it
sA.
5. Carefully remove the headlight bulb. Do not
shake or rotate the bulb when removing it
sB.
Replacing the headlight bulb
1. Insert the bulb.
DO NOT TOUCH THE BULB WITH BARE
HANDS.
2. Install and tighten the bulb retainer.
cBe sure the lip of the bulb socket con-
tacts the headlight body.
3. Push the electrical connector into the bulb
plastic base until it snaps and stops.
4. Connect the negative (-) battery cable.
5. Close the hood.
LDI0446
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-31
ENGINE
ModelVQ40DE VK56DE
TypeGasoline, 4-cycle, DOHC Gasoline, 4-cycle, DOHC
Cylinder arrangement 6-cylinder, V-block, Slanted at 60° 8-cylinder, V-block, Slanted at 90°
Bore x Stroke in (mm) 3.760 x 3.622 (95.5 x 92) 3.858 x 3.622 (98 x 92)
Displacement cu in (cm
3) 241.30 (3,954) 338.78 (5,552)
Firing order1–2–3–4–5–6 1–8–7–3–6–5–4–2
Idle speed
A/T (in “N” position) No adjustment is necessary.
Ignition timing (degree B.T.D.C. at idle
speed)
CO % at idle
Spark plugDILFR5A–11 DILFR5A–11
Spark plug gap (Nominal) in (mm) 0.043 (1.1) 0.043 (1.1)
Camshaft operation Timing chain Timing chain
This spark ignition system complies with the Canadian standard ICES-002.
SPECIFICATIONS
Technical and consumer information9-7
WARNING
Trailer hitch components have specific
weight ratings. Your vehicle may be capable
of towing a trailer heavier than the weight
rating of the hitch components. Never ex-
ceed the weight rating of the hitch compo-
nents. Doing so can cause serious personal
injury or property damage.
Hitch ball
Choose a hitch ball of the proper size and weight
rating for your trailer:
cThe required hitch ball size is stamped on
most trailer couplers. Most hitch balls also
have the size printed on the top of the ball.
cChoose the proper class hitch ball based on
the trailer weight.
cThe diameter of the threaded shank of the
hitch ball must be matched to the ball mount
hole diameter. The hitch ball shank should
be no more than 1/16” smaller than the hole
in the ball mount.
cThe threaded shank of the hitch ball must be
long enough to be properly secured to the
ball mount. There should be at least 2
threads showing beyond the lock washer
and nut.
Ball mount
The hitch ball is attached to the ball mount and
the ball mount is inserted into the hitch receiver.
Choose a proper class ball mount based on the
trailer weight. Additionally, the ball mount should
be chosen to keep the trailer tongue level with the
ground.
Weight carrying hitches
A weight carrying or “dead weight” ball mount is
one that is designed to carry the whole amount of
tongue weight and gross weight directly on the
ball mount and on the receiver.
Weight distribution hitch
This type of hitch is also called a “load-leveling” or
“equalizing” hitch. A set of bars attach to the ball
mount and to the trailer to distribute the tongue
weight (hitch weight) of your trailer. Many vehicles
can’t carry the full tongue weight of a given trailer,
and need some of the tongue weight transferred
through the frame and pushing down on the front
wheels. This gives stability to the tow vehicle.
A weight-distributing hitch system (Class IV) is
recommended if you plan to tow trailers with a
maximum weight over 5,000 lbs. Check with the
trailer and towing equipment manufacturers to
determine if they recommend the use of a weight-
distributing hitch system.NOTE:
A weight-distributing hitch system may af-
fect the operation of trailer surge brakes. If
you are considering use of a weight-
distributing hitch system with a surge
brake-equipped trailer, check with the
surge brake, hitch or trailer manufacturer
to determine if and how this can be done.
Follow the instructions provided by the manufac-
turer for installing and using the weight-
distributing hitch system.
General set-up instructions are as follows:
1. Park unloaded vehicle on a level surface.
With the ignition on and the doors closed,
allow the vehicle to stand for several minutes
so that it can level.
2. Measure the height of a reference point on
the front and rear bumpers at the center of
the vehicle.
3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle and adjust
the hitch equalizers so that the front bumper
height is within0-.5inches (0 – 13 mm) of
the reference height measured in step 2. The
rear bumper should be no higher than the
reference height measured in step 2.
Technical and consumer information9-21
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
Electric trailer brake controller
Trailers equipped with electric brakes may re-
quire the installation of an aftermarket trailer
brake controller.
A Genuine NISSAN jumper harness is available
that is specifically designed to be used when
installing an aftermarket brake controller.
Install the aftermarket electric trailer brake con-
troller according to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
Pre-towing tips
cBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it
has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible
causes of either condition.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.cKeep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
cLoad the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.
cCheck your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and
trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a
trailer to the vehicle.
cBe certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
cDetermine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.cLock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadvert-
ently becoming unlatched.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill
side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
9-24Technical and consumer information
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly
release the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Make sure the
indicator light (if so
equipped) indicates the transfer case is in
4H, 4L, or 2H and that the ATP light is off. If
the
indicator light is flashing, or the
ATP light is ON, make sure the transmission
is in P (Park) (AT) and turn the 4WD switch
to 2WD or 4H. See “Automatic transmission
park warning light” in the “Instruments and
controls” section and “Using four wheel
drive (4WD)” in the “Starting and driving”
section.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
cWhile going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
cIf the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
Technical and consumer information9-25
10 Index
4WD warning light...............2-15
A
Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system . . .5-35
Adjusting pedal position............3-25
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-44
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system)...............1-52
Air bag warning labels.............1-58
Air bag warning light...........1-59, 2-18
Air cleaner housing filter............8-19
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation..........4-39
Air conditioner service...........4-47
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations.............9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-37, 4-44
Rear seat air conditioner..........4-46
Servicing air conditioner..........4-47
Air flow charts..................4-41
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-22
Anchor point locations.............1-30
Antenna.....................4-87
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-13
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)........5-34
Audible reminders...............2-21Audio system..................4-47
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-62
Compact disc (CD) player.....4-56, 4-70
Audio System
CompactFlash (CF) player.........4-72
Audio system
FM/AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-54
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) changer................4-59
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player.................4-67
Audio System
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system....................4-74
Audio system
Radio....................4-47
Rear audio controls.............4-86
Audio System
Settings...............4-59, 4-67
Audio system
Steering wheel audio control switch . . .4-85
Autolight switch.................2-28
Automatic
Automatic drive positioner.........3-30
Automatic power window switch.....2-45
Automatic transmission position indicator
light.....................2-18
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-14
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-17
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.......3-27
Automatic door locks..............3-6AUX jack.................4-65, 4-72
B
Battery......................8-15
Charge warning light............2-14
Before starting the engine...........5-13
Belt (See drive belt)..............8-18
Block heater
Engine....................5-38
BluetoothThands-free phone
system.................4-103, 4-118
Booster seats..................1-41
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)......5-34
Brake fluid..................8-14
Brake light (See stop light).........8-32
Brake system................5-33
Brake warning light.............2-14
Brake wear indicators........2-21, 8-24
Parking brake operation..........5-19
Self-adjusting brakes............8-24
Brakes......................8-24
Break-in schedule...............5-21
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-30
Brightness/contrast button.......4-17, 4-33
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-13
Bulb replacement................8-32
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
Car phone or CB radio............4-103
Cargo light....................2-49
Cargo (See vehicle loading information). . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning..............4-83
CD changer (See audio system)........4-62
CD player (See audio system)......4-56, 4-70
Child restraint with top tether strap.......1-30
Child restraints.......1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-28
Precautions on child
restraints.........1-26, 1-33, 1-37, 1-41
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-30
Child safety rear door lock............3-7
Chimes, audible reminders...........2-21
Cleaning exterior and interior...........7-2
Clock................4-55, 4-60, 4-68
(models with navigation system) . . .4-13, 4-28
Clock set.................4-13, 4-28
C.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-10
Cold weather driving..............5-37
Compact disc (CD) player........4-56, 4-70
CompactFlash (CF) player...........4-72
Console box...................2-36
Control panel buttons..............4-18
Brightness/contrast button......4-17, 4-33
Enter button...............4-4, 4-18
Setting button.............4-11, 4-26
Startup screen................4-21
Without navigation system..........4-4
Controls
Audio controls (steering wheel).......4-85Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-37, 4-44
Rear audio controls.............4-86
Rear seat air conditioner..........4-46
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant...........8-9
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Corrosion protection...............7-5
Cruise control..................5-20
Cup holders...................2-38
Curtain side-impact and rollover air bag. . . .1-56
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-29
Defroster switch
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch.....................2-26
Digital video disc DVD..............4-88
Dimensions and weights.............9-8
Dimmer switch for instrument panel......2-30
Display controls
(see control panel buttons)........4-4, 4-18
Distance to empty.............4-7, 4-22
Door locks.....................3-4
Door open warning light.............2-15
Drive belt.....................8-18
Drive positioner, Automatic...........3-30
Driving
Cold weather driving............5-37
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-14
Precautions when starting and driving. . . .5-2E
Economy - fuel..................5-22
Emission control information label.......9-11
Emission control system warranty.......9-28
Engine
Before starting the engine..........5-13
Block heater.................5-38
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant...........8-9
Changing engine oil.............8-11
Changing engine oil filter..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Checking engine oil level...........8-9
Engine compartment check locations. . . .8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine cooling system............8-8
Engine oil...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil pressure warning light......2-15
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Engine serial number............9-10
Engine specifications.............9-7
Starting the engine.............5-13
Engine oil pressure gauge............2-7
Enter button.................4-4, 4-18
Event data recorders..............9-29
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide).........5-2
Eyeglass case..................2-37
10-2
K
Key.........................3-2
Keyfob battery replacement...........8-27
Keyless entry
With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system).........3-17
Keyless entry system
(See remote keyless entry system)........3-7
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
C.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-10
Emission control information label.....9-11
Engine serial number............9-10
F.M.V.S.S. certification label.........9-10
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-58
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System......................1-28
License plate
Installing the license plate..........9-12
Lift gate......................3-21
Light
Air bag warning light.........1-59, 2-18
Brake light (See stop light).........8-32
Bulb check/instrument panel........2-13
Bulb replacement..............8-32
Charge warning light............2-14
Fog light switch...............2-30
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-27Headlight control switch..........2-27
Headlights..................8-30
Interior light..................2-47
Light bulbs..................8-30
Low tire pressure warning light.......2-16
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-17
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-53
Personal lights................2-48
Security indicator light............2-20
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders...................2-12
Lights
Map lights..................2-49
Lock
Child safety rear door lock..........3-7
Door locks...................3-4
Power door locks...............3-6
Low fuel warning light..............2-16
Low tire pressure warning light.........2-16
Low washer fluid warning light.........2-17
Luggage hook..................2-40
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
Luggage storage
(see vehicle loading information)........2-40
M
Maintenance
Changing the maintenance
interval.................4-10, 4-25
Displaying the maintenance notice
reminder................4-10, 4-25
General maintenance.............8-2
Inside the vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions...........8-5Outside the vehicle..............8-2
Resetting the maintenance
interval.................4-10, 4-25
Seat belt maintenance............1-24
Setting.................4-9, 4-24
Under the hood and vehicle.........8-4
Malfunction indicator light............2-19
Manual front seat adjustment...........1-2
Map lights....................2-49
Map pocket....................2-38
Meters and gauges................2-3
Instrument brightness control........2-30
Mirror
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror......3-27
Inside mirror.................3-26
Outside mirror control............3-29
Outside mirrors...............3-29
Vanity mirror.................3-26
Moonroof.....................2-46
Music Box hard-disk drive audio system. . . .4-74
N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™..........3-3, 3-11
NISSAN mobile entertainment system
(MES).......................4-88
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system................2-23, 3-2, 5-12
NISSAN voice recognition system......4-129
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating)......9-4
Odometer.....................2-4
10-4