blends may cause fuel system damage
and/or vehicle performance problems.
At this time, sufficient data is not
available to ensure that all methanol
blends are suitable for use in NISSAN
vehicles.
If any undesirable driveability problems such as
engine stalling or hard hot starting are experi-
enced after using oxygenate-blend fuels, im-
mediately change to a non-oxygenate fuel or a
fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during
refueling. Gasoline containing oxygenates
can cause paint damage.
E-85 fuel
E-85 fuel is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel
ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. E-85 can
only be used in a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) . Do
not use E-85 fuel in your vehicle. U.S. govern-
ment regulations require fuel ethanol dispensing
pumps to be identified by a small, square,
orange and black label with the common
abbreviation or the appropriate percentage for
that region.
Aftermarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of any
aftermarket fuel additives (Example: fuel injector
cleaner, octane booster, intake valve deposit
removers, etc.) which are sold commercially.
Many of these additives intended for gum,
varnish or deposit removal may contain active
solvent or similar ingredients that can be harmful
to the fuel system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than recommended above can
cause persistent, heavy spark knock.
(Spark knock is a metallic rapping noise.)
If severe, this can lead to engine damage.
If you detect a persistent heavy spark
knock even when using gasoline of the
stated octane rating, or if you hear steady
spark knock while holding a steady speed
on level roads, have a NISSAN dealer
correct the condition. Failure to correct
the condition is misuse of the vehicle, for
which NISSAN is not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing will result in knocking,
after-run or overheating. This in turn may cause
excessive fuel consumption or damage to the
engine. If any of the above symptoms are
encountered, have your vehicle checked at a
NISSAN dealer or other competent service facility.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is no
cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
Technical and consumer information9-5
9-6Technical and consumer information
STI0505
1. API certification mark
2. API service symbol
ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER RE-
COMMENDATION
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose the correct grade,
quality, and viscosity engine oil to ensure
satisfactory engine life and performance, see
“Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants”
(P.9-2) . NISSAN recommends the use of an
energy conserving oil in order to improve fuel
economy.
Select only engine oils that meet the American
Petroleum Institute (API) certification or Interna-tional Lubricant Standardization and Approval
Committee (ILSAC) certification and SAE vis-
cosity standard. These oils have the API
certification mark on the front of the container.
Oils which do not have the specified quality
label should not be used as they could cause
engine damage.
Oil additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of oil
additives. The use of an oil additive is not
necessary when the proper oil type is used and
maintenance intervals are followed.
Oil which may contain foreign matter or has
been previously used should not be used.
Oil viscosity
The engine oil viscosity or thickness changes
with temperature. Because of this, it is important
that the engine oil viscosity be selected based
on the temperatures at which the vehicle will be
operated before the next oil change. Choosing
an oil viscosity other than that recommended
could cause serious engine damage.
Selecting the correct oil filter
Your new vehicle is equipped with a high-quality
genuine NISSAN oil filter. When replacing, use
the genuine oil filter or its equivalent for the
reason described in change intervals.
Change intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Oil and filter other than the
specified quality, or oil and filter change intervals
longer than recommended could reduce engine
life. Damage to engines caused by improper
maintenance or use of incorrect oil and filter
quality and/or viscosity is not covered by the
new NISSAN vehicle limited warranties.
Your engine was filled with a high quality engine
oil when it was built. You do not have to change
the oil before the first recommended change
interval. Oil and filter change intervals depend
upon how you use your vehicle. Operation under
9-8Technical and consumer information
ENGINE
ModelVQ37VHR
Type Gasoline, 4-cycle
Cylinder arrangement 6-cylinder, V-slanted at 608
Bore 6Stroke in (mm) 3.76063.385 (95.5 686.0)
Displacement cu in (cm
3) 225.54 (3,696)
Firing order 1-2-3-4-5-6
Idle speed rpm
No adjustment is necessary.
Ignition timing (B.T.D.C.) degree/rpm
Spark plug Standard FXE24HR-11
Spark plug gap (Normal) in (mm) 0.043 (1.1)
Camshaft operation Timing chain
This spark ignition system complies with
the Canadian standard ICES-002.
STI0425
VQ37VHR engine
SPECIFICATIONS
If you plan to travel in another country,you
should first find out if the fuel available is suitable
for your vehicle’s engine.
Using fuel with too low an octane rating may
cause engine damage. All gasoline vehicles
must be operated with unleaded gasoline.
Therefore, avoid taking your vehicle to areas
where appropriate fuel is not available.
When transferring the registration of your
vehicle to another country, state, province
or district, it may be necessary to modify the
vehicle to meet local laws and regulations.
The laws and regulations for motor vehicle
emission control and safety standards vary
according to the country, state, province or
district; therefore, vehicle specifications may
differ.
When any vehicle is to be taken into
another country, state, province or district
and registered, its modifications, transpor-
tation, and registration are the responsi-
bility of the user. NISSAN is not
responsible for any inconvenience that
may result.
STI0612
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
(VIN) PLATE
The vehicle identification number plate is at-
tached as shown. This number is the identifica-
tion for your vehicle and is used in the vehicle
registration.
STI0613
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
(chassis number)
The number is stamped as shown in the engine
compartment.
Technical and consumer information9-11
WHEN TRAVELING OR
REGISTERING YOUR VEHICLE IN
ANOTHER COUNTRY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
9-12Technical and consumer information
STI0509
ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER
The number is stamped on the engine as shown.
STI0616
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. CERTIFICATION
LABEL
The Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S.) certification
label is affixed as shown. This label contains
valuable vehicle information, such as: Gross
Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR) , Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) , month and year of
manufacture, Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) , etc. Review it carefully.
STI0615
EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION
LABEL
The emission control information label is at-
tached as shown.
9-20Technical and consumer information
Do not tow a trailer with your vehicle.Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a
vehicle behind a recreational vehicle, such as a
motor home.
CAUTION
.Failure to follow these guidelines
can result in severe transmission
damage.
. Whenever flat towing your vehicle,
always tow forward, never back-
ward.
. DO NOT tow any automatic trans-
mission vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground (flat towing) . Doing
so WILL DAMAGE internal transmis-
sion parts due to lack of transmis-
sion lubrication.
. For emergency towing procedures
refer to “Towing recommended by
NISSAN (except for NISMO mod-
els)” (P.6-19) of this manual.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly MUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels. Always follow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
. Always tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
. Your vehicle speed should never exceed 70
MPH (112 km/h) when flat towing your
vehicle.
. After towing 500 miles, start and idle the
engine with the transmission in Neutral for
two minutes. Failure to idle the engine after
every 500 miles of towing may cause
damage to the transmission’s internal parts.
TOWING A TRAILER FLAT TOWING
(French speakers).
To notify NISSAN of any safety concerns
please contact our Consumer Information
Centre toll free at 1-800-387-0122.Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be
required to be in what is called the “ready
condition” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
test of the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when
it is driven through certain driving patterns.
Usually, the “ready condition” can be obtained
by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready condition”. Before taking
the I/M test, check the vehicle’s inspection/
maintenance test readiness condition. Place the
ignition switch in the ON position without
starting the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and
then blinks for 10 seconds, the I/M test
condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condition is
“ready”.
Contact a NISSAN dealer to set “ready condi-
tion” or to prepare the vehicle for testing.This vehicle is equipped with an Event
Data Recorder (EDR) . The main purpose of
an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is
designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to
record such data as:
.
How various systems in your vehicle
were operating;
. Whether or not the driver and passen-
ger safety belts were buckled/fas-
tened;
. How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or
brake pedal; and,
. How fast the vehicle was traveling.
. Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE:
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only
if a nontrivial crash situation occurs; no
data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal
Technical and consumer information9-23
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ............................ 5-26
Advanced air bag system ......................................... 1-33
Air bag systemAdvanced air bag system .................................. 1-33
Front passenger air bag and status light....... 1-35
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system ............................ 1-38
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag system ............................ 1-38
Air bag warning labels............................................... 1-40
Air bag warning light...................................... 1-41, 2-13
Air cleaner housing filter ........................................... 8-19
Air conditioner Air conditioner operation.................................... 4-24
Air conditioner service ........................................ 4-30
Air conditioner specification label.................... 9-13
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations....................... 4-30, 9-7
In-cabin microfilter ............................................... 4-30
Air deflectors................................................................ 9-16
Alarm, How to stop alarm (see vehicle
security system)........................................................... 2-28
Alcohol, drugs and driving.......................................... 5-7
Antenna.......................................................................... 4-79
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ............................ 5-26
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light..... 2-10
Appearance care Exterior appearance care ...................................... 7-2
Interior appearance care ....................................... 7-5
Audible reminders....................................................... 2-16
Audio operation precautions.................................... 4-31
Audio system................................................................ 4-31 Steering wheel audio controls.......................... 4-77 Autochanger
Compact Disc (CD) ............................................ 4-49
Autolight system.......................................................... 2-32
Automatic Air conditioner (Type A) ..................................... 4-25
Air conditioner (Type B) ..................................... 4-28
Automatic adjusting function
(front windows)..................................................... 2-46
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF).................. 8-13
Door locks................................................................. 3-5
Driving with automatic transmission................ 5-12
AUX (Auxiliary) button.................................... 4-46, 4-51
Auxiliary input jacks .................................................... 4-75
Avoiding collision and rollover ................................... 5-6
B
Battery............................................................................ 8-16 Battery saver system........................................... 2-34
Intelligent Key........................................................ 8-25
Variable voltage control system........................ 8-18
Before starting the engine........................................ 5-11
Belts (See drive belts)............................................... 8-18
Bluetooth
®hands-free phone system
(models with navigation system)............................. 4-81
Bluetooth
®hands-free phone system
(models without navigation system) ....................... 4-91
Bluetooth
®streaming audio ..................................... 4-63
Booster seats............................................................... 1-24
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..................... 5-26
Brake and clutch fluid......................................... 8-14
Brake fluid.............................................................. 8-14
Brake system......................................................... 5-25
Parking brake operation ..................................... 5-20
Warning light......................................................... 2-10 Break-in schedule ....................................................... 5-23
Brightness control......................................................... 4-7 Display ON/OFF button ........................................ 4-7
Instrument panel................................................... 2-34
Bulb check/instrument panel ................................... 2-10
Bulb replacement........................................................ 8-27
C
Cabin air filter............................................................... 4-30
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ....... 9-2
Car phone or CB radio ............................................. 4-80
Cargo cover.................................................................. 2-43
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst................... 5-3
CD/CF/USB memory care and cleaning .............. 4-76
Center multi-function control panel
(models with navigation system)............................... 4-3
Child restraints............................................................. 1-18 Booster seats........................................................ 1-24
Precautions on child restraints......................... 1-18
Top tether strap.................................................... 1-19
Child safety................................................................... 1-15
Chimes Audible reminders................................................ 2-16
Seat belt warning light and chime................... 2-13
Circuit breaker, Fusible link...................................... 8-23
Cleaning exterior and interior............................ 7-2, 7-5
Clock..................................................................... 2-8, 2-25
Clutch fluid.................................................................... 8-14
Cockpit ............................................................................ 2-3
Cold weather driving.................................................. 5-31
Compact Disc (CD) changer (See
audio system)............................................................... 4-49
Compact Disc (CD) player (See
audio system)................................................... 4-45, 4-54
Compact spare tire..................................................... 8-40