2012 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE warning

WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
●Be 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.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Keep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
● Load 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.
● Check 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. ●
Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
● Determine 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.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
● Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
● Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
● Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. ●
When 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.
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. Turn off the engine.
Technical and consumer information9-21

DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature A, B and C
The temperature grades are A (the highest) , B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is es-
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, or excessive loading, ei-
ther separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
9-24Technical and consumer information

10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ........5-25
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .....................1-40
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system) ...............1-49
Airbagwarninglight...........1-55,2-14
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-20
Air conditioner Air conditioner operation ..........4-21
Air conditioner service ...........4-28
Air conditioner specification label .....9-12
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations .............9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-19,4-26
Servicing air conditioner ..........4-28
Airflowcharts..................4-22
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system) .........2-25
Anchor point locations .............1-26
Antenna.....................4-99
Anti-lock brake warning light ..........2-11
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-25
Armrests .....................1-9
Audible reminders ...............2-16
Audio system ..................4-29
Bluetooth audio..............4-93
Compact disc (CD)
player..........4-46,4-52,4-63,4-69 FM-AM radio with compact disc
(CD)
player ....................4-44
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-59
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player
..............4-48,4-54
Audio System iPod Player..........4-78,4-80,4-82
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system ....................4-85
Audio system Radio ....................4-29
Audio System Settings...................4-60
Audio system USB interface .........4-71,4-73,4-75
Autolight switch .................2-31
Automatic Automatic power window switch .....2-45
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-16
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .......3-31
Automatic door locks ..............3-5
AUXjack.................4-47,4-53
B
Battery ......................8-16
Chargewarninglight............2-11
Before starting the engine ...........5-10
Belt (See drive belt) ..............8-18
Block heater Engine ....................5-29 Bluetooth
audio................4-93
Bluetooth hands-free phone
system .................4- 100, 4-114
Boosterseats..................1-37
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-25
Brakefluid..................8-14
Brakelight(Seestoplight).........8-30
Brake system ................5-24
Brake warning light .............2-11
Brake wear indicators ........2-16,8-22
Parking brake operation ..........5-19
Self-adjusting brakes ............8-22
Brakes ......................8-22
B

reak-inschedule ...............5-22
Brightness/contrast button ...........4-12
Brightness control Instrument panel ..............2-33
Bulb check/instrument panel ..........2-10
Bulbreplacement................8-30
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ...................9-2
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CarphoneorCBradio............4-100
CDcareandcleaning .............4-96
CD player
(See audio system) ....4-46,4-52,4-63,4-69
Check tire pressure ...............2-25
Child restraints .......1-20,1-21,1-22,1-24

Precautions on child
restraints.........1-22,1-28,1-33,1-37
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-26
Child safety rear door lock ............3-6
Chimes, audible reminders ...........2-16
Cleaningexteriorandinterior...........7-2
Clock ...................4-45,4-50 (models with navigation system) .......4-8
(models without navigation system) ....4-45
Clockset..................4-8,4-45
Clutch Clutchfluid..................8-15
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-10
Cold weather driving ..............5-28
Compact disc (CD) player ........4-46,4-52,
4-63, 4-69
Compass display .................2-6
Console box ...................2-41
Console light ...................2-49
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). . .5-12 Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-13
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-12
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-16
Controlpanelbuttons...............4-2 Brightness/contrast button .........4-12
Enterbutton..................4-2
Setting button .................4-6
Controls Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-19,4-26
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-9 Checking engine coolant level
........8-9
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Corrosion protection ...............7-6
Cruisecontrol..................5-20
Cupholders................2-39,2-40
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-32
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch.....................2-28
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player .......4-68
Dimensionsandweights.............9-8
Dimmer switch for instrument panel ......2-33
Display controls (see control panel buttons) . .4-2
Door locks .....................3-4
Drive belt .....................8-18
Driving Cold weather driving ............5-28
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-12
Driving with manual transmission ......5-17
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
E
Economy - fuel ..................5-22
Emission control information label .......9-11
Emission control system warranty .......9-25
Engine Before starting the engine ..........5-10
Block heater .................5-29 Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants
.................9-2
Changingenginecoolant...........8-9
Changingengineoil.............8-11
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level ........8-9
Checking engine oil level ..........8-10
Engine compartment check locations ....8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Engine cooling system ............8-8
Engine

oil ...................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-12
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-5
Engine serial number ............9-10
Engine specifications .............9-7
Starting the engine .............5-11
Enterbutton....................4-2
Eventdatarecorders ..............9-26
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .........5-2
Extended storage switch ............8-26
Eyeglass case ..................2-38
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) ......2-34
Flat tire .......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid .............7-5
Fluid Brake fluid ..................8-14
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Clutch fluid ..................8-15
10-2

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid......................8-13
Engine coolant .................8-8
Engine oil ...................8-10
Power steering fluid .............8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ...........9-10
Foglightswitch .................2-34
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system) ......1-49
Frontseats.....................1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Fuel economy ................5-22
Fuel-filler door and cap ...........3-26
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever ......3-26
Fuel gauge ...................2-6
Fueloctanerating...............9-4
Fuel recommendation .............9-3
Loosefuelcapwarning........2-25,3-26
Fuses.......................8-23
Fusiblelinks ...................8-24
G
Garage door opener, HomeLink Universal
Transceiver....................2-51
Gascap .....................3-26
Gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Fuel gauge ...................2-6
Odometer ...................2-4
Speedometer .................2-4
Tachometer ..................2-5
Trip odometer .................2-4 General maintenance
...............8-2
Glovebox.....................2-41
Gloveboxlock..................2-41
Groceryhooks..................2-42
H
Hands-free phone system,
Bluetooth ...............4- 100, 4-114
Hazard warning flasher switch .........2-34
Headlight and turn signal switch ........2-29
Headlight control switch ............2-30
Headlights ....................8-28
Heated seats ...................2-35
Heater Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-19,4-26
Heater operation ...........4-20,4-27
HomeLink Universal Transceiver ........2-51
Hood release ...................3-24
Horn .......................2-35
I
Ignition Switch Push-Button Ignition Switch .........5-7
Immobilizer system .........2-27,3-3,5-10
Important vehicle information label .......9-10
In-cabin microfilter ................8-21
Increasing fuel economy .............5-22
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders)....................2-10
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror ........3-31Inside mirror
...................3-30
Instrument brightness control ..........2-33
Instrument panel ...............0-8,2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch ........2-33
Intelligent Key system Key operating range ..........3-8, 3-19
Key operation .................3-9
Mechanical

key ................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation . . .3-12, 3-19
Troubleshooting guide ........3-16, 3-23
Warning signals ............3-16,3-23
Interiorlight....................2-49
Interior trunk lid release .............3-25
iPod Player ............4-78,4-80,4-82
ISOFIX child restraints .............1-24
J
Jump starting ...................6-8
K
Keyfob battery replacement ...........8-27
Keyless entry With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system) .....3-12,3-19
Keys, For Intelligent Key system .........3-2
L
Labels Air conditioner specification label .....9-12
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ........9-10
10-3

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) ..........1-55
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System ......................1-24
License plate Installing the license plate ..........9-12
Light Airbagwarninglight.........1-55,2-14
Brakelight(Seestoplight).........8-30
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-10
Bulb replacement ..............8-30
Chargewarninglight ............2-11
Console light .................2-49
Foglightswitch ...............2-34
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-29
Headlightcontrolswitch ..........2-30
Headlights..................8-28
Interiorlight..................2-49
Lightbulbs..................8-28
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light......................2-24
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-50
Personal lights ................2-50
Security indicator light ............2-16
Spotlights (See map light) .........2-50
Trunklight ..................2-51
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-10
Lights Maplights ..................2-50 Lock
Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Door locks ...................3-4
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever ......3-26
Gloveboxlock................2-41
Power door locks ...............3-5
Trunk lid lock opener lever ..........3-24
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-25,3-26
Lowfuelwarninglight ..........2-13,2-24
Low tire pressure warning light .........2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning light . . .2-24
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance Generalmaintenance.............8-2
Insidethevehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Outside the vehicle ..............8-2
Seatbeltmaintenance............1-19
Underthehoodandvehicle .........8-4
Malfunction indicator light ............2-15
Manual front seat adjustment ...........1-2
Maplights ....................2-50
Map pocket ....................2-37
Meters and gauges ................2-3
Instrument brightness control ........2-33
Mirror Automatic anti-glare inside mirror ......3-31
Inside mirror .................3-30
Outside mirrors ...............3-32
Vanity mirror .................3-30
Moonroof .....................2-46
Music Box hard-disk drive audio system . . .4-85 N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ ............3-18
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system ................2-27,3-3,5-10
NISSAN voice recognition system ......4-125
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating) ......9-4
Odometer .....................2-4
Oil Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changingengineoil.............8-11
Changing
engine oil filter ..........8-12
Checking engine oil level ..........8-10
Engine oil ...................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-5
Outside mirrors .................3-32
Overheat If your vehicle overheats ...........6-10
Owner’s manual order form ...........9-27
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information ....................9-27
P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-19
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-23
Personallights..................2-50
10-4

Phone, Bluetoothhands-free
system.................4- 100, 4-114
Power Power door locks ...............3-5
Power outlet .................2-36
Power rear windows .............2-45
Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-24
Power windows ...............2-43
Rear power windows ............2-45
Precautions Maintenanceprecautions...........8-5
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-22,1-28,1-33,1-37
Precautionsonseatbeltusage.......1-13
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-40
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
Programmable features ..............4-6
Push starting ...................6-10
R
Radio Car phone or CB radio ..........4-100
FM-AM radio with compact disc
(CD) player ..................4-44
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-59
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player ..............4-48,4-54
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test .....................9-26
Rear parcel shelf Refitting covers ...............8-37
Removing covers ...............8-36 Rear power windows
..............2-45
Rearseat......................1-8
RearViewMonitor................4-13
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .......................2-28
Recorders Eventdata..................9-26
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country . . .9-9
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-25
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Child seat belts .....1-22,1-28,1-33,1-37
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-25
Seat adjustment Frontmanualseatadjustment ........1-2
Front power seat adjustment .........1-4
Rear seat adjustment .............1-8
Seatback pockets ................2-38
Seat belt Childsafety..................1-20
Infants and small children ..........1-21
Injured Person ................1-16
Largerchildren................1-21
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-13
Pregnant women ...............1-16
Seatbeltextenders .............1-19
Seatbeltmaintenance............1-19
Seatbelts...................1-13
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-18
Three-point type with retractor .......1-16
Seat belt warning light ..............2-14 Seats
Adjustment ...................1-2
Frontseats...................1-2
Heated seats .................2-35
Manual front seat adjustment .........1-2
Rearseat....................1-8
Security indicator light ..............2-16
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-27,3-3,5-10
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-22
Service manual order form ...........9-27
Servicing air conditioner .............
4-28
Setting button ...................4-6
Shifting Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT).....................5-13
Manual transmission .............5-18
Shiftlockrelease.................5-16
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-18
Spark plug replacement .............8-19
Speedometer ...................2-4
Spotlights(Seemaplight) ...........2-50
SRSwarninglabel................1-55
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-10
Jump starting .................6-8
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
Push starting .................6-10
Starting the engine .............5-11
Steering Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-24
Stoplight.....................8-30
Storage......................2-37
Sunglasses case .................2-38
Sunglasses holder ................2-38
10-5

Sunroof......................2-46
Sunroof (see Moonroof).............2-46
Sun visors ....................3-29
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-55, 2-14
Supplemental front impact air bag system . . .1-49
Supplemental restraint system Information and warning labels .......1-55
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-40
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system) .........1-40
Switch Autolightswitch...............2-31
Automatic power window switch ......2-45
Foglightswitch ...............2-34
Hazard warning flasher switch .......2-34
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-29
Headlightcontrolswitch ..........2-30
Power door lock switch ............3-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch.....................2-28
Turnsignalswitch..............2-33
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch .2-36
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-27
T
Tachometer ....................2-5
Temperature gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start .............2-27,3-3,5-10
Three-way catalyst ................5-2
Tire Flat tire .....................6-2 Spare tire
................6-4,8-49
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-11
Tirechains..................8-46
Tireplacard..................9-11
Tire pressure .................8-38
Tire rotation..................8-47
Types of tires .................8-45
Uniform tire quality grading .........9-24
Wheels and tires ...............8-38
Wheel/tire size .................9-8
Tire pressure Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ....5-3
Towing Flattowing..................9-23
Towing load/specification ..........9-19
Towtrucktowing...............6-11
Trailer towing .................9-16
Transceiver HomeLink Universal Transceiver ......2-51
Transmission Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-13
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-12
Driving with manual transmission ......5-17
Shiftselectorlockrelease..........5-16
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country) ......................9-9
Trip odometer ...................2-4
Trunk access through the rear seat .......1-8
Trunk lid lock opener lever ............3-24
Trunklight ....................2-51
Turn signal switch ................2-33 U
Uniform tire quality grading ...........9-24
USB interface Audio file operation ..........4-72,4-75
Video file operation .............4-77
V
Vanity mirror ...................3-30
Variable voltage control system .........8-18
Vehicledimensionsandweights.........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . .2-36
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system .....5-26
Vehicle identification ...............9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number) .................
9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ....9-9
Vehicleloadinginformation...........9-12
Vehicle recovery .................6-14
Vehicle security system .............2-25
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle immobi-
lizer system) , engine start ......2-27,3-3,5-10
Ventilators ....................4-18
Visors.......................3-29
Voice recognition system ...........4-125
W
Warning Airbagwarninglight.........1-55, 2-14
Anti-lock brake warning light ........2-11
Battery charge warning light ........2-11
Brake warning light .............2-11
10-6