
3-22Pre-driving checks and adjustments
.Do not fill a portable fuel container
in the vehicle or trailer. Static elec-
tricity can cause an explosion of
flammable liquid, vapor or gas in
any vehicle or trailer. To reduce the
risk of serious injury or death when
filling portable fuel containers:
— Always place the container on
the ground when filling.
— Do not use electronic devices when filling.
— Keep the pump nozzle in contact with the container while you are
filling it.
— Use only approved portable fuel containers for flammable liquid.
CAUTION
. The LOOSE FUEL CAP warning
message will be displayed if the
fuel-filler cap is not properly tigh-
tened. It may take a few driving trips
for the message to be displayed.
Failure to tighten the fuel-filler cap
properly after the LOOSE FUEL CAP
warning message is displayed may cause the
Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) to illuminate.
. Failure to tighten the fuel-filler cap
properly may cause the
mal-
function indicator light (MIL) to
illuminate. If the
light illumi-
nates because the fuel-filler cap is
loose or missing, tighten or install
the cap and continue to drive the
vehicle. The
light should turn off
after a few driving trips. If the
light does not turn off after a few
driving trips, have the vehicle in-
spected by a NISSAN dealer.
For additional information, see
“Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)”
(P.2-17) .
. If fuel is spilled on the vehicle body,
flush it away with water to avoid
paint damage.
SIC4712
LOOSE FUEL CAP warning message
The LOOSE FUEL CAP warning message is
displayed on the twin trip computer when the
fuel-filler cap is not tightened correctly after the
vehicle has been refueled. It may take a few
driving trips for the message to be displayed. To
turn off the warning message, do the following
procedure:
1. Remove and install the fuel-filler cap as
previously described as soon as possible.
2. Tighten the fuel-filler cap until a single click is heard.
3. Push the trip computer mode switch
*Afor
about 1 second to turn off the LOOSE FUEL

CAP warning message after tightening the
fuel cap.
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. You could lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.
SPA2611
TILT OPERATION
Push the lock lever down*1and adjust the
steering wheel up or down
*2to the desired
position.
Pull the lock lever up
*3securely to lock the
steering wheel in place.
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-23
TILT STEERING COLUMN

SAA2368
SAA2369
OPERATING TIPS (for automatic air
conditioner)
.When the engine coolant temperature and
outside air temperature are low, the air flow
from the foot outlets may not operate. This is
not a malfunction. After the coolant tem-
perature warms up, air will flow normally
from the foot outlets.
. The automatic air conditioner is equipped
with sensors as illustrated. The sensors
*A
and*Bon the instrument panel help
maintain a constant temperature. Do not
put anything on or around these sensors.
IN-CABIN MICROFILTER
The air conditioning system is equipped with an
in-cabin microfilter which collects dirt, pollen,
dust, etc. To make sure the air conditioner heats,
defogs, and ventilates efficiently, replace the
filter according to the specified maintenance log
shown in the NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide. To replace the filter, contact a NISSAN
dealer.
The filter should be replaced if the air flow
decreases significantly or if windows fog
up easily when operating the heater or air
conditioning system.
SERVICING AIR CONDITIONER
The air conditioner system in your NISSAN is
charged with a refrigerant designed with the
environment in mind. This refrigerant will not
harm the earth’s ozone layer. Special char-
ging equipment and lubricant are required when
servicing your NISSAN air conditioner. Using
improper refrigerants or lubricants will cause
severe damage to your air conditioner system.
(See “Capacities and recommended fuel/lubri-
cants” (P.9-2) for air conditioner system refrig-
erant and lubricant recommendations.)
A NISSAN dealer will be able to service your
environmentally friendly air conditioner system.
WARNING
The system contains refrigerant under
high pressure. To avoid personal injury,
any air conditioner service should be
done only by an experienced technician
with the proper equipment.
Center display, heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems4-19

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ................................ 5-2Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ...................................... 5-2
Three-way catalyst .............................................................. 5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .................... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ......................................... 5-6
Off-road recovery ................................................................ 5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ...................................................... 5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................................. 5-7
Ignition switch (models without Intelligent
Key system) ........................................................................\
........ 5-8
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) ................... 5-8
Manual Transmission (MT) ................................................ 5-9
Key positions ........................................................................\
5-9
Push-button ignition switch (models with Intelligent
Key system) ........................................................................\
........ 5-9 Operating range for engine start function ................. 5-10
Push-button ignition switch operation ........................ 5-10
Push-button ignition switch positions ......................... 5-11
Emergency engine shut off ............................................ 5-11
Intelligent Key battery discharge .................................. 5-12
Before starting the engine ................................................... 5-12
Starting the engine ................................................................ 5-13 Models without Intelligent Key system ....................... 5-13
Models with Intelligent Key system ............................. 5-13 Driving the vehicle ................................................................. 5-14
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) ............. 5-14
Manual Transmission (MT) ........................................... 5-18
Parking brake ........................................................................\
.. 5-20
Cruise control (if so equipped) ......................................... 5-21 Precautions on cruise control ..................................... 5-21
Cruise control operations ............................................ 5-22
Break-in schedule ................................................................. 5-23
Increasing fuel economy ...................................................... 5-23
Parking/parking on hills ........................................................ 5-24
Electric power steering system ......................................... 5-25
Brake system ........................................................................\
.. 5-26 Braking precautions ...................................................... 5-26
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ............................... 5-26
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ......................... 5-28
Cold weather driving ............................................................ 5-29
Freeing a frozen door lock ........................................... 5-29
Anti-freeze ........................................................................\
5-29
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 5-29
Draining of coolant water ............................................. 5-29
Tire equipment ................................................................ 5-30
Special winter equipment ............................................ 5-30
Driving on snow or ice ................................................. 5-30
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ....................... 5-30

THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission control
device installed in the exhaust system. Exhaust
gases in the three-way catalyst are burned at
high temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
WARNING
.The exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. Keep people,
animals or flammable materials
away from the exhaust system com-
ponents.
. Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
.Do not use leaded gasoline. Depos-
its from leaded gasoline will ser-
iously reduce the three-way
catalyst’s ability to help reduce ex-
haust pollutants.
. Keep your engine tuned up. Mal-
functions in the ignition, fuel injec- tion, or electrical systems can cause
overrich fuel flow into the three-way
catalyst, causing it to overheat. Do
not keep driving if the engine mis-
fires, or if noticeable loss of perfor-
mance or other unusual operating
conditions are detected. Have the
vehicle inspected promptly by a
NISSAN dealer.
. Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, dama-
ging the three-way catalyst.
. Do not race the engine while warm-
ing it up.
. Do not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided) ,
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label, you should determine the proper
tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when
the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
Starting and driving5-3

5-12Starting and driving
SSD0860
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is discharged,
or environmental conditions interfere with the
Intelligent Key operation, start the engine
according to the following procedure:
1. Move the selector lever to the P (Park)position.
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the ignition switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime will sound.)
4. Push the ignition switch while depressing the brake pedal within 10 seconds after the
chime sounds. The engine will start. After step 3 is performed, when the ignition
switch is pushed without depressing the brake
pedal, the ignition switch position will change to
ACC.
NOTE:
.
When the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC or ON position or the engine is
started by the above procedures, the
Intelligent Key system warning light
may blink in yellow even if the Intelli-
gent Key is inside the vehicle. This is
not a malfunction. To stop the warning
light from blinking, touch the ignition
switch with the Intelligent Key again.
. If the Intelligent Key system warning
light in the meter is blinking in green,
replace the battery as soon as possible.
(See “Key battery replacement” (P.8-
23) .) .
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid, and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head restraints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position. (See “Warning/indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P.2-11) .)
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE

5-14Starting and driving
(approximately 1/3 to the floor) and while
holding, crank the engine. Release the
accelerator pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to start becauseit is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Push the ignition switch to the ON
position to start cranking the engine.
After 5 or 6 seconds, stop cranking by
pushing the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine with your
foot off the accelerator pedal by
depressing the brake pedal and pushing
the push-button ignition switch to start
the engine. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start, push the ignition switch
to OFF and wait 10 seconds before
cranking again, otherwise the starter
could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance first,
especially in cold weather. In cold weather,
keep the engine running for a minimum of 2 -
3 minutes before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short period of
time may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000 rpm or
more under no load condition, the engine
will enter the fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, move the selector lever to the P (Park) position, and push the
ignition switch to the OFF position.
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANS-
MISSION (CVT)
The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
in your vehicle is electronically controlled to
produce maximum power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before moving the selector
lever out of the P (Park) position.
This CVT is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any driving
position while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
The selector lever cannot be moved out
of the P (Park) position and into any of
the other positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the LOCK, OFF or
ACC position or if the key is removed.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE

applied.
SSD0552
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into
the appropriate gear, then slowly and smoothly
release the clutch pedal.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in sequence accord-
ing to vehicle speed.
To back up, pull the shift lever ring
*1upward
and then move it to the R (Reverse) gear after
stopping the vehicle completely.
The shift lever ring returns to its original position
when the shift lever is moved to the N (Neutral)
position. If it is difficult to move the shift lever into the R
(Reverse) or 1st gear, shift to the N (Neutral)
position, and then release the clutch pedal once.
Fully depress the clutch pedal again and shift
into the R (Reverse) or 1st gear.
Suggested upshift speeds
The following are suggested vehicle speeds for
shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions
relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual upshift speeds will vary according to road
conditions, the weather and individual driving
habits.
For normal acceleration in low altitude areas
[less than 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:
Gear change
MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 8 (13)
2nd to 3rd 17 (27)
3rd to 4th 25 (40) 4th to 5th 36 (58)
5th to 6th 51 (82)
Starting and driving5-19