Black plate (353,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 5/ 18 Model: S35-D ]
Sway control deviceGUID-CA43C3C2-6AFA-4A0F-945D-1C0EEDB8B5F8Sudden maneuvers, wind gusts and buffeting
caused by other vehicles can affect trailer
handling. Sway control devices may be used to
help control these affects. If you choose to use
one, contact a reputable trailer hitch supplier to
make sure the sway control device will work with
the vehicle, hitch, trailer and the trailer’s brake
system. Follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer for installing and using the sway
control device.
Class I hitchGUID-8755D6BA-3FF5-44C8-AAA8-87A25DC7A9B5Class I trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 2,000 lb (909 kg) .
CAUTION
.The hitch should not be attached to
or affect the operation of the im-
pact-absorbing bumper.
. Do not use axle-mounted hitches.
. Do not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install
a trailer hitch.
. To reduce the possibility of addi-
tional damage if your vehicle is struck from the rear, where practi-
cal, remove the hitch and/or recei-
ver when not in use. After the hitch
is removed, seal the bolt holes to
prevent exhaust fumes, water or
dust from entering the passenger
compartment.
. Regularly check that all trailer hitch
mounting bolts are securely
mounted.
Tire pressuresGUID-24AC9370-4921-4DCC-A994-22A3A4903D8D.When towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label.
. Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in
accordance with the trailer and tire manu-
facturers’ specifications.
Safety chainsGUID-C6AFFF2D-3488-4102-BC8F-7EB7C5A9DF69Always use a suitable chain between your
vehicle and the trailer. The safety chains should
be crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. The safety
chains can be attached to the bumper if the
hitch ball is mounted to the bumper. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chains to permit turning corners.
Trailer lightsGUID-A29FE40B-6D31-4369-84A4-A3AB91FE8E44
CAUTION
When splicing into the vehicle electrical
system, a commercially available
power-type module/converter must be
used to provide power for all trailer
lighting. This unit uses the vehicle
battery as a direct power source for all
trailer lights while using the vehicle tail
light, stoplight and turn signal circuits
as a signal source. The module/con-
verter must draw no more than 15
milliamps from the stop and tail lamp
circuits. Using a module/converter that
exceeds these power requirements may
damage the vehicle’s electrical system.
See a reputable trailer dealer to obtain
the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer or
reputable trailer dealer.
Technical and consumer information9-21
Black plate (354,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 5/ 18 Model: S35-D ]
9-22Technical and consumer information
Trailer brakesGUID-8900FB3E-5F3F-4B97-99B7-FF25587AD020If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tipsGUID-9340413B-CD96-4DA1-9954-2F5798FB03D4.Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded 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,
vehicle 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 tipsGUID-74EA1701-DBB8-4BC7-AA72-370122A2DB72In 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
performance 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. Some states or provinces have
specific speed limits for vehicles that are towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
. 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 lever to
the P (Park) position before blocking
the wheels and applying the parking
brake, transmission damage could oc-
cur.
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
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
Black plate (355,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 5/ 18 Model: S35-D ]
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer areclear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
. When going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
. If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
. Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
. Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . .
Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide.
. When 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.
. Crosswinds 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
vehicle handling. If swaying does occur,
firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually)
reduce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
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
vehicle.
.Do not correct trailer sway by steering orapplying 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 balanced as described earlier in this section.
. Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
. Down shift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
. Avoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
. Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
. Do not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
. Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits.
Technical and consumer information9-23
Black plate (356,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 5/ 18 Model: S35-D ]
9-24Technical and consumer information
.Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness
connections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after
50 miles (80 km) of travel and at every
break.
. When stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
. When launching a boat, don’t allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
. Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.FLAT TOWINGGUID-F394455A-C898-4202-848D-0A9978906EF4Towing 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 continuously vari-
able transmission vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground (flat
towing) . Doing so WILL DAMAGE
internal transmission parts due to
lack of transmission lubrication.
. DO NOT tow an All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground. Doing so
may cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
. For emergency towing procedures
refer to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section of this manual.
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT)
GUID-F352AEB5-C025-400E-9D86-4285636C7FC3
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models:GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407Do not tow an AWD vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models:
GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407To tow a vehicle equipped with a Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT) , an appropriate
vehicle dolly
MUSTbe placed under the towed
vehicle’s driving wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly
manufacturer’s recommendations when using
their product.
Black plate (365,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 5/ 18 Model: S35-D ]
Seat belt(s)Child safety ...
............................................................ 1-20
Infants ...
...................................................................... 1-21
Injured persons ...
..................................................... 1-13
Larger children ...
...................................................... 1-21
Precautions on seat belt usage ...
........................ 1-10
Pregnant women ...
.................................................. 1-13
Rear center seat belt ...
.......................................... 1-16
Seat belt cleaning ...
................................................... 7-6
Seat belt extenders ...
.............................................. 1-19
Seat belt hooks ...
.................................................... 1-16
Seat belt maintenance ...
........................................ 1-19
Seat belt warning light ...
........................................ 2-12
Seat belts ...
............................................................... 1-10
Seat belts with pretensioners ...
........................... 1-51
Shoulder belt height adjustment ...
...................... 1-15
Small children ...
........................................................ 1-21
Three-point type ...
................................................... 1-13
Seat(s) Heated seats ...
......................................................... 2-35
Seats ...
.......................................................................... 1-2
Security system (NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer
System) , Engine start ...
................................................. 2-26
Security system, Vehicle security system ...
............. 2-25
Selector lever, Shift lock release ...
............................ 5-18
Servicing air conditioner ...
............................................ 4-29
Settings ...
.......................................................................... 2-23
Shift lock release Transmission ...
.......................................................... 5-18
SHIFT “P” warning ...
...................................................... 2-19
Shifting CVT (Continuously
Variable Transmission) ...
............................. 5-12, 5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment ...
............................. 1-15
Sonar system ...
............................................................... 5-22
Spare tire ...
.............................................................. 8-40, 9-7
Spark plugs ...
.................................................................. 8-15 Sport mode switch
...
..................................................... 5-16
Starting Before starting the engine ...
................................. 5-13
Jump starting ...
............................................................ 6-9
Precautions when starting and driving ...
.............. 5-2
Push starting ...
......................................................... 6-11
Starting the engine ...
.............................................. 5-13
Status light, Front passenger air bag ...
.................... 1-46
Steering Electric power steering system ...
........................ 5-27
Steering wheel switch for audio controls ...
...... 4-67
Tilting steering wheel ...
.......................................... 3-23
Storage ...
.......................................................................... 2-38
Sun visors ...
..................................................................... 3-24
Sunglasses holder ...
...................................................... 2-39
Supplemental air bag warning labels ...
..................... 1-52
Supplemental air bag warning light ...
............ 1-52, 2-13
Supplemental restraint system ...
................................. 1-39
Precautions on supplemental
restraint system ...
..................................................... 1-39
Switch All-Wheel Drive (AWD) lock switch ...
................ 5-23
Audio control steering wheel switch ...
............... 4-67
Autolight switch ...
.................................................... 2-31
Fog light switch ...
.................................................... 2-34
Hazard warning flasher switch ...
............................. 6-2
Headlight aiming control ...
.................................... 2-33
Headlight switch ...
................................................... 2-32
Ignition switch ...
....................................................... 5-10
Overdrive OFF switch ...
......................................... 5-17
Power door lock switch ...
......................................... 3-5
Rear window and outside mirror
defroster switch ...
.................................................... 2-30
Sport mode switch ...
.............................................. 5-16
Turn signal switch ...
................................................ 2-34
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch ...
..... 2-36 System setup
...
................................................................. 4-6
T
Tachometer ...
..................................................................... 2-5
Temperature gauge, Engine coolant
temperature gauge ...
........................................................ 2-6
Theft (NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System) ,
Engine start ...
................................................................... 2-26
Three-way catalyst ...
........................................................ 5-3
Tilting steering wheel ...
................................................. 3-23
Tire pressure, Low tire pressure warning light ...
.... 2-11
Tires Flat tire ...
....................................................................... 6-2
Low tire pressure warning system ...
...................... 5-3
Tire and Loading information label ...
....... 8-32, 9-10
Tire chains ...
.............................................................. 8-37
Tire dressing ...
............................................................. 7-4
Tire pressure ...
......................................................... 8-31
Tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) ...
............................................... 5-3, 6-2
Tire rotation ...
............................................................ 8-38
Types of tires ...
......................................................... 8-36
Uniform tire quality grading ...
............................... 9-25
Wheel/tire size ...
......................................................... 9-7
Wheels and tires ...
.................................................. 8-31
Tonneau cover (see cargo cover) ...
........................... 2-41
Touch screen ...
.................................................................. 4-3
Towing Flat towing ...
............................................................. 9-24
Tow truck towing ...
.................................................. 6-12
Towing safety ...
......................................................... 9-20
Trailer towing ...
......................................................... 9-16
TPMS, Tire pressure monitoring system ...
................. 5-3
TPMS, Tire pressure warning system ...
...................... 6-2
Traffic setup ...
.................................................................... 4-8
Trailer towing ...
................................................................ 9-16
10-5