.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 pushed to the ON
position. (See “Warning/indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P.2-10) .) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2.
Automatic Transmission (AT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the shift lever is in either of the above
positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position. Depress the clutch pedal fully to
the floor.
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal (AT model) or the
clutch pedal (MT model) and push the
ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push and
release the ignition switch while depressing
the brake pedal with the ignition switch in
any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when restart-
ing, depress the accelerator pedal a little
(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 because
it 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
Starting and driving5-11
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-24Starting and driving
fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no more than 30seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal operatingtemperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, opening thewindows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled main-
tenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(See “Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tion” (P.9-6) .)
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-32Starting and driving
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the
key hole or use the Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 328F(08C) ,
check antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see “Engine
cooling system” (P.8-8).
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery should
be checked regularly. For additional information,
see “Battery” (P.8-15) .
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “Engine cooling system”
(P.8-8) .
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be
substantially reduced in snowy and icy condi-
tions. If you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy
roads, NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Consult a NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. states
and Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see “Tire
chains” (P.8-36) of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades. .
A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
.Wet ice (328F, 0 8C and freezing rain) ,
very cold snow or ice can be slick
and very hard to drive on. The
vehicle will have much less traction
or “grip” under these conditions. Try
to avoid driving on wet ice until the
road is salted or sanded.
. Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting too fast, the drive wheels
will lose even more traction.
. Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pave-
ment.
. Allow greater following distances
on slippery roads.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
6 In case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch .............................................. 6-2
Emergency engine shut off ..................................................... 6-2
Flat tire ........................................................................\
................. 6-3Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .................... 6-3
Changing a flat tire (for models with spare tire) ......... 6-4
Repairing flat tire (for models with emergency tire
puncture repair kit) ............................................................. 6-8
Jump starting ........................................................................\
... 6-14 Push starting ........................................................................\
... 6-16
If your vehicle overheats ...................................................... 6-16
Towing your vehicle .............................................................. 6-18
Towing recommended by NISSAN (except for
NISMO models) ............................................................. 6-19
Towing recommended by NISSAN
(NISMO models) ............................................................ 6-20
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ............... 6-21
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) . It monitors tire
pressure of all tires except the spare. When
the low tire pressure warning light is lit and the
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning appears on
the vehicle information display, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. If the
vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by the low
tire pressure warning light. This system will
activate only when the vehicle is driven at
speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h). For more
details, see “Warning/indicator lights and audi-
ble reminders” (P.2-10) and “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-3) .
WARNING
.If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, avoid sud-
den steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, reduce vehicle speed, pull
off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble. Driving with under-inflated tires
may permanently damage the tires
and increase the likelihood of tire failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in serious
personal injury. Check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires. Adjust the tire
pressure to the recommended COLD
tire pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light
OFF. If the light still illuminates
while driving after adjusting the tire
pressure, a tire may be flat. If you
have a flat tire, replace it with a
spare tire as soon as possible.
. When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 1 minute. The light will
remain on after 1 minute. Contact
your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/
or system resetting.
. Replacing tires with those not ori-
ginally specified by NISSAN could
affect the proper operation of the
TPMS.
. Do not inject any tire liquid or
aerosol tire sealant into the tires, as this may cause a malfunction of
the tire pressure sensors (for mod-
els not equipped with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit) .
. If you used the Emergency Tire
Sealant to repair a minor tire punc-
ture, your NISSAN dealer will also
need to replace the TPMS sensor in
addition to repairing or replacing
the tire (for models equipped with
the emergency tire puncture repair
kit) .
. NISSAN recommends using only
NISSAN Genuine Emergency Tire
Sealant provided with your vehicle.
Other tire sealants may damage the
valve stem seal which can cause the
tire to lose air pressure (for models
equipped with the emergency tire
puncture repair kit) .
In case of emergency6-3
FLAT TIRE
6-4In case of emergency
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE (for models
with spare tire)
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road andaway from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake. Move the shift lever to the P (Park)
position (Automatic transmission models) .
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse) gear
(Manual transmission models) .
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and to signal professional road assistance person-
nel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
.Make sure the parking brake is
securely applied and the manual
transmission is shifted into R (Re-
verse) , or the automatic transmis- sion into P (Park) .
. Never change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or slippery areas.
This is hazardous.
. Never change tires if oncoming
traffic is close to your vehicle. Wait
for professional road assistance.
MCE0001A
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocks*1at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat
tire to prevent the vehicle from moving when it is
jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the
vehicle may move and result in personal
injury.
SCE0844Without subwoofer
SCE0807With subwoofer
Getting the spare tire and tools
Remove jacking tools*Alocated under the
cargo room/trunk as illustrated.
For Coupe models, unfasten the belts and lift the
jack up to remove.
Models without subwoofer:
Remove the spacer
*B, and turn the retainer
*Ccounterclockwise, then remove the spare
tire.
Models with subwoofer:
Remove the spare tire cover
*C. Turn the
retainer
*Bcounterclockwise, remove the
subwoofer
*Dand place it on the side of the
cargo room (with the flat surface facing down) ,
then carefully remove the spare tire.
Jacking up the vehicle and removing the
damaged tire
WARNING
. Never get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by the jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Use only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use
the jack provided with your vehicle on other vehicles. The jack is de-
signed for lifting only your vehicle
during a tire change.
. Use the correct jack-up points.
Never use any other part of the
vehicle for jack support.
. Never jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
. Never use blocks on or under the
jack.
. Do not start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack, as it may
cause the vehicle to move. This is
especially true for vehicles with
limited slip differentials.
. Do not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
Carefully read the caution label attached
to the jack body and the following instruc-
tions.
In case of emergency6-5
SCE0661
Installing the spare tire
The T-type spare tire is designed for
emergency use. (See specific instructions
under the heading “Wheels and tires” (P.8-
30) .)
1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surfacebetween the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the spare tire on and tighten the wheel nuts finger tight. Check that all the
wheel nuts contact the wheel surface
horizontally.
Models equipped with different sized
tires in the front and rear:
When replacing a front tire, make sure that the hole in the spare tire wheel is aligned
with the pin on the brake rotor.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel nuts alternately and evenly in the sequence
as illustrated (
*1,*2,*3,*4,*5) until
they are tight.
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence as illustrated. Lower the
vehicle completely.
WARNING
.Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
. Do not use oil or grease on the
wheel studs or nuts. This could
cause the nuts to become loose.
. Retighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600
miles (1,000 km) (also in cases of a
flat tire, etc.) .
. As soon as possible, tighten the wheel
nuts to the specified torque with a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened
to specification at all times. It is
recommended that wheel nuts be tigh-
tened to specifications at each lubrica-
tion interval.
. Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pres-
sure.
COLD pressure:
After the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more or driven less than
1 mile (1.6 km) .
COLD tire pressures are shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label
affixed to the driver side center pillar.
Stowing the damaged tire and tools
Coupe models:
1. Securely store the damaged tire and jacking
tools in the storage area.
2. Place the spare tire cover and the cargo room carpet over the damaged tire.
3. Close the rear hatch.
In case of emergency6-7