2014 NISSAN QASHQAI 4WD

The Four Wheel Drive (4WD) system is used to
select 2WD, AUTO, or LOCK depending on the
driving conditions.
The Four Wheel Drive (4WD) system controls the
coupling operation. Switch the control switch (see
illustration) to select each mode: 2WD, AUTO or
LOCK depending on the driving conditions.AUTO: Switch the control switch to the neutral
(AUTO) position and the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
AUTO indicator light
on the combination meter
illuminates.
2WD: Switch the control switch to the 2WD posi-
tion.
LOCK: When the control is switched to the LOCK
position, it springs back to the AUTO position when
released. The 4WD LOCK mode indicator light
illuminates on the combination meter, to show
LOCK mode is engaged. To disengage LOCK
mode, switch the control switch again to the LOCK
position and release. The 4WD LOCK mode indica-
tor light will go out.NSD494Right hand drive (RHD)
NSD495Left hand drive (LHD)
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
(where fitted)
5-26Starting and driving

4WD MODE OPERATIONSCAUTION
Depending on the driving conditions, the 4WD
mode may automatically change from 2WD to
4WD even when the 2WD mode is selected.
If this occurs while driving, the 4WD mode indi-
cator light will not illuminate.
Do not start the engine while in the 2WD, AUTO,
or LOCK mode:
•When on free-roller or jacking the front tyres
with the rear tyres on the ground.
•When towing with the rear tyres raised from
the ground.
4WD SHIFT TIPS
•If the 4WD mode control is operated while cor-
nering, accelerating or decelerating, or if the ig-
nition is turned OFF while in the AUTO or LOCK
position you may feel a jolt - this is normal.
•The oil temperature of power train parts will in-
crease if the vehicle is continuously operated
under conditions where the difference in rotation
between the front and rear wheels is large (wheel
slip), such as when driving the vehicle on rough
roads through sand or mud, or when freeing a
stuck vehicle. In these cases, the message [4WD
High Temp. Stop Vehicle] will appear in the ve-
hicle information display and the 4WD mode
changes to the 2WD condition to protect the
power train parts. If you stop the vehicle, with
4WD Mode Wheels driven4WD mode
indicator light
(
m,m)Driving conditions
2WDFront wheels-
The wheel drive mode is in
2WD when driving on a normal
road
*1Goes off For driving on dry, paved roads
AUTODistribution of torque to the
front and rear wheels changes
automatically, depending on
road conditions encountered
[ratio; 100:0 (2WD)→50:50
(4WD)]. This results in
improved driving stability
m
For driving on paved or slippery roads
LOCK Four wheels
*2m/mFor driving on rough roads
*1The 2WD mode may change to the 4WD mode automatically depending on the driving condition. The 4WD mode indi-
cator light does not illuminate.
*2LOCK mode changes to AUTO mode automatically when the vehicle is sharply accelerated or when the vehicle speed
is over approximately 40 km/h (25 MPH). The 4WD LOCK indicator light goes off. Turning off the ignition automatically
cancels LOCK mode.
Starting and driving5-27

the engine idling, and wait until the warning mes-
sage is no longer displayed, the 4WD mode re-
turns to the AUTO mode.
•Braking distance in 4WD mode is the same as in
2WD mode.
•Even if the mode automatically changes to AUTO
mode, when driving in the LOCK mode, the indi-
cator light stays in the LOCK mode.
CAUTION
•Only use the 4WD mode control when driving
in a straight direction (to select 2WD, AUTO or
LOCK).
•Do not use the 4WD mode control when turn-
ing or reversing.
•Do not use the 4WD mode control with the
front wheels spinning (to select 2WD, AUTO,
or LOCK).
•Be especially careful when starting or driving
on slippery surfaces with the 4WD mode set
to AUTO.
•Never drive on dry hard surface roads in the
LOCK position as this will overload the power
train and may cause serious malfunctions.
4WD MODE INDICATOR LIGHTS
•4WD mode indicator light (LOCK):
This light comes on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, and turns off within 1
second. When selecting LOCK mode while theengine is running, this light will illuminate simul-
taneously along with the 4WD mode indicator
light (AUTO).
•4WD mode indicator light (AUTO):
This light comes on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, and turns off within 1
second. If the engine is running, this light will illu-
minate when selecting AUTO mode.
The 4WD mode indicator light is located in the
instrument panel.
The light should turn off within 1 second of the
ignition switch being turned to the ON position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD mode indi-
cator light will display the position selected by
the 4WD mode control.
NOTE
The 4WD mode indicator light may blink while
shifting from one drive mode to another. Once
shifting is completed, the 4WD mode indicator
light will come on. If the indicator light does not
come on immediately, make sure that the area
around the vehicle is safe and free from ob-
stacles. Drive the vehicle straight (DO NOT ac-
celerate, decelerate or reverse), then turn the
4WD mode control.
If the 4WD warning lights comes on, the 4WD indi-
cator light(s) will go out.
DRIVING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
SAFELY
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal and off-
road use. However, avoid driving in deep water or
mud as your NISSAN is mainly designed for leisure
use, unlike a conventional off-road vehicle.
Remember that Two-Wheel drive (2WD) models are
less capable than Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
for rough road driving and extrication when stuck,
for example, in deep snow or mud.
Please observe the following precautions:
•Drive carefully when off-road and avoid danger-
ous areas. Always wear seat belts to help keep
you and your passengers in position when driv-
ing over rough terrain.
•Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead drive
either straight up or straight down the slope. Off-
road vehicles can tip over sideways much more
easily than they can forwards or backwards.
•Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. If you
drive up them, you may stall. If you drive down
them, you may not be able to control your speed.
If you drive across them, you may roll over.
•Do not shift gears when driving on downhill
grades as this could cause loss of control of the
vehicle.
•Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At the
top there could be a drop-off or other hazard that
could cause an accident.
5-28Starting and driving

•If the engine of the vehicle stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep grade, never at-
tempt to turn around. Your vehicle could tip or
roll over. Always drive backwards and straight
down in R (reverse) gear.
Never drive backwards with the shift lever in N
(Neutral) and/or with the clutch depressed and
using the brake as this could result in loss of
control.
•Heavy braking down a hill could cause your
brakes to overheat and fade, resulting in loss of
control and an accident. Apply the brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your vehicle speed.
•Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when
driving over rough terrain. Properly secure it so
that it will not be thrown forwards and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
•To avoid raising the centre of gravity excessively,
do not exceed the rated capacity of the roof rack/
gear bin (where fitted) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the luggage area as
far forwards and as low as possible. Do not equip
the vehicle with tyres larger than specified. This
could cause your vehicle to roll over.
•Accelerating quickly, sharp steering manoeuvres
or sudden braking may cause loss of control.
•Do not drive beyond the performance of the
tyres, even with 4WD. Sudden acceleration,
steering or braking may result in loss of control
and could cause the vehicle to become stuck.
•If at all possible, avoid sharp turning manoeuvres,
particularly at high speeds. Your 4WD vehicle
has a higher centre of gravity than a 2WD ve-
hicle and can tip over more easily. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional 2WD models any more than low
sports cars are designed to perform satisfacto-
rily under off-road conditions. Failure to operate
this vehicle correctly could result in loss of con-
trol and/or a rollover accident.
•Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering
wheel when driving off-road. The steering wheel
could jerk and injure your hands. Instead, drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the outside of
the rim.
•Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the
driver and all passengers have their seat belts
fastened.
•Always drive with the floor mats in place as the
floor may become very hot. Particular care
should be taken if you are barefoot.
•Lower your speed when encountering strong
crosswinds. With its higher centre of gravity your
NISSAN is more affected by gusty side winds.
Slower speeds ensure better vehicle control.
•Be sure to check the brakes immediately after
driving in mud or water as specified in “Wet
brakes” later in this section.
•Whenever you drive off-road through sand, mud
or water as deep as the wheel hub, more fre-quent maintenance may be required. For details,
refer to the separately provided Warranty Infor-
mation and Maintenance Booklet.
•Rinse the underside of the vehicle with fresh
water after driving through mud or sand. Re-
move any brush or sticks that are trapped.
•Install the same size of winter tyres on all four (4)
wheels (such as studless tyres) or install snow
chains to the front wheels when driving on slip-
pery roads (e.g. after a snowfall) and drive care-
fully using 4WD.
•Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If you
get out of the vehicle and it rolls forwards, back-
wards or sideways, you could be injured.
Starting and driving5-29

Your new vehicle was designed to be used primarily
to carry passengers and luggage.
Remember that towing a trailer will place additional
loads on your vehicle’s engine, drive-train, steering,
braking and other systems. Towing a trailer will also
exaggerate other conditions, such as sway caused
by crosswinds, rough road surfaces or passing
trucks. Driving style and speed must be adjusted
according to the circumstances. Before towing a
trailer, see a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop
for an explanation of towing equipment and its
proper use.
OPERATING PRECAUTIONS
•Avoid towing a trailer during the running-in
schedule.
•Choose proper coupling devices (trailer hitch,
safety chain, roof carrier, etc.) for your vehicle
and trailer. These devices are available from a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop where you
can also obtain more detailed information about
trailer towing.
Heavy-duty kits are available at a NISSAN dealer
or qualified workshop.
•It is advisable to contact a NISSAN dealer or
qualified workshop for towing details, before
towing a trailer up steep slopes for long dis-
tances.
•Never allow the total trailer load (trailer weight
plus its cargo weight) to exceed the maximum
set for the coupling device.Contact a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop
for more information on this matter.
•The trailer must be loaded so that heavy goods
are distributed over the axle and as low in the
trailer as possible. Poor load distribution can se-
riously affect the stability of the trailer and tow
vehicle.
•Do not exceed the maximum permitted vertical
load on the trailer hitch.
•Before driving, make sure that the lighting sys-
tem of the trailer works properly.
•When towing with 4WD models, the 4WD mode
switch should be in the AUTO position. Using
the vehicle in AUTO mode gives better traction,
particularly when moving off from stationary and/
or on an incline, as the vehicle is less likely to
wheel spin.
•Avoid abrupt starts, accelerations and stops.
•Avoid sharp turns and lane changes.
•Always drive your vehicle at a moderate speed.
•Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Apply the handbrake (where
fitted) on the trailer. Parking on a steep slope is
not recommended.
If parking on a steep slope is unavoidable it is
also advisable to put the vehicle into gear, or
select P (Park (XTRONIC models)), and turn the
front wheels into the kerb (in addition to the other
precautions described). Before parking on asteep slope consider the incline (the towing
weights quoted are for a 12% slope).
•Follow the trailer manufacturer’s instructions.
•Have your vehicle serviced more often than at
the intervals specified in the separately provided
Warranty Information and Maintenance booklet.
•Trailer towing requires more fuel than under nor-
mal circumstances because of a considerable
increase in traction power required and resis-
tance.
•When towing a trailer, observe the following re-
stricted towing speed:
Speed: below 100 km/h (62 MPH)
•Observe the legal maximum speeds for trailer
operation.
CAUTION
While towing a trailer, check the engine coolant
temperature gauge regularly to prevent engine
overheating.
NSD239Z
TRAILER TOWING
5-54Starting and driving

6In case of emergencyIn case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch ................................. 6-2
Spare tyre................................................................ 6-2
Temporary-use spare tyre (where fitted) .............. 6-2
Conventional spare tyre (where fitted) ................. 6-2
Flat tyre ................................................................... 6-3
Stopping the vehicle ........................................... 6-3
Changing flat tyre (Models with spare wheel,
where fitted) ....................................................... 6-3
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
(where fitted) ...................................................... 6-7
Repairing flat tyre (Models with emergency
tyre puncture repair kit) ....................................... 6-8Jump-starting ........................................................... 6-11
Push-starting ........................................................... 6-13
Engine overheat ....................................................... 6-13
Tow truck towing ..................................................... 6-14
Towing precautions ............................................ 6-14
Recommended towing for two-wheel drive
(2WD) models .................................................... 6-15
Recommended towing for four-wheel drive
(4WD) models .................................................... 6-15
Towing eye ......................................................... 6-16
Freeing the vehicle from sand, snow or mud ....... 6-16

RECOMMENDED TOWING FOR
TWO-WHEEL DRIVE (2WD) MODELS
CAUTION
NEVER tow XTRONIC transmission (CVT) models
with the front wheels on the ground or with all
four wheels on the ground (forwards or back-
wards), this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission. If it is necessary to
tow the vehicle with the rear wheels raised, al-
ways use towing dollies under the front wheels.
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle should be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the ground
or that the vehicle be placed on a flat bed lorry as
illustrated.
When towing with the front wheels – on the
ground (MT models only) or – on towing dollies:
Turn the ignition switch to the “OFF” position, then
secure the steering wheel in a straight ahead posi-
tion using a rope or similar device.Never place the
ignition switch in the LOCK position.This will re-
sult in damage to the steering lock mechanism.
RECOMMENDED TOWING FOR
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) MODELS
CAUTION
NEVER tow the vehicle with any wheels on the
ground as this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission.
NISSAN recommends that towing dollies be used
when towing your vehicle or that the vehicle be
placed on a flat bed lorry as illustrated.
When towing with the front wheels on towing dol-
lies:
Turn the ignition switch to the “OFF” position, then
secure the steering wheel in a straight ahead posi-
tion using a rope or similar device.Never place the
ignition switch in the LOCK position.This will re-
sult in damage to the steering lock mechanism.
NCE3034WD models
In case of emergency6-15

Four-wheel drive (4WD) models ......................... 8-35
Wheel balance.................................................... 8-36
Spare tyre .......................................................... 8-36
Care of wheels ................................................... 8-36