3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys ........................................................................\
...................... 3-3Intelligent Key system ......................................................... 3-3
Mechanical key .................................................................... 3-4
Valet hand-off ....................................................................... 3-5
Doors ........................................................................\
.................... 3-5 Locking with mechanical key ............................................ 3-5
Opening and closing windows with the mechanical
key (if so equipped) ........................................................... 3-6
Locking with inside lock knob .......................................... 3-6
Locking with power door lock switch ............................ 3-6
Automatic door locks ......................................................... 3-7
Sliding doors ........................................................................\
3-7
Sliding door auto closure function (if
so equipped) ........................................................................\
3-9
Child safety sliding door lock .......................................... 3-9
Power sliding door (if so equipped) .................................... 3-9
Precautions on power sliding door operation ........... 3-10
Switching sliding door operation ................................. 3-11
Operating sliding door switch ...................................... 3-12
Operating the power sliding door with the Intelligent
Key (if so equipped) ........................................................ 3-12
Operating sliding door by power assist ..................... 3-13
Sliding door auto reverse function .............................. 3-13
Intelligent Key system ........................................................... 3-13 Intelligent Key operating range ..................................... 3-15 Door locks/unlocks precaution ................................... 3-15
Intelligent Key operation ............................................... 3-16
Battery saver system ..................................................... 3-19
Warning signals .............................................................. 3-19
Troubleshooting guide .................................................. 3-20
Remote keyless entry system ............................................. 3-21
How to use remote keyless entry system ................ 3-22
Hood ........................................................................\
................. 3-25
Lift gate ........................................................................\
............ 3-26 Operating manual lift gate ........................................... 3-26
Operating power lift gate (if so equipped) ............. 3-26
Auto closure .................................................................... 3-29
Lift gate release .............................................................. 3-30
Fuel-filler door ........................................................................\
3-30 Opening fuel-filler door ................................................ 3-30
Fuel-filler cap .................................................................. 3-30
Tilt/telescopic steering ......................................................... 3-32 Tilt or telescopic operation .......................................... 3-32
Sun visors ........................................................................\
........ 3-33
Mirrors ........................................................................\
.............. 3-33
Inside mirror ..................................................................... 3-33
Outside mirrors ............................................................... 3-35
Vanity mirror ..................................................................... 3-36
Communication mirror (if so equipped) ................... 3-36
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 ................................................................ 5-7
Rapid air pressure loss ...................................................... 5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................................. 5-8
Push-button ignition switch .................................................... 5-8 Intelligent Key system ......................................................... 5-8
Push-button ignition switch operation ........................ 5-10
Push-button ignition switch positions ......................... 5-10
Emergency engine shut off ............................................ 5-11
Intelligent Key battery discharge .................................. 5-11
Before starting the engine ................................................... 5-12
Starting the engine ................................................................ 5-12
Driving the vehicle ................................................................. 5-13 Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) ................ 5-13
Parking brake ........................................................................\
.. 5-17
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system (if so equipped) ..... 5-17
BSW system operation .................................................. 5-19
BSW driving situations ................................................... 5-20
BSW malfunction ............................................................. 5-23
System maintenance ....................................................... 5-24 Cruise control ........................................................................\
. 5-24
Precautions on cruise control ..................................... 5-24
Cruise control operations ............................................ 5-25
Break-in schedule ................................................................. 5-26
Fuel efficient driving tips ..................................................... 5-26
Increasing fuel economy ...................................................... 5-27
Parking/parking on hills ........................................................ 5-28
Hydraulic pump electric power steering system ........... 5-29
Brake system ........................................................................\
.. 5-29 Braking precautions ...................................................... 5-29
Parking brake break-in .................................................. 5-30
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ............................... 5-30
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ......................... 5-31
Cold weather driving ............................................................ 5-33 Freeing a frozen door lock ........................................... 5-33
Anti-freeze ........................................................................\
5-33
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 5-33
Draining of coolant water ............................................. 5-33
Tire equipment ................................................................ 5-33
Special winter equipment ............................................ 5-33
Driving on snow or ice ................................................. 5-34
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ....................... 5-34
WARNING
.If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the steering will not work.
Steering will be harder to operate.
. When the hydraulic pump electric
power steering warning light illumi-
nates with the engine running, the
power assist for the steering will
cease operation. You will still have
control of the vehicle, but the steer-
ing will be much harder to operate.
The hydraulic pump electric power steering
system is designed to provide power assistance
while driving to operate the steering wheel with
light force.
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent
overheating of the hydraulic pump electric
power steering system and protect it from
getting damaged. While the power assist is
reduced, steering wheel operation will become
heavy. If the steering wheel operation is still
performed, the power steering may stop and the hydraulic pump electric power steering warning
light will illuminate. Stop the engine and push
the ignition switch to the OFF position. The
temperature of the hydraulic pump electric
power steering system will go down and the
power assist level will return to normal after
starting the engine. The hydraulic pump electric
power steering warning light will go off. Avoid
repeating such steering wheel operations that
could cause the hydraulic pump electric power
steering system to overheat.
You may hear a noise from the front of the
vehicle when the steering wheel is operated.
This is not a malfunction.
If the hydraulic pump electric power steering
warning light illuminates while the engine is
running, it may indicate the hydraulic pump
electric power steering system is not functioning
properly and may need servicing. Have the
hydraulic pump electric power steering system
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
When the hydraulic pump electric power steer-
ing warning light illuminates with the engine
running, the power assist for the steering will
cease operation but you will still have control of
the vehicle. At this time, greater steering efforts
are required to operate the steering wheel,
especially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and the stopping
distance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake and pads faster
and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
.
While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
Starting and driving5-29
HYDRAULIC PUMP ELECTRIC
POWER STEERING SYSTEM BRAKE SYSTEM
5-30Starting and driving
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
. If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly tapping the brake pedal to heat-up
the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to
normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds
until the brakes function correctly.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or
drums/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by a
NISSAN dealer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain
vehicle control during braking on
slippery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper
size and type as specified on the Tire and Loading Information
label. See “Tire and Loading
Information label” (P.9-10) .
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-30) .
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard
braking or when braking on slippery surfaces.
The system detects the rotation speed at each
wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure to
prevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By
preventing each wheel from locking, the system
helps the driver maintain steering control and
helps to minimize swerving and spinning on
slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that
tests the system each time you start the engine
and move the vehicle at a low speed in forward
or reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and does not
indicate a malfunction. If the computer senses
a malfunction, it switches the ABS off and
illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then oper-
ates normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the
self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 MPH
(5 to 10 km/h). The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly
applies and releases hydraulic pressure. This
action is similar to pumping the brakes very
quickly. You may feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal and hear a noise from under the hood or
feel a vibration from the actuator when it isoperating. This is normal and indicates that the
ABS is operating properly. However, the pulsa-
tion may indicate that road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while
driving.
The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver inputs
and vehicle motion. Under certain driving con-
ditions, the VDC system helps to perform the
following functions.
.
Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel
slip on one slipping drive wheel so power is
transferred to a non slipping drive wheel on
the same axle.
. Controls brake pressure and engine output
to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function) .
. Controls brake pressure at individual wheels
and engine output to help the driver maintain
control of the vehicle in the following
conditions:
— understeer (vehicle tends to not follow
the steered path despite increased
steering input)
— oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions) .
The VDC system can help the driver to maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss
of vehicle control in all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the VDC
warning light
in the instrument panel flashes
so note the following:
. The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help
Starting and driving5-31
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-32Starting and driving
keep the vehicle on the steered path.
. You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
. Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-16).
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC
warning light
illuminates in the instrument
panel. The VDC system automatically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator light
illuminates to indicate the VDC system is off.
When the VDC switch is used to turn off the
system, the VDC system still operates to prevent
one drive wheel from slipping by transferring
power to a non slipping drive wheel. The VDC
warning light
flashes if this occurs. All other
VDC functions are off, and the VDC warning
light
will not flash. The VDC system is
automatically reset to on when the ignition
switch is placed in the off position then back
to the on position.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-16) and “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-18).
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and
is not an indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
.
The VDC system is designed to help
the driver maintain stability but
does not prevent accidents due to
abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slip-
pery surfaces and always drive care-
fully.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs,
stabilizer bars, bushings and
wheels are not NISSAN recom-
mended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect vehicle
handling performance, and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
. If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
. If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked
corners, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
. When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the VDC warning
light
may illuminate. This is not
a malfunction. Restart the engine
after driving onto a stable surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement ........................................................ 8-2Scheduled maintenance .................................................... 8-2
General maintenance ......................................................... 8-2
Where to go for service .................................................... 8-2
General maintenance ............................................................... 8-2 Explanation of maintenance items ................................... 8-2
Maintenance precautions ........................................................ 8-5
Engine compartment check locations .................................. 8-6 VQ35DE engine .................................................................. 8-6
Engine cooling system ............................................................. 8-7
Checking engine coolant level ......................................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant .................................................. 8-8
Engine oil ........................................................................\
............ 8-8
Checking engine oil level .................................................. 8-8
Changing engine oil and filter .......................................... 8-9
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid ............ 8-11
Power steering fluid ............................................................... 8-11
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
........ 8-12
Window washer fluid ............................................................ 8-13
Battery ........................................................................\
............... 8-13
Jump starting ..................................................................... 8-15
Variable voltage control system .......................................... 8-15
Drive belt ........................................................................\
.......... 8-15 Spark plugs ........................................................................\
..... 8-16
Replacing spark plugs .................................................. 8-16
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
....... 8-17
Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-17 Cleaning ........................................................................\
... 8-17
Replacing ........................................................................\
. 8-18
Washer nozzle ................................................................ 8-19
Rear window wiper blade ................................................... 8-20
Brakes ........................................................................\
.............. 8-20 Self-adjusting brakes .................................................... 8-20
Brake pad wear warning .............................................. 8-20
Fuses ........................................................................\
................ 8-21 Engine compartment ..................................................... 8-21
Passenger compartment .............................................. 8-22
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................................... 8-23
Lights ........................................................................\
................ 8-25
Headlights ........................................................................\
8-26
Exterior and interior lights ............................................ 8-27
Wheels and tires ................................................................... 8-30 Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-30
Tire labeling ..................................................................... 8-33
Types of tires ................................................................... 8-35
Tire chains ....................................................................... 8-36
Changing wheels and tires .......................................... 8-37
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Windshield defroster:Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and
in sufficient quantity when operating the heater
or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time you
check the engine oil or refuel) .
Battery*: Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe condition require frequent checks of the
battery fluid level.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume battery
power when the engine is not running
(Phone chargers, GPS, DVD players,
etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances. In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
Brake fluid level*:
Make sure that the brake
fluid level is between the MAX and MIN lines on
the reservoir.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts*: Make sure that the drive
belts are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level surface and turning off the
engine. Wait more than 10 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the oil pan.
Exhaust system: Make sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by a NISSAN dealer. (See
“Precautions when starting and driving” (P.5-2)
for exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .)
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for fuel,
oil, water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from the
air conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected
immediately. Power steering fluid level* and lines:
Check
the level when the fluid is cold, with the engine
off. Check the lines for proper attachment, leaks,
cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan, frame, fuel
lines and around the exhaust system. At the end
of winter, the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to clean
those areas where mud and dirt may accumu-
late. For additional information, see “Cleaning
exterior” (P.7-2).
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.