•A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven
without releasing the parking brake. See “Au-
dible reminders” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section.
•While the electric parking brake is applied or
released, an operating sound is heard from
the lower side of the rear seat. This is normal
and does not indicate a malfunction.
•When the electric parking brake is frequently
applied and released in a short period of time,
the parking brake may not operate in order to
prevent the parking brake system from over-
heating. If this occurs, operate the electric
parking brake switch again after waiting ap-
proximately 1 minute.
•The electric parking brake can only be re-
leased with the ignition switch in the ON posi-
tion.
•If the electric parking brake must be applied
while driving in an emergency, pull up and
hold the parking brake switch. When you re-
lease the parking brake switch, the parking
brake will be released.
•While pulling up the electric parking brake
switch while driving, the parking brake is ap-
plied and a chime sounds. The parking brake
indicator light in the meter and in the parking
brake switch illuminate. This does not indi-
cate a malfunction. The electric parking brake
indicator lights in the meter and in the parking
brake switch turn off when the parking brake
is released.
•Pull up the electric parking brake switch twice
so that the maximum electric parking brake
force is applied to the vehicle.
•When pulling the electric parking brake switch
up with the ignition switch in the OFF or ACC
position, the parking brake switch indicator
light will continue to illuminate for a short pe-
riod of time.
CAUTION
To park the vehicle in cold climates place the
shift lever in 1st (1) or Reverse (R) (or in Park (P)
for automatic (AT) vehicles), and place suitable
chocks at both the front and back of a wheel with
the electric parking brake released. If the electric
parking brake is applied in cold climates, the
brake may become frozen and cannot be re-
leased.
DRIVING AWAY WHEN TOWING A
TRAILER
Please note the following points to prevent the ve-
hicle from rolling back unintentionally on a gradient.
•Pull and hold the parking brake switch and press
the accelerator. The parking brake will remain
engaged and prevent any tendency to roll back
down the slope.
•You can release the parking brake switch as
soon as the engine is delivering enough power
to the wheels.
Depending on the weight of the vehicle and trailer
and the steepness of the slope, there may be a ten-dency to roll back downhill when driving away from
a standstill. You can prevent this by pulling up the
parking brake switch as you press the accelerator
(in the same way as with a conventional handbrake).
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-17
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
