
3-34Pre-driving checks and adjustments
SPA2581
OPENING THE FUEL-FILLER DOOR
To open the fuel-filler door, unlock the fuel-filler
door by using one of the following operations,
then push the left side of the door.
.Push the door handle request switch with
the Intelligent Key carried with you.
. Push the UNLOCK button on the Intelligent
Key.
. Insert the mechanical key into the door lock
cylinder and turn it to the rear of the vehicle.
. Push the power door lock switch to the
UNLOCK position.
To lock, close the fuel-filler door securely and
lock all doors by operating the door handle request switch, the LOCK button on the
Intelligent Key, the mechanical key or the power
door lock switch.
FUEL-FILLER CAP
WARNING
.
Gasoline is extremely flammable
and highly explosive under certain
conditions. You could be burned or
seriously injured if it is misused or
mishandled. Always stop engine
and do not smoke or allow open
flames or sparks near the vehicle
when refueling.
. Do not attempt to top off the fuel
tank after the fuel pump nozzle
shuts off automatically. Continued
refueling may cause fuel overflow,
resulting in fuel spray and possibly
a fire.
. Use only an original equipment type
fuel-filler cap as a replacement. It
has a built-in safety valve needed
for proper operation of the fuel
system and emission control sys-
tem. An incorrect cap can result in a
serious malfunction and possible
injury. It could also cause the mal- function indicator light to come on.
. Never pour fuel into the throttle
body to attempt to start your vehi-
cle.
. Do not fill a portable fuel container
in the vehicle or trailer. Static elec-
tricity can cause an explosion of
flammable liquid, vapor or gas in
any vehicle or trailer. To reduce the
risk of serious injury or death when
filling portable fuel containers:
— Always place the container on
the ground when filling.
— Do not use electronic devices when filling.
— Keep the pump nozzle in contact with the container while you are
filling it.
— Use only approved portable fuel containers for flammable liquid.
CAUTION
. If fuel is spilled on the vehicle body,
flush it away with water to avoid
paint damage.
FUEL-FILLER DOOR

THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission control
device installed in the exhaust system. Exhaust
gases in the three-way catalyst are burned at
high temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
WARNING
.The exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. Keep people,
animals or flammable materials
away from the exhaust system com-
ponents.
. Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
.Do not use leaded gasoline. Depos-
its from leaded gasoline seriously
reduce the three-way catalyst’s abil-
ity to help reduce exhaust pollu-
tants.
. Keep your engine tuned up. Mal-
functions in the ignition, fuel injec- tion, or electrical systems can cause
overrich fuel flow into the three-way
catalyst, causing it to overheat. Do
not keep driving if the engine mis-
fires, or if noticeable loss of perfor-
mance or other unusual operating
conditions are detected. Have the
vehicle inspected promptly by a
NISSAN dealer.
. Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, dama-
ging the three-way catalyst.
. Do not race the engine while warm-
ing it up.
. Do not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided) ,
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label, you should determine the proper
tire inflation pressure for those tires.) As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when
the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the low
tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi-
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction indi-
cator is illuminated, the system may not be able
Starting and driving5-3

5-10Starting and driving
SSD0826
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is almost
discharged, the guide light
*Bof the Intelligent
Key port
*Ablinks and the indicator appears on
the vehicle information display. (See “Vehicle
information display” (P.2-18) .)
In this case, inserting the Intelligent Key into the
port
*1allows you to start the engine. Make
sure that the key ring side faces backward as
illustrated. Insert the Intelligent Key in the port
until it is latched and secured.
To remove the Intelligent Key from the port, push
the ignition switch to the OFF position and pull
the Intelligent Key out of the port. NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge
the Intelligent Key battery. If you see the
low battery indicator in the vehicle infor-
mation display, replace the battery as soon
as possible. (See “Intelligent Key battery
replacement” (P.8-24) .)
CAUTION
.
Never place anything except the
Intelligent Key in the Intelligent
Key port. Doing so may cause da-
mage to the equipment.
. Make sure the Intelligent Key is in
the correct direction when inserting
it to the Intelligent Key port. The
engine may not start if it is in the
incorrect direction.
. Remove the Intelligent Key from the
Intelligent Key port after the ignition
switch is pushed to the OFF posi-
tion. .
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 lights, indicator
lights and audible reminders” (P.2-10) .)
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE

necessary to shift up to the desired
range.
SSD0832
Upshift indicator:
The up-shift indicator is located in the tach-
ometer and shows the driver the timing to shift
into a higher gear by illuminating. The use of the
up-shift indicator will help you to upshift at a
constant engine speed from any gear.
The up-shift indicator will start flashing when the
engine speed reaches about 500 rpm before the
set figure while driving, and then illuminate after
the engine speed reaches the set figure.
The engine speed for upshifting can be set on
the vehicle information display. See “Trip com-
puter” (P.2-23) .There may be a slight difference between
the timing of the up-shift indicator illumi-
nation and the tachometer indication.
Accelerator downshift — In D (Drive)
position —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, depend-
ing on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note that
the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spin-
ning and subsequent hard braking, the
fail-safe system may be activated. This will
occur even if all electrical circuits are
functioning properly. In this case, push
the ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition
switch back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating
condition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair if ne-
cessary.
Starting and driving5-15

5-16Starting and driving
SSD0829
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift lever may not be moved from the P (Park)
position even with the brake pedal depressed
and the shift lever button pushed.
To move the shift lever, perform the following
procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCKposition.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
*Ausing a
suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock
*Busing a
suitable tool as illustrated.
5. Push the shift lever button
*Cand move the
shift lever to the N (Neutral) position
*Dwhile holding down the shift lock.
Now the vehicle may be moved to the desired
location.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have a NISSAN dealer check the automatic
transmission system as soon as possible.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
. Do not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
CAUTION
.Do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving. This may da-
mage the clutch. .
Fully depress the clutch pedal be-
fore shifting to help prevent trans-
mission damage.
. Stop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
. When the vehicle is stopped with
the engine running (for example, at
a stop light) , shift to N (Neutral) and
release the clutch pedal with the
foot brake applied.

5-18Starting and driving
SSD0830
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) warn-
ing:
The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) warn-
ing will appear on the vehicle information display
and the S-MODE indicator will turn off if a
system malfunction occurs.
If the warning appears, the S-MODE function
will not operate, but manual transmission will
operate normally and driving can be continued.
Have the system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
SSD0831
Activating the system:
To activate the S-MODE, push the S-MODE
switch
*A. The S-MODE indicator*Bon the
tachometer will show “S”. To deactivate, push
and hold the S-MODE switch for more than 1
second. The S-MODE indicator will turn off.
While the S-MODE is off, you can drive the vehicle as a conventional manual transmission
model.
Note that the status of the S-MODE (on or off) is
memorized even after the ignition switch is
turned off; however, it will be initialized (off)
when the battery is disconnected.
The transmission position indicator
*Cshows
the selected gear: N (Neutral) , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R
(Reverse) .
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) op-
eration:
The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) auto-
matically adjusts the engine speed by controlling
the engine throttle. The accelerator pedal does
not have to be depressed.
The system detects the clutch pedal and shift
lever operations, and then calculates the target
engine speed using the shifting gear position
and the vehicle speed information.
The system provides accurate engine speed
control that helps achieve quick gear shifting
and reduces shift shock on clutch engagement.
. When downshifting:
The engine speed is automatically increased
to the target engine speed before the clutch
is engaged.
. When upshifting:
The engine speed is automatically kept after

SPA2110
To apply:Pull the parking brake lever up*1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, push the button
*2and lower the
lever completely
*3.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CON-
TROL
.If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
will cancel automatically. The CRUISE in-
dicator light on the meter panel will then
blink to warn the driver.
. If the engine coolant temperature becomes
excessively high, the cruise control system
will cancel automatically.
. If the CRUISE indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
. The CRUISE indicator light may blink when
the cruise control main switch is turned ON
while pushing the ACCEL/RES, COAST/
SET or CANCEL switch. To properly set the
cruise control system, perform the following
procedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when
driving under the following conditions:
.when it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed
. in heavy traffic or in traffic that
varies in speed .
on winding or hilly roads
. on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.)
. in very windy areas
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depres-
sing the clutch pedal when the cruise
control is set. Should this occur, de-
press the clutch pedal and turn the
main switch off immediately. Failure to
do so may cause engine damage.
Starting and driving5-21
CRUISE CONTROL

5-28Starting and driving
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 notindicate 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) .
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 is
operating. 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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM