Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift lever may not
be moved from the P (Park) position even with the
brake pedal depressed.
To move the shift lever, release the shift lock. The
shift lever can be moved to N (Neutral) . However,
for models without the NISSAN Vehicle Immobi-
lizer System, the steering wheel will be locked
unless the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. This allows the vehicle to be moved if
the battery is discharged.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have a NISSAN dealer check the automatic
transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the shift lever cannot be moved from the
P (Park) position while the engine is run-
ning and the brake pedal is depressed, the
stop lights may not work. Malfunctioning
stop lights could cause an accident injur-
ing yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please note
that the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
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, turn the ignition
switch OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then
turn the ignition switch back to the ON
position. The vehicle should return to its
normal operating condition. If it does notreturn to its normal operating condition,
have a NISSAN dealer check the transmis-
sion and repair it if necessary.
LSD0101
5-16Starting and driving
WARNING
●Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
● Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
● Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
● To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and /or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm
day can quickly become high enough to
cause a significant risk of injury or
death to people and pets. To engage:
Firmly depress the parking brake.
To release: 1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
3. Firmly depress the parking brake pedal and it will release.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
1. ACCEL/RES switch
2. COAST/SET switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. ON/OFF switch
LSD0158LSD2003
PARKING BRAKE CRUISE CONTROL (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-17
●If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light illuminates in the vehicle information
display then blinks to warn the driver. For
additional information, refer to “Vehicle infor-
mation display” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section of this manual.
● If the SET indicator light blinks, push the
cruise control ON/OFF switch off and have
the system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
● The SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control ON/OFF switch is pushed
ON while pushing the ACCEL/RES,
COAST/SET, or CANCEL switch. To prop-
erly set the cruise control system, use 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.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 mph (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,
push the
ON/OFF switch on. The CRUISE indicator light
in the vehicle information display will illuminate.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The SET indicator light in the
vehicle information display will illuminate. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal. Your vehicle
maintains the set speed.
● To pass another vehicle, depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
● The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control. To cancel the preset speed,
use one of the
following three methods:
● Push the CANCEL button; the SET indicator
light in the vehicle information display goes
out.
● Tap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light
goes out.
● Push the ON/OFF switch off. Both the
CRUISE indicator light and SET indicator
light in the vehicle information display go out.
The cruise control is automatically canceled and
the SET light in the vehicle information display
goes out if: ● You depress the brake pedal while pushing
the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST switch.
The preset speed is deleted from memory.
● The vehicle slows down more than 8 mph
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
● You move the shift lever to N (Neutral) .
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one of
the following three methods:
● Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
5-18Starting and driving
●Keep your engine tuned up.
● Follow the recommended scheduled main-
tenance.
● Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
For additional information, refer to “Engine
oil and oil filter recommendations” in the
“Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
WARNING
● 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.
● Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) . Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and re-
sult in an accident. Make sure the shift
lever has been pushed as far forward as
it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal. ●
Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
● To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm
day can quickly become high enough to
cause a significant risk of injury or
death to people and pets.
WSD0050
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-21
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling intotraffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
● HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
A
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
B
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
C
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK posi- tion. The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, especially
in sharp turns and at low speeds.
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.
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brake 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, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating 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.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
5-22Starting and driving
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 the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing 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
effect of the parking brake is weakened or when-
ever the parking brake shoes and/or drum/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 pre-
vent accidents resulting from careless
or dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces. Remem-
ber that stopping distances on slippery
surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances 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 respon-
sible 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. For additional in-
formation, refer to “Tire and loading
information label” in the “Technical
and consumer information” section
of this manual.
– For additional information, refer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section of
this manual.
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels do
not lock during hard braking or when braking on
slippery surfaces. The system detects the rota-
tion speed at each wheel and varies the brake
fluid pressure to prevent each wheel from locking
and sliding. By preventing each wheel from lock-
ing, the system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving and spin-
ning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. De-
press the brake pedal with firm steady pressure,
but do not pump the brakes. The ABS will oper-
ate to prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
Starting and driving5-23
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
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 malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and illuminates the
ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The
brake system then operates 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 above3-6mph(5
- 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 ap-
plies 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 pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is re-
quired while driving.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal ex-
ceeds a certain level, the brake assist is activated
generating greater braking force than a conven-
tional brake booster even with light pedal force.
WARNING
The brake assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. it is the driv-
ers responsibility to stay alert, drive safely
and be in control of the vehicle at all times.
●
ABLS system uses automatic braking to
transfer power from a slipping drive wheel to
the wheel on the same axle with more trac-
tion. The ABLS system applies braking to
the slipping wheel, which helps redirect
power to the other wheel.
● The ABLS system is always on. In some
conditions, the system may automatically
turn the ABLS system off. If the system is
automatically turned off, normal brake func-
tion will continue. ABLS will function even
when the VDC system is turned off.
● The ABLS does not operate if both wheels
on a drive axle are slipping.
WARNING
● The ABLS system helps provide in-
creased traction, but will not prevent
accidents due to abrupt steering opera-
tion or by careless driving or dangerous
driving practices. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery surfaces. Al-
ways drive carefully.
ACTIVE BRAKE LIMITED SLIP (ABLS)
SYSTEM
5-24Starting and driving
The VDC system is automatically reset to ON
when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position then back to the ON position.
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 steer-
ing operation at high speeds or by care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be especially
careful when driving and cornering on
slippery surfaces and always drive
carefully. ●
Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars,
bushings and wheels are not NISSAN
recommended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could
adversely affect vehicle handling per-
formance, and the
indicator may
flash or the
indicator light may
illuminate.
● If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly and both the
andindicator light may
illuminate.
● If engine control related parts are not
NISSAN recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
and
the
indicator light may illuminate. ●
When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners,
the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly and the
indicator may flash or
the
indicator light may illuminate.
Do not drive on these types of roads.
● When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator may flash or
the
indicator 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
indicator may flash or
the
indicator light may illuminate.
● The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns, the
system optimizes the distribution of force to each
of the four wheels depending on the radius of the
turn.
5-26Starting and driving