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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
indi-
cator 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
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.
For additional information, refer to “Slip indicator
light” and ”Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
indicator light” in the ”Instruments and controls”
section of this manual.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
indicator light will come on in the instrument
panel. The VDC system automatically turns off
when these indicator lights are off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The
indicator illuminates to indi-
cate 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
indicator flashes if this occurs. All other VDC
functions are off and the
indicator 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.
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 the
indica-
tor light may illuminate.
● If engine control related parts are not
NISSAN recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, 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.
5-56Starting and driving
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●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.
WARNING
●The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain controllability but cannot
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 slippery
surfaces and always drive carefully.
● The active trace control and brake force
distribution systems may not be effec-
tive depending on the driving condition.
Always drive carefully and attentively.
●
Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorb-
ers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bush-
ings and wheels are not NISSAN recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly. This could adversely af-
fect 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 extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warning
light may illuminate. ●
If engine control related parts are not
NISSAN recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC warning 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 VDC warning light may illu-
minate. Do not drive on these types of
roads.
● When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the VDC warning light may illumi-
nate. 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 warning light may illuminate.
● The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
Starting and driving5-57
Page 411 of 636

WARNING
●Never rely solely on the hill descent
control system to control vehicle speed
when driving on steep downhill grades.
Always drive carefully and attentively
when using the hill descent control sys-
tem and decelerate the vehicle speed by
depressing the brake pedal if neces-
sary. Be especially careful when driving
on frozen, muddy or extremely steep
downhill roads. Failure to control ve-
hicle speed may result in a loss of con-
trol of the vehicle and possible serious
injury or death.
● The hill descent control may not control
the vehicle speed on a hill under all load
or road conditions. Always be prepared
to depress the brake pedal to control
vehicle speed. Failure to do so may re-
sult in a collision or serious personal
injury.
The hill descent control system can only be acti-
vated when the 4H or 4LO switch is engaged.
The hill descent control system helps maintain
vehicle speed when driving under 15 mph
(25 km/h) on steeper downhill grades. Hill de-
scent control is useful when engine braking alone
cannot control vehicle speed. Hill descent con- trol applies the vehicle brakes to control vehicle
speed allowing the driver to concentrate on
steering while reducing the burden of brake and
accelerator operation.
If the hill descent control light is blinking, the hill
descent control is engaged; however, the hill de-
scent control will not control the vehicle speed.
●
Once the system is activated, the indicator
light will remain on in the instrument panel.
For additional information, refer to “Hill de-
scent control system on indicator light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this
manual.
● You may hear a noise from under the hood or
feel a vibration from the actuator when it is
operating. This indicates that the HDC sys-
tem is working properly.
If the accelerator or brake pedal is depressed
while the hill descent control system is on, the
system will stop operating temporarily. As soon
as the accelerator or brake pedal is released, the
hill descent control system begins to function
again if the hill descent control operating condi-
tions are fulfilled.
For the best results, when descending steep
downhill grades, the hill descent control switch
should be ON and the shift lever in M1 (First) for
engine braking.
WARNING
● Never rely solely on the hill start assist
system to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing backward on a hill. Always drive
carefully and attentively. Depress the
brake pedal when the vehicle is stopped
on a steep hill. Be especially careful
when stopped on a hill on frozen or
muddy roads. Failure to prevent the ve-
hicle from rolling backwards may result
in a loss of control of the vehicle and
possible serious injury or death.
● The hill start assist system is not de-
signed to hold the vehicle at a standstill
on a hill. Depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped on a steep hill.
Failure to do so may cause the vehicle
to roll backwards and may result in a
collision or serious personal injury.
● The hill start assist may not prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards on a hill
under all load or road conditions. Al-
ways be prepared to depress the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards. Failure to do so may result
in a collision or serious personal injury.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL SYSTEM (if
so equipped) HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
5-58Starting and driving
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When the vehicle is stopped on a hill, the hill start
assist system automatically keeps the brakes ap-
plied. This helps prevents the vehicle from rolling
backward in the time it takes the driver to release
the brake pedal and apply the accelerator when
the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
Hill start assist will operate automatically under
the following conditions:● The shift lever is shifted to a forward or
reverse gear.
● The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After
2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
hill start assist will stop operating completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the shift
lever is shifted into N (Neutral) or P (Park) or on a
flat and level road. When the VDC warning light
illuminates in the meter, the hill start assist system
will not operate. The sonar (parking sensor) system sounds a tone
to inform the driver of obstacles near the bumper.
When the “DISPLAY” key is ON, the sonar view
will automatically appear in the meter.
WARNING
●
The sonar (parking sensor) system is a
convenience but it is not a substitute for
proper parking.
● The driver is always responsible for
safety during parking and other maneu-
vers. Always look around and check that
it is safe to do so before parking. ●
Read and understand the limitations of
the sonar (parking sensor) system as
contained in this section. The colors of
the corner sonar indicator and the dis-
tance guide lines in the front/rear view
indicate different distances to the
object.
● Inclement weather or ultrasonic
sources such as an automatic car wash,
a truck’s compressed-air brakes or a
pneumatic drill may affect the function
of the system; this may include reduced
performance or a false activation.
● This function is designed as an aid to
the driver in detecting large stationary
objects to help avoid damaging the
vehicle.
● The system is not designed to prevent
contact with small or moving objects.
Always move slowly. The system will
not detect small objects below the bum-
per, and may not detect objects close to
the bumper or on the ground.
● The system may not detect the follow-
ing objects: Fluffy objects such as
snow, cloth, cotton, glass, wool, etc.,
Thin objects such as rope, wire and
chain, etc., or wedge-shaped objects.
LSD2465
FRONT AND REAR SONAR SYSTEM
(if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-59
Page 413 of 636

If your vehicle sustains damage to the bumper
fascia, leaving it misaligned or bent, the sensing
zone may be altered causing inaccurate mea-
surement of obstacles or false alarms.
CAUTION
●Excessive noise (such as audio system
volume or an open vehicle window) will
interfere with the tone and it may not be
heard.
● Keep the sonar sensors (located on the
bumper fascia) free from snow, ice and
large accumulations of dirt. Do not
clean the sensors with sharp objects. If
the sensors are covered, the accuracy of
the sonar function will be diminished.
SYSTEM OPERATION
The system informs with a visual and audible alert
of front obstacles when the shift lever is in the D
(Drive) position and both front and rear obstacles
when the shift lever is in the R (Reverse) position. Sonar Operation Table
FR Sensor RR Sensor
Range Sound Display Sound Display Px†x †
R ooo o
Nx†x †
Doox †
o – Display/Beep when detect
† – Display on camera view
x – No Display and Beep
The system is deactivated at speeds above
6 mph (10 km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
The intermittent tone will stop after 3 seconds
when an obstacle is detected by only the corner
sensor and the distance does not change. The
tone will stop when the obstacle get away from
the vehicle.
When the object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks and the tone sounds
intermittently. When the vehicle moves closer to
the object, the color of the indicator turns yellow
and the rate of the blinking increase. When the
vehicle is very close to the object, the indicator
stops blinking and turns red, and the tone sounds
continuously. When the corner of the vehicle moves closer to
an object, the corner sonar indicator
Aappears.
LSD2466
5-60Starting and driving
Page 414 of 636
The system indicatorsAwill appear when the
vehicle moves closer to an object.
LSD2632
LSD2470
Starting and driving5-61
Page 415 of 636

HOW TO ENABLE/DISABLE THE
SONAR SYSTEM
The system is automatically activated when the
ignition is in the ON position and the shift lever is
in the R (Reverse) position.
Perform the following steps to enable or disable
the sonar system:1. Press the sonar switch (the orange light will go out) to turn the system off.
2. To turn the system back on, press the switch (the orange light will illuminate) and the sys-
tem will be enabled.
NOTE: ● The system will automatically be turned on
when the engine is restarted.
SONAR LIMITATIONS
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations for
the Sonar system. Failure to operate the
vehicle in accordance with these system
limitations could result in serious injury or
death. ●
The driver is always responsible for
safety during parking and other maneu-
vers. Always turn and look back before
backing up. The sonar system is not a
substitute for proper procedures.
● Read and understand the limitations of
the sonar system as contained in this
section. Inclement weather may affect
the function of the sonar system; this
may include reduced performance or a
false activation.
● This system is not designed to prevent
contact with small or moving objects.
● The system is designed as an aid to the
driver in detecting large stationary ob-
jects to help avoid damaging the ve-
hicle. The system will not detect small
objects below the bumper, and may not
detect objects close to the bumper or
on the ground.
● The system is deactivated at speeds
above 6 mph (10 km/h). It is reactivated
at lower speeds. ●
Inclement weather or ultrasonic
sources such as an automatic car wash,
a truck’s compressed-air brakes or a
pneumatic drill may affect the function
of the system; this may include reduced
performance or a false activation.
● The system is not designed to prevent
contact with small or moving objects.
Always move slowly. The system will
not detect small objects below the bum-
per or on the ground.
● The system may not detect the follow-
ing objects: Fluffy objects such as
snow, cloth, cotton, glass-wool, etc.
Thin objects such as rope, wire and
chain, etc, or wedge-shaped objects.
● The system may not detect objects at
speeds above 3 mph (5 km/h) and may
not detect certain angular or moving
objects.
● The system is deactivated at speeds
above 6 mph (10 km/h) and is reacti-
vated at lower speeds.
5-62Starting and driving
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SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The sonar sensors1are located on the front
and rear bumpers. Always keep the area near the
sonar sensors clean.
The sonar sensors may be blocked by temporary
ambient conditions such as splashing water, mist
or fog.
The blocked condition may also be caused by
objects such as ice, frost or dirt obstructing the
sonar sensors.
Check for and remove objects obstructing the
area around the sonar sensors. Do not attach stickers (including transparent ma-
terial) , install accessories or apply additional
paint near the sonar sensors.
Do not strike or damage the area around the
sonar sensors. It is recommended that you con-
sult a NISSAN dealer if the area around the sonar
sensors is damaged due to a collision.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply de-
icer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the key
hole or use the remote keyless entry key fob (if so
equipped) .
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the tem-
perature will drop below 32°F (0°C) , check the
antifreeze to assure proper winter protection. For
additional information, refer to “Engine cooling sys-
tem” in the “Do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may
freeze and damage the battery. To maintain maxi-
mum efficiency, the battery should be checked
regularly. For additional information, refer to “Bat-
tery” in the “Do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system, including the
engine block. Refill before operating the vehicle.
For additional information, refer to “Changing
engine coolant” in the “Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
LSD2471
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-63