2017 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN automatic transmission

The HomeLink® Universal Transceiver provides
a convenient way to consolidate the functions of
up to three individual hand-held transmitters into
one built-in device.
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver:● Will operate most radio frequency devices
such as garage doors, gates, home and of-
fice lighting, entry door locks and security
systems.
● Is powered by your vehicle’s battery. No
separate batteries are required. If the vehi-
cle’s battery is discharged or is discon-
nected, HomeLink® will retain all program-
ming.
When the HomeLink® Universal Trans-
ceiver is programmed, retain the original
transmitter for future programming proce-
dures (Example: new vehicle purchases) .
Upon sale of the vehicle, the programmed
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver buttons
should be erased for security purposes. For
additional information, refer to “Program-
ming HomeLink®” in this section.WARNING
● Do not use the HomeLink® Universal
Transceiver with any garage door
opener that lacks safety stop and re-
verse features as required by federal
safety standards. (These standards be-
came effective for opener models
manufactured after April 1, 1982) . A ga-
rage door opener which cannot detect
an object in the path of a closing garage
door and then automatically stop and
reverse, does not meet current federal
safety standards. Using a garage door
opener without these features in-
creases the risk of serious injury or
death.
● During the programming procedure
your garage door or security gate will
open and close (if the transmitter is
within range) . Make sure that people or
objects are clear of the garage door,
gate, etc. that you are programming.
● Your vehicle’s engine should be turned
off while programming the HomeLink®
Universal Transceiver. Do not breathe
exhaust gases; they contain colorless
and odorless carbon monoxide. Carbon
monoxide is dangerous. It can cause
unconsciousness or death.
PROGRAMMING HOMELINK®
If you have any questions or are having difficulty
programming your HomeLink® buttons, refer to
the HomeLink® web site at: www.homelink.com
or call 1-800-355-3515.
NOTE:
Place the ignition switch in the ACC posi-
tion when programming HomeLink®. It is
also recommended that a new battery be
placed in the hand-held transmitter of the
device being programmed to HomeLink®
for quicker programming and accurate
transmission of the radio frequency.
HOMELINK® UNIVERSAL
TRANSCEIVER (if so equipped)
Instruments and controls2-55

CAUTION
●Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
● To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, when stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and smooth
operation.
The CVT can operate in two different automatic
drive modes: ● D (Drive) mode - Move the shift lever to D
(Drive) , the transmission is in the normal
forward automatic driving mode. The posi-
tion indicator in the meter shows a “D”. ●
Ds (Drive Sport) mode - Move the shift lever
from D (Drive) to the Ds (Drive Sport) . The
position indicator in the meter shows a “Ds”.
In Ds (Drive Sport) mode, transmission op-
eration changes to Sporty” driving shift op-
eration, creating a more aggressive accel-
eration feeling than the D (Drive) mode and a
gear change sensation when the driver ac-
celerates or when using the shift paddles (if
so equipped) . During Ds (Drive Sport) mode
operation, the driver must move the shift
lever from Ds mode to D mode and back
again to re-select Ds (Drive Sport) mode.
● To cancel the Ds mode, return the shift lever
to the D (Drive) position. The transmission
returns to the automatic drive mode.
The CVT can operate in two manual drive modes: ● M (Manual) mode (if so equipped) - With the
shift lever in the Ds (Drive Sport) mode,
using the shift paddles (if so equipped) up
(+) or down (–) produces noticeable up-
shifts and downshifts. The position indicator
in the meter shows a “M”.
● To Ds (Drive Sport) mode return the shift
lever to the D (Drive) mode.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment. NOTE:
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
WARNING
●
Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) , or Ds
(Drive Sport) . Always depress the brake
pedal until shifting is completed. Fail-
ure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
● Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
5-14Starting and driving

WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever is
in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll away
and result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shift lever position when the
vehicle is parked or when starting the engine.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped.
The brake pedal should be depressed to
move the shift lever from N (Neutral) or any
drive position to P (Park) . Apply the parking
brake. When parking on a hill, apply the parking
brake first, then move the shift lever into the P
(Park) position. R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position. The brake
pedal must be depressed to move the shift
lever from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive
position to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward driving. Ds (Drive Sport)
When the shift selector is shifted from the D
(Drive) to Ds (Drive Sport) position, the transmis-
sion enters the Ds (Drive Sport) mode. Moving
the shift selector to the Ds (Drive Sport) position
allows you to enjoy “sporty” driving shift operation
on a winding road and feel smooth acceleration
or deceleration on a hilly road by moving in a
lower gear automatically. When canceling the DS
mode, return the shift selector to the D (Drive)
position. The transmission returns to the normal
driving mode.
5-16Starting and driving

Manual shift mode (if so equipped)
When the shift lever is in the Ds (Drive Sport)
position, the transmission is ready for the manual
shift mode. Shift ranges can be selected manu-
ally by pulling the right-side or left-side paddle
shifter.
When shifting up, pull the right side paddle
shifter (+)
C(if so equipped) . The transmission
shifts to the higher range.
When shifting down, pull the left side paddle
shifter ()
B(if so equipped) . The transmission
shifts to the lower range. When canceling the manual shift mode, return
the shift lever to the D (Drive) position. The trans-
mission returns to the normal driving mode.
When you pull the paddle shifter (if so equipped)
while in the D (Drive) position, the transmission
will shift to the upper or lower range temporarily.
The transmission will automatically return to the D
(Drive) position after a short period of time. If you
want to return to the D (Drive) position manually,
pull and hold the paddle shifter for about 1.5 sec-
onds.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is dis-
played on the position indicator in the meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
1⇔
2⇔ 3⇔ 4⇔ 5⇔ 6⇔ 7
M7 (7th)
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
M6 (6th) and M5 (5th)
Use this position when driving up long slopes, or
for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
M4 (4th) , M3 (3rd) and M2 (2nd)
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on downhill
grades. M1 (1st)
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly
or driving slowly through deep snow, sand or
mud, or for maximum engine braking on steep
downhill grades.
● Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 7
range. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up
Move the shift lever to the + (up) side. (Shifts to
higher range.)
When shifting down
Move the shift lever to the (down) side. (Shifts
to lower range.)
● Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succession.
When canceling the manual shift mode
Return the shift lever to the D (Drive) position to
return the transmission to the normal driving
mode. ● In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving perfor-
mance and reduces the chance of ve-
hicle damage or loss of control.
LSD2086
Starting and driving5-17

●In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may shift up automatically to a
higher range than selected if the en-
gine speed is too high. When the ve-
hicle speed decreases, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down and
shifts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
● CVT operation is limited to automatic drive
mode when CVT fluid temperature is ex-
tremely low even if manual shift mode is
selected. This is not a malfunction. When
CVT fluid warms up, manual mode can be
selected.
● When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the
shift range may upshift in lower rpm than
usual. This is not a malfunction.
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.
It will be necessary to jump start or have your
battery charged. For additional information, refer
to “Jump starting” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this manual. Contact a NISSAN dealer
or a professional towing service.
To move the shift lever, complete the following
procedure:
1.
Push the ignition switch to the LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Using a protective cloth on the tip ofa3mm screwdriver, remove the shift lock release
cover.
● If available, a plastic trim tool can also be
used.
4. Insert the small screwdriver in the shift lock release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi- tion while holding down the shift lock re-
lease.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have the transmission checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
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.
LSD2087
5-18Starting and driving

Overdrive (O/D) OFF mode switch (if
so equipped)
When the O/D switch is pushed with the shift
lever in the D (Drive) position, the
light in
the instrument panel illuminates. For additional
information, refer to “Overdrive OFF indicator
light” in the “Instruments and controls” section of
this manual.
Use the Overdrive OFF mode when you need
improved engine braking.
To turn off the Overdrive OFF mode, push the
O/D OFF switch again. The
indicator light
will turn off. Each time the engine is started, or when the shift
lever is shifted to any position other than D (Drive)
and Ds (Drive Sport) , the Overdrive OFF mode
will automatically turn off.
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.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-
comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperatures with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer) , engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed may be
limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safesystem may be activated. The Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) may come on to indi-
cate the fail-safe mode is activated. For
additional information, refer to “Malfunc-
tion Indicator Light (MIL)” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section of this manual.
This will occur even if all electrical circuits
are functioning properly. In this case, place
the ignition switch in the OFF position and
wait for 10 seconds. Then push the 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 the transmission checked.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal opera-
tion, or have it repaired if necessary.
Overdrive off mode
LSD2090
Starting and driving5-19

●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.
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 system may not pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backwards
on a hill under all load or road condi-
tions. Always 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 per-
sonal injury. When the vehicle is stopped on a hill, the hill start
assist system automatically keeps the brakes ap-
plied to help prevent the vehicle from rolling
backward in the time it takes the driver to release
the brake pedal and apply the accelerator.
The hill start assist system will operate automati-
cally under the following conditions:
● The transmission 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 ve-
hicle will begin to roll back and the hill start
assist system will stop operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate when
the shift lever is placed in the N (Neutral) or P
(Park) position or on a flat and level road.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
5-82Starting and driving

●Properly position the mats in the floor-
well using the floor mat positioning
hook. For additional information, refer
to Floor mat installation in this
section.
● Make sure the floor mat does not inter-
fere with pedal operation.
● Periodically check the floor mats to
make sure they are properly installed.
● After cleaning the vehicle interior,
check the floor mats to make sure they
are properly installed.
The use of Genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and make it
easier to clean the interior. Mats should be main-
tained with regular cleaning and replaced if they
become excessively worn.
Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat position-
ing hook(s) . The number and shape of the floor
mat positioning hooks for each seating position
varies depending on the vehicle.
When installing Genuine NISSAN floor mats,
follow the installation instructions provided with
the mat and the following: 1. Position the floor mat in the floorwell so that
the floor mat grommet holes are aligned with
the hook(s) .
2. Secure the grommet holes into the hook(s) and ensure that the floor mat is properly
positioned.
3. Make sure the floor mat does not interfere with pedal operation. With the ignition in the
OFF position, the selector lever in the P
(Park) position (Automatic Transmission
models) or the shift lever in the N (Neutral)
position (Manual Transmission models) fully
apply and release all pedals. The floor mat
must not interfere with pedal operation or
prevent the pedal from returning to its nor-
mal position.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for details about installing the floor mats in your
vehicle. The illustration shows the location of the floor mat
positioning hooks.
SEAT BELTS
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping them
with a sponge dampened in a mild soap solution.
Allow the belts to dry completely in the shade
before using them. For additional information,
refer to “Seat belt maintenance” in the “Safety-
–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint
system” section of this manual.
Positioning hooks
LAI2045
7-6Appearance and care