5-138Starting and driving
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. It is recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 MPH
(5 to 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
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 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.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC
warning light
illuminates in the instrument
panel. The VDC system automatically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates to
indicate 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 VDC warning light
flashes if this occurs. All other VDC functions
are off, and the VDC warning lightwill 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.
When the 4L position is selected with the 4WD
shift switch, the VDC system is disabled and the
VDC off indicator light illuminates (for 4WD
models) .
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-17) and “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-20).
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
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
improve driving stability but does
not 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 driv-
ing and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs,
stabilizer bars, bushings and
wheels are not NISSAN recom-
mended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect 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 extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
. If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked
corners, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
. When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the VDC warning
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 VDC warn- ing light
may illuminate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.
Starting and driving5-139
5-140Starting and driving
SIC4455
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
OFF SWITCH
The vehicle should be driven with the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system ON for most
driving conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck in mud or snow, the
VDC system reduces the engine output to
reduce wheel spin. The engine speed will be
reduced even if the accelerator is depressed to
the floor. If maximum engine power is needed to
free a stuck vehicle, turn the VDC system off.
To turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system, push the VDC OFF switch. The VDC off
indicator light
will illuminate.Push the VDC OFF switch again or restart the
engine to turn ON the system.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the
key hole or use the Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 328F(0
8C) ,
check antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see “Engine
cooling system” (P.8-4).
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery should
be checked regularly. For additional information,
see “Battery” (P.8-11) .
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “Engine cooling system”
(P.8-4) .
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
6 In case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch .............................................. 6-2
Roadside assistance program ............................................... 6-2
Emergency engine shut off ..................................................... 6-3
Flat tire ........................................................................\
................. 6-3Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .................. 6-3
Changing a flat tire ............................................................. 6-4
Jump starting ........................................................................\
... 6-12
Push starting ........................................................................\
... 6-14 If your vehicle overheats ...................................................... 6-14
Towing your vehicle .............................................................. 6-16
Towing recommended by NISSAN ........................... 6-17
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ............... 6-19
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) manual shifting
(4WD models) ....................................................................... 6-20
When 4WD warning light illuminates ....................... 6-20
Operating procedure ..................................................... 6-21
6-2In case of emergency
SIC2574
Push the switch on to warn other drivers when
you must stop or park under emergency condi-
tions. All turn signal lights will flash.
WARNING
.If stopping for an emergency, be
sure to move the vehicle well off the
road.
. Do not use the hazard warning
flashers while moving on the high-
way unless unusual circumstances
force you to drive so slowly that
your vehicle might become a hazard to other traffic.
. Turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning flasher lights are
on.
The flasher can be actuated with the ignition
switch in any position.
When an impact that could activate the supple-
mental air bags is detected, the hazard warning
flasher lights blink automatically. If the hazard
warning flasher switch is pushed twice, the
hazard warning flashers will turn off.
WARNING
Do not turn the hazard warning flasher
switch to off until you can make sure
that it is safe to do so. Also, the hazard
flasher warning may not blink automa-
tically depending on the force of im-
pact.
Some state laws may prohibit the use of
the hazard warning flasher switch while
driving. In the event of a roadside emergency, Roadside
Assistance Service is available to you. Please
refer to your Warranty Information Booklet (U.S.)
or Warranty & Roadside Assistance Information
Booklet (Canada) for details.
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
SWITCH
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
To shut off the engine in an emergency situation
while driving, perform the following procedure:
.Rapidly push the push-button ignition switch
3 consecutive times in less than 1.5
seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) . It monitors tire
pressure of all tires except the spare. When
the low tire pressure warning light is lit and the
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning appears in
the vehicle information display, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. If the
vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by the low
tire pressure warning light. This system will
activate only when the vehicle is driven at
speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h) . For more
details, see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P.2-10) , “TIRE PRESSURE
information” (P.4-10) and “Tire Pressure Mon-
itoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-5) .
WARNING
.If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates or LOW PRESSURE in-
formation is displayed on the moni-
tor screen while driving, avoid
sudden steering maneuvers or
abrupt braking, reduce vehicle
speed, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Driving with un-
der-inflated tires may permanently
damage the tires and increase the
likelihood of tire failure. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and
may lead to an accident and could
result in serious personal injury.
Check the tire pressure for all four
tires. Adjust the tire pressure to the
recommended COLD tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label to turn the low
tire pressure warning light OFF. If
the light still illuminates while driv-
ing after adjusting the tire pressure,
a tire may be flat. If you have a flat
tire, replace it with a spare tire as
soon as possible.
. Since the spare tire is not equipped
with the TPMS, when a spare tire is
mounted or a wheel is replaced, the
TPMS will not function and the low
tire pressure warning light will flash
for approximately 1 minute. The
light will remain on after 1 minute.
Have your tires replaced and/or
TPMS system reset as soon as
possible. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for these
services.
In case of emergency6-3
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE
SCE0877
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause
personal injury.
1. Remove the engine compartment cover, if necessary. See “Engine compartment check
locations” (P.8-3).
2. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
*A, position the two vehicles (*Aand*B)
to bring their batteries into close proximity to
each other. Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
3. Apply parking brake. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position. Switch off all unne-
cessary electrical systems (light, heater, air
conditioner, etc.) .
4. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so equipped) . Cover the battery with a firmly
wrung out moist cloth
*Cto reduce
explosion hazard.
5. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
*1?*2?*3?*4).
CAUTION
.Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative ( í) to body
ground (as illustrated) — not to the
battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that clamps do
not contact any other metal.
6. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
*Aand let it run for a few minutes.
7. Keep the engine speed of the booster vehicle
*Aat about 2,000 rpm, and start
the engine of the vehicle being jump started
*B.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, place the
ignition switch in the OFF position and
wait 10 seconds before trying again.
In case of emergency6-13
6-20In case of emergency
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back- ward.
.Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)and D (Drive) .
.Apply the accelerator as little as possibleto maintain the rocking motion.
.Release the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R and D.
.Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH (55 km/h) .
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing service
to remove the vehicle. This section describes the procedure for manu-
ally shifting the vehicle into the 4WD mode (4L
position) in case of an emergency.
WHEN 4WD WARNING LIGHT ILLU-
MINATES
If the 4WD warning light illuminates while
driving, there may be a malfunction in the
4WD system. Stop the vehicle and have the
vehicle checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended you contact a NISSAN dealer
for this service. (See “NISSAN all-mode 4WD
Š”
(P.5-123) .)
When the vehicle is stuck on an uneven road
(desert, mud, etc.) and the 4WD warning light is
illuminated, be sure to place the 4WD shift
switch in the 4L position. If only the rear wheels
are spinning, this means that the transfer has not
switched to the 4L position electrically.
If this situation occurs, contact a dealer or road
assistance service for help. If an immediate
service is not available, perform the following
procedure to switch to the 4L position manually
and free the vehicle.
CAUTION
Only perform this procedure in an
emergency. If the vehicle is driven for a long period
of time over a long distance with a
component detached, foreign material
such as water, sand, etc. may enter from
the opening and this may cause a
malfunction in the drivetrain system.
After freeing a vehicle that has become
stuck, it is recommended you contact a
NISSAN dealer for inspection and re-
pair.
WARNING
.
Ensure your safety before perform-
ing the operations. The vehicle may
move unexpectedly.
. Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position, apply the parking brake
and let the vehicle cool down.
. Do not perform the following proce-
dure immediately after driving the
vehicle. Parts such as exhaust com-
ponents, the transmission, etc. are
very hot and may cause a burn
injury.
. Make sure that the parts that will be
operated as well as related parts
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
MANUAL SHIFTING (4WD models)