5-14Starting and driving
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANS-
MISSION (CVT)
The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
in your vehicle is electronically controlled to
produce maximum power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment.
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
1. After starting the engine, fully depress thefoot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
This CVT is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any driving
position while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of
the other positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the LOCK, OFF or
ACC position or if the key is removed. 2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed, push
the shift lever button and move the shift lever
to a driving position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake pedal, and then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
.Do not depress the accelerator
pedal while shifting from P (Park)
or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse) , D
(Drive) , or manual shift mode (if so
equipped) . Always depress the
brake pedal until shifting is com-
pleted. Failure 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.
. Never shift to either the P (Park) or
R (Reverse) position while vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) while the vehicle is rever-
sing. This could cause an accident
or damage the transmission. .
Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
CAUTION
.To avoid possible damage to your
vehicle; when stopping the vehicle
on an uphill grade, do not hold the
vehicle by depressing the accelera-
tor pedal. The foot brake should be
used for this purpose.
. Except in an emergency, do not shift
to the N (Neutral) position while
driving. Coasting with the transmis-
sion in the N (Neutral) position may
cause serious damage to the trans-
mission.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
SSD1140
To move the shift lever,
:Push the button*Awhile depressing the
brake pedal.
: Push the button*A.
:Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal, push the shift lever button and move the
shift lever from the P (Park) position to any of the
desired shift positions.
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.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF or
ACC position for any reason while the shift lever
is in any positions other than the P (Park) , the
ignition switch cannot be placed in the LOCK
position.
If the ignition switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position, perform the following steps:
1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Place the ignition switch in the ON position while depressing the foot brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
4. Place the ignition switch in the OFF position.
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, move
the shift lever to the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position only when the vehi-
cle is completely stopped.
P (Park):
Use this position when the vehicle is parked or
when starting the engine. Make sure the vehicle
is completely stopped. The brake pedal must
be depressed and the shift lever button
pushed in 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 to the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Make sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position. The brake pedal
must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any driving
position to R (Reverse) .
Starting and driving5-15
5-18Starting and driving
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 and repaired, if necessary. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature pro-
tection 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 ne-
cessary, pull to the side of the road at a
safe place and allow the transmission
to return to normal operation, or have it
repaired if necessary.
SSD1142
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. Place the ignition switch in the OFF orLOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover
*A
using a suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock release using a
suitable tool.
5. Push the shift lever button and move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) position while
holding down the shift lock release.
Place the ignition switch in the ON position. The
vehicle may be moved to the desired location.
Replace the removed shift lock release cover
after the operation.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel locked.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position, have the CVT system checked
as soon as possible. It is recommended 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
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and
others.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MT)
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.
. When the high fluid temperature
protection mode or fail-safe opera-
tion 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 operation, or have
it repaired if necessary.
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 for a
period of time, for example at a stop
light, shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
SSD0552
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into
the appropriate gear, then slowly and smoothly
release the clutch pedal.
To ensure smooth gear changes, be sure to fully
depress the clutch pedal before operating the
shift lever. If the clutch pedal is not fully
depressed before the transmission is shifted, a
gear noise may be heard. Transmission damage
could occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in sequence accord-
ing to vehicle speed.
Starting and driving5-19
screen.
WARNING
.Be sure the parking brake is fully
released 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 re-
quire the assistance of others or
pets unattended in your vehicle.
Additionally, the temperature 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.
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.
Starting and driving5-25
PARKING BRAKE
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle will maintain the
set speed.
.To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle will return to the previously
set speed.
. The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
on winding or hilly roads. If this happens,
drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, use one of the
following methods:
a) Push the CANCEL switch.
b) Tap the brake pedal.
c) Turn the MAIN switch off. The CRUISE indicator light will turn off.
.If you depress the brake pedal while pushing
the ACCEL/RES or COAST/SET switch and
reset at the cruising speed, the cruise
control will disengage. Turn the MAIN switch
off once and then turn it on again.
. The cruise control will automatically cancel if
the vehicle slows more than 8 MPH (13
km/h) below the set speed.
. If you move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (Continuously Variable Transmis-
sion models) or depressing the clutch pedal
(Manual Transmission models) , the cruise
control will be canceled. To reset at a faster cruising speed,
use one
of the following methods:
. Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
. Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the desired speed,
release the switch.
. Push, then quickly release the ACCEL/RES
switch. Each time you do this, the set speed
will increase by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following methods:
. Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
. Push and hold the COAST/SET switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle slows
down to the desired speed.
. Push, then quickly release the COAST/SET
switch. Each time you do this, the set speed
will decrease by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To resume the preset speed, push and
release the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle
will resume the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h) .
CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ,
follow these recommendations to ob-
tain maximum engine performance and
ensure the future reliability and econo-
my of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may
result in shortened engine life and
reduced engine performance.
. Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow. Do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
. Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
. Avoid quick starts.
. Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
Starting and driving5-27
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE
5-28Starting and driving
Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient Driving
Tips to help you achieve the most fuel economy
from your vehicle.
1. Use smooth accelerator and brake pedalapplication.
.Avoid rapid starts and stops..Use smooth, gentle accelerator andbrake application whenever possible.
.Maintain constant speed while commut-
ing and coast whenever possible.
2. Maintain constant speed.
.Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
.Synchronizing your speed with traffic
lights allows you to reduce your number
of stops.
.Maintaining a steady speed can minimize red light stops and improve fuel effi-
ciency.
3. Use air conditioning (A/C) at higher vehicle speeds.
.Below 40 MPH (64 km/h) , it is moreefficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load.
.Above 40 MPH (64 km/h) , it is moreefficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle
due to increased aerodynamic drag.
.Recirculating the cool air in the cabinwhen the A/C is on reduces cooling load.
4. Drive at economical speeds and distances.
.Observing the speed limit and not ex- ceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
.Maintaining a safe following distancebehind other vehicles reduces unneces-
sary braking.
.Safely monitoring traffic to anticipatechanges in speed permits reduced brak-
ing and smooth acceleration changes.
.Select a gear range suitable to road conditions.
5. Use cruise control.
.Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady speed.
.Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving on
flat terrains.
6. Plan for the shortest route.
.Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save time.
7. Avoid idling.
.Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30-60 seconds saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no more than 30seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal operatingtemperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, opening thewindows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system.
FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
AWD shift tips
.The oil temperature of power train parts will
increase if the vehicle is continuously
operated under conditions where the differ-
ence in rotation between the front and rear
wheels is large (wheel slip) , such as when
driving the vehicle on rough roads through
sand or mud or when freeing a stuck vehicle.
In these cases, the AWD warning light blinks
rapidly and the AWD mode changes to the
2WD mode to protect the power train parts.
If you stop driving with the engine idling and
wait until the warning light stops blinking,
the AWD returns to the AWD-V or AWD
mode.
. Brake distance in the AWD mode is the
same as 2WD.
CAUTION
.Do not start the engine with the
AWD mode switch in any mode in
the following cases:
— when the vehicle is placed on a
free-roller or jacking up the
vehicle with the front tires
raised and the rear tires on the
ground. — when towing the vehicle with the
rear tires raised from the
ground.
. Operate the AWD mode switch only
when driving straight. Do not oper-
ate the AWD mode switch when
making a turn or backing up. If the
AWD mode switch is operated while
making a turn, accelerating or de-
celerating, or if the ignition switch is
turned off while in the AWD-V or
AWD mode, you may feel a jolt. This
is not a malfunction.
. Do not operate the AWD mode
switch with the front wheel spin-
ning.
. Engine idling speed is high while
warming up the engine. Be espe-
cially careful when starting or driv-
ing on slippery surfaces with the
AWD mode switch set in the AWD-V
or AWD mode.SSD0336-D
AWD WARNING LIGHT
The AWD warning light located in the instrument
panel illuminates when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position. It turns off soon after
the engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the AWD system
while the engine is running, or while driving, the
Starting and driving5-31