5-20Starting and driving
BSW SYSTEM LIMITATIONS
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations
for the BSW system. Failure to operate
the vehicle in accordance with these
system limitations could result in ser-
ious injury or death.
.The BSW system cannot detect all
vehicles under all conditions.
. The radar sensors may not be able
to detect and activate BSW when
certain objects are present such as:
— Pedestrians, bicycles, animals.
— Vehicles such as motorcycles,
low height vehicles, or high
ground clearance vehicles.
— Oncoming vehicles.
— Vehicles remaining in the detec- tion zone when you accelerate
from a stop.
— A vehicle merging into an adja- cent lane at a speed approxi-
mately the same as your vehicle. — A vehicle approaching rapidly
from behind.
— A vehicle which your vehicle overtakes rapidly.
— A vehicle that passes through the detection zone quickly.
— When overtaking several vehi- cles in a row, the vehicles after
the first vehicle may not be
detected if they are traveling
close together.
. The radar sensor’s detection zone is
designed based on a standard lane
width. When driving in a wider lane,
the radar sensors may not detect
vehicles in an adjacent lane. When
driving in a narrow lane, the radar
sensors may detect vehicles driving
two lanes away.
. The radar sensors are designed to
ignore most stationary objects,
however objects such as guardrails,
walls, foliage and parked vehicles
may occasionally be detected. This
is a normal operating condition.
. The following conditions may re-
duce the ability of the radar to
detect other vehicles: — Severe weather
— Road spray
— Ice/frost/snow build-up on the
vehicle
— Dirt build-up on the vehicle
. Do not attach stickers (including
transparent material) , install acces-
sories or apply additional paint near
the radar sensors. These conditions
may reduce the ability of the radar
to detect other vehicles.
. Do not use the BSW system when
towing a trailer because the system
may not function properly.
. Excessive noise (for example, audio
system volume, open vehicle win-
dow) will interfere with the chime
sound, and it may not be heard.
5-24Starting and driving
JVS0726X
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY UNAVAIL-
ABLE
When radar blockage is detected, the BSW
system will be turned off automatically, a beep
will sound and the BSW system warning light
*1will blink. The system is not available until
the conditions no longer exist. The radar 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 radar sensors.Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist, the
system will resume automatically.
If the BSW system warning light
*1continues
to blink, have the system checked. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
When the system malfunctions, it will be turned
off automatically, a beep will sound and the
BSW system warning light will illuminate.
Action to take:
Stop the vehicle in a safe location, place the
vehicle in the P (Park) position, turn the engine
off and restart the engine.
If the BSW system warning light continues to
illuminate, have the system checked. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
SSD1178
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The two radar sensor units*Afor the BSW
system are located near the rear bumper.
Always keep the area near the radar sensors
clean.
The radar 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
radar sensors.
Check for and remove objects obstructing the
area around the radar sensors.
Do not attach stickers (including transparent material) , install accessories or apply additional
paint near the radar sensors.
Do not strike or damage the area around the
radar sensors. It is recommended you consult a
NISSAN dealer if the area around the radar
sensors is damaged due to a collision.
Radio frequency statement
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules and RSS-310 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful inter-
ference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Frequency of operation: 24.05GHz —
24.25GHz
Field Strength: Not greater than 2.5V/m peak
(0.25V/m average) at a distance of 3 m
The manufacturer is not responsible for any
radio or TV interference caused by unauthorized
modifications to this equipment. Such modifica-
tions could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CON-
TROL
. If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
will cancel automatically. The CRUISE in-
dicator light on the meter panel will then
blink to warn the driver.
. If the engine coolant temperature becomes
excessively high, the cruise control system
will cancel automatically.
. If the CRUISE indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked. It is recommended you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service.
. The CRUISE indicator light may blink when
the cruise control main switch is turned ON
while pushing the ACCELERATE/RESUME,
COAST/SET or CANCEL switch. To prop-
erly set the cruise control system, perform
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
Starting and driving5-25
CRUISE CONTROL
SSD0488
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) . Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or
roll away and result in an accident.
Make sure the shift lever has been
pushed as far forward as it can go and cannot be moved without de-
pressing the foot brake pedal.
. Never leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
. Do not leave children unattended
inside the vehicle. They could un-
knowingly activate switches or con-
trols. Unattended children could
become involved in serious acci-
dents.
. 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.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
.HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:*1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
.HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:*2
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:
*3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if it moves.
4. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK position.
Starting and driving5-29
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
5-30Starting and driving
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.
. When the hydraulic pump electric
power steering warning light illumi-
nates with the engine running, the
power assist for the steering will
cease operation. You will still have
control of the vehicle, but the steer-
ing will be much harder to operate.
The hydraulic pump electric power steering is
designed to provide power assistance while
driving to operate the steering wheel with light
force.
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent
overheating of the hydraulic pump electric
power steering and protect it from getting
damaged. While the power assist is reduced,
steering wheel operation will become heavy.
When the temperature of the power steering
system goes down, the power assist level will return to normal. Avoid repeating such steering
wheel operations that could cause the hydraulic
pump electric power steering to overheat.
You may hear a noise from the front of the
vehicle when the steering wheel is operated.
This is not a malfunction.
If the hydraulic pump electric power steering
warning light illuminates while the engine is
running, it may indicate the hydraulic pump
electric power steering is not functioning prop-
erly and may need servicing. It is recommended
you have the hydraulic pump electric power
steering checked by a NISSAN dealer.
When the hydraulic pump electric power steer-
ing warning light illuminates with the engine
running, the power assist for the steering will
cease operation but you will still have control of
the vehicle. At this time, greater steering efforts
are required to operate the steering wheel,
especially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and the stopping
distance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake and 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, accelerat-
HYDRAULIC PUMP ELECTRIC
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating 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.
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 brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly tapping 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
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or
drums/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain
vehicle control during braking on
slippery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping
distances 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 responsible
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. See
“Tire and Loading
Information label” (P.10-10) .
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-27) .
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard
braking or when braking on slippery surfaces.
The system detects the rotation speed at each
wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure to
prevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By
preventing each wheel from locking, the system
helps the driver maintain steering control and
helps to minimize swerving and spinning on
slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Starting and driving5-31
5-32Starting and driving
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 malfunction, it switches the ABS off and
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 orfeel 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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
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.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-16).
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 light
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
light
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.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-16) and “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-18).
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 steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slip-
pery surfaces and always drive care-
fully.
. 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-
Starting and driving5-33