5-12Starting and driving
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the shift lever is in either of the above
positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal and push the
ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push and
release the ignition switch while depressing
the brake pedal with the ignition switch in
any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when restart-
ing, depress the accelerator pedal a little
(approximately 1/3 to the floor) and while
holding, crank the engine. Release the
accelerator pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to start becauseit is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Push the ignition switch to the ON
position to start cranking the engine.
After 5 or 6 seconds, stop cranking by
pushing the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine with your
foot off the accelerator pedal bydepressing the brake pedal and pushing
the push-button ignition switch to start
the engine. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start, push the ignition switch
to OFF and wait 10 seconds before
cranking again, otherwise the starter
could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance first,
especially in cold weather. In cold weather,
keep the engine running for a minimum of 2 -
3 minutes before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short period of
time may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
5. To stop the engine, shift the shift lever to the P (Park) position and push the ignition
switch to the OFF position. NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1.
Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume battery
power when the engine is not running
(Phone chargers, GPS, DVD players,
etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving
SSD1177
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. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCKposition.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover
*A
using a suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock release
*Busing a
suitable tool.
5. Push the shift lever button
*Cand move the
shift lever to the N (Neutral) position
*D
while holding down the shift lock release.
The vehicle may be moved to the desired
location.
Replace the removed shift lock release cover
after the operation.
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.
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.
PARKING BRAKE
5-34Starting and driving
ing lightmay illuminate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.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 remote keyless entry key fob.
ANTI-FREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 328F(0 8C) ,
check the anti-freeze to assure proper winter
protection. For additional information, see “En-
gine 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.8-10) .
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 details, see “Engine cooling system” (P.8-4) .
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be
substantially reduced in snowy and icy condi-
tions. If you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy
roads, NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
It is recommended you consult a NISSAN dealer
for the tire type, size, speed rating and
availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. states
and Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see “Tire
chains” (P.8-33) .
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
6-10In case of emergency
SCE0978
WARNING
.When storing the spare tire, make
sure that the outer side of the spare
tire
*Ais facing up and that the
hanging plate*Bis in the center of
the wheel as illustrated. Failure to
store the spare tire properly could
result in serious vehicle damage
and may lead to an accident and
could result in serious personal
injury.
. Do not store any tire with the cable
except the spare tire. .
Do not use an impact wrench when
tightening or loosening the spare
tire lowering mechanism.
. When raising the spare tire, tighten
the spare tire lowering mechanism
until three clicks are heard.
. After storing the spare tire, check
under the vehicle to make sure it is
stored properly. To start your engine with a booster battery, the
instructions and precautions below must be
followed.
WARNING
.
If done incorrectly, jump starting
can lead to a battery explosion,
resulting in severe injury or death.
It could also damage your vehicle.
. Explosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
. Do not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, clothing
or painted surfaces. Battery fluid is
a corrosive sulfuric acid solution
which can cause severe burns. If
the fluid should come into contact
with anything, immediately flush the
contacted area with water.
. Keep the battery out of the reach of
children.
. The booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.
JUMP STARTING
.Whenever working on or near a
battery, always wear suitable eye
protectors (for example, goggles or
industrial safety spectacles) and
remove rings, metal bands, or any
other jewelry. Do not lean over the
battery when jump starting.
. Do not attempt to jump start a
frozen battery. It could explode
and cause serious injury.
. Your vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other
objects away from it.
SCE0969
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause
personal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
*B, position the two vehicles (*Aand*B)
to bring their batteries into close proximity to
each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift lever
to the P (Park) position. Switch off all
unnecessary electrical systems (lights, hea-
ter, air conditioner, etc.) .
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so equipped) . Cover the battery with a firmly
wrung out moist cloth to reduce explosion
hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
*1?*2?*3?*4).
If the battery is discharged, the ignition
switch cannot be moved from the OFF
position. Connect the jumper cables to
the booster vehicle
*Bbefore pushing
the ignition switch.
CAUTION
. Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative ( í) to body
ground (for example, as illustrated) ,
not to the battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that the cable
clamps do not contact any other
metal.
In case of emergency6-11
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ........................................................ 8-2
Engine compartment check locations .................................. 8-3VQ35DE engine .................................................................. 8-3
Engine cooling system ............................................................. 8-4 Checking engine coolant level ......................................... 8-5
Changing engine coolant .................................................. 8-5
Engine oil ........................................................................\
............ 8-5 Checking engine oil level .................................................. 8-5
Changing engine oil and filter .......................................... 8-6
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid ............... 8-8
Power steering fluid .................................................................. 8-8
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
........... 8-9
Window washer fluid ............................................................ 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
............... 8-10 Jump starting ..................................................................... 8-12
Variable voltage control system .......................................... 8-12
Drive belt ........................................................................\
.......... 8-12
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
..... 8-13 Replacing spark plugs .................................................... 8-13
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
........ 8-14 Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-14
Cleaning ........................................................................\
... 8-14
Replacing ........................................................................\
. 8-15
Washer nozzle ................................................................ 8-16
Rear window wiper blade ................................................... 8-17
Brakes ........................................................................\
.............. 8-17
Self-adjusting brakes .................................................... 8-17
Brake pad wear warning .............................................. 8-17
Fuses ........................................................................\
................ 8-18 Engine compartment ..................................................... 8-18
Passenger compartment .............................................. 8-19
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................................... 8-20
Lights ........................................................................\
................ 8-22
Headlights ........................................................................\
8-22
Exterior and interior lights ............................................ 8-24
Wheels and tires ................................................................... 8-27
Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-27
Tire labeling ..................................................................... 8-31
Types of tires ................................................................... 8-33
Tire chains ....................................................................... 8-33
Changing wheels and tires .......................................... 8-35
8-2Do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are general
precautions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
.Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely
and block the wheels to prevent
the vehicle from moving. Move the
shift lever to P (Park) .
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other moving
parts.
. It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle. .
If you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. Because the fuel lines on gasoline
engine models are under high pres-
sure even when the engine is off, it
is recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for service of the fuel filter or
fuel lines.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly
disposed engine oil, and engine
coolant and/or other vehicle fluids can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations
for disposal of vehicle fluid.
. Never leave the engine or the CVT
related component harnesses dis-
connected while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always
disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s manual/service manual
order information” (P.10-27) .)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
difficulties or excessive emissions, and could
affect warranty coverage.If in doubt about
any servicing, it is recommended you have
it done by a NISSAN dealer.
SDI2715
VQ35DE ENGINE
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Drive belt location
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Air cleaner
6. Fuse/fusible link holder 7. Window washer fluid reservoir
8. Engine coolant reservoir
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Battery
Do-it-yourself8-3
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS