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 L (Low)
(if so equipped) . Always depress the
brake pedal until shifting is completed.
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.
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
● Never shift to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is re-
versing. This could cause an accident or
damage the transmission.
● 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.
CAUTION
To avoid possible damage to your vehicle,
when stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depress-
ing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake
should be used for this purpose.
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever into a driving gear.
3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
4. Stop the vehicle completely before moving the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
The CVT is designed so the foot brake
pedal MUST be depressed before shifting
from P (Park) to any drive position while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear posi-
tions if the ignition switch is placed in the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the key is
removed.
Type A (if so equipped)
LSD2568
Starting and driving5-17
To move the shift lever:
Push the buttonAwhile depressing the
brake pedal
Push the buttonAto shift
Shift without pushing buttonA
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and move the shift lever from P (Park) 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 key is turned to the OFF or ACC position for
any reason while the vehicle is in N (Neutral) , or
any drive position, the key cannot be turned to the
LOCK position and be removed from the ignition
switch. If this occurs, perform the following steps: 1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Move the shift lever to P (Park) to park the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position to remove the key.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) 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 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 place the shift lever into the P (Park)
position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
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 and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive po-
sition 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.
Type B (if so equipped)
LSD2673
5-18Starting and driving
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.
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.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system 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-
ment 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 switchback 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 recom-
mended 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.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
●
Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
● Do not over-rev the engine when shift-
ing to a lower gear. This may cause a
loss of control or engine damage. ●
Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position
while driving. Doing so may result in an
accident due to loss of engine braking.
CAUTION
● Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
● Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.
● Stop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
● When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a stop
light) , shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
● Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position
while driving. Doing so may result in an
accident due to loss of engine braking.
Starting and driving5-21
MRA8DE engine models (6 M/T)
GEARmph (km/h)
1st 30 (48)
2nd 52 (84)
3rd 73 (117)
4th 94 (152)
5th —
6th —
MR16DDT engine models (6 M/T)
GEARmph (km/h)
1st 29 (46)
2nd 47 (75)
3rd 68 (108)
4th 90 (145)
5th —
6th —
WARNING
●Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased 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 require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture 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. To engage:
Pull the lever up
A.
To release: 1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
CVT models:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
LSD2197
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-23
3. While pulling up on the parking brake leverslightly, push the button and lower com-
pletely
B.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
The SPORT mode switch adjusts the throttle
sensitivity and transmission points to enhance
performance. Push the SPORT switch on the
instrument panel to activate. The SPORT mode
indicator light (on the speedometer) will illumi-
nate. The SPORT mode indicator light will remain
lit while the mode is active.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced. The ECO mode helps to enhance the fuel
economy by controlling the throttle sensitivity and
transmission points.
To turn on the ECO mode, push the ECO mode
switch. The ECO mode indicator light (on the
meter or vehicle information display) will remain lit
while the mode is active.
To turn off the ECO mode, push the ECO mode
switch again. The ECO mode indicator light (on
the meter or vehicle information display) will turn
off.
LIC2417LIC2416
SPORT MODE SWITCH (if so
equipped)
ECO MODE SWITCH (if so equipped)
5-24Starting and driving
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and instruc-
tions for proper use of the BSW system
could result in serious injury or death.
●The BSW system is not a replacement
for proper driving procedures and is not
designed to prevent contact with ve-
hicles or objects. When changing lanes,
always use the side and rear mirrors
and turn and look in the direction your
vehicle will move to ensure it is safe to
change lanes. Never rely solely on the
BSW system.
The BSW system helps alert the driver of other
vehicles in adjacent lanes when changing lanes. The BSW system uses radar sensors
1in-
stalled near the rear bumper to detect other ve-
hicles in an adjacent lane. The radar sensors can detect vehicles on either
side of your vehicle within the detection zone
shown as illustrated. This detection zone starts
from the outside mirror of your vehicle and ex-
tends approximately 10 ft (3.0 m) behind the rear
bumper, and approximately 10 ft (3.0 m) side-
ways.
LSD2692
Detection zone
SSD1030
BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) (if so
equipped)
5-26Starting 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 serious injury or
death.
●The BSW system cannot detect all ve-
hicles under all conditions.
● The radar sensors may not be able to
detect and activate BSW when certain
objects are present such as:
– Pedestrian, bicycles, animals.
– Vehicles such as motorcycles, low height vehicles, or high ground clear-
ance vehicles.
– Oncoming vehicles.
– Vehicles remaining in the detection zone when you accelerate from a
stop.
– A vehicle merging into an adjacent lane at a speed approximately the
same as your vehicle.
– A vehicle approaching rapidly from behind. – A vehicle which your vehicle over-
takes rapidly.
– A vehicle that passes through the de- tection zone quickly.
– When overtaking several vehicles in a row, the vehicles after the first ve-
hicle may not be detected if they are
traveling close together.
● The radar sensors’ 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 nar-
row lane, the radar sensors may detect
vehicles driving two lanes away.
● The radar sensors are designed to ig-
nore most stationary objects, however
objects such as guardrails, walls, foli-
age and parked vehicles may occasion-
ally be detected. This is a normal opera-
tion condition.
● The following conditions may reduce
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 trans-
parent material) , install accessories or
apply additional paint near the radar
sensors. These conditions may reduce
the ability of the radar to detect other
vehicles.
● Excessive noise (for example, audio
system volume, open vehicle window)
will interfere with the chime sound, and
it may not be heard.
5-30Starting and driving
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
When radar blockage is detected, the system will
be deactivated automatically. The “Side Radar
Obstruction” warning message will appear and
the BSW/RCTA indicator (white) will blink
Ain
the vehicle information display.
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.
NOTE:
If the BSW system stops working, the RCTA
system (if so equipped) will also stop work-
ing.
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist, the
system will resume automatically.
LSD2623
5-34Starting and driving