Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift lever may not
be moved from the P (Park) position even with the
brake pedal depressed.
To move the shift lever, release the shift lock. The
shift lever can be moved to N (Neutral) . However,
for models without the NISSAN Vehicle Immobi-
lizer System, the steering wheel will be locked
unless the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. This allows the vehicle to be moved if
the battery is discharged.To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1.
Place the ignition switch to the LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover. If a screwdriver is used to remove the cover, it
should be wrapped in a protective cloth to
prevent damage to the cover and surround-
ing plastic.
4. Insert a small object or finger in the shift lock release slot and push.
5. Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi- tion while holding the shift lock release.
6. Now the vehicle may be moved to the de- sired location.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have the automatic transmission system checked
as soon as possible. It is recommended that 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 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
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please note
that the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
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. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition
switch OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then
turn the ignition switch 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 re-
paired, if necessary. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
LSD2594
Starting and driving5-21
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:
Firmly depress the parking brake.
To release: 1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
3. Firmly depress the parking brake pedal and it will release.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
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.
LSD0158
PARKING BRAKE BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) (if so
equipped)
5-22Starting and driving
●If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The
(green) or
SET indicator light illuminates in the vehicle
information display then blinks to warn the
driver. For additional information, refer to
“Vehicle information display” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section of this manual.
● If the
(green) or SET indicator light
blinks, push the cruise control ON/OFF
switch off and have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
● The
(green) or SET indicator light may
blink when the cruise control ON/OFF
switch is pushed ON while pushing the
ACCEL/RES, COAST/SET, or CANCEL
switch. To properly set the cruise control
system, use 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.
● On winding or hilly roads. ●
On slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) .
● In very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 mph (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the
ON/OFF switch on. The
(white) or
CRUISE indicator light in the vehicle information
display will illuminate.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The
(green) or SET indica-
tor light in the vehicle information display will
illuminate. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set speed.
● To pass another vehicle, depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
● The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control. To cancel the preset speed,
use one of the
following three methods:
● Push the CANCEL switch; the
or SET
indicator light in the vehicle information dis-
play goes out.
● Tap the brake pedal; the
or SET indi-
cator light goes out.
● Push the ON/OFF switch off. The
in-
dicator light or both the CRUISE indicator
light and SET indicator light in the vehicle
information display go out.
The cruise control is automatically canceled and
the
or SET light in the vehicle information
display goes out if:
● You depress the brake pedal while pushing
the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST switch.
The preset speed is deleted from memory.
● The vehicle slows down more than 8 mph
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
● You move the shift lever to N (Neutral) .
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one of
the following three methods:
● Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
Starting and driving5-41
●Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you de-
sire, release the switch.
● Push and release the ACCEL/RES switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed in-
creases by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
● Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
● Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows to
the desired speed.
● Push and release the COAST/SET switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed de-
creases by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle re-
turns to 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 obtain
maximum engine performance and ensure
the future reliability and economy of your
new vehicle. Failure to follow these rec-
ommendations may result in shortened
engine life and reduced engine
performance.
● Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and 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.
● Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 mi
(805 km) . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged. 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
Pedal Application
● Avoid rapid starts and stops.
● Use smooth, gentle accelerator and
brake application whenever possible.
● Maintain constant speed while commut-
ing and coast whenever possible.
2. Maintain Constant Speed
● Look ahead to try and anticipate and mini-
mize 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.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
5-42Starting and driving
●Keep your engine tuned up.
● Follow the recommended scheduled main-
tenance.
● Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im-
proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● For vehicles equipped with
, use 4H
or 4L position only when necessary. Four-
wheel drive operation lowers fuel economy.
● Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
For additional information, refer to “Engine
oil and oil filter recommendations” in the
“Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
WARNING
● For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could result in
serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
● Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer
(such as the dynamometers used by
some states for emissions testing) , or
similar equipment even if the other two
wheels are raised off the ground. Make
sure you inform test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with 4WD
before it is placed on a dynamometer.
Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
CAUTION
● Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driv-
ing on dry, hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise, tire wear
and increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light or vehicle in-
formation display warning message
turns on when you are driving on dry
hard surface roads:
– in the 4H position, shift the 4WD shift switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle, move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position with the brake pedal de-
pressed, and shift the 4WD shift
switch to 2WD.
● If the warning light or vehicle informa-
tion display warning message is still on
after the above operation, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY USING 4–WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (if so
equipped)
5-44Starting and driving
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
The part time 4WD system provides 3 positions
(2WD, 4H and 4LO) , so you can select the desired
drive mode according to the driving conditions.
2WD or 4WD shift procedure:
4WD Shift SwitchPosition Wheels Driven Indicator Light
Use Conditions 4WD Shift Procedure
4WD shift Transfer 4LO position
2WD
Rear wheels
For driving on dry, paved
roads (Economy drive) Move the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> 4H
4WD shift indicator light will indicate transfer shift posi-
tion engaged.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MOVE THE SHIFT SE-
LECT TO THE N POSITION IN THIS OPERATION.
PERFORM THIS OPERATION WHEN DRIVING
STRAIGHT.
4H
4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy
or snow-covered roads
(N) Neutral
*1
May blink (N) Neutral disengages the
automatic transmission me-
chanical parking lock,
which will allow the vehicle
to roll. Do not leave the
transfer shift position in (N)
Neutral.*2 1. Stop the vehicle.
2. With the brake pedal depressed, move the shift
lever to the N position.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, depress and turn the 4WD shift switch to 4LO or 4H.
THE TRANSFER CASE DOES NOT ENGAGE BE-
TWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO 4H) UNLESS YOU
HAVE FIRST STOPPED THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED
THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER
TO (N) NEUTRAL. *3
4LO
4 wheels
Illuminated For use when maximum
power and traction is re-
quired (for example: on
steep grades or rocky,
sandy, muddy roads)
*1: Before moving the shift lever from (N) Neutral, wait until the 4LO indicator light stays on steady. This indicates that the 4WD shift procedure is completed
and the transfer gear is correctly set in the 4LO position. If the vehicle is shifted into gear before the indicator is on steady, the transfer gear may grind,
not engage correctly or stay in the (N) Neutral position.
Starting and driving5-45
- If the 4WD warning light or vehicle information display warning message illuminates, perform the following procedure to return the transfer case to
correct operating condition.
1. Turn off the engine by turning the ignition switchOFF.
2. Start the engine.
- Check that the 4WD warning light or vehicle information display warning message turns off. If the 4WD light illuminates, have the system checked. It
is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
3. Apply the parking brake, depress the brake pedal and move the shift lever to (N) Neutral position.
4. With the brake pedal depressed, move the 4WD shift switch to desired mode.
- Be sure to wait until the transfer gear change completes before shifting the shift lever from (N) Neutral position.
*2: While changing in and out of 4LO, the ignition key must be ON and the vehicle’s engine must be running for a shift to take place and for the indicator lights (4WD shift and 4LO position indicator) to be operable. Otherwise, the shift will not take place and no indicator lights will be on or flashing.
*3: Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift switch to 4LO. The
indicator light will also turn on when
4LO is selected. For additional information, refer to “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system” in this section.
5-46Starting and driving
The transfer case 4WD shift switch is used to
select either 2WD or 4WD depending on the
driving conditions. There are three types of drive
modes available, 2WD, 4H and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically controls the
transfer case operation. Rotate the switch to
move between each mode, 2WD, 4H and 4LO.
To change into or out of 4LO, the vehicle
MUST be stationary, shift the shift lever to
(N) Neutral, and depress the brake pedal.
The switch must be pushed and turned to
select 4LO.
WARNING
●When parking, apply the parking brake
before stopping the engine and make
sure that the 4WD shift indicator light is
on and the ATP warning light goes off.
Otherwise, the vehicle could unexpect-
edly move even if the automatic trans-
mission is in the P position.
● The 4LO indicator light must stop blink-
ing and remain illuminated or turn off
before shifting the transmission into
gear. If the shift lever is shifted from the
“N” position to any other gear when the
4LO indicator light is blinking, the ve-
hicle may move unexpectedly.
CAUTION
● Never shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
● The 4H position provides greater trac-
tion. Avoid excessive speed, as it will
cause increased fuel consumption and
higher oil temperatures, and could
damage drivetrain components. Speeds
over 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4H is not
recommended.
● The 4LO position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 31 mph
(50 km/h).
● When driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD or 4H position.
Do not move the 4WD shift switch when
making a turn or reversing.
● Do not shift the 4WD shift switch (be-
tween 2WD and 4H) while driving on
steep downhill grades. Use the engine
brake and low automatic transmission
gears (D1 or D2) for engine braking.
● Do not operate the 4WD shift switch
(between 2WD and 4H) with the rear
wheels spinning. ●
Do not drive on dry hard surface roads
in the 4H or 4LO position. Driving on dry
hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise and tire wear.
NISSAN recommends driving in the
2WD position under these conditions.
● The 4WD transfer case may not be
shifted between 4H and 4LO at low am-
bient temperatures and the transfer
4LO position indicator light may blink
even when the 4WD shift switch is
shifted. After driving for a while you can
change the 4WD transfer case between
4H and 4LO.
When driving on rough roads, ● Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4LO.
● Drive carefully according to the road surface
conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck, ● Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4LO.
● Place stones or wooden blocks under the
tires to free the vehicle.
Starting and driving5-47