
•
Be sure to check the brakes immediately af-
ter driving in mud or water. See “Brake
system” later in this section for wet brakes.
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If
you get out of the vehicle and it rolls forward,
backward or sideways, you could be injured.
• Whenever you drive off-road through sand,
mud or water as deep as the wheel hub, more
frequent maintenance may be required. See
the maintenance information in
aseparate
maintenance booklet.
• Rinse the underside of the vehicle with fresh
water after driving through mud or sand. Re-
move any brush or sticks that are trapped. The turbocharger system uses engine oil for lubrica-
tion and cooling of its rotating components. The tur-
bocharger turbine turns at extremely high speeds
and it can reach an extremely high temperature. It is
essential to maintain
aflow of clean oil through the
turbocharger system. Asudden interruption to the
oil supply may cause amalfunction in the turbo-
charger.
To ensure prolonged life and performance of the
turbocharger, it is essential to comply with the fol-
lowing maintenance procedure:
CAUTION
• Change the engine oil of the turbo-charged
diesel engine as prescribed. See the sepa-
rately provided maintenance booklet for addi-
tional information.
• Use only the recommended engine oil. For
details, refer to the maintenance service
booklet for your vehicle.
• If the engine has been operating at high rpm
for an extended period of time, let it idle for a
few minutes prior to shutdown.
• Do not accelerate the engine to high rpm im-
mediately after starting it.
• When starting the engine at ambient tempera-
tures below −5°C (23°F), an engine protection
mode may be activated. During this time, the
engine output is reduced. The engine protec-
tion mode is switched off automatically after
am
aximum of 3minutes (provided the accel-
erator pedal is released completely). Driving your vehicle to fit the circumstances is es-
sential for your safety and comfort. As
adriver, you
should be the one who knows best how to drive in
the given circumstances.
ENGINE COLD START PERIOD
Due to the higher engine speeds, when the engine
is cold, extra caution must be exercised when se-
lecting agear during the engine warm-up period
after starting the engine.
LOADING LUGGAGE
Loads and their distribution and the attachment of
equipment (roof baggage carriers, etc.) will consid-
erably change the driving characteristics of the ve-
hicle. Your driving style and speed must be adjusted
according to the circumstances.
DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS
• Avoid accelerating or stopping suddenly.
• Avoid sharp turning or lane changing suddenly.
• Avoid following too close to the vehicle in front.
When water covers the road surface with water
puddles, small water streams, etc., reduce speed to
prevent hydroplaning which can cause skidding and
loss of control. Worn tyres will increase this risk.
DRIVING IN WINTER CONDITIONS • Drive cautiously.
• Avoid accelerating or stopping suddenly.
• Avoid sharp turning or lane changing suddenly.
TURBOCHARGER SYSTEM CARE WHEN DRIVING
5-8 Starting and driving

When the ignition switch is pushed without depress-
ing the brake pedal (automatic transmission model)
or the clutch pedal (manual transmission model),
the ignition switch position will change as follows:
• Push once to change to “ACC”.
• Push two times to change to “ON”.
• Push three times to change to “OFF”.
• Push four times to return to “ACC”.
• Open or close any door to return to “LOCK”
from the “OFF” position.
LOCK position
The ignition switch and steering lock can only be
locked at this position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the “ACC” position while carrying the
Remote Control Key. ACC position
The electrical accessory power activates at this po-
sition without the engine turned on.
ON position
The ignition system and the electrical accessory
power activate at this position without the engine
turned on.
OFF position
The engine is turned off with the steering wheel
unlocked.
REMOTE CONTROL KEY BATTERY
DISCHARGE
If the battery of the Remote Control Key is dis-
charged, or environmental conditions interfere with
the Remote Control Key operation, start the engine
according to the following procedure:
1.
Automatic Transmission (AT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P(Park) position. Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the
N(Neutral) position.
2. Firmly depress the brake pedal.
3. Touch the ignition switch with the Remote Con- trol Key as illustrated. (A chime will sound.)
4. Push the ignition switch while depressing the brake pedal (AT model) or the clutch pedal (MT
model) within 10 seconds after the chime
sounds. The engine will start.
After step 3isperformed, when the ignition switch
is pushed without depressing the brake pedal (AT
model) or the clutch pedal (MT model), the ignition
switch position will change to “ACC”.
NOTE
• When the ignition switch is pushed to the
“ACC” or “ON” position or the engine is started
by the above procedures, the Key Battery low
warning appears on the vehicle information
display even if the Remote Control Key is in-
side the vehicle. This is not
amalfunction. To
turn off the warning, touch the ignition switch
with the Remote Control Key again.
• If the Key Battery low warning appears on the
vehicle information display, replace the bat-
tery as soon as possible. (See “Remote Con-
trol Key battery replacement” in the “8. Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself” section.) JVS0241XZ
SSD0944Z
Starting and driving
5-17

its normal operating condition. If it does not re-
turn to its normal operating condition, have an
approved dealer or qualified workshop check the
transmission and repair it if necessary.
DRIVING WITH MANUAL
TRANSMISSION (MT) WARNING
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads.
This may cause aloss of control.
• Do not over-rev the engine when shifting to a
lower gear. This may cause
aloss of vehicle
control or engine damage.
CAUTION
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while
driving. This may damage the clutch system.
• Fully depress the clutch pedal before shifting
to help prevent transmission damage.
• Stop the vehicle completely before shifting
into the
R(Reverse) position.
• When the vehicle is stopped for
aperiod of
time, for example, waiting at stoplights, shift
to the N(Neutral) position and release the
clutch pedal with the footbrake pedal
depressed. Starting vehicle
1. After starting the engine, depress the clutch
pedal to the floor and move the shift lever to the
1( 1st), 2(2nd) or R(Reverse) position.
RENAULT recommends to start the vehicle in
2nd gear on level, flat ground and in the unladen
condition.
2. Slowly depress the accelerator pedal, releasing the clutch pedal and parking brake at the same
time.
Shifting gear
To change gears, or when upshifting or downshift-
ing, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into the ap-
propriate gear, then slowly and smoothly release the
clutch pedal.
Start the vehicle in the 1(1st) or 2(2nd) position
and shift to the 3(3rd), 4(4th), 5(5th) and 6(6th)
gear in sequence according to the vehicle speed.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into the R
(Reverse) or 1(1st) position, shift to the N(Neutral)
position, and then release the clutch pedal once.
Fully depress the clutch pedal again and shift into R
or 1. To reverse, depress the shift lever and then move it
to the
R(Reverse) position after the vehicle has
completely stopped. JVS0450XZ
5-22 Starting and driving

When the speed limit is set, the speed limiter sym-
bol ➃and the set speed value
➄will illuminate in
the vehicle information display. The limiter symbol
will turn green.
Changing aspeed limit
Use either of the following operations to change an
active speed limit:
• Push and release the
j Au pwards or
Each time you do this, the set speed will in-
crease or decrease by 1km/h (1 MPH).
• Push and hold the
j Au pwards or
The set speed will increase or decrease to the
next multiple of 5km/h (5 MPH) and then in
steps of 5km/h (5 MPH).
The new set speed limit value ➄will be displayed
in the vehicle information display.
When the actual vehicle speed exceeds the set
speed, an audible warning will be heard ashort time
after the set speed is exceeded and driver interven- tion is not detected.
Cancelling aspeed limit
To cancel aset speed limit, push the
switch ➀.T
he speed limiter symbol
➃and the set
speed value ➄in the vehicle information display
will be turned off.
It is also possible to override the speed limiter by
fully depressing the accelerator pedal beyond the
resistance point. WARNING
• The vehicle may accelerate when the speed
limiter cancels.
• When additional floor mats are used, be sure
that they are correctly secured and that they
cannot interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Mats not adapted to the vehicle may prevent
proper operation of the speed limiter.
Fully depress the accelerator pedal beyond the re-
sistance point. The speed limiter will be suspended
to allow driving above the set speed. The set speed
value ➄will flash and an audible warning will sound.
The speed limiter will automatically resume when
the vehicle speed drops below the set speed limit.
Resuming aprevious set speed
If as et speed limit has been cancelled, the set speed
will be stored in the speed limiter memory.
This speed limit can be reactivated by pressing the
Au pwards.
If the current vehicle speed is higher than the previ-
ous set speed, the accelerator pedal will not work
and the set speed value ➄will flash until the vehicle
speed drops below the set speed limit.
When the actual vehicle speed exceeds the set
speed, an audible warning will be heard ashort time
after the set speed is exceeded and driver interven- tion is not detected. Turning the speed limiter off
The speed limiter system will be turned off when
one of the following operations is performed:
•
Push the speed limiter main “ON/OFF” switch
➂ .T
he speed limiter symbol
➃and the set
speed value ➄in the vehicle information display
will be turned off.
• Push the cruise control main “ON/OFF” switch
➁ .T
he speed limiter information in the vehicle
information will be replaced with the cruise con-
trol information. For details see “Cruise control
(where fitted)” earlier in this section.
• When the vehicle is stopped and the ignition is
turned to the off position.
Turning off the speed limiter will erase the set
speed limit memory.
Speed limiter malfunction
If the speed limiter malfunctions, the speed limiter
symbol ➃in the vehicle information display will
flash.
Turn the speed limiter off by pushing the speed lim-
iter main “ON/OFF” switch ➂and have the system
checked by an approved dealer or qualified work-
shop.
Starting and driving 5-43

2. While depressing the footbrake pedal, start the
engine. The pedal height should drop alittle.
3. With the footbrake pedal depressed, stop the engine. Keep the pedal depressed for about 30
seconds. The pedal height should not change.
4. Run the engine for 1minute without depressing
the footbrake pedal, then turn it off. Depress the
footbrake pedal several times. The pedal travel
distance will decrease gradually with each de-
pression as the vacuum is released from the
booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by an approved dealer or qualified
workshop. WARNING
• Use only new fluid from
asealed container.
Old, inferior, or contaminated fluid may dam-
age the brake system. The use of improper
fluids can damage the brake system and af-
fect the vehicle’s stopping ability.
• Clean the filler cap before removing.
• Brake fluid is poisonous and should be stored
carefully in marked containers out of the reach
of children.
CAUTION
• Refilling and checking the brake system
should be left to an approved dealer or quali-
fied workshop who will have the necessary
brake fluid and technical knowledge.
• Do not spill the fluid on painted surfaces. This
will damage the paint. If fluid is spilled, wash
with water.
For details of recommended fluids, refer to the main-
tenance service booklet for your vehicle. Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid is
below the MIN line
➁,t
he brake warning light will
illuminate. Add fluid up to the MAX line ➀.
If fluid must be added frequently, the system should
be thoroughly checked by your approved dealer or
qualified workshop. JVM0450XZ
BRAKE FLUID
8-10 Maintenance and do-it-yourself