5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ....................... 5-2Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ................................. 5-2
Three-way catalyst ................................................................ 5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ............ 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ..................................... 5-6
Off-road recovery ................................................................... 5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ....................................................... 5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ......................... 5-7
Push-button ignition switch ................................................. 5-8 Operating range for engine start function ........ 5-8
Push-button ignition switch operation ................. 5-9
Push-button ignition switch positions .................. 5-9
Emergency engine shut off .......................................... 5-10
Intelligent Key battery discharge ............................. 5-10
Before starting the engine .................................................... 5-11
Starting the engine ..................................................................... 5-11
Driving the vehicle ...................................................................... 5-12 Automatic transmission .................................................. 5-12
Manual Transmission ......................................................... 5-17
Parking brake ........................................................................\
......... 5-21
Cruise control ........................................................................\
........ 5-22 Precautions on cruise control ................................... 5-22
Cruise control operations ............................................. 5-23
Break-in schedule ...................................................................... 5-24
Fuel efficient driving tips ...................................................... 5-24 Increasing fuel economy ..................................................... 5-25
Parking/parking on hills ....................................................... 5-26
Power steering ........................................................................\
..... 5-27
Brake system ........................................................................\
........ 5-27
Braking precautions ........................................................ 5-27
Parking brake break-in ................................................. 5-28
Brake assist ........................................................................\
............ 5-28 Brake assist ........................................................................\
.... 5-28
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ............................. 5-28
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ................... 5-30
Performance dampers (NISMO models) .................. 5-32
Cold weather driving .............................................................. 5-33 Freeing a frozen door lock ........................................ 5-33
Antifreeze ........................................................................\
......... 5-33
Battery ........................................................................\
................ 5-33
Draining of coolant water .......................................... 5-33
Tire equipment .................................................................... 5-33
Special winter equipment .......................................... 5-33
Driving on snow or ice .................................................. 5-33
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ................ 5-34
Active noise cancellation/Active sound
enhancement (if so equipped) ........................................ 5-35 Active noise cancellation ............................................ 5-35
Active sound enhancement ...................................... 5-35
5-8Starting and driving
WARNING
Do not operate the push-button
ignition switch while driving the ve-
hicle except in an emergency. (The
engine will stop when the ignition
switch is pushed 3 consecutive times
or the ignition switch is pushed and
held for more than 2 seconds.) If the
engine stops while the vehicle is
being driven, this could lead to a
crash and serious injury.
Before operating the push-button igni-
tion switch, be sure to move the shift
lever to the P (Park) position (for auto-
matic transmission model) or the shift
lever to the N (Neutral) position (for
manual transmission model).
SSD0825
OPERATING RANGE FOR ENGINE
START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key can only be used for
starting the engine when the Intelligent
Key is within the specified operating
range
.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost
discharged or strong radio waves are
present near the operating location, the
Intelligent Key system’s operating range
becomes narrower and may not function
properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operat-
ing range, it is possible for anyone, even
someone who does not carry the Intelli-
gent Key, to push the ignition switch to start the engine.
.
The cargo/trunk room area is not
included in the operating range but
the Intelligent Key may function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed on the
instrument panel, rear parcel shelf,
inside the glove box or door pocket,
the Intelligent Key may not function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed near the
door or window outside the vehicle,
the Intelligent Key may function.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
SSD1021
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
OPERATION
When the ignition switch is pushed with-
out depressing the brake pedal (auto-
matic transmission model) or the clutch
pedal (manual transmission model), the
ignition switch position will change as
follows:
.Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to
ON.
. Push center three times to change to
OFF. (No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to
ACC. .
Open or close any door to return to
LOCK during the OFF position.
If the battery of the vehicle is dis-
charged, the push-button ignition
switch cannot be turned from the LOCK
position.
Some indicators and warnings for opera-
tion are displayed on the vehicle informa-
tion display. (See “Vehicle information
display” (P.2-19).)
Automatic transmission models
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch position cannot be
switched to LOCK until the shift lever is
moved to the P (Park) position.
When the ignition switch cannot be
pushed toward the LOCK position, pro-
ceed as follows:
1. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position. The ignition switch position
indicator will not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The shift lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The ignition switch can only be locked in
this position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when
it is pushed to the ACC position while
carrying the Intelligent Key or with the
Intelligent Key inserted in the port.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical acces-
sories such as the radio, when the engine
is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
OFF
The engine can be turned off in this
position.
Automatic transmission models: The igni-
tion lock is designed so that the ignition
switch cannot be switched to the LOCK
position until the shift lever is moved to
the P (Park) position.
Starting and driving5-9
5-10Starting and driving
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF
To shut off the engine in an emergency
situation while driving perform the follow-
ing procedure:
.Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times in less
than 1.5 seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button igni-
tion switch for more than 2 seconds.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the
push-button ignition switch in ACC or
ON positions when the engine is not
running for an extended period. This
can discharge the battery.SSD0826
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is
almost discharged, the guide lightof
the Intelligent Key portblinks and the
indicator appears on the vehicle informa-
tion display. (See “Vehicle information
display” (P.2-19).)
In this case, inserting the Intelligent Key
into the port
allows you to start the
engine. Make sure that the key ring side
faces backward as illustrated. Insert the
Intelligent Key in the port until it is latched
and secured.
To remove the Intelligent Key from the
port, push the ignition switch to the OFF position and pull the Intelligent Key out of
the port.
NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge
the Intelligent Key battery. If you see
the low battery indicator in the vehicle
information display, replace the battery
as soon as possible. (See “Intelligent
Key battery replacement” (P.8-20).)
CAUTION
.
Never place anything except the
Intelligent Key in the Intelligent
Key port. Doing so may cause
damage to the equipment.
. Make sure the Intelligent Key is in
the correct direction when insert-
ing it to the Intelligent Key port.
The engine may not start if it is in
the incorrect direction.
. Remove the Intelligent Key from
the Intelligent Key port after the
ignition switch is pushed to the
OFF position.
5-12Starting and driving
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.
When racing the engine up to 4,500
rpm or more under no load condition,
the engine will enter the fuel cut
mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the shift lever to the P (Park) position (AT model) or
move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (MT model), and push the
ignition switch to the OFF position.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic 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.AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed automatic transmission
The automatic transmission in your vehi-
cle is electronically controlled by a trans-
mission control module to produce
maximum efficiency and smooth opera-
tion.
Shown on the following pages are the
recommended operating procedures for
this transmission. Follow these proce-
dures for maximum vehicle performance
and driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the shift lever
button before shifting the shift lever to
the R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or
Manual shift mode position. Be sure the
vehicle is fully stopped before attempting
to shift the shift lever.
This automatic transmission model is
designed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shifting from
P (Park) to any drive position while the
ignition switch position is ON.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition
switch is pushed to the LOCK, OFF or
ACC position.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
SSD0829
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 but-
ton pushed.
To move the shift lever, perform the
following procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF orLOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
using a
suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock
using a
suitable tool as illustrated.
5. Push the shift lever button
and
move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position
while holding down the
shift lock.
Now the vehicle may be moved to the
desired location.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have the automatic transmission
system checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING
. Do not downshift abruptly on
slippery roads. This may cause a
loss of control.
. Do not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
CAUTION
.Do not rest your foot on the
clutch pedal while driving. This
may damage the clutch.
. Fully depress the clutch pedal
before shifting to help prevent
transmission damage.
. Stop your vehicle completely be-
fore 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.
Starting and driving5-17
SSD0830
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE)
warning:
The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE)
warning will appear on the vehicle infor-
mation display and the S-MODE indicator
will turn off if a system malfunction
occurs.
If the warning appears, the S-MODE func-
tion will not operate, but manual trans-
mission will operate normally and driving
can be continued. Have the system
checked. It is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
SSD0831
Activating the system:
To activate the S-MODE, push the S-
MODE switch
. The S-MODE indicatoron the tachometer will show “S”. To
deactivate, push and hold the S-MODE
switch for more than 1 second. The S-
MODE indicator will turn off.While the S-MODE is off, you can drive the
vehicle as a conventional manual trans-
mission model.
Note that the status of the S-MODE (on or
off) is memorized even after the ignition
switch is turned off; however, it will be
initialized (off) when the battery is dis-
connected.
The transmission position indicator
shows the selected gear: N (Neutral), 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, R (Reverse).
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) op-
eration:
The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE)
automatically adjusts the engine speed
by controlling the engine throttle. The
accelerator pedal does not have to be
depressed.
The system detects the clutch pedal and
shift lever operations, and then calculates
the target engine speed using the shifting
gear position and the vehicle speed
information.
The system provides accurate engine
speed control that helps achieve quick
gear shifting and reduces shift shock on
clutch engagement.
.
When downshifting:
The engine speed is automatically
increased to the target engine speed
Starting and driving5-19
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
Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that
the outside temperature will drop below
32°F (0°C), check antifreeze to assure
proper winter protection. For additional
information, see “Engine 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.8-11).
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding 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. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. 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) of this manual.
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 win-
dows and wiper blades.
. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of
snowdrifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
. Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing
rain), very cold snow or ice can be
slick and very hard to drive on.
The vehicle will have much less
traction or “grip” under these
conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted
or sanded.
. Whatever the condition, drive
with caution. Accelerate and slow
down with care. If accelerating or
downshifting too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more trac-
Starting and driving5-33
COLD WEATHER DRIVING