2018 NISSAN 370Z COUPE service

5-16Starting and driving
SSD0832
Upshift indicator:
The up-shift indicator is located in the
tachometer and shows the driver the
timing to shift into a higher gear by
illuminating. The use of the up-shift
indicator will help you to upshift at a
constant engine speed from any gear.
The up-shift indicator will start flashing
when the engine speed reaches about
500 rpm before the set figure while
driving, and then illuminate after the
engine speed reaches the set figure.
The engine speed for upshifting can be
set on the vehicle information display. See
“Trip computer” (P.2-23).There may be a slight difference be-
tween the timing of the up-shift indica-
tor illumination and the tachometer
indication.
Accelerator downshift — In D (Drive)
position —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into the
lower gear, depending on the vehicle
speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note
that the transmission will be locked in any
of the forward gears according to the
condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, 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, push the ignition switch to the
OFF position and wait for 3 seconds.
Then push the ignition switch back to
the ON position. The vehicle should
return to its normal operating condi-
tion. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have the transmis-
sion checked and repaired, if necessary.It is recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.

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

5-22Starting and driving
SPA2110
To apply:Pull the parking brake lever up.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, push the button
and
lower the lever completely.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CON-
TROL
.If the cruise control system malfunc-
tions, it will cancel automatically. The
CRUISE indicator light on the meter
panel will then blink to warn the driver.
. If the engine coolant temperature
becomes excessively high, the cruise
control system will cancel automati-
cally.
. If the CRUISE indicator light blinks,
turn the cruise control main switch
off and have the system checked. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
. The CRUISE indicator light may blink
when the cruise control main switch is
turned ON while pushing the ACCEL/
RES, COAST/SET or CANCEL switch. To
properly set the cruise control system,
perform the following procedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when
driving under the following condi-
tions:
. 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 acci-
dent.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do
not shift into N (Neutral) without
depressing the clutch pedal when
the cruise control is set. Should this
occur, depress the clutch pedal and
turn the main switch off immedi-
ately. Failure to do so may cause
engine damage.
CRUISE CONTROL

5-28Starting and driving
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes when-
ever the stopping effect of the parking
brake is weakened or whenever the
parking brake shoes and/or drums/ro-
tors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. This will cause over-
heating of the brakes, wearing out the
brake and pads faster and reduce gas
mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce
speed and downshift to a lower gear
before going down a slope or long grade.
Overheated brakes may reduce braking
performance and could result in loss of
vehicle control.
WARNING
.While driving on a slippery sur-
face, be careful when braking,
accelerating or downshifting.
Abrupt braking or accelerating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
. If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the
power assist for the brakes will
not work. Braking will be harder.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking
force than a conventional brake booster
even with light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to
assist braking operation and is not a
collision warning or avoidance de-
vice. It is the driver’s responsibility to
stay alert, drive safely and be in
control of the vehicle at all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) is a sophisticated device,
but it cannot prevent accidents
resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control dur-
ing braking on slippery surfaces.
Remember that stopping dis-
tances on slippery surfaces will
be longer than on normal sur-
BRAKE ASSIST

faces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire
chains. Always maintain a safe
distance from the vehicle in front
of you. Ultimately, the driver is
responsible for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install
the specified size of tires on
all four wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper
size and type as specified on
the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label. See “Tire and Load-
ing Information label” (P.10-
14) of this manual.
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-26) of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) con-
trols the brakes so the wheels do not lock
during hard braking or when braking on
slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies
the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By pre- venting each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes.
The ABS will operate to prevent the
wheels from locking up. Steer the vehicle
to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing
so may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, elec-
tric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a
computer. The computer has a built-in
diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and does not indicate a malfunc-
tion. If the computer senses a malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and
illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally, but without anti-lock
assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the
vehicle checked. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6
MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the
actuator rapidly applies and releases
hydraulic pressure. This action is similar
to pumping the brakes very quickly. You
may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise from under the hood or
feel a vibration from the actuator when it
is operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. How-
ever, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care
is required while driving.
Starting and driving5-29

5-32Starting and driving
JVS0446X
1. Front performance damper
2. Rear performance damper
The performance dampers are installed in
the front and rear parts of the NISMO
models for improved handling and ride.
WARNING
.High-pressure nitrogen gas is
sealed inside the performance
dampers. Do not attempt to mod-
ify or disassemble them.
. For disposal of the performance
dampers or when scrapping the
vehicle, it is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service. Never burn or puncture
the performance dampers. Incor-
rect disposal procedures could
cause serious personal injury.
PERFORMANCE DAMPERS (NISMO models)

6-2In case of emergency
SIC2574
Push the switch on to warn other drivers
when you must stop or park under
emergency conditions. All turn signal
lights will flash.
WARNING
.If stopping for an emergency, be
sure to move the vehicle well off
the road.
. Do not use the hazard warning
flashers while moving on the
highway unless unusual circum-
stances force you to drive so
slowly that your vehicle might
become a hazard to other traffic. .
Turn signals do not work when
the hazard warning flasher lights
are on.
The flasher can be actuated with the
ignition switch in any position.
Some state laws may prohibit the use of
the hazard warning flasher switch while
driving. In the event of a roadside emergency,
Roadside Assistance Service is available
to you. Please refer to your Warranty
Information Booklet for details.
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCHROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM