5-10Starting and driving
WARNING
The following actions can increase
the chance of losing control of the
vehicle if there is a sudden loss of tire
air pressure. Losing control of the
vehicle may cause a collision and
result in personal injury.
.The vehicle generally moves or
pulls in the direction of the flat
tire.
. Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
. Do not rapidly release the accel-
erator pedal.
. Do not rapidly turn the steering
wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold
a straight course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow
the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible. 5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gra-
dually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emer-
gency service to change the tire or see
“Changing a flat tire” (P.6-4).
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. Alcohol in the
bloodstream reduces coordination,
delays reaction time and impairs
judgement. Driving after drinking
alcohol increases the likelihood of
being involved in an accident injuring
yourself and others. Additionally, if
you are injured in an accident, alco-
hol can increase the severity of the
injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving.
However, you must choose not to drive
under the influence of alcohol. Every year
thousands of people are injured or killed
in alcohol-related accidents. Although the
local laws vary on what is considered to
be legally intoxicated, the fact is that
alcohol affects all people differently and most people underestimate the effects of
alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t
mix! And that is true for drugs, too (over-
the-counter, prescription, and illegal
drugs). Don’t drive if your ability to oper-
ate your vehicle is impaired by alcohol,
drugs, or some other physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving
in deep water or mud as your NISSAN is
mainly designed for leisure use, unlike a
conventional off-road vehicle.
Remember that Two-Wheel Drive (2WD)
models are less capable than Four-Wheel
Drive (4WD) models for rough road driving
and extrication when stuck in deep snow,
mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
.
Drive carefully when off the road
and avoid dangerous areas. Every
person who drives or rides in this
vehicle should be seated with
their seat belt fastened. This will
keep you and your passengers in
position when driving over rough
5-12Starting and driving
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 dynam-
ometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury (4WD models).
. When a wheel is off the ground
due to an unlevel surface, do not
spin the wheel excessively.
. Accelerating quickly, sharp steer-
ing maneuvers or sudden braking
may cause loss of control.
. If at all possible, avoid sharp
turning maneuvers, particularly
at high speeds. Your vehicle has
a higher center of gravity than a
conventional passenger car. The
vehicle is not designed for cor-
nering at the same speeds as
conventional passenger cars.
Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly could result in loss of
control and/or a rollover acci-
dent. .
Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias,
bias-belted or radial), and tread
pattern on all four wheels. Install
tire chains on the rear wheels
when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes im-
mediately after driving in mud or
water. See “Brake system” (P.5-
137) for wet brakes.
. Avoid parking your vehicle on
steep hills. If you get out of the
vehicle and it rolls forward, back-
ward 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
schedule shown in the "9. Main-
tenance and schedules" section.
. Spinning the rear wheels on slip-
pery surfaces may cause the 4WD
warning light to flash. The 4WD
system may also automatically
switch from the 4WD mode to
the 2WD mode. This could reduce
traction. Be especially careful
when towing a trailer (4WD mod- els).
5-14Starting and driving
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.
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 between the speedometer
and tachometer. (See “Vehicle informa-
tion display” (P.2-21).)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.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical acces-
sories such as the radio, when the engine
is not running.
ACC has a battery saver feature that will
turn the ignition switch to the OFF posi-
tion after a period of time under the
following conditions:
. all doors are closed.
. shift lever is in P (Park).
. turn signal/hazard indicator lights are
not flashing.
The battery saver feature will be can-
celled if any of the following occur:
. any door is opened.
. shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
. ignition switch changes position.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
ON has a battery saver feature that will
turn the ignition switch to the OFF posi-
tion, if the vehicle is not running, after
some time under the following condi-
tions:
.all doors are closed.
. shift lever is in P (Park).
. turn signal/hazard indicator lights are
not flashing.
The battery saver feature will be can-
celled if any of the following occur:
. any door is opened.
. shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
. ignition switch changes position.
OFF
The engine can be turned off in the
position.
The ignition 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.
5-16Starting and driving
.Make sure the area around the vehicle
is clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible,
or at least whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appear-
ance and condition. Also check tires
for proper inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head re-
straints/headrests.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passen-
gers to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position. (See “Warning lights,
indicator lights and audible remin-
ders” (P.2-10).) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in either of the
above positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal and
push the ignition switch to start the
engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal with the
ignition switch in any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when
restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and while holding, crank
the engine. Release the accelerator
pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to startbecause it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine
with your foot off the accelerator pedal
by depressing the brake
pedal and pushing the push-button
ignition switch to start the engine.
If the engine starts, but fails to run,
repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the
engine does not start, push the
ignition switch to OFF and wait 10
seconds before cranking again,
otherwise the starter could be da-
maged.
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 4,000
rpm or more under the no load
condition, the engine will enter the
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-18Starting and driving
If:
1. The engine coolant temperature is notreduced.
2. The air conditioning cooling function does not turn back ON.
3. The engine oil pressure warning light
illuminates or engine coolant
temperature gauge does not return
to the normal range from the H
position, this may indicate a malfunc-
tion. Move the vehicle off the road to a
safe area and allow the engine to cool.
If after checking the oil and coolant,
the
remains on or engine coolant
temperature does not return to the
normal range, do not continue to
drive. It is recommended you contact
a NISSAN dealer.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may also come ON. You do not need to
have your vehicle towed, unless it re-
mains on, but have it inspected soon. It is
recommended you contact a NISSAN
dealer for this service. See “Warning lights,
indicator lights and audible reminders”
(P.2-10).
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced
engine power and vehicle speed.
The reduced speed may be lower
than other traffic, which could in-
crease the chance of a collision. Be
especially careful when driving. If the
vehicle cannot maintain a safe driv-
ing speed, pull to the side of the road
in a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation.
See “If your vehicle overheats” (P.6-
14).
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine
oil pressure warning light on could
cause serious damage to the engine
almost immediately. Such damage is
not covered by warranty. Turn off the
engine as soon as it is safe to do so.
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.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressedand push the shift lever button to shift
into a driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle
in motion.
WARNING
.Do not depress the accelerator
pedal while shifting from P (Park)
or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse), D
(Drive) or manual shift mode. Al-
ways 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.
. Never shift to either the P (Park)
or R (Reverse) position while the
vehicle is moving forward and P
(Park), D (Drive) position or man-
ual shift mode while the vehicle is
moving rearward. This could
cause an accident or damage
the transmission. .
Do not downshift abruptly on
slippery roads. This may cause a
loss of control.
CAUTION
.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 da-
mage to the transmission.
. To avoid possible damage to your
vehicle; when stopping the vehi-
cle on an uphill grade, do not hold
the vehicle by depressing the
accelerator pedal. The foot brake
should be used for this purpose.
SSD0945
Shift lever
To move the shift lever,
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
The shift lever position indicator light
(next to the shift lever) will be illuminated
for approximately 30 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned off. The indicator
light may also illuminate when the vehicle
receives radio waves. This is not a mal-
function.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
Starting and driving5-19
SPA2331
To apply:Fully depress the parking brake
pedal.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake
.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal
and the parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions for proper use of the
LDW and I-LI systems could result in
serious personal injury or death.
.The LDW and I-LI systems will not
prevent loss of control. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay
alert, drive safely, keep the vehi-
cle in the traveling lane, and be in
control of the vehicle at all times.
. The I-LI system may activate if
you change lanes without first
activating your turn signal or, for
example, if a construction zone
directs traffic to cross an existing
lane marker. If this occurs, you
may need to apply corrective
steering to complete your lane
change.
. Because the I-LI system may not
activate under the road, weather,
and lane marker conditions de-
scribed in this section, it may not
activate every time your vehicle
begins to leave its lane and you
will need to apply corrective
steering. .
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
— warns the driver with a warning
light and chime that the vehicle is
beginning to leave the driving lane.
. Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI) sys-
tem
— warns the driver with a warning
light and chime, and helps assist
the driver to return the vehicle to
the center of the traveling lane by
applying the brakes to the left or
right wheels individually (for a short
period of time).
Starting and driving5-23
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)/
INTELLIGENT LANE INTERVENTION
(I-LI) (if so equipped)
JVS1094X
I-LI ON indicator light/LDW indicator light
(on the instrument panel)
Warning systems switch
Dynamic driver assistance switch
Center multi-function control panel
LDW SYSTEM OPERATION
The LDW system operates above approxi-
mately 45 MPH (70 km/h) and when the
lane markings are clear.
If the vehicle approaches either the left or
right side of the traveling lane, the LDW
indicator light (orange) on the instrument
panel will flash and a warning chime will
sound.
NOTE:
The LDW system is not designed to
warn when you operate the lane
change signal and change traveling
lanes in the direction of the signal.
(The LDW system will become operable
again approximately 2 seconds after
the lane change signal is turned off.)
Starting and driving5-25