CHECKING LIGHTS
With all doors closed, apply the parking
brake, fasten the seat belts and place the
ignition switch in the ON position without
starting the engine. The following lights (if
so equipped) will come on:
,or,,,
The following lights (if so equipped) come
on briefly and then go off:
or,,,,,
,,
If any light fails to come on or operate in a
way other than described, it may indicate a
burned-out bulb and/or a system mal-
function. Have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
WARNING LIGHTS
This vehicle has various warning lights that
may illuminate to indicate a potential prob-
lem. For additional information, refer to the
specific light in this section.
4WD warning light(
model)
The 4WD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
It turns off soon af ter the engine is started.
If the engine or vehicle is not functioning
properly, the warning light will either re-
main illuminated or blink. For additional in-
formation, refer to “Using 4–wheel drive
(4WD)” in the “Starting and driving” section
of this manual.
CAUTION
∙ If the warning light comes on or blinks during operation, have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
∙ Do not drive on dry hard surface roads in the 4H or 4LO position. If the 4WD
warning light turns on when you are
driving on dry hard surface roads:
– in the 4H position, shif t the 4WD shif t switch to 2WD. – in the 4LO position for automatic
transmission models, stop the ve-
hicle and shif t the shif t lever to the
N (Neutral) position with the brake
pedal depressed and shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position for manual transmission models, stop the ve-
hicle and shif t the shif t lever to the
N (Neutral) position with the clutch
pedal depressed and shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 2WD,
∙ If the warning light is still on af ter the above operation, have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
orAnti-lock Braking
System (ABS)
warning light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the ABS warning light illuminates
and then turns off. This indicates the ABS is
operational.
If the ABS warning light illuminates while
the engine is running or while driving, it
may indicate the ABS is not functioning
Instruments and controls2-15
properly. Have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
If an ABS malfunction occurs, the anti-lock
function is turned off. The brake system
then operates normally but without anti-
lock assistance. For additional information,
refer to “Brake system” in the “Starting and
driving” section of this manual.
Automatic transmission oiltemperature warning light
(if so equipped)
This light comes on when the automatic
transmission oil temperature is too high. If
the light comes on while driving, reduce the
vehicle speed as soon as safely possible
until the light turns off.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation when the
A/T oil temperature warning light is on
may damage the automatic transmission.
Automatic transmissionpark warning light
(
model)
WARNING
∙ If the ATP light is ON, this indicates that the automatic transmission P
(Park) position will not function and
the transfer case is in neutral.
∙ When parking, always make sure that the 4WD shif t indicator light illumi-
nates and the parking brake is set.
Failure to engage the transfer posi-
tion in 2WD, 4H or 4LO could result in
the vehicle moving unexpectedly, re-
sulting in serious personal injury or
property damage.
∙ Shif t the 4WD switch into the 2WD, 4H or 4LO position again to turn off the
ATP warning light when the shif t lever
is in the P position and the ATP warn-
ing light is ON. (Before shif ting the
4WD switch into the 4LO position,
move the shif t lever into the N posi-
tion once, shif t the shif t lever into P
again and make sure the ATP warning
light is OFF.) This light indicates that the automatic
transmission parking function is not en-
gaged. If the transfer control is not secured
in any drive position while the shif t lever is
in the P (Park) position, the transmission will
disengage and the drive wheels will not
lock.
orBrake
warning light
This light functions for both the parking
brake and the foot brake systems.
Parking brake indicator
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the light comes on when the park-
ing brake is applied.
Low brake fluid warning light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the light warns of a low brake fluid
level. If the light comes on while the engine
is running with the parking brake not ap-
plied, stop the vehicle and perform the fol-
lowing:
1. Check the brake fluid level. Add brake fluid as necessary. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Brake fluid” in the “Do-
it-yourself ” section of this manual.
2-16Instruments and controls
4WD shif t indicator light(
model)
The light should turn off within 1 second
af ter placing the ignition switch in the ON
position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shif t
indicator light will illuminate the position
selected by the 4WD shif t switch.
The 4WD shif t indicator light may blink
while shif ting from one drive mode to
the other.
Automatic transmissionposition indicator light
(if so equipped)
For additional information, refer to “Driving
the vehicle” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
Cruise main switchindicator light
The light comes on when the cruise control
main switch is pushed. The light goes out
when the main switch is pushed again.
When the cruise main switch indicator light
comes on, the cruise control system is op-
erational. For additional information, refer to “Cruise control” in the “Starting and driv-
ing” section of this manual.
Cruise set switch
indicator light
The light comes on while the vehicle speed
is controlled by the cruise control system. If
the light blinks while the engine is running,
it may indicate the cruise control system is
not functioning properly. Have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
Electronic locking reardifferential (E-Lock) system
ON indicator light
(if so equipped)
This light comes on when the electronic
locking rear differential (E-Lock) system
clutch is fully engaged.
The indicator light flashes when the sys-
tem is first turned on. When the system fully
engages, the light remains on. If the switch
is on and the indicator light continues to
flash, the system is not engaged.
For additional information, refer to “Elec-
tronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) sys-
tem switch” in this section and “Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system” in
the “Starting and driving” section of this
manual.
Front passenger air bag
status light
The front passenger air bag status
light
will be lit and the passenger front
air bag will be off depending on how the
front passenger seat is being used.
For additional information, refer to “Front
passenger air bag and status light” in the
“Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemen-
tal restraint system” section of this manual.
High beam indicator light
(blue)
This blue light comes on when the head-
light high beams are on and goes out when
the low beams are selected.
The high beam indicator light also comes
on when the passing signal is activated.
Hill descent control systemON indicator light
(if so equipped)
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this light comes on briefly and
then turns off.
Instruments and controls2-21
Overdrive OFF indicatorlight (if so equipped)
This light comes on when the overdrive
function is OFF.
The automatic transmission overdrive
function is controlled by the overdrive
switch.
For additional information, refer to “Driving
the vehicle” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
Security indicator light (ifso equipped)
This light blinks when the ignition switch is
in the OFF, LOCK or ACC position. This func-
tion indicates the security systems
equipped on the vehicle are operational.
For additional information, refer to “Security
systems” in this section.
Slip indicator light
This indicator will blink when the VDC sys-
tem is operating, thus alerting the driver to
the fact that the road surface is slippery
and the vehicle is nearing its traction limits.
You may feel or hear the system working;
this is normal. The light will blink for a few seconds af ter
the VDC system stops limiting wheel spin.
The
indicator light also comes on
when you place the ignition switch in the
ON position. The light will turn off af ter ap-
proximately 2 seconds if the system is op-
erational. If the light does not come on
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Transfer 4LO position
indicator light
(
model)
This light comes on when the 4WD shif t
switch is set in the 4LO position with the
ignition switch in the ON position.
The transfer case may be damaged if you
shif t the switch while driving.
Make sure the transfer 4LO position indica-
tor light turns on when you shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 4LO.
The indicator light may blink while shif t-
ing from one drive mode to the other. The 4LO indicator light must stop blinking
and remain illuminated or turn off before
shif ting the transmission into gear. If the
shif t lever is shif ted from the N (Neutral)
position to any other gear when the 4LO
indicator light is blinking, the vehicle may
move unexpectedly.
When you shif t between 4H and 4LO, follow
the instructions below:
∙ For automatic transmission models, stop the vehicle and shif t the shif t lever
to the N (Neutral) position with the
brake pedal depressed, then depress
and turn the 4WD shif t switch to 4LO or
4H.
∙ For manual transmission models, stop the vehicle and shif t the shif t lever to
the N (Neutral) position with the clutch
pedal depressed, then depress and turn
the 4WD shif t switch to 4LO or 4H.
You cannot move the transfer 4WD shif t
switch between 4H and 4LO unless you
stop the vehicle and shif t the shif t lever to
the N position with the brake pedal (A/T
models) or clutch pedal (M/T models) de-
pressed.
Instruments and controls2-23
3. Press and hold the programmedHomeLink® button and observe the in-
dicator light.
∙ If the indicator light
1is solid/
continuous, programming is com-
plete and your device should acti-
vate when the HomeLink® button is
pressed and released. ∙ If the indicator light
1blinks
rapidly
for 2 seconds and then turns to a
solid/continuous light, continue
with Steps 4-6 for a rolling code de-
vice. A second person may make the
following steps easier. Use a ladder or
other device. Do not stand on your
vehicle to perform the next steps.
4. At the receiver located on the garage door opener motor in the garage, lo-
cate the “learn” or “smart” button (the
name and color of the button may vary
by manufacturer but it is usually lo-
cated near where the hanging an-
tenna wire is attached to the unit). If
there is difficulty locating the button,
reference the garage door opener’s
manual.
5. Press and release the “learn” or “smart” button.
6. Return to the vehicle and firmly press and hold the trained HomeLink® but-
ton for 2 seconds and release. Repeat
the “press/hold/release” sequence up
to three times to complete the training
process. HomeLink® should now acti-
vate your rolling code equipped device. 7. If you have any questions or are having
difficulty programming your
HomeLink® buttons, refer to the
HomeLink® web site at:
www.homelink.com or call 1-800-355-
3515.
PROGRAMMING HOMELINK®
FOR CANADIAN CUSTOMERS AND
GATE OPENERS
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or quit)
af ter several seconds of transmission –
which may not be long enough for
HomeLink® to pick up the signal during
training. Similar to this Canadian law, some
U.S. gate operators are designed to “tim-
eout” in the same manner.
LIC2366
Instruments and controls2-57
5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)........................................5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ..................................5-6
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-6
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-7
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-8
Driving safety precautions ....................5-8
Ignition switch .................................. 5-10
Automatic transmission
(if so equipped) ............................... 5-11
Manual transmission (M/T)
(if so equipped) .............................. 5-12
Key positions ................................ 5-12
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
(if so equipped) .............................. 5-12
Before starting the engine ......................5-13
Starting the engine ............................. 5-13
Driving the vehicle .............................. 5-14Automatic transmission (A/T)
(if so equipped)
.............................. 5-14
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ........5-18
Parking brake .................................. 5-21
Cruise control .................................. 5-22
Precautions on cruise control ................5-22
Cruise control operations ....................5-22
Break-in schedule .............................. 5-24
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................5-24
Increasing fuel economy .......................5-25
Using 4–wheel drive (4WD)
(if so equipped) ................................. 5-26
Transfer case shif ting procedures ...........5-26
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock)
system (if so equipped) ......................... 5-33
Parking/parking on hills ........................5-34
Power steering ................................. 5-35
Brake system ................................... 5-35
Brake precautions ........................... 5-35
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..............5-36
Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) system .........5-37
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .........5-38
Brake force distribution ......................5-40
∙ Do not drive across steep slopes. In-stead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road ve-
hicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.
∙ Many hills are too steep for any ve- hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.
∙ Do not shif t gears while driving on downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
∙ Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.
∙
If your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill, never
attempt to turn around. Your vehicle
could tip or roll over. Always back
straight down in R (Reverse) gear. Never
back down in N (Neutral) or with the
clutch depressed (manual transmis-
sion vehicles), using only the brake, as
this could cause loss of control.
∙ Heavy braking going down a hill could cause your brakes to overheat and
fade, resulting in loss of control and
an accident. Apply brakes lightly and
use a low gear to control your speed.
Use the hill descent control feature (if
so equipped).
∙ Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it will
not be thrown forward and cause in-
jury to you or your passengers.
∙ To avoid raising the center of gravity excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as pos-
sible. Do not equip the vehicle with
tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your vehicle
to roll over.
∙ Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move sud-
denly and injure your hands. Instead
drive with your fingers and thumbs on
the outside of the rim. ∙ Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
∙ Always drive with the floor mats in place as the floor may become hot.
∙ Lower your speed when encountering strong crosswinds. With a higher cen-
ter of gravity, your NISSAN is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
∙ Do not drive beyond the performance capability of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged (if so equipped).
∙ For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at- tempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
Starting and driving5-9
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (M/T)
(if so equipped)
The ignition switch includes a device that
helps prevent accidental removal of the
key while driving.
The key can only be removed when the
ignition switch is in the LOCK position.
On M/T models, to turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK position from the ACC or ON
position, place the ignition switch in the
OFF position, push the key in, then place the
ignition switch in the LOCK position.
KEY POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (Not used) (1)
ACC: (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accesso-
ries such as the radio when the engine is
not running.
ON: Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system
and the electrical accessories.
START: (4)
This position starts the engine. As soon as
the engine has started, release the key. It
automatically returns to the ON position.
NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
will not allow the engine to start without
the use of the registered key.If the engine fails to start using a registered
key (for example, when interference is
caused by another registered key, an auto-
mated toll road device or automatic pay-
ment device on the key ring), restart the
engine using the following procedures:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON po- sition for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or LOCK position, and wait approximately
10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the device (which may have caused the in-
terference) separate from the regis-
tered key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, NISSAN
recommends placing the registered key on
a separate key ring to avoid interference
from other devices.
WSD0052
5-12Starting and driving