2018 NISSAN MICRA engine

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-2
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-3
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-3
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-4
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-5
Ignition switch ...................................5-5
Automatic transmission
(if so equipped) ...............................5-5
Manual transmission (if so equipped) .........5-6
Ignition switch positions ......................5-7
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System ..........5-7
Before starting the engine .......................5-7
Starting the engine ..............................5-8
Driving the vehicle ...............................5-9
Automatic transmission
(if so equipped) ...............................5-9
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ........5-13
Parking brake .................................. 5-15
Cruise control (if so equipped) ..................5-16
Precautions on cruise control ................5-16Cruise control operations
....................5-16
Break-in schedule .............................. 5-17
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................5-18
Increasing fuel economy .......................5-19
Parking/parking on hills ........................5-20
Power steering ................................. 5-21
Brake system ................................... 5-22
Brake precautions ........................... 5-22
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..............5-22
Brake assist ................................. 5-24
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .........5-24
Brake force distribution ......................5-25
Cold weather driving ........................... 5-26
Freeing a frozen door lock ...................5-26
Antifreeze ................................... 5-26
Battery...................................... 5-26
Draining of coolant water ....................5-27
Tire equipment .............................. 5-27
Special winter equipment ...................5-27
Driving on snow or ice .......................5-27
Engine block

heater ......................... 5-28

WARNING
∙ Do not leave children or adults whowould normally require the assis-
tance of others alone in your vehicle.
Pets should also not be lef t alone.
They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
∙ Properly secure all cargo to help pre- vent it from sliding or shif ting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
∙ Do not breathe exhaust gases; theycontain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is dan-
gerous. It can cause unconsciousness
or death. ∙ If you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the ve-
hicle inspected immediately.
∙ Do not run the engine in closed spaces such as a garage.
∙ Do not park the vehicle with the en- gine running for any extended length
of time.
∙ Keep the rear vent windows, lif tgates, doors and trunk lids (if so equipped)
closed while driving, otherwise ex-
haust gases could be drawn into the
passenger compartment. If you must
drive with one of these open, follow
these precautions:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Turn the air recirculation mode off and set the fan speed control to
the highest level to circulate the
air.
∙ The exhaust system and body should be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service. b. You suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involving damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission con-
trol device installed in the exhaust system.
Exhaust gases in the three-way catalyst
are burned at high temperatures to help
reduce pollutants.
WARNING
∙ The exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-tem are very hot. Keep people, ani-
mals or flammable materials away
from the exhaust system
components.
∙ Do not stop or park the vehicle over flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING AND
DRIVING
5-2Starting and driving

∙ When parking, ensure that people orinflammable materials are kept away
from the exhaust pipe.
CAUTION
∙ Do not use leaded gasoline. Depositsfrom leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce the three-way catalyst’s ability
to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
∙ Keep your engine tuned up. Malfunc- tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich
fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep
driving if the engine misfires, or if no-
ticeable loss of performance or other
unusual operating conditions are de-
tected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
∙ Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three-way catalyst.
∙ Do not race the engine while warming it up.
∙ Do not push or tow your vehicle to start the engine.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden
steering maneuvers, because these driving
practices could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle.
As with any vehicle, loss of control could
result in a collision with other vehicles or
objects or cause the vehicle to roll over,
particularly if the loss of control causes
the vehicle to slide sideways.
Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving
when tired. Never drive when under the in-
fluence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which
may cause drowsiness). Always wear your
seat belt as outlined in the “Safety – Seats,
seat belts and supplemental restraint sys-
tem” section of this manual, and also in-
struct your passengers to do so. Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers.
In a rollover crash,
an unbelted or improperly belted person
is significantly more likely to be injured
or killed than a person properly wearing
a seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or lef t side
wheels may unintentionally leave the road
surface. If this occurs, maintain control of
the vehicle by following the procedure be-
low. Please note that this procedure is only
a general guide. The vehicle must be driven
as appropriate based on the conditions of
the vehicle, road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while vehicle
speed is reduced. Do not attempt to
Starting and driving5-3

wheel, insert the key and turn it gently
while rotating the steering wheel slightly
right and lef t.
IGNITION SWITCH POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (1)
The engine can be turned off without lock-
ing the steering wheel.
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
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 procedure: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. ∙ Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
∙ Check fluid levels such as engine oil, coolant, brake and clutch fluid (if so
equipped), and windshield-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.
∙ Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
∙ Fasten seat belts and ask all passen- gers to do likewise.
∙ Check the operation of warning lights when the key is turned to the ON posi-
tion. For additional information, refer to
“Warning lights, indicator lights and au-
dible reminders” in the “Instruments
and controls” section of this manual.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving5-7

1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the shif t lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral). P (Park) is recommended.
The shif t lever cannot be moved out
of the P (Park) position and into any
of the other gear positions if the ig-
nition switch is placed in the OFF po-
sition or if the key is removed from
the ignition switch.
The starter is designed not to oper-
ate if the shif t lever is in any of the
driving positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shif t lever to N (Neutral). De-
press the clutch pedal to the floor
while cranking the engine.
3. Crank the engine with your foot off
the accelerator pedal by placing the
ignition switch in the START position.
Release the key when the engine
starts. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure.
∙ If the engine is very hard to start in extremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to the floor) and hold it and then crank the
engine. Release the key and the ac-
celerator pedal when the engine
starts.
∙ If the engine is very hard to start be- cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor
and hold it. Crank the engine for
5-6 seconds. Af ter cranking the en-
gine, release the accelerator pedal.
Crank the engine with your foot off
the accelerator pedal by placing the
ignition in the START position. Re-
lease the key when the engine starts.
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, turn the key off and wait
10 seconds before cranking again, oth-
erwise the starter could be damaged.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 seconds af ter starting. Do not race
the engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume bat-
tery power when the engine is not
running (phone chargers, GPS, DVD
players, etc.).
2. The 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.
STARTING THE ENGINE
5-8Starting and driving

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(if so equipped)
The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled to produce
maximum power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driv-
ing enjoyment.
WARNING
∙ Do not depress the accelerator pedalwhile shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), 2 or 1.
Always depress the brake pedal until
shif ting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
∙ The cold engine idle speed is high, so use caution when shif ting the trans-
mission into a forward or reverse po-
sition before the engine has warmed
up.
∙ Avoid revving up the engine while the vehicle is stopped. This could cause
unexpected vehicle movement. ∙ Do not downshif t abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
CAUTION
∙ Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is re-
versing. This could cause an accident
or damage the transmission.
∙ Except in an emergency, do not shif t to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission in
the N (Neutral) position may cause se-
rious damage to the transmission.
∙ Start the engine in either the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position. The engine will
not start in any other position. If it
does, have your vehicle checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
∙ Shif t into the P (Park) position and ap- ply the parking brake when at a
standstill for longer than a short wait-
ing period. ∙ Keep the engine at idling speed while
shif ting from the N (Neutral) position
to any driving position.
∙ To avoid possible damage to your ve- hicle; when stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
Starting the vehicle
1. Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the
shif t lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shif t lever to a drive po-
sition.
3. Release the parking brake, the foot brake pedal, and then gradually start
the vehicle in motion.
The automatic transmission is designed
so the foot brake pedal MUST be de-
pressed before shif ting from P (Park) to
any drive position while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-9

The shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear po-
sitions if the ignition switch is turned to
the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
keyisremoved.
CAUTION
∙ Depress the foot brake pedal - Shif t-ing the shif t lever to D, R, 2 or 1 without
depressing the foot brake pedal
causes the vehicle to move slowly
when the engine is running. Make
sure the foot brake pedal is depressed
fully and the vehicle is stopped before
shif ting the shif t lever.
∙ Make sure of the shif t lever position- Make sure the shif t lever is in the de-
sired position. D, 2 and 1 are used to
move forward and R to back up.
∙ Warm up the engine- Due to the higher idle speeds when the engine is
cold, extra caution must be exercised
when shif ting the shif t lever into the
driving position immediately af ter
starting the engine. To move the shif t lever:
Press the buttonAwhile depressing
the brake pedal.
Press the buttonA.
Just move the shif t lever.
Shif ting
WARNING
∙ Apply the parking brake if the shif t lever is in any position while the en-
gine is not running. Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move unex-
pectedly or roll away and result in se-
rious personal injury or property
damage.
∙ If the shif t lever cannot be moved from the P (Park) position while the
engine is running and the brake pedal
is depressed, the stop lights may not
work. Malfunctioning stop lights
could cause an accident injuring your-
self and others.
Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal, press the shif t lever but-
ton and move the shif t lever out of the P
(Park) position.
If the ignition switch is in the OFF or ACC
position for any reason while the shif t lever
is in any position other than the P (Park)
position, the ignition switch cannot be
turned to the LOCK position.
LSD2005
5-10Starting and driving

If the ignition switch cannot be placed in
the LOCK position, perform the following
steps:1. Apply the parking brake when the ve- hicle is stopped.
2. Place the ignition switch in the ON po- sition while depressing the foot brake
pedal.
3. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) po- sition.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the P (Park) position only when the ve-
hicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped. The
brake pedal must be depressed and the
shif t lever button pressed to move the
shif t lever from N (Neutral) or any drive
position to P (Park). Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then shif t
the shif t lever into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the R (Reverse) position only when the
vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before selecting the R (Reverse)
position. The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the shif t lever button
pressed to move the shif t lever from P
(Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position to
R (Reverse).
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shif t to N (Neutral) and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving. D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
2 (Second gear)
Use this position for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
1(Lowgear)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine brak-
ing on steep downhill grades.
Do not shif t into the gears when the vehicle
speed exceeds the following limits, other-
wise the engine may over-rev and cause
engine damage.
Shif t Lever position
12
50 km/h (31 mph) 95 km/h (59 mph)
Starting and driving5-11