
ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode
to reduce the chance of damage if the
coolant temperature becomes too high
(for example, when climbing steep grades
in high temperature with heavy loads, such
as when towing a trailer). When the engine
temperature reaches a certain level:∙ The engine coolant temperature gauge will move toward the H position.
∙ Engine power may be reduced.
∙ The air conditioning cooling function may be automatically turned off for a
short time (the blower will continue to
operate).
Engine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will decrease. Vehicle speed
can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the vehicle may not accelerate at
the desired speed. The transmission will
downshif t or upshif t as it reaches pre-
scribed shif t points. You can also shif t
manually.
As driving conditions change and engine
coolant temperature is reduced, vehicle
speed can be increased using the accel- erator pedal, and air conditioning cooling
function will automatically be turned back
on.
A malfunction may have occurred if:
∙ The engine coolant temperature is not reduced,
∙ The air conditioning cooling function does not turn back on, or
∙ The engine oil pressure warning light illuminates or the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates an overheat-
ing condition.
If a malfunction occurs move the vehicle
off the road in a safe area and allow the
engine to cool. If the condition is still pres-
ent af ter checking the oil and coolant, do
not continue to drive. It is recommended
that you contact a NISSAN dealer.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may
also come on. If onlyit remains on, you do
not need to have your vehicle towed, but
have it inspected soon. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this ser-
vice. For additional information, refer to
“Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)” in the “In-
struments and controls” section of this
manual.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced en-
gine power and vehicle speed. The re-
duced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance
of a collision. Be especially careful when
driving. If the vehicle cannot maintain a
safe driving speed, pull to the side of the
road in a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation. For
additional information, refer to “If your
vehicle overheats” in the “In case of
emergency ” section of this manual.
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 cov-
ered by warranty. Turn off the engine as
soon as it is safe to do so.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-12Starting and driving

3.Use Air Conditioning (A/C) at Higher
Vehicle Speeds
∙ Below 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load.
∙ Above 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle
due to increased aerodynamic drag.
∙ Recirculating the cool air in the cabin when the A/C is on reduces cooling
load.
4. Drive at Economical Speeds and
Distances
∙ Observing the speed limit and not exceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
∙ Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles reduces un-
necessary braking.
∙ Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate changes in speed permits reduced
braking and smooth acceleration
changes.
∙ Select a gear range suitable to road conditions. 5.
Use Cruise Control
∙ Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady
speed.
∙ Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving
on flat terrains.
6. Plan for the Shortest Route
∙ Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save
time.
7. Avoid Idling
∙ Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30–60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8.
Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads
∙ Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and avoid
stopping and starting. 9.
Winter Warm Up
∙ Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
∙ Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to
effectively circulate the engine oil be-
fore driving.
∙ Your vehicle will reach its ideal oper- ating temperature more quickly
while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
∙ Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever pos-
sible.
∙ When entering a hot vehicle, opening the windows will help to reduce the
inside temperature faster, resulting in
reduced demand on your A/C sys-
tem.
Starting and driving5-21

To turn the system off, the ignition must be
ON and the shif t lever in R (Reverse) or D
(Drive). An indicator light on the switch will
illuminate when the system is turned off. If
the indicator light illuminates when the
system is not turned off, it may indicate a
failure in the sonar system.
Keep the front and rear sonar sensors (lo-
cated on the bumper fascia) free from
snow, ice and large accumulations of dirt
(do not clean the sensors with sharp ob-
jects). If the sensors are covered, it will af-
fect the accuracy of the sonar system.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before in-
serting it into the key hole or use the re-
mote keyless entry key fob (if so equipped).
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper win-
ter protection. For additional information,
refer to “Engine cooling system” in the “Do-
it-yourself ” section of this manual.
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, refer to “Battery”
in the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be lef t outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding the engine block. Refill before oper-
ating the vehicle. For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Changing engine coolant” in
the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed toprovide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance
of these tires will be substantially re-
duced 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
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for the tire
type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However,
some U.S. states and Canadian prov-
inces prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before install-
ing studded tires.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-32Starting and driving

∙ Whenever working on or near a bat-tery, always wear suitable eye protec-
tors (for example, goggles or indus-
trial safety spectacles) and remove
rings, metal bands, or any other jew-
elry. Do not lean over the battery
when jump starting.
∙ Do not attempt to jump start a frozen battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
∙ The automatic engine cooling fan (if so equipped) may come on at any
time without warning, even if the igni-
tion switch is in the OFF position and
the engine is not running. To avoid in-
jury, keep hands and other objects
away from it.
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another ve- hicle, position the two vehicles to bring
their batteries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shif t lever to P (Park). Switch off all unneces-
sary electrical systems (lights, heater,
air conditioner, etc.). 3.
Ensure the vent caps are level and tight.
4. Connect the jumper cables in the
sequence illustrated (
A,B,C,D).
CAUTION
∙ Always connect positive () to posi-tive ( ) and negative () to body
ground (for example, strut mounting
bolt, engine lif t bracket, etc.) — not to
the battery.
∙
Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
LCE2240
In case of emergency6-11

If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge
reading) or if you feel a lack of engine
power, detect abnormal noise, etc., take the
following steps.1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, ap- ply the parking brake and move the
shif t lever to P (Park).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maxi-
mum hot and fan control to high
speed.
3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the
radiator before opening the hood. If
steam or coolant is escaping, turn off
the engine. Do not open the hood fur-
ther until no steam or coolant can be
seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned. 5. Visually check drive belts for damage
or looseness. Also check if the cooling
fan is running. The radiator hoses and
radiator should not leak water. If cool-
ant is leaking, the water pump belt is
missing or loose, or the cooling fan
does not run, stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or
the engine cooling fan. The engine cool-
ing fan can start at any time.
6. Af ter the engine cools down, check the coolant level in the engine coolant res-
ervoir tank with the engine running.
Add coolant to the engine coolant res-
ervoir tank if necessary. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service. Incorrect towing equipment could dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are
available from a NISSAN dealer. Local ser-
vice operators are generally familiar with
the applicable laws and procedures for
towing. To assure proper towing and to
prevent accidental damage to your vehicle,
NISSAN recommends having a service op-
erator tow your vehicle. It is advisable to
have the service operator carefully read the
following precautions:
WARNING
∙ Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
∙ Never get under your vehicle af ter it has been lif ted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
∙ When towing, make sure that thetransmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. If any of these conditions apply,
dollies or a flatbed tow truck must be
used.
∙ Always attach safety chains before towing.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-13

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.......................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ...........8-4
Engine cooling system ..........................8-6
Checking engine coolant level ................8-7
Changing engine coolant .....................8-7
Engine oil ........................................8-8
Checking engine oil level .....................8-8
Changing engine oil ..........................8-9
Changing engine oil filter .....................8-11
5-speed Automatic Transmission
(if so equipped) Fluid (ATF) ......................8-12
7-speed Automatic Transmission
(if so equipped) Fluid (ATF) ......................8-12
Power steering fluid ............................ 8-13
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-13
Windshield-washer fluid ........................8-14
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ............8-14
Battery......................................... 8-15
Jump starting ............................... 8-16
Drive belt ....................................... 8-17
Spark plugs .................................... 8-18
Replacing spark plugs .......................8-18Air cleaner
...................................... 8-18
In-cabin microfilter (if so equipped) ..........8-19
Windshield wiper blades ........................8-20
Cleaning .................................... 8-20
Replacing ................................... 8-20
Brakes.......................................... 8-21
Fuses ........................................... 8-22
Engine compartment .......................8-23
Passenger compartment ....................8-24
Battery replacement ........................... 8-26
Key fob (if so equipped) ......................8-27
Lights .......................................... 8-28
Headlights ................................... 8-28
Fog lights (if so equipped) ...................8-29
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-30
Wheels and tires ................................ 8-32
Tire pressure ................................ 8-32
Tir
e labeling ................................. 8-36
Types of tires ................................ 8-38
Tire chains .................................. 8-39
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-40

When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The fol-
lowing are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
∙ Park the vehicle on a level surface, ap-ply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shif t le-
ver to P (Park).
∙ Be sure the ignition key is in the OFF or LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
∙ If you must work with the engine run- ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.
∙ It is advisable to secure or remove any loose clothing and remove any jew-
elry, such as rings, watches, etc. be-
fore working on your vehicle.
∙ Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your vehicle. ∙ Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come
on at any time without warning, even
if the ignition key is in the OFF position
and the engine is not running. To
avoid injury, always disconnect the
negative battery cable before work-
ing near the fan.
∙ If you must run the engine in an en- closed space such as a garage, be sure
there is proper ventilation for exhaust
gases to escape.
∙ Never get under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack. If it is neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.
∙ Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
∙ On gasoline engine models, the fuel filter or fuel lines should be serviced. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.
CAUTION
∙ Do not work under the hood while theengine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
∙ Avoid contact with used engine oil and coolant. Improperly disposed en-
gine oil, engine coolant and/or other
vehicle fluids can damage the envi-
ronment. Always conform to local
regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
∙ Never leave the engine or the trans- mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.
∙ Never connect or disconnect the bat- tery or any transistorized component
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
∙ DO NOT power wash any interior por- tion of this vehicle to help minimize
liquid intrusion and potential elec-
tronic component damage.
This “Do-it-yourself ” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself

The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and 50% water to
provide year-round antifreeze and coolant
protection. The antifreeze solution con-
tains rust and corrosion inhibitors. Addi-
tional engine cooling system additives are
not necessary.
WARNING
∙ Never remove the radiator or coolantreservoir cap when the engine is hot.
Wait until the engine and radiator cool
down. Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping from
the radiator. For additional informa-
tion on precautions, refer to “If your
vehicle overheats” in the “In case of
emergency ” section of this manual.
∙ The radiator is equipped with a pres- sure type radiator cap. To prevent en-
gine damage, use only a Genuine
NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
∙ Never use any cooling system addi-tives such as radiator sealer. Additives
may clog the cooling system and
cause damage to the engine, trans-
mission and/or cooling system.
∙ When adding or replacing coolant, be sure to use only Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to -34° F (-37° C). If additional
freeze protection is needed due to
weather where you operate your ve-
hicle, add Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) concen-
trate following the directions on the
container. If an equivalent coolant
other than Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is used, fol-
low the coolant manufacturer’s in-
structions to maintain minimum anti-
freeze protection to -34° F (-37° C). The
use of other types of coolant solu-
tions other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent may damage the engine
cooling system. ∙ The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000 km)
or 7 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue),
including Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green), or the use
of non-distilled water will reduce the
life expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. For additional information, refer
to the "Maintenance and schedules"
section of this manual.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
8-6Do-it-yourself