
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to P (Park) orN (Neutral). P (Park) is recommended.
The shif t lever cannot be moved out
of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition switch
is turned to the OFF position 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.
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 turning the
ignition key to 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 to the OFF
position and wait 10 seconds before
cranking again, otherwise 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
a moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather.
In cold weather, keep the engine run-
ning for a minimum of 2–3 minutes
before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short pe-
riod of time may make the vehicle
more difficult to start. 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
Starting and driving5-11

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T)
WARNING
∙ Do not depress the accelerator pedalwhile shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive). Always
depress the brake pedal until shif ting
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 shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
∙ Do not downshif t abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
∙ 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.
CAUTION
∙ 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.
The A/T in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled 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.
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 into a driving
gear.
3. Release the foot brake, 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.
The shif t lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the LOCK or OFF posi-
tion.
Starting and driving5-13

To move the shif t lever:
: Shif t while depressing the brakepedal
: Shif t without depressing the brakepedal
Shif ting
Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and move the shif t lever out of
the P (Park) position.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shif t lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal in-
jury or property damage.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF or
ACC position for any reason while the ve-
hicle is in N (Neutral), or any D (Drive) posi-
tion, the ignition switch cannot be turned
to the LOCK position. Move the shif t lever to
the P (Park) position, then the ignition
switch can be turned to 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) shif t lever position when
the vehicle is parked or when starting the
engine. Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped.
The brake pedal should be depressed 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 move
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 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.
LIC2709
5-14Starting and driving

Shif t lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shif t lever
may not be moved from the P (Park) posi-
tion even with the brake pedal depressed.
To move the shif t lever, release the shif t
lock. The shif t lever can be moved to N
(Neutral). However, for models without the
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System, the
steering wheel will be locked unless the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
This allows the vehicle to be moved if the
battery is discharged.If the shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have the automatic transmission
system checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
WARNING
If the shif t lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and
others.
Accelerator downshif t
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please
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 cir-
cuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and wait for 3 seconds. Then
place the ignition switch back in the ON
position. The vehicle should return to its
normal operating condition. If it does not
return to its normal operating condition,
have the transmission checked and re-
paired, if necessary. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
LSD0101
Starting and driving5-17

WARNING
∙ Be sure the parking brake is fully re-leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
∙ Do not release the parking brake from outside the vehicle.
∙ Do not use the shif t lever in place of the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
∙ To help avoid risk of injury or death through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require the
assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets. To engage:
Firmly depress the parking
brake.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) po- sition.
3. Firmly depress the parking brake pedal and it will release.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warn- ing light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
1. ACCEL/RES switch
2. COAST/SET switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. ON/OFF switch
LSD0158LSD2003
PARKING BRAKE CRUISE CONTROL
5-18Starting and driving

∙ If the cruise control system malfunc-tions, it cancels automatically. The SET
indicator light illuminates in the trip
computer then blinks to warn the driver.
For additional information, refer to
“Cruise set switch indicator light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of
this manual.
∙ If the SET indicator light blinks, push the ON/OFF switch off and have the system
checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
∙ The SET indicator light may blink when the ON/OFF switch is pushed on while
pushing the ACCEL/RES, COAST/SET, or
CANCEL switch. To properly set the
cruise control system, use the following
procedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driv-
ing under the following conditions:
∙ When it is not possible to keep thevehicle 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 accident.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 - 89 mph (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,
push the
ON/OFF switch on. The CRUISE indicator
light in the trip computer will illuminate.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the ve-
hicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. The SET
indicator light in the trip computer will illu-
minate. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set
speed.
∙ To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previ-
ously set speed.
∙ The vehicle may not maintain the set speed when going up or down steep
hills. If this happens, drive without the
cruise control. To cancel the preset speed,
use one of the
following three methods:
∙ Push the CANCEL switch; the SET indi- cator light in the trip computer goes
out.
∙ Tap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light goes out.
∙ Push the ON/OFF switch off. Both the CRUISE indicator light and SET indicator
light in the trip computer go out.
The cruise control is automatically can-
celed and the SET light in the trip computer
goes out if: ∙ You depress the brake pedal while pushing the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST
switch. The preset speed is deleted
from memory.
∙ The vehicle slows down more than 8 mph (13 km/h) below the set speed.
∙ You move the shif t lever to N (Neutral).
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use
one of the following three methods:
∙ Depress the accelerator pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed,
push and release the COAST/SET
switch.
Starting and driving5-19

∙ Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.When the vehicle attains the speed you
desire, release the switch.
∙ Push and release the ACCEL/RES switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed increases by about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use
one of the following three methods:
∙ Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed, push
the COAST/SET switch and release it.
∙ Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Release the switch when the vehicle
slows to the desired speed.
∙ Push and release the COAST/SET switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed decreases by about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and
release the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle
returns to the last set cruising speed when
the vehicle speed is over 25 mph (40 km/h).CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km),
follow these recommendations to ob-
tain maximum engine performance
and ensure the future reliability and
economy of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may re-
sult in shortened engine life and re-
duced engine performance.
∙ Avoid driving for long periods at con- stant speed, either fast or slow, and do
not run the engine over 4,000 RPM.
∙ Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
∙ Avoid quick starts.
∙ Avoid hard braking as much as pos- sible.
∙ Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (805 kilometers). Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged. Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient
Driving Tips to help you achieve the most
fuel economy from your vehicle.
1. Use Smooth Accelerator and
Brake Pedal Application
∙ Avoid rapid starts and stops.
∙ Use smooth, gentle accelerator and brake application whenever possible.
∙ Maintain constant speed while com- muting and coast whenever pos-
sible.
2. Maintain Constant Speed
∙ Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
∙ Synchronizing your speed with traffic lights allows you to reduce your num-
ber of stops.
∙ Maintaining a steady speed can mini- mize red light stops and improve fuel
efficiency.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
5-20Starting and driving

∙ Keep your engine tuned up.
∙ Follow the recommended scheduledmaintenance.
∙ Keep the tires inflated to the correct pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
∙ Keep the front wheels in correct align- ment. Improper alignment increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
∙ Use the recommended viscosity engine oil. For additional information, refer to
“Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tions” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
WARNING
∙ Do not stop or park the vehicle overflammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire. ∙ Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park). Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and
result in an accident. Make sure the
shif t lever has been pushed as far for-
ward as it can go and cannot be
moved without depressing the foot
brake pedal.
∙ Never leave the engine running while the vehicle is unattended.
WSD0050
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
5-22Starting and driving