
5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-2
Driving precautions ...........................5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)........................................5-4
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-6
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-7
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-8
Ignition switch ...................................5-8
Automatic transmission ......................5-9
Ignition switch positions .....................5-10
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
(if so equipped) .............................. 5-10
Before starting the engine ......................5-10
Starting the engine .............................. 5-11
Driving the vehicle .............................. 5-12
Engine protection mode .....................5-12
Automatic transmission (A/T) ...............5-13
Parking brake .................................. 5-18
Cruise control .................................. 5-18
Precautions on cruise control ................5-18
Cruise control operations ....................5-19Break-in schedule
.............................. 5-20
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................5-20
Increasing fuel economy .......................5-22
Parking/parking on hills ........................5-22
Power steering ................................. 5-23
Brake system ................................... 5-24
Brake precautions ........................... 5-24
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..............5-24
Brake assist ................................. 5-25
Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system ..........5-26
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .........5-27
Brake force distribution ......................5-28
Rear Sonar System (RSS) (if so equipped) .......5-29
Front and rear sonar system (if so equipped) . . . 5-30
Cold weather driving ........................... 5-32
Freeing a frozen door lock ...................5-32
Antifreeze ................................... 5-32
B
attery...................................... 5-32
Draining of coolant water ....................5-32
Tire equipment .............................. 5-32
Special winter equipment ...................5-33
Driving on snow or ice .......................5-33
Engine block heater (if so equipped) .........5-33

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 with ropes or straps to help prevent it from sliding
or shif ting. Do not place cargo higher
than the seatbacks. In a sudden stop
or collision, unsecured cargo could
cause personal 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. ∙ Always keep the doors closed when
driving the vehicle. Do not drive with
the doors open and do not attempt to
transport long cargo by driving with
the doors open. Doing so can damage
the doors and door hinges. Cargo may
also fall out of the vehicle which may
cause serious personal injury 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 doors closed while driving, otherwise exhaust gases could be
drawn into the passenger compart-
ment. If you must drive with this open,
follow these precautions:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the
air recirculation but-
ton to off and the fan control dial to
high to circulate the air. ∙ If electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the body, follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation
to prevent carbon monoxide entry
into the vehicle.
∙ 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.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING AND
DRIVING
5-2Starting and driving

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.
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.
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of
vehicles.
They have larger tires and higher ground
clearance than passenger cars to make
them capable of performing in a variety of
applications. This gives them a higher cen-
ter of gravity than ordinary cars. An advan-
tage of higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road, allowing you to anticipate
problems. However, they are not designed
for cornering at the same speeds as con-
ventional 2-wheel drive vehicles any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road con-
ditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns
at high speeds. As with other vehicles of
this type, failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-
son is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
A loaded vehicle with a higher center of
gravity may handle differently than an un-
loaded vehicle. The risk of loss of control or
vehicle rollover increases as more cargo is
loaded in the vehicle. The risk increases
because the cargo placed in the vehicle
raises the vehicle’s center of gravity. As a
result, the van handles differently from
other ordinary passenger vehicles and it
has less resistance to rollover which can
make it more difficult to control in an emer-
gency situation. Placing any load on the
roof also raises the center of gravity and
increases the potential for rollover. Do not
overload your vehicle and make sure the
load is evenly distributed.
To reduce the risk of loss of control or ve-
hicle rollover drive at slower speed, avoid
abrupt steering changes and increase
your following distance and allow for in-
creased stopping distance.
Be sure to read the driving safety precau-
tions in this section.
Starting and driving5-3

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 (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. ∙ Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
∙ Check fluid levels such as engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, 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.
∙ Check that all doors are closed.
∙ Position seat and adjust head restraints/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 placed in the
ON position. For additional information,
refer to “Warning lights, indicator lights
and audible reminders” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section of this
manual.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-10Starting and driving

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

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

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