away from the exhaust system
components.
. Do not stop or park the vehicle
over flammable materials such as
dry grass, wastepaper or rags.
They may ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
.Do not use leaded gasoline. De-
posits from leaded gasoline will
seriously reduce the three-way
catalyst’s ability to help reduce
exhaust pollutants.
. Keep your engine tuned up. Mal-
functions in the ignition, fuel in-
jection, 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 notice-
able loss of performance or other
unusual operating conditions are
detected. Have the vehicle in-
spected. It is recommended 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, damaging the three-way catalyst.
. Do not race the engine while
warming it up.
. Do not push or tow your vehicle
to start the engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufac-
turer on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label, you should deter-
mine the proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) that illumi-
nates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low
tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon
as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping abil-
ity.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if
under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating prop-
erly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure tell-
tale. When the system detects a malfunc-
tion, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then re-
main continuously illuminated. This se-
quence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunc-
tion exists. When the malfunction indica-
tor is illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may
occur for a variety of reasons, including
the installation of replacement or alter-
nate tires or wheels on the vehicle that
prevent the TPMS from functioning prop-
erly. Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires
Starting and driving5-5
5-6Starting and driving
or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that
the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.
Additional information
.Since the spare tire is not equipped
with the TPMS, the TPMS does not
monitor the tire pressure of the spare
tire.
. The TPMS will activate only when the
vehicle is driven at speeds above 16
MPH (25 km/h). Also, this system may
not detect a sudden drop in tire
pressure (for example a flat tire while
driving).
. The low tire pressure warning light
does not automatically turn off when
the tire pressure is adjusted. After the
tire is inflated to the recommended
pressure, the vehicle must be driven at
speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h) to
activate the TPMS and turn off the low
tire pressure warning light. Use a tire
pressure gauge to check the tire
pressure.
. The “Tire Pressure Low - Add Air”
warning appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display when the low tire
pressure warning light is illuminated
and low tire pressure is detected. The
“Tire Pressure Low - Add Air” warning
turns off when the low tire pressure warning light turns off.
The “Tire Pressure Low - Add Air”
warning does not appear if the low
tire pressure warning light illuminates
to indicate a TPMS malfunction.
. Tire pressure rises and falls depending
on the heat caused by the vehicle’s
operation and the outside tempera-
ture. Do not reduce the tire pressure
after driving because the tire pressure
rises after driving. Low outside tem-
perature can lower the temperature
of the air inside the tire which can
cause a lower tire inflation pressure.
This may cause the low tire pressure
warning light to illuminate. If the
warning light illuminates in low ambi-
ent temperature, check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires.
For additional information, see “Low tire
pressure warning light” (P.2-13) and “Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P.6-
3).
WARNING
. If the low tire pressure warning
light illuminates while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneu-
vers or abrupt braking, reduce
vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Driv-
ing with under-inflated tires may
permanently damage the tires
and increase the likelihood of tire
failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in ser-
ious personal injury. Check the
tire pressure for all four tires.
Adjust the tire pressure to the
recommended COLD tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label to turn the low
tire pressure warning light OFF. If
you have a flat tire, replace it with
a spare tire as soon as possible.
(See “Flat tire” (P.6-3) for chan-
ging a flat tire.)
. Since the spare tire is not
equipped with the TPMS, when a
spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for ap-
proximately 1 minute. The light
will remain on after 1 minute.
Have your tires replaced and/or
TPMS system reset as soon as
possible. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for these
services.
.Replacing tires with those not
originally specified by NISSAN
could affect the proper operation
of the TPMS.
. Do not inject any tire liquid or
aerosol tire sealant into the tires,
as this may cause a malfunction
of the tire pressure sensors.
CAUTION
.The TPMS may not function prop-
erly when the wheels are
equipped with tire chains or the
wheels are buried in snow.
. Do not place metalized film or
any metal parts (antenna, etc.) on
the windows. This may cause
poor reception of the signals
from the tire pressure sensors,
and the TPMS will not function
properly.
Some devices and transmitters may tem-
porarily interfere with the operation of
the TPMS and cause the low tire pressure
warning light to illuminate. Some exam-
ples are: .
Facilities or electric devices using
similar radio frequencies are near the
vehicle.
. If a transmitter set to similar frequen-
cies is being used in or near the
vehicle.
. If a computer (or similar equipment) or
a DC/AC converter is being used in or
near the vehicle.
Low tire pressure warning light may
illuminate in the following cases.
. If the vehicle is equipped with a wheel
and tire without TPMS.
. If the TPMS has been replaced and the
ID has not been registered.
. If the wheel is not originally specified
by NISSAN.
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including inter-
ference that may cause undesired op-
eration.
Note: Changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party re-
sponsible for compliance could void
the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with Industry Ca-
nada licence-exempt RSS standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) this device may not
cause interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
TPMS with Easy Fill Tire Alert
When adding air to an under-inflated tire,
the TPMS with Easy Fill Tire Alert provides
visual and audible signals outside the
vehicle to help you inflate the tires to
the recommended COLD tire pressure.
Vehicle set-up:
1. Park the vehicle in a safe and level
place.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in the P (Park) position (CVT
model) or N (Neutral) position (MT
model).
3. Place the ignition switch in the ON position. Do not start the engine.
Operation:
1. Add air to the tire.
2. After a few seconds, the hazard in- dicators will start flashing.
Starting and driving5-7
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds. As
with other vehicles of this type, failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may result
in loss of control or vehicle rollover. 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.
Be sure to read “Driving safety precau-
tions” (P.5-10).
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
If the right side or left side wheels leave
the road surface, maintain control of the
vehicle by following the procedure below.
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 steeringwheel 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 the vehicle speed is reduced. Do not
attempt to drive the vehicle back onto
the road surface until vehicle speed is
reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires
return to the road surface. When all
tires are on the road surface, steer the
vehicle to stay in the appropriate
driving lane.
.If you decide that it is not safe to
return the vehicle to the road sur-
face based on vehicle, road or
traffic conditions, gradually slow
the vehicle to a stop in a safe place
off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can
occur if the tire is punctured or is
damaged due to hitting a curb or pothole.
Rapid air pressure loss can also be caused
by driving on under-inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the
handling and stability of the vehicle,
especially at highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspect the tires for wear and
damage. See “Wheels and tires” (P.8-29) of
this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or “blows-out” while driving, maintain con-
trol of the vehicle by following the proce-
dure below. 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.
WARNING
The following actions can increase
the chance of losing control of the
vehicle if there is a sudden loss of tire
air pressure. Losing control of the
vehicle may cause a collision and
result in personal injury.
.
The vehicle generally moves or
pulls in the direction of the flat
tire.
. Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
. Do not rapidly release the accel-
erator pedal.
. Do not rapidly turn the steering
wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold
a straight course.
Starting and driving5-9
.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) range. Never back down
in N (Neutral), using only the
brake, as this could cause loss of
control.
. Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to over-
heat and fade, resulting in loss of
control and an accident. Apply
brakes lightly and use a low
range to control your speed.
. Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough
terrain. Properly secure all cargo
so it will not be thrown forward
and cause injury 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 dis-
tribute the load. Secure heavy
loads in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible.
Do not equip the vehicle with tires
larger than specified in this man-
ual. This could cause your vehicle
to roll over. .
Do not grip the inside or spokes
of the steering wheel when driv-
ing off-road. The steering wheel
could move suddenly and injure
your hands. Instead drive with
your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
. Before operating the vehicle, en-
sure that the driver and all pas-
sengers have their seat belts
fastened.
. Always drive with the floor mats
in place as the floor may became
hot.
. Lower your speed when encoun-
tering strong crosswinds. With a
higher center of gravity, your
vehicle is more affected by strong
side winds. Slower speeds ensure
better vehicle control.
. Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires,
even with AWD engaged.
. For AWD equipped vehicles, do
not attempt to raise two wheels
off the ground and shift the
transmission to any drive or re-
verse 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.
. Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel
dynamometer (such as the dy-
namometers used by some
states for emissions testing), or
similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off
the ground. Make sure you inform
test facility personnel that your
vehicle is equipped with AWD
before it is placed on a dynam-
ometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.
. When a wheel is off the ground
due to an unlevel surface, do not
spin the wheel excessively (AWD
model).
. Accelerating quickly, sharp steer-
ing maneuvers or sudden braking
may cause loss of control.
. If at all possible, avoid sharp
turning maneuvers, particularly
at high speeds. Your vehicle has
a higher center of gravity than a
conventional passenger car. The
Starting and driving5-11
5-12Starting and driving
vehicle is not designed for cor-
nering at the same speeds as
conventional passenger cars.
Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly could result in loss of
control and/or a rollover acci-
dent.
. Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias,
bias-belted or radial), and tread
pattern on all four wheels. Install
traction devices on the front
wheels when driving on slippery
roads and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes im-
mediately after driving in mud or
water. See “Brake system” (P.5-
106) for wet brakes.
. Avoid parking your vehicle on
steep hills. If you get out of the
vehicle and it rolls forward, back-
ward or sideways, you could be
injured.
. Whenever you drive off-road
through sand, mud or water as
deep as the wheel hub, more
frequent maintenance may be
required. See the maintenance
schedule shown in the “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section. .
Spinning the front wheels on
slippery surfaces may cause the
AWD warning message to display
and the AWD system to automa-
tically switch from the AWD mode
to the 2WD mode. This could
reduce traction. (AWD models)
WARNING
Never remove the key or place the
ignition switch in the LOCK position
while driving. The steering wheel will
lock and could cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle. This could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
IGNITION SWITCH (models without
Intelligent Key system)
JVS0404X
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is
discharged, or environmental conditions
interfere with the Intelligent Key opera-
tion, start the engine according to the
following procedure:
1. Move the shift lever to the P (Park)position (for CVT models) or the shift
lever to the N (Neutral) position (for MT
models).
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the ignition switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime
will sound.) 4. Push the ignition switch while depres-
sing the brake pedal within 10 sec-
onds after the chime sounds. The
engine will start.
After step 3 is performed, when the
ignition switch is pushed without depres-
sing the brake pedal, the ignition switch
position will change to ACC.
NOTE:
. When the ignition switch is pushed
to the ON position or the engine is
started by the above procedures, the
“Key Battery Low” warning appears
(on the Vehicle information display)
even if the Intelligent Key is inside
the vehicle. This is not a malfunction.
To turn off the warning, touch the
ignition switch with the Intelligent
Key again.
. If the “Key Battery Low” warning
appears (on the Vehicle information
display), replace the battery as soon
as possible. (See “Intelligent Key
battery replacement” (P.8-23).) .
Make sure the area around the vehicle
is clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid, and window
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 ignition switch is placed in
the ON position. (See “Warning lights,
indicator lights and audible remin-
ders” (P.2-10).)
Starting and driving5-17
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-100Starting and driving
7. Avoid idling..Shutting off your engine when safefor 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 morethan 30 seconds of idling at start-
up to effectively circulate the en-
gine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating temperature more
quickly while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade when-
ever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, open- ing the windows will help to reduce
the inside temperature faster, re-
sulting in reduced demand on your
A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity en-
gine oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation” (P.10-5).) If any malfunction occurs in the Intelligent
4x4 system while the engine is running,
warning messages appear in the vehicle
information display.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY INTELLIGENT 4X4 (if so equipped)