2018 NISSAN QASHQAI warning

AWD modeWheels driven AWD LOCK indicator light Use conditions
AUTO Distribution of torque to
the front and rear wheels
changes automatically,
depending on road condi-
tions encountered [ratio;
100 : 0
/?50 : 50]. This
results in improved driving
stability.*1 -
For driving on paved
or slippery roads
LOCK All-Wheel Drive (AWD) *2*3*
For driving on rough
roads
*1: When the rotation difference between the front and rear wheels is large, the AWD
mode may change from AUTO to LOCK
for a while, however, this is not a mal-
function.
*2: The LOCK mode will change to the AUTO mode automatically when the vehicle has
been driven at a high speed. The AWD
LOCK indicator light turns off.
*3: The LOCK mode will automatically be cancelled when the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position.
.The AWD torque distribution between
the front and rear wheels can be
displayed in the vehicle information
display. See “Vehicle information dis-
play” (P.2-18).
. If the Intelligent 4x4 LOCK switch is
operated while accelerating or decel-
erating, or if the ignition switch is
turned off, you may feel a jolt. This is
normal.
. The oil temperature of the powertrain
parts will increase if the vehicle is
continuously operated under condi-
tions where the difference in rotation
between the front and rear wheels is
large (wheel slip), such as when driving
the vehicle on rough roads, through
sand or mud, or freeing a stuck
vehicle. In these cases, the master
warning light illuminates and the
AWD mode changes to 2WD to protect the powertrain parts. Stop driving
with the engine idling and wait until
the warning light turns off and the
AWD returns to the AUTO mode. If the
warning light remains on, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
WARNING
.
When driving straight, shift the
Intelligent 4x4 LOCK switch to
AUTO. Do not operate the Intelli-
gent 4x4 LOCK switch when mak-
ing a turn or backing up.
. Do not operate the Intelligent 4x4
LOCK switch with the front wheel
spinning.
. Engine idling speed is high while
warming up the engine. Be espe-
cially careful when starting or
driving on slippery surfaces.
. When turning the vehicle in LOCK
mode on paved roads, you may
feel a braking effect. This is a
normal condition of the AWD
model.
Starting and driving5-103

5-104Starting and driving
SSD0488
WARNING
.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.
. Never leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
. Do not leave children unattended
inside the vehicle. They could
unknowingly activate switches
or controls. Unattended children
could become involved in serious
accidents. .
To help avoid risk of injury or
death through unintended opera-
tion of the vehicle and/or its
systems, do not leave children,
people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle.
Additionally, the temperature in-
side a closed vehicle on a warm
day can quickly become high
enough to cause a significant risk
of injury or death to people and
pets.
. Safe parking procedures require
that both the parking brake be
applied and the transmission placed into P (Park) for Continu-
ously Variable Transmission (CVT)
model or in an appropriate gear
for Manual Transmission (MT)
model. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unex-
pectedly or roll away and result in
an accident.
. Make sure the CVT shift lever has
been pushed as far forward as it
can go and cannot be moved
without depressing the foot
brake pedal.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission (MT) models:
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse)
gear. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the shift lever in the 1st gear.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from roll- ing into the street when parked on a
sloping drive way, it is a good practice
to turn the wheels as illustrated.
.HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS

curb..HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
Turn the wheels away from the
curb and move the vehicle back
until the curb side wheel gently
touches the curb.
.HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NOCURB:
Turn the wheels toward the side of
the road so the vehicle will move
away from the center of the road if
it moves.
4. Models with Intelligent Key system:
Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position.
Models without Intelligent Key sys-
tem:
Place the ignition switch in the LOCK
position and remove the key.
WARNING
.If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the
power assist for the steering will
not work. Steering will be harder
to operate.
. When the electric power steering
warning light illuminates with the
engine running, the power assist
for the steering will cease opera-
tion. You will still have control of
the vehicle but the steering will
be harder to operate.
The electric power steering is designed to
provide power assist while driving to
operate the steering wheel with light
force.
When the steering wheel is operated
repeatedly or continuously while parking
or driving at a very low speed, the power
assist for the steering wheel will be
reduced. This is to prevent overheating
of the electric power steering and protect
it from getting damaged. While the power
assist is reduced, steering wheel opera-
tion will become heavy. When the tem-
perature of the electric power steering
goes down, the power assist level will
return to normal. Avoid repeating such steering wheel operations that could
cause the electric power steering to over-
heat.
You may hear a noise when the steering
wheel is operated quickly. However, this is
not a malfunction.
If the electric power steering warning
light
illuminates while the engine is
running, it may indicate the electric
power steering is not functioning prop-
erly and may need servicing. Have the
electric power steering checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service. (See “Electric power
steering warning light” (P.2-12).)
When the electric power steering warning
light illuminates with the engine running,
the power assist for the steering will
cease operation. You will still have control
of the vehicle. However, greater steering
effort is needed, especially in sharp turns
and at low speeds.
The mode of the Power Steering can be
changed to:
. NORMAL
. SPORT
For more information, see “Vehicle infor-
mation display” (P.2-18).
Starting and driving5-105
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

5-106Starting and driving
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate
hydraulic circuits. If one circuit malfunc-
tions, you will still have braking at two
wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and the stopping dis-
tance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. This will cause over-
heating of the brakes, wearing out the
brake pads faster and reduce gas mile-
age.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce
speed and downshift to a lower gear
before going down a slope or long grade.
Overheated brakes may reduce braking
performance and could result in loss of
vehicle control.
WARNING
.While driving on a slippery sur-
face, be careful when braking,
accelerating or downshifting.
Abrupt braking or accelerating
could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
. If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the
power assist for the brakes will
not work. Braking will be harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet.
As a result, your braking distance will be
longer and the vehicle may pull to one
side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping the brake
pedal to heat-up the brakes. Do this until
the brakes return to normal. Avoid driving
the vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes when-
ever the stopping effect of the parking
brake is weakened or whenever the
parking brake shoes and/or drums/ro-
tors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
BRAKE SYSTEM

BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking
force than a conventional brake booster
even with light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to
assist braking operation and is not a
collision warning or avoidance de-
vice. It is the driver’s responsibility to
stay alert, drive safely and be in
control of the vehicle at all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) is a sophisticated device,
but it cannot prevent accidents
resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control dur-
ing braking on slippery surfaces.
Remember that stopping dis-
tances on slippery surfaces will
be longer than on normal sur- faces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire
chains. Always maintain a safe
distance from the vehicle in front
of you. Ultimately, the driver is
responsible for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install
the specified size of tires on
all four wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper
size and type as specified on
the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label. See “Tire and Load-
ing Information label” (P.10-
10) of this manual.
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-29) of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) con-
trols the brakes so the wheels do not lock
during hard braking or when braking on
slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies
the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By pre- venting each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes.
The ABS will operate to prevent the
wheels from locking up. Steer the vehicle
to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing
so may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, elec-
tric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a
computer. The computer has a built-in
diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and does not indicate a malfunc-
tion. If the computer senses a malfunc-
Starting and driving5-107
BRAKE ASSIST

5-108Starting and driving
tion, it switches the ABS off and illumi-
nates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally, but without anti-lock
assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the
vehicle checked. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6
MPH (5 to 10 km/h). The speed varies
according to road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the
actuator rapidly applies and releases
hydraulic pressure. This action is similar
to pumping the brakes very quickly. You
may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise from under the hood or
feel a vibration from the actuator when it
is operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. How-
ever, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care
is required while driving.The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys-
tem uses various sensors to monitor
driver inputs and vehicle motion. Under
certain driving conditions, the VDC sys-
tem helps to perform the following func-
tions.
.
Controls brake pressure to reduce
wheel slip on one slipping drive wheel
so power is transferred to a non
slipping drive wheel on the same axle.
. Controls brake pressure and engine
output to reduce drive wheel slip
based on vehicle speed (traction con-
trol function).
. Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine output to help the
driver maintain control of the vehicle
in the following conditions:
— understeer (vehicle tends to not
follow the steered path despite
increased steering input)
— oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving condi-
tions).
The VDC system can help the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle, but it
cannot prevent loss of vehicle control in
all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the VDC
warning light
in the instrument panel
flashes so note the following: .
The road may be slippery or the
system may determine some action
is required to help keep the vehicle on
the steered path.
. You may feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal and hear a noise or vibration
from under the hood. This is normal
and indicates that the VDC system is
working properly.
. Adjust your speed and driving to the
road conditions.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light
illuminates in the
instrument panel. The VDC system auto-
matically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the
VDC system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates to indicate the VDC system is
off. When the VDC switch is used to turn
off the system, the VDC system still
operates to prevent one drive wheel from
slipping by transferring power to a non
slipping drive wheel. The VDC warning
light
flashes if this occurs. All other
VDC functions are off, and the VDC
warning light
will not flash. The VDC
system is automatically reset to on when
the ignition switch is placed in the off
position then back to the on position.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warn-
ing light” (P.2-15) and “Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-17).
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM

The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the vehicle
forward or in reverse at a slow speed.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
“clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
.The VDC system is designed to
help improve driving stability but
does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at
high speeds or by careless or
dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be
especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension. If suspension parts such
as shock absorbers, struts,
springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not NISSAN re-
commended for your vehicle or
are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate
properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling perfor-
mance, and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
. If brake related parts such as
brake pads, rotors and calipers
are not NISSAN recommended or
are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate
properly and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
. If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely in-
clined surfaces such as higher
banked corners, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate. Do not drive on these types
of roads.
. When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate. This
is not a malfunction. Restart the
engine after driving onto a stable
surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. .
The VDC system is not a substi-
tute for winter tires or tire chains
on a snow covered road.
Starting and driving5-109

5-110Starting and driving
The chassis control is an electric control
module that includes the following func-
tions:
.Intelligent Trace Control
. Intelligent Engine Brake
. Active Ride Control
INTELLIGENT TRACE CONTROL
This system senses driving based on the
driver’s steering and acceleration/braking
patterns, and controls brake pressure at
individual wheels to aid tracing at corners
and help smooth vehicle response.
Intelligent Trace Control can be set to ON
(enabled) or OFF (disabled) through the
Vehicle Information Display “Settings”
page. See “Vehicle information display”
(P.2-18) for more information.
When the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system, the Intelligent Trace Control is
also turned off.
JVS0403X
When the Intelligent Trace Control is
operated and the “Chassis Control” mode
is selected in the trip computer, the
Intelligent Trace Control graphics are
shown in the vehicle information display.
(See “Trip computer” (P.2-34).)
If the chassis control warning message
appears in the vehicle information dis-
play, it may indicate that the Intelligent
Trace Control is not functioning properly.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service. (See
“Vehicle information display warnings
and indicators” (P.2-28).)
WARNING
The Intelligent Trace Control may not
be effective depending on the driv-
ing condition. Always drive carefully
and attentively.
When the Intelligent Trace Control is
operating, you may feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal and hear a noise. This is
normal and indicates that the Intelligent
Trace Control is operating properly.
Even if the Intelligent Trace Control is set
to OFF, some functions will remain on to
assist the driver (for example, avoidance
CHASSIS CONTROL