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 han-
dling and stability of the vehicle, especially
at highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspecting the tires for wear and
damage. For additional information, refer
to “Wheels and tires” in the “Do-it-yourself ”
section of this manual. If a tire rapidly loses
air pressure or “blows-out” while driving,
maintain control of the vehicle by following
the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The ve-
hicle 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 pres-
sure. Losing control of the vehicle may
cause a collision and result in personal
injury.
∙ The vehicle generally moves or pullsin the direction of the flat tire.
∙ Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
∙ Do not rapidly release the accelerator 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.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradu- ally stop the vehicle. 6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers
and contact a roadside emergency
service to change the tire. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Changing a
flat tire” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reaction
time and impairs judgement. Driving af-
ter drinking alcohol increases the likeli-
hood of being involved in an accident in-
juring yourself and others. Additionally, if
you are injured in an accident, alcohol can
increase the severity of the injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. How-
ever, you must choose not to drive under the
influence of alcohol. Every year thousands of
people are injured or killed in alcohol-related
collisions. Although the local laws vary on
what is considered to be legally intoxicated,
the fact is that alcohol affects all people dif-
ferently and most people underestimate the
effects of alcohol.
5-8Starting and driving
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix!
That is true for drugs (over-the-counter,
prescription) and illegal drugs, too. Don’t
drive if your ability to operate your vehicle is
impaired by alcohol, drugs, or some other
physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving in
deep water or mud as your NISSAN is
mainly designed for leisure use, unlike a
conventional off-road vehicle.
Remember that 2-wheel drive models are
less capable than 4-wheel drive models for
rough road driving and extrication when
stuck in deep snow or mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
∙ Drive carefully when off the road andavoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle
should be seated with their seat belt
fastened. This will keep you and your
passengers in position when driving
over rough terrain. ∙ Do not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road ve-
hicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.
∙ Many hills are too steep for any ve- hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.
∙ Do not shif t gears while driving on downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
∙ Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.
∙ 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) gear and
apply brakes to control your speed. ∙ Heavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and
fade, resulting in loss of control and
an accident. Apply brakes lightly and
use a low gear to control your speed.
∙ Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it will
not be thrown forward and cause in-
jury to you or your passengers.
∙ 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 manual.
This could cause your vehicle to roll
over.
∙ Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move sud-
denly and injure your hands. Instead
drive with your fingers and thumbs on
the outside of the rim.
∙ Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
Starting and driving5-9
∙ Lower your speed when encounteringstrong crosswinds. With a higher cen-
ter of gravity, your NISSAN is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
∙ Do not drive beyond the performance capability of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
∙ For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at- tempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse 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 a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
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 fa-
cility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong
test equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal
injury.
∙ Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
∙ If at all possible, avoid sharp turning maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN 4-wheel drive
vehicle has a higher center of gravity
than a passenger car. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as passenger cars. Fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly
could result in loss of control and/or a
rollover accident. ∙ Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern on
all four wheels. Install tire chains on
the rear wheels when driving on slip-
pery roads and drive carefully.
∙ Be sure to check the brakes immedi- ately af ter driving in mud or water. For
additional information, refer to “Wet
brakes” in this section.
∙ Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it
rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
∙ Whenever you drive off-road through sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For additional
information, refer to “Maintenance
schedules” in the “Maintenance and
schedules” section of this manual.
5-10Starting and driving
When canceling the manual shif t mode
Press and hold the +(UP) button to return
the transmission to the normal driving
mode.∙ In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission may not shif t to the selected
gear immediately because of vehicle
speed. The transmission will up or
down shif t when vehicle speed
matches the programmed transmis-
sion shif t points. This helps maintain
driving performance and reduces the
chance of vehicle damage or loss of
control.
∙ In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission will not up shif t to a higher
gear than is manually selected. When
the vehicle speed decreases, the
transmission automatically shif ts
down and shif ts to 1st gear before the
vehicle comes to a stop.
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 placed in the ON position.
This allows the vehicle to be moved if the
battery is discharged. To push the shif t lock release, complete the
following procedure:
1. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shif t lock release cover. If a screwdriver is used to remove the
cover, it should be wrapped in a protec-
tive cloth to prevent damage to the
cover and surrounding plastic.
4. Insert a small object or finger in the shif t lock release slot and push.
5. Move the shif t lever to the N (Neutral) position while holding the shif t lock re-
lease.
6. Now the vehicle may be moved to the desired location.
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.
LSD2594
Starting and driving5-21
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.
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.
PARKING BRAKE
5-22Starting 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 wheels in correct alignment. Improper alignment increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
∙ For vehicles equipped with
, use
4H or 4L position only when necessary.
4-wheel drive operation 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
∙ For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at-tempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse 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 a 4WD equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
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 fa-
cility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong
test equipment may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
∙ Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or4LO position on dry hard surface
roads. Driving on dry, hard surfaces in
4H or 4LO may cause unnecessary
noise, tire wear and increased fuel
consumption.
If the 4WD warning light or vehicle in-
formation display warning message
turns on when you are driving on dry
hard surface roads:
– in the 4H position, shif t the 4WD shif t switch to 2WD.
– in the 4LO position, stop the ve- hicle, move the shif t lever to the N
(Neutral) position with the brake
pedal depressed, and shif t the
4WD shif t switch to 2WD.
∙ If the warning light or vehicle infor- mation display warning message is
still on af ter the above operation,
have your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY USING 4–WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving5-45
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURES
The part time 4WD system provides 3 posi-
tions (2WD, 4H and 4LO), so you can select
the desired drive mode according to the
driving conditions.
2WD or 4WD shif t procedure:
4WD Shif t SwitchPosition Wheels Driven Indicator Light
Use Conditions4WD Shif t Procedure
4WD shif t Transfer 4LO position
2WD
Rear wheels
For driving on dry, paved
roads (Economy drive) Move the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> 4H
The 4WD shif t indicator light will indicate
that the transfer shif t position is en-
gaged.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MOVE THE
SHIFT LEVER TO THE N (NEUTRAL) POSI-
TION IN THIS OPERATION. PERFORM THIS
OPERATION WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.
4H
4 wheels
For driving on rocky, sandy
or snow-covered roads
N (Neutral)
*1
May blink N (Neutral) disengages the
automatic transmission
(A/T) mechanical parking
lock, which will allow the
vehicle to roll. Do not leave
the transfer shif t position
in N (Neutral).*2 1. Stop the vehicle.
2. With the brake pedal depressed,
move the shif t lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, depress and turn the 4WD shif t
switch to 4LO or 4H.
THE TRANSFER CASE DOES NOT EN-
GAGE BETWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO
4H) UNLESS YOU HAVE FIRST STOPPED
THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED THE BRAKE
PEDAL AND MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO
N (NEUTRAL). *3
4LO
4 wheels
Illuminated For use when maximum
power and traction is re-
quired (for example: on
steep grades or rocky,
sandy, muddy roads)
5-46Starting and driving
The transfer case 4WD shif t switch is used
to select either 2WD or 4WD depending on
the driving conditions. There are three
types of drive modes available: 2WD, 4H and
4LO.
The 4WD shif t switch electronically controls
the transfer case operation. Rotate the
switch to move between each mode: 2WD,
4H and 4LO.
To change into or out of 4LO, the vehicle
MUST be stationary, move the shif t lever
to N (Neutral), and depress the brake
pedal. The switch must be pushed and
turned to select 4LO.
WARNING
∙ When parking, apply the parkingbrake before stopping the engine and
make sure that the 4WD shif t indica-
tor light is on and the Automatic
Transmission park (ATP) warning light
goes off. Otherwise, the vehicle could
unexpectedly move even if the A/T is
in the P position. ∙ The 4LO indicator light must stop
blinking and remain illuminated or
turn off before shif ting the transmis-
sion into gear. If the shif t lever is
shif ted from the N (Neutral) position
to any other gear when the 4LO indi-
cator light is blinking, the vehicle may
move unexpectedly.
CAUTION
∙ Never shif t the 4WD shif t switch be-tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
∙ The 4H position provides greater trac- tion. Avoid excessive speed, as it will
cause increased fuel consumption
and higher oil temperatures, and
could damage drivetrain compo-
nents. Speeds over 62 mph
(100 km/h) in 4H is not recommended.
∙ The 4LO position provides maximum power and traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 31 mph
(50 km/h).
∙ When driving straight, shif t the 4WD shif t switch to the 2WD or 4H position.
Do not move the 4WD shif t switch
when making a turn or reversing. ∙ Do not shif t the 4WD shif t switch (be-
tween 2WD and 4H) while driving on
steep downhill grades. Use the engine
brake and low A/T gears (M1 or M2) for
engine braking.
∙ Do not operate the 4WD shif t switch (between 2WD and 4H) with the rear
wheels spinning.
∙ Do not drive on dry hard surface roads in the 4H or 4LO position. Driving on
dry hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO may
cause unnecessary noise and tire
wear. NISSAN recommends driving in
the 2WD position under these
conditions.
∙ The 4WD transfer case may not be shif ted between 4H and 4LO at low
ambient temperatures and the trans-
fer 4LO position indicator light may
blink even when the 4WD shif t switch
is shif ted. Af ter driving for a while you
can change the 4WD transfer case be-
tween 4H and 4LO.
When driving on rough roads, ∙ Set the 4WD shif t switch to 4H or 4LO.
∙ Drive carefully according to the road surface conditions.
5-48Starting and driving