2018 NISSAN VERSA SEDAN ABS

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)........................................5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-6
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-6
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-8
Ignition switch ...................................5-8
Continuously Variable Transmission (if
so equipped) .................................5-8
Manual transmission (if so equipped) .........5-9
Ignition switch positions ......................5-9
Before starting the engine ......................5-10
Starting the engine ............................. 5-10
Driving the vehicle ............................... 5-11
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) (if so equipped) ......................... 5-11
Manual transmission (if so equipped) ........5-16
Parking brake .................................. 5-18
Cruise control (if so equipped) ..................5-19Precautions on cruise control
................5-19
Cruise control operations ....................5-19
Break-in schedule .............................. 5-21
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................5-21
Increasing fuel economy .......................5-22
Parking/parking on hills ........................5-23
Power steering ................................. 5-24
Brake system ................................... 5-25
Brake precautions ........................... 5-25
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..............5-25
Brake Assist ................................. 5-26
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .........5-27
Brake force distribution ......................5-28
Cold weather driving ........................... 5-29
Freeing a frozen door lock ...................5-29
Antifreeze ................................... 5-29
Battery...................................... 5-29
Draining of coolant water ....................5-30
Tire equipment .............................. 5-30
Special

winter equipment ...................5-30
Driving on snow or ice .......................5-30
Engine block heater (if so equipped) .........5-31

The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
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 stopping distance will
be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake pads faster, and reduce
gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshif t 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 surface, becareful when braking, accelerating or
downshif ting. Abrupt braking or ac-
celerating 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 as-
sist for the brakes will not work. Brak-
ing 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 lon-
ger and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing 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 whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the brake shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced, in order
to assure the best brake performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
∙ The ABS is a sophisticated device, but
it cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that stop-
ping distances on slippery surfaces
will be longer than on normal sur-
faces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances 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 af- fect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-25

– When installing a spare tire, makesure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “Tire
and Loading Information label” in
the “Technical and consumer infor-
mation” section of this manual.
– For additional information, refer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
The ABS controls 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 pre-
vent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing 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
Anti-lock Braking System 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 Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in-
cludes electronic sensors, electric 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 mal-
function. If the computer senses a mal-
function, 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 ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) oper-
ates at speeds abov e3-6mph(5-
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 pres-
sure. This action is similar to pumping the
brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsa-
tion 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 op-
erating properly. However, the pulsation
may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while
driving.
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.
5-26Starting and driving

prevent one drive wheel from slipping by
transferring power to a non-slipping drive
wheel. The
indicator flashes if this oc-
curs. All other VDC functions are off and
the
indicator 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.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic fea-
ture that tests the system each time you
start the engine and move the vehicle for-
ward 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 indica-
tion of a malfunction.
WARNING
∙ The VDC system is designed to help the driver maintain 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 surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully. ∙ Do not modif y the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs, sta-
bilizer bars, bushings and wheels are
not NISSAN recommended for your
vehicle or are extremely deteriorated,
the VDC system may not operate
properly. This could adversely affect
vehicle handling performance, and
the
indicator light may flash or
illuminate.
∙ If brake related parts such as brake pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and
the
indicator light may
illuminate.
∙ If engine control related parts are not NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the
indi-
cator light may illuminate.
∙ When driving on extremely inclined surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
indicator light
may flash or illuminate. Do not drive
on these types of roads. ∙ When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator light may
flash or illuminate. This is not a mal-
function. Restart the engine af ter
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
indicator light
may flash or illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns,
the system optimizes the distribution of
force to each of the front and rear wheels
depending on the radius of the turn.
5-28Starting and driving

WARNING
∙ The VDC system is designed to helpthe driver maintain 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 surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully.
∙ Do not modif y the vehicle’s suspen- sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs, sta-
bilizer bars, bushings and wheels are
not NISSAN recommended for your
vehicle or are extremely deteriorated,
the VDC system may not operate
properly. This could adversely affect
vehicle handling performance, and
the
indicator light may flash or
illuminate.
∙ If brake related parts such as brake pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and
the
indicator light may
illuminate. ∙ If engine control related parts are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the
indi-
cator light may illuminate.
∙ When driving on extremely inclined surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
indicator light
may flash or illuminate. Do not drive
on these types of roads.
∙ When driving on an unstable surface such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator light may
flash or illuminate. This is not a mal-
function. Restart the engine af ter
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
indicator light
may flash or illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before in-
serting it into the key hole or use the re-
mote keyless entry key fob.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper win-
ter protection. For additional information,
refer to “Engine cooling system” in the “Do-
it-yourself ” section of this manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the
battery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly.
For additional information, refer to “Battery”
in the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this
manual.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-29

5. If the fuse is openC, replace it with an
equivalent good fuse
D.
6. Push the fuse box cover to install.
If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical
system checked and repaired. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.Extended storage switch
If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, remove the extended storage switch
and check for an open fuse.
NOTE:
The extended storage switch is used for
long term vehicle storage. Even if the ex-
tended storage switch is broken it is not
necessary to replace it. Replace only the
open fuse in the switch with a new fuse. How to replace the extended storage
switch:
1. To remove the extended storage switch, be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position.
2. Be sure the headlight switch is in the OFF position.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Pinch the locking tabs
AandBfound
on each side of the storage switch.
5. Pull the storage switch straight out from the fuse box
C.
LDI2713LDI2747
8-20Do-it-yourself

11 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .................... .1-42
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact air
bagsystem)................1-51
Air bag warning labels ............1-59
Airbagwarninglight..........1-60, 2-17
Air bag warning light,
supplemental ..............1-60, 2-17
Air cleaner housing filter ..........8-15
Air conditioner Air conditioner operation ........4-18
Air conditioner service ..........4-23
Air conditioner specification label . .10-13
Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil
recommendations ............10-8
Air conditioner system refrigerant
recommendations ............10-8
Heater and air conditioner controls. .4-15
Servicing air conditioner ........4-23
Air flow charts .................4-19
Anchor point locations ...........1-25
Antenna ....................4-43
Antifreeze ...................5-29
Anti-lock brake warning light ........2-13
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-25
Audible reminders ..............2-20
Audio system .................4-23
AM/FMradio............4-28,4-30
AM radio operation ............4-30 AMradioreception............4-24
Auxliliary (AUX) devices operation . . .4-31
Bluetooth® audio
.............4-39
FM radio operation ............4-31
FMradioreception............4-23
iPod®Player................4-36
iPod® player operation .........4-36
Radio ....................4-23
Steering wheel audio control
switch....................4-43
USB Connections .............4-34
USBinterface...............4-33
USB (Universal Serial Bus) Connection
Port.....................4-33
Automatic Automatic power window switch . . .2-32
Automatic door locks .............3-6
B
Battery..................5-29,8-11 Charge warning light ...........2-14
Battery replacement .............8-21
Keyfob................8-21,8-21
Before starting the engine .........5-10
Belt(Seedrivebelt)..............8-14
Block heater Engine ....................5-31
Bluetooth® audio ...............4-39
Bluetooth® hands-free phone system . .4-47 Bluetooth® connections ........4-63
Connecting procedure .........4-52 Phone indicators
.............4-51
Text messaging ..............4-59
Booster seats .................1-38
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ....5-25
Brakefluid..................8-9
Brakelight(Seestoplight).......8-24
Brakesystem...............5-25
Brakewarninglight............2-13
Brakewearindicators.......2-20,8-17
Parking brake operation .........5-18
Self-adjustingbrakes ..........8-17
Brakeassist..................5-26
Brakefluid....................8-9
Brakes......................8-17
Brakesystem.................5-25
Break-in schedule ..............5-21
Brightness/contrast button .........4-7
Brightness control Instrument
panel.............2-24
Bulb check/instrument panel .......2-12
Bulb replacement ..............8-24
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants....................10-2
Cargo
(See vehicle loading information) . . . .10-14
Car phone or CB radio ............4-47
Childrestraints .......1-18, 1-19, 1-20, 1-23