5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst (if so equipped) ...........5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)........................................5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ..................................5-7
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-7
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-7
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-8
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-9
Driving safety precautions ....................5-9
Push-button ignition switch .....................5-11
Operating range ............................. 5-12
Push-button ignition switch positions .......5-12
Emergency engine shut off ..................5-13
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery
discharge ................................... 5-14
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System .........5-14
Before starting the engine ......................5-15
Starting the engine (gasoline engine only) ......5-15
Remote Engine Start (if so equipped) ........5-16
Starting the engine (diesel only) ................5-16
Driving the vehicle .............................. 5-17Engine protection mode
.....................5-17
Automatic transmission (A/T) ...............5-17
Parking brake .................................. 5-23
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) (if so equipped) .......5-23
BSW system operation ......................5-25
How to enable/disable the BSW system .....5-26
BSW system limitations ......................5-27
BSW driving situations .......................5-28
System temporarily unavailable .............5-31
System maintenance ........................ 5-32
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) (if so equipped) . . 5-33 RCTA system operation ......................5-34
How to enable/disable the RCTA
system ...................................... 5-36
RCTA system limitations .....................5-37
System temporarily unavailable .............5-39
System maintenance ........................ 5-40
Cruise control .................................. 5-41
Pr ec autions
on cruise control ................5-41
Cruise control operations ....................5-42
Break-in schedule .............................. 5-43
Fuel efficient driving tips ........................5-43
Increasing fuel economy .......................5-44
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 temperatures 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 the air conditioning cool-
ing function will automatically be turned
back on.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may
also come on if the engine coolant tem-
perature is not reduced or the air condi-
tioning cooling function does not turn back
on. If
only it remains on, you do not need to
have your vehicle towed, but have it in-
spected soon. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service. For
additional information, refer to “Malfunc-
tion Indicator Light (MIL)” in the “Instru-
ments 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.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T)
WARNING
∙ Do not depress the accelerator pedal while 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.
∙ 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.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-17
∙ Except in an emergency, do not shif tto the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission in
the N (Neutral) position may cause se-
rious damage to the transmission.
∙ Do not downshif t abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
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
WARNING
∙ Do not depress the accelerator pedal while 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.
∙ 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.
∙ Do not downshif t abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
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.
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.
5-18Starting and driving
M1 (First)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine brak-
ing on steep downhill grades.
M1 will be displayed on the position indica-
tor on the meter.∙ Remember not to drive at high speeds for extended periods of time in lower
than M4 range. This reduces fuel
economy.
When shif ting up
Push the shif t switch to the + (up) side.
(Shif ts to higher range.)
When shif ting down
Push the shif t switch to the (down) side.
(Shif ts to lower range.)
∙ The transmission will automatically downshif t the gears. (For example, if you
select the 3rd range, the transmission
will shif t down between the 3rd and 1st
gears.)
∙ Pushing the shif t switch rapidly will shif t the ranges in succession. 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 upshif t
or downshif 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 upshif 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.
LSD2594
Starting and driving5-21
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.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.
5-22Starting and driving
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
Use conditions 4WD shif t procedure
4WD shif t Transfer 4LO posi-
tion
2WD
Rear wheels
Fordrivingondry,paved
roads (Economy drive) Move the 4WD switch.
2WD <—> 4H
The 4WD shif t indicator will indicate that the
transfer shif t position is engaged.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MOVE THE SHIFT
LEVER TO THE N (NEUTRAL) POSITION IN
THIS OPERATION. PERFORM THIS OPERA-
TION WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.
4H
Four 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 ve-
hicle 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 (Neutral) position.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, de- press and turn the 4WD shif t switch to
4LO or 4H.
THE TRANSFER CASE DOES NOT ENGAGE
BETWEEN 4H AND 4LO (OR 4LO TO 4H) UN-
LESS YOU HAVE FIRST STOPPED THE VE-
HICLE, DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND
MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO N (NEUTRAL). *3
4LO
Four 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 is on and the Automatic Transmis-
sion Park (ATP) warning light goes off.
Otherwise, the vehicle could unex-
pectedly move even if the A/T is in the
P (Park) position. ∙ The 4LO indicator must stop blinking
and remain illuminated or turn off be-
fore shif ting the transmission into
gear. If the shif t lever is shif ted from
the N (Neutral) position to any other
gear when the 4LO indicator is blink-
ing, 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 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
When the vehicle is stuck,∙ Set the 4WD shif t switch to 4H or 4LO.
∙ Place stones or wooden blocks under the tires to free the vehicle.
∙ Use the Electronic locking rear differen- tial (E-Lock) system (if so equipped). For
additional information, refer to “Elec-
tronic locking rear differential (E-lock)
system” in this section.
∙ If it is difficult to free the vehicle, rock the vehicle back and forth between reverse
and drive gears.
∙ If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, place stones or wooden blocks under the
tires. Then try the recovery procedures
above. Tire chains may be effective.
CAUTION
∙ Do not spin the tires excessively. Tireswill sink deep into the mud, making it
difficult to free the vehicle.
∙ Avoid shif ting gears with the engine running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.
4WD shif t switch operations
∙ Shif t the 4WD shif t switch to either the
2WD, 4H or 4LO position, depending on
driving conditions.
∙ If the 4WD shif t switch is operated
while making a turn, accelerating or
decelerating or if the key switch is
turned off while in the 4H or 4LO, you
may feel a jolt. This is not abnormal.
∙ You may hear some noise as the sys-
tem shif ts or engages. This is not ab-
normal.
CAUTION
∙ 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 while driving on steep downhill
grades. Use the engine brake and low
automatic transmission gears (M1 or
M2) for engine braking.
∙ Do not operate the 4WD shif t switch with the rear wheels spinning.
∙ Before placing the 4WD shif t switch in the 4H position from 2WD, ensure the
vehicle speed is less than 62 mph
(100 km/h). Failure to do so can dam-
age the 4WD system.
∙ Never shif t the 4WD shif t switch be- tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
LSD2463
Starting and driving5-49