To move the shif t lever:
: Shif t while depressing the brake
pedal
: Shif t without depressing the brake
pedal
Shif ting
Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and move the shif t lever out of
the P (Park) position.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shif t lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal in-
jury or property damage.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF or
ACC position for any reason while the ve-
hicle is in N (Neutral), or any D (Drive) posi-
tion, the ignition switch cannot be placed in
the LOCK position. Move the shif t lever to
the P (Park) position, then the ignition
switch can be placed in the LOCK position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the P (Park) position only when the ve-
hicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shif t lever position when
the vehicle is parked or when starting the
engine. Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped.
The brake pedal should be depressed to
move the shif t lever from N (Neutral) or
any drive position to P (Park). Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then move
the shif t lever into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the R (Reverse) position only when the
vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before selecting the R (Reverse)
position. The brake pedal must be de-
pressed to move the shif t lever from P
(Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position to
R (Reverse).
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shif t to N (Neutral) and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
LSD2468
Starting and driving5-19
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
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. To engage:
Firmly depress the parking
brake.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) po- sition.
3. Firmly depress the parking brake pedal and it will release.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warn- ing light goes out.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and in-
structions for proper use of the BSW
system could result in serious injury or
death.
∙ The BSW system is not a replacementfor proper driving procedures and is
not designed to prevent contact with
vehicles or objects. When changing
lanes, always use the side and rear
mirrors and turn and look in the direc-
tion your vehicle will move to ensure it
is safe to change lanes. Never rely
solely on the BSW system.
The BSW system helps alert the driver of
other vehicles in adjacent lanes when
changing lanes.
LSD0158
PARKING BRAKE BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving5-23
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 - 89 mph (40 - 144 km/h) with-
out keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the
ON/OFF switch on. The
(white) indi-
cator in the vehicle information display will
illuminate.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the ve-
hicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. The
(green) indicator in the vehicle information
display will illuminate. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle maintains
the set speed.
∙ To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previ-
ously set speed.
∙ The vehicle may not maintain the set speed when going up or down steep
hills. If this happens, drive without the
cruise control. To cancel the preset speed,
use one of the
following three methods:
∙ Push the CANCEL switch; the
indi-
cator in the vehicle information display
goes out.
∙ Tap the brake pedal; the
indicator
goes out.
∙ Push the ON/OFF switch off. The
indicator in the vehicle information dis-
play goes out.
The cruise control is automatically can-
celed and the
indicator in the vehicle
information display goes out if:
∙ You depress the brake pedal while pushing the ACCEL/RES or COAST/SET
switch. The preset speed is deleted
from memory.
∙ The vehicle slows down more than 8 mph (13 km/h) below the set speed.
∙ You move the shif t lever to N (Neutral).
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use
one of the following three methods:
∙ Depress the accelerator pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed,
push and release the COAST/SET
switch. ∙ Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you
desire, release the switch.
∙ Push and release the ACCEL/RES switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed increases by about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use
one of the following three methods:
∙ Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed, push
the COAST/SET switch and release it.
∙ Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Release the switch when the vehicle
slows to the desired speed.
∙ Push and release the COAST/SET switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed decreases by about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and
release the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle
returns to the last set cruising speed when
the vehicle speed is over 25 mph (40 km/h).
5-42Starting and driving
CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km),
follow these recommendations to ob-
tain maximum engine performance
and ensure the future reliability and
economy of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may re-
sult in shortened engine life and re-
duced engine performance.∙ Avoid driving for long periods at con- stant speed, either fast or slow, and do
not run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
∙ Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
∙ Avoid quick starts.
∙ Avoid hard braking as much as pos- sible.
∙ Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (805 kilometers). Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged. Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient
Driving Tips to help you achieve the most
fuel economy from your vehicle.
1. Use Smooth Accelerator and Brake
Pedal Application
∙ Avoid rapid starts and stops.
∙ Use smooth, gentle accelerator and brake application whenever possible.
∙ Maintain constant speed while com- muting and coast whenever pos-
sible.
2. Maintain Constant Speed
∙ Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
∙ Synchronizing your speed with traffic lights allows you to reduce your num-
ber of stops.
∙ Maintaining a steady speed can mini- mize red light stops and improve fuel
efficiency.
3. Use Air Conditioning (A/C) at Higher
Vehicle Speeds
∙ Below 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load. ∙ Above 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more
efficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle
due to increased aerodynamic drag.
∙ Recirculating the cool air in the cabin when the A/C is on reduces cooling
load.
4. Drive at Economical Speeds and Dis-
tances
∙ Observing the speed limit and not exceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
∙ Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles reduces un-
necessary braking.
∙ Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate changes in speed permits reduced
braking and smooth acceleration
changes.
∙ Select a gear range suitable to road conditions.
5. Use Cruise Control
∙ Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady
speed.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
Starting and driving5-43
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 vehicle information 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 vehicle information display warning message is still on af ter the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
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
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