2020 NISSAN MAXIMA engine

To move the shif t lever:
Press the button while depressing the
brake pedal
Press the button to shif t
Shif t without pressing the button
Shif ting
Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and move the shif t lever from P
(Park) to any of the desired shif t positions.
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.
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.
LSD2358
5-18Starting and driving

Manual shif t mode
The transmission enters the manual shif t
mode by moving the shif t lever to the lef t
side in the “D” range. You can select the
manual shif t range either by moving the
shif t lever up or down, or by pulling the
right-side or lef t-side paddle shif ter (if so
equipped). To cancel the manual shif t
mode, return the shif t lever to the right D
(Drive) position. The transmission returns
to automatic driving mode.
When the shif t lever is shif ted from D (Drive)
to the manual shif t gate
Awith the vehiclestopped or while driving, the transmission
enters the manual shif t mode. Shif t ranges
can be selected manually. Shif t ranges can
also be selected using the paddle shif ters
(if so equipped) on the steering wheel
B
andC. When you pull the paddle shif ter
while in the D (Drive) position, the transmis-
sion will shif t to the upper or lower range
temporarily. If the paddle shif ters are not
used for about 5–10 seconds, the transmis-
sion will automatically return to the D
(Drive) position. If you want to return to the
D (Drive) position manually, pull and hold
either paddle shif ter for about 1.5 seconds. In the manual shif t mode, the shif t range is
displayed on the position indicator in the
meter. When shif ting the shif t lever to the
manual shif t gate, the position indicator
displays 1 (1st) up to 7 (7th) depending on
vehicle speed.
Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
1⇔
2⇔ 3⇔ 4⇔ 5⇔ 6⇔ 7
M7 (7th)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M6 (6th) and M5 (5th)
Use this position when driving up long
slopes or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
M4 (4th), M3 (3rd) and M2 (2nd)
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
M1 (1st)
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.
Manual shif t gate
LSD2359
Paddle shif ters (if so equipped)
LSD2635
Starting and driving5-19

∙ Remember not to drive at high speedsfor extended periods of time in lower
than the 6th range. This reduces fuel
economy.
When shif ting up
Move the shif t lever to the + (up) side. (Shif ts
to higher range.)
When shif ting down
Move the shif t lever to the (down) side.
(Shif ts to lower range.)
∙ Moving the shif t lever rapidly to the same side twice will shif t the ranges in
succession.
∙ 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.)
When canceling the manual shif t mode
Return the shif t lever to the D (Drive) posi-
tion to return the transmission to the nor-
mal driving mode. ∙
In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission may not shif t to the selected
gear. This helps maintain driving per-
formance and reduces the chance of
vehicle damage or loss of control.
∙ When this situation occurs, the Con-
tinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
position indicator light will blink and
the chime will sound.
∙ In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission may shif t up automatically to
a higher range than selected if the
engine speed is too high. When the
vehicle speed decreases, the trans-
mission automatically shif ts down
and shif ts to 1st gear before the ve-
hicle comes to a stop.
∙ CVT operation is limited to automatic drive mode when CVT fluid tempera-
ture is extremely low even if manual
shif t mode is selected. This is not a mal-
function. When CVT fluid warms up,
manual mode can be selected.
∙ When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the shif t range may upshif t in lower
rpm than usual. This is not a malfunc-
tion.
Shif t lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged,
the shif t lever may not be moved from the
P (Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed and the shif t lever button
pressed.
It will be necessary to jump start or have
your battery charged. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Jump starting” in the “In
case of emergency” section of this manual.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer or a professional towing service.
LSD2360
5-20Starting and driving

To move the shif t lever, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:1. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Using a protective cloth on the tip of a small (1/8 inch or 3 mm) flat-head
screwdriver, remove the shif t lock re-
lease cover.
∙ If available, a plastic trim tool can also be used.
4. Insert the car key into the shif t lock release slot and press straight down. A
small screwdriver or small trim tool
may also be used.
∙ For additional information, refer to “NISSAN Intelligent Key®” in the “Pre-
driving checks and adjustments”
section of this manual.
5. Move the shif t lever to the N (Neutral) position while holding down the shif t
lock release.
6. Push the ignition switch to the ON po- sition to unlock the steering wheel.
Now the vehicle may be moved to the
desired location. If the shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have the transmission checked as
soon as possible. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
CAUTION
Make sure to take extra care during the
removal of the shif t lock cap as this part
is easily damaged.
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 and manual
shif t mode
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into lower range,
depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tem-
peratures with heavy loads, such as when
towing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may come on to indicate the fail-safe
mode is activated. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL)” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section of this manual. This will oc-
cur even if all electrical circuits are func-
tioning properly. In this case, place the
ignition switch in the OFF position and
wait for 10 seconds. Then place the igni-
Starting and driving5-21

Two driving modes can be selected by us-
ing the Drive Mode Selector switch: NOR-
MAL and SPORT.
NOTE:∙ When the Drive Mode Selector switch
selects a mode, the mode may not
switch quickly. This is not a malfunc-
tion.
∙ NORMAL mode is the default drive
mode.
NORMAL MODE
NORMAL mode is recommended for nor-
mal driving and is the default drive mode. If
SPORT mode is selected, then NORMAL
mode is canceled. Press the SPORT mode
button again to return to NORMAL mode.
The SPORT mode indicator in the vehicle
information display, and the indicator light
on the Drive Mode Selector switch will turn
off.
SPORT MODE
The SPORT mode adjusts the engine,
transmission, and steering to enhance
performance. Press the SPORT mode but-
ton to select this driving mode. The SPORT
mode indicator will appear in the vehicle
information display, and the indicator light
on the Drive Mode Selector switch will turn
on.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may
be reduced. The TSR system provides the driver with
information about the most recently de-
tected speed limit. The system captures
the road sign information with the multi-
sensing front camera unit
Alocated on
the windshield in front of the inside rear-
view mirror and displays the detected
signs in the vehicle information display. For
vehicles equipped with a navigation sys-
tem, the speed limit displayed is based on a
combination of navigation system data
and live camera recognition. TSR informa-
tion is always displayed at the top of the
vehicle information display if the system is
enabled in the Driver Assistance settings.
Drive Mode Selector switch
LSD3387LSD3425
DRIVE MODE SELECTOR TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION (TSR) (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving5-23

Action to take:
If the LDW indicator (orange) illuminates in
the display, pull off the road at a safe loca-
tion and stop the vehicle. Turn the engine
off and restart the engine. If the LDW indi-
cator (orange) continues to illuminate,
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The TSR system uses the same multi-
sensing front camera unit that is used by
the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system,
located in front of the interior rearview mir-
ror. For additional information, refer to ”Sys-
tem maintenance” in the “Lane Departure
Warning (LDW)” section.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and in-
structions for proper use of the LDW
system could result in serious injury or
death.
∙ This system is only a warning deviceto inform the driver of a potential un-
intended lane departure. It will not
steer the vehicle or prevent loss of
control. It is the driver’s responsibility
to stay alert, drive safely, keep the ve-
hicle in the traveling lane, and be in
control of the vehicle at all times. The LDW system will operate when the ve-
hicle is driven at speeds of approximately
37 mph (60 km/h) and above, and only
when the lane markings are clearly visible
on the road.
The LDW system monitors the lane mark-
ers on the traveling lane using the camera
unit
Alocated above the inside mirror.
The LDW system warns the driver that the
vehicle is beginning to leave the driving
lane with an indicator and a steering wheel
vibration. For additional information, refer
to “LDW system operation” in this section.
LSD3425
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
5-26Starting and driving

– When a sudden change in bright-ness occurs. (For example, when
the vehicle enters or exits a tunnel
or under a bridge.)
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight
under high temperature conditions (over
approximately 104°F [40°C]) and then
started, the LDW system may be deacti-
vated automatically and the following
message will appear in the vehicle infor-
mation display: “Unavailable: High Cabin
Temperature.”
When the interior temperature is reduced,
the LDW system will resume operating au-
tomatically.
The LDW system is not designed to warn
under the following conditions:
∙ When you operate the lane change sig- nal and change traveling lanes in the
direction of the signal. (The LDW system
will become operable again approxi-
mately 2 seconds af ter the lane change
signal is turned off.)
∙ When the vehicle speed lowers to less than approximately 37 mph (60 km/h). Af ter the above conditions have finished
and the necessary operating conditions
are satisfied, the LDW functions will resume.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the LDW system malfunctions, it will can-
cel automatically. The LDW indicator (or-
ange) will illuminate in the display. If the
LDW indicator (orange) illuminates in the
display, pull off the road to a safe location
and stop the vehicle. Turn the
engine/motor off and restart the
engine/motor. If the LDW indicator (orange)
continues to illuminate, have the LDW sys-
tem checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The lane camera unit1for the LDW sys-
tem is located above the inside mirror. To
keep the proper operation of the LDW sys-
tem and prevent a system malfunction, be
sure to observe the following:
∙ Always keep the windshield clean.
∙ Do not attach a sticker (including trans- parent material) or install an accessory
near the camera unit.
LSD3375
5-30Starting and driving

1Lane Departure Warning (LDW) indica-
tor (orange/green)
2Dynamic driver assistance switch
I-LI SYSTEM OPERATION
The I-LI system operates above approxi-
mately 37 mph (60 km/h). When the vehicle
approaches either the lef t or the right side
of the traveling lane, the steering wheel will
vibrate and the LDW indicator (orange) on
the instrument panel will blink to alert the
driver. Then, the I-LI system will automati-
cally apply the brakes for a short period of
time to help assist the driver to return the
vehicle to the center of the traveling lane.
To turn on the I-LI system, push the dy-
namic driver assistance switch af ter start-
ing the engine/motor. The LDW indicator
(green) on the instrument panel will illumi-
nate. Push the dynamic driver assistance
switch again to turn off the I-LI system. The
LDW indicator (green) will turn off.
LSD3585
5-32Starting and driving