
5-124Starting and driving
AWD modeWheels driven AWD LOCK indicator light Use conditions
AUTO Distribution of torque to
the front and rear wheels
changes automatically,
depending on road condi-
tions encountered [ratio;
100 : 0
/?50 : 50]. This
results in improved driving
stability.*1 -
For driving on paved
or slippery roads
LOCK All-Wheel Drive (AWD) *2*3*
For driving on rough
roads
*1: When the rotation difference between the front and rear wheels is large, the AWD
mode may change from AUTO to LOCK
for a while, however, this is not a mal-
function.
*2: The LOCK mode will change to the AUTO mode automatically when the vehicle has
been driven at a high speed. The AWD
LOCK indicator light turns off.
*3: The LOCK mode will automatically be cancelled when the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position.
.The AWD torque distribution between
the front and rear wheels can be
displayed in the vehicle information
display. See “Vehicle information dis-
play” (P.2-19).
. If the Intelligent 4x4 LOCK switch is
operated while accelerating or decel-
erating, or if the ignition switch is
turned off, you may feel a jolt. This is
normal. .
The oil temperature of the powertrain
parts will increase if the vehicle is
continuously operated under condi-
tions where the difference in rotation
between the front and rear wheels is
large (wheel slip), such as when driving
the vehicle on rough roads, through
sand or mud, or freeing a stuck
vehicle. In these cases, the master
warning light illuminates and the
AWD mode changes to 2WD to protect
the powertrain parts. Stop driving
with the engine idling and wait until
the warning light turns off and the
AWD returns to the AUTO mode. If the
warning light remains on, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
WARNING
.When driving straight, shift the
Intelligent 4x4 LOCK switch to
AUTO. Do not operate the Intelli-
gent 4x4 LOCK switch when mak-
ing a turn or backing up.
. Do not operate the Intelligent 4x4
LOCK switch with the front wheel
spinning.
. Engine idling speed is high while
warming up the engine. Be espe-
cially careful when starting or
driving on slippery surfaces.
. When turning the vehicle in LOCK
mode on paved roads, you may
feel a braking effect. This is a
normal condition of the AWD
model.

5-126Starting and driving
curb..HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
Turn the wheels away from the
curb and move the vehicle back
until the curb side wheel gently
touches the curb.
.HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NOCURB:
Turn the wheels toward the side of
the road so the vehicle will move
away from the center of the road if
it moves.
4. Models with Intelligent Key system:
Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position.
Models without Intelligent Key sys-
tem:
Place the ignition switch in the LOCK
position and remove the key.
WARNING
.If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the
power assist for the steering will
not work. Steering will be harder
to operate.
. When the electric power steering
warning light illuminates with the
engine running, the power assist
for the steering will cease opera-
tion. You will still have control of
the vehicle but the steering will
be harder to operate.
The electric power steering is designed to
provide power assist while driving to
operate the steering wheel with light
force.
When the steering wheel is operated
repeatedly or continuously while parking
or driving at a very low speed, the power
assist for the steering wheel will be
reduced. This is to prevent overheating
of the electric power steering and protect
it from getting damaged. While the power
assist is reduced, steering wheel opera-
tion will become heavy. When the tem-
perature of the electric power steering
goes down, the power assist level will
return to normal. Avoid repeating such steering wheel operations that could
cause the electric power steering to over-
heat.
You may hear a noise when the steering
wheel is operated quickly. However, this is
not a malfunction.
If the electric power steering warning
light
illuminates while the engine is
running, it may indicate the electric
power steering is not functioning prop-
erly and may need servicing. Have the
electric power steering checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service. (See “Electric power
steering warning light” (P.2-12).)
When the electric power steering warning
light illuminates with the engine running,
the power assist for the steering will
cease operation. You will still have control
of the vehicle. However, greater steering
effort is needed, especially in sharp turns
and at low speeds.
The mode of the Power Steering can be
changed to:
. NORMAL
. SPORT
For more information, see “Vehicle infor-
mation display” (P.2-19).
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

6-6In case of emergency
SCE0913
Remove the clamp holding the spare tire.
SCE0630
Removing wheel cover (if so
equipped)
WARNING
Never use your hands to remove the
wheel cover. This may cause perso-
nal injury.
To remove the wheel cover, use the jack
rod
as illustrated.
Apply cloth
between the wheel and jack
rod to prevent damaging the wheel and
wheel cover.
Jacking up the vehicle and remov-
ing the damaged tire
WARNING
. Never get under the vehicle while
it is supported only by the jack. If
it is necessary to work under the
vehicle, support it with safety
stands.
. Use only the jack provided with
your vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do
not use the jack provided with
your vehicle on other vehicles.
The jack is designed for lifting
only your vehicle during a tire
change.
. Use the correct jack-up points.
Never use any other part of the
vehicle for jack support.
. Never jack up the vehicle more
than necessary.
. Never use blocks on or under the
jack.
. Do not start or run the engine
while vehicle is on the jack, as it
may cause the vehicle to move.
. Do not allow passengers to stay
in the vehicle while it is on the

ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possi-
ble from the paint surface to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning
products are available at a NISSAN dealer
or any automotive accessory stores. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for these products.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This will prevent dirt and salt from build-
ing up and causing the acceleration of
corrosion on the underbody and suspen-
sion. Before the winter period and again
in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is
normal for glass to become coated with a
film after the vehicle is parked in the hot
sun. Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will
easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the
windows, do not use sharp-edged
tools, abrasive cleaners or chlorine-
based disinfectant cleaners. They
could damage the electrical conduc-
tors, radio antenna elements or rear
window defroster elements.
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the
vehicle to maintain their appearance.
.Clean the inner side of the wheels
when the wheel is changed or the
underside of the vehicle is washed.
. Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents
or corrosion. Such damage may cause
loss of pressure or poor seal at the tire
bead.
. NISSAN recommends that the road
wheels be waxed to protect against
road salt in areas where it is used
during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened
in a mild soap solution, especially during
winter months in areas where road salt is
used. Salt could discolor the wheels if not
removed.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
.Do not use a cleaner that uses
strong acid or alkali contents to
clean the wheels.
. Do not apply wheel cleaners to
the wheels when they are hot.
The wheel temperature should be
the same as ambient tempera-
ture.
. Rinse the wheel to completely
remove the cleaner within 15
minutes after the cleaner is ap-
plied.
Appearance and care7-3

equipped with 4 tires that were
the same size and you are only
replacing 2 of the 4 tires, install
the new tires on the rear axle.
Placing new tires on the front
axle may cause loss of vehicle
control in some driving condi-
tions and cause an accident and
personal injury.
. If the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with
wheels which have the same off-
set dimension. Wheels of a differ-
ent off-set could cause prema-
ture tire wear, degrade vehicle
handling characteristics and/or
interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference
can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake
pad/shoe wear. See “Wheels and
tires” (P.10-7) of this manual for
wheel off-set dimensions.
. Since the spare tire (if so
equipped) is not equipped with
the TPMS, when a spare tire is
mounted or a wheel is replaced,
the TPMS will not function and
the low tire pressure warning
light will flash for approximately
1 minute. The light will remain on
after 1 minute. Have your tires replaced and/or TPMS system
reset as soon as possible. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for these services.
. Replacing tires with those not
originally specified by NISSAN
could affect the proper operation
of the TPMS.
. The TPMS sensor may be da-
maged if it is not handled cor-
rectly. Be careful when handling
the TPMS sensor.
. When replacing the TPMS sensor,
the ID registration may be re-
quired. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for ID regis-
tration.
. Do not use a valve stem cap that
is not specified by NISSAN. The
valve stem cap may become
stuck.
. Be sure that the valve stem caps
are correctly fitted. Otherwise the
valve may be clogged up with dirt
and cause a malfunction or loss
of pressure.
. Do not install a damaged or
deformed wheel or tire even if it
has been repaired. Such wheels
or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warning.
. The use of retread tire is not
recommended.
. For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Cana-
da) in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models
CAUTION
.Always use tires of the same size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted or radial), and tread pat-
tern on all four wheels. Failure to
do so may result in a circumfer-
ence difference between tires on
the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and
may damage the transmission,
transfer case and rear differential
gears.
. Only use spare tires (if so
equipped) specified for each
AWD model.
Do-it-yourself8-39

9-4Maintenance and schedules
as seat adjusters, seatback recliners, etc.
to ensure they operate smoothly and that
all latches lock securely in every position.
Check that the head restraints move up
and down smoothly and that the locks (if
so equipped) hold securely in all latched
positions.
Steering wheel:Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive
free play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure
that all warning lights and chimes are
operating properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets prop-
erly and in sufficient quantity when oper-
ating the heater or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check
that the wipers and washers operate
properly and that the wipers do not
streak.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically (for example,
each time you check the engine oil or
refuel).
Battery*: Check the fluid level in each cell.
It should be between the MAX and MIN
lines. Vehicles operated in high tempera-
tures or under severe condition require frequent checks of the battery fluid level.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1.
Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume
battery power when the engine is
not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/
or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to
be charged to maintain battery health.
Brake and clutch fluid level*: Make sure
that the brake and clutch fluid level is
between the MAX and MIN lines on the
reservoir.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant
level when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belt*: Make sure that the
drive belt is not frayed, worn, cracked or
oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level after
parking the vehicle on a level surface and
turning off the engine. Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan.
Exhaust system: Make sure there are no loose supports, cracks or holes. If the
sound of the exhaust seems unusual or
there is a smell of exhaust fumes, im-
mediately have the exhaust system in-
spected. It is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service. (See “Pre-
cautions when starting and driving” (P.5-
4) for exhaust gas (carbon monoxide).)
Fluid leaks:
Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner after use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks
or if gasoline fumes are evident, check for
the cause and have it corrected immedi-
ately.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of
the radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks,
deformation, rot or loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control
dust. It is very important to remove these
substances, otherwise rust will form on
the floor pan, frame, fuel lines and around
the exhaust system. At the end of winter,
the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to
clean those areas where mud and dirt
may accumulate. For additional informa-

10-14Technical and consumer information
WARNING
.Properly secure all cargo
with ropes or straps to help
prevent it from sliding or
shifting. Do not place cargo
higher than the seatbacks.
In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could
cause personal injury.
.Do not load your vehicle any
heavier than the GVWR or
the maximum front and rear
GAWRs. If you do, parts of
your vehicle can break, tire
damage could occur, or it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. This could
result in loss of control and
cause personal injury.
.Overloading not only can
shorten the life of your ve-
hicle and the tire, but can
cause unsafe vehicle hand-
ling and longer braking dis-
tances. This may cause a
premature tire failure, whichcould result in a serious
accident and personal in-
jury. Failures caused by
overloading are not covered
by the vehicle’s warranty.
MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHTS
Secure loose items to prevent
weight shifts that could affect the
balance of your vehicle. When the
vehicle is loaded, drive to a scale
and weigh the front and the rear
wheels separately to determine
axle loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of the
Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR).
The total of the axle loads should
not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). These rat-
ings are given on the vehicle certi-
fication label. If weight ratings are
exceeded, move or remove items to
bring all weights below the ratings. Do not tow a trailer with your
vehicle. TOWING A TRAILER