5-156Starting and 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.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to
assist braking operation and is not a
collision warning or avoidance de-
vice. It is the driver’s responsibility to
stay alert, drive safely and be in
control of the vehicle at all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) is a sophisticated device,
but it cannot prevent accidents
resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control dur-
ing braking on slippery surfaces.
Remember that stopping dis-
tances on slippery surfaces will
be longer than on normal sur- faces even with ABS. Stopping
distances 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
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install
the specified size of tires on
all four wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper
size and type as specified on
the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label. See “Tire and Load-
ing Information label” (P.10-11)
of this manual.
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-25) of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) con-
trols 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 prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By pre- venting 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 ABS 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 ABS includes electronic sensors, elec-
tric 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 malfunc-
tion. If the computer senses a malfunc-
BRAKE ASSIST
WARNING
The Active Ride Control may not be
effective depending on the driving
condition. Always drive carefully and
attentively.
When the Active Ride Control is operating,
you may feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal, sense slight deceleration, or hear a
noise. This is normal and indicates that
Active Ride Control is operating properly.
WARNING
. Never rely solely on the hill start
assist system to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving backward on a
hill. Always drive carefully and
attentively. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped
on a steep hill. Be especially care-
ful when stopped on a hill on
frozen or muddy roads. Failure
to prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards may result in a loss of
control of the vehicle and possi-
ble serious injury or death.
. The hill start assist system is not
designed to hold the vehicle at a
standstill on a hill. Depress the
brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to
do so may cause the vehicle to
roll backwards and may result in
a collision or serious personal
injury.
. The hill start assist system may
not prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing backwards on a hill under all
load or road conditions. Always
be prepared to depress the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from
rolling backwards. Failure to do so may result in a collision or
serious personal injury.
The hill start assist system automatically
keeps the brakes applied to help prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards in the
time it takes the driver to release the
brake pedal and apply the accelerator
when the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
The hill start assist system will operate
automatically under the following condi-
tions:
. The transmission is shifted to a for-
ward or reverse gear.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a
hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
After 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to
roll back and the hill start assist system
will stop operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not
operate when the transmission is shifted
to the N (Neutral) or P (Park) position or
on a flat and level road.
When the slip indicator light illuminates in
the meter, the hill start assist system will
not operate. (See “Slip indicator light” (P.2-
20).)
Starting and driving5-161
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
CAUTION
.Excessive noise (such as audio
system volume or an open vehi-
cle window) will interfere with the
tone and it may not be heard.
. Keep the sonar sensors (located
on the bumper fascia) free from
snow, ice and large accumula-
tions of dirt. Do not clean the
sensors with sharp objects. If the
sensors are covered, the accuracy
of the sonar function will be
diminished.
WAF0538X
Center sonar sensorsCorner sonar sensorsSide sonar sensors (if so equipped)
SYSTEM OPERATION
For models without side sonar sensors:
The system informs with a visual and
audible alert of:
.front obstacles when the shift lever is
in the D (Drive) position
. front and rear obstacles when the
shift lever is in the R (Reverse) position For models with side sonar sensors:
The system informs with a visual and
audible alert of obstacles in the traveling
direction, when the sensor detects them
within its detection range.
The system informs with a visual and
audible alert of potential obstacles near
the side of the vehicle. The driver will only
be notified of side obstacles located out
of detection range of the front and rear
sonar sensors if they were previously
detected as the vehicle traveled towards
them.
How the system alert of obstacles:
The system is deactivated at speeds
above 6 MPH (10 km/h). It is reactivated
at lower speeds.
The intermittent tone will stop after
several seconds when the obstacle is
identified only with the center sensor.
The tone will stop when the obstacle gets
away from the vehicle.
When the object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks and the tone
sounds intermittently. When the vehicle
moves closer to the object, the color of
the indicator turns yellow and the rate of
the blinking increases. When the vehicle is
very close to the object, the indicator
stops blinking and turns red, and the tone
sounds continuously.
Starting and driving5-163
5-168Starting and driving
WAF0072X
The RSS sounds a tone to inform the
driver of obstacles near the rear bumper.
When the RSS is turned on, the sonar view
will automatically appear in the vehicle
information display.
WARNING
.The RSS is a convenience but it is
not a substitute for proper park-
ing.
. The driver is always responsible
for safety during parking and
other maneuvers. Always look
around and check that it is safe to do so before parking.
. Read and understand the limita-
tions of the RSS as contained in
this section. The colors of the
sonar indicator indicates differ-
ent distances to the object.
. Inclement weather or ultrasonic
sources such as an automatic car
wash, a truck’s compressed-air
brakes or a pneumatic drill may
affect the function of the system;
this may include reduced perfor-
mance or a false activation.
. The RSS is designed as an aid to
the driver in detecting large sta-
tionary objects to help avoid da-
maging the vehicle.
. The RSS is not designed to pre-
vent contact with small or mov-
ing objects. Always move slowly.
The system will not detect small
objects below the bumper, and
may not detect objects close to
the bumper or on the ground.
. The RSS may not detect the
following objects: fluffy objects
such as snow, cloth, cotton, glass,
wool, etc.; thin objects such as
rope, wire and chain, etc.; or
wedge-shaped objects. If your vehicle sustains damage to the
bumper fascia, leaving it misaligned or
bent, the sensing zone may be altered
causing inaccurate measurement of ob-
stacles or false alarms.
CAUTION
.
Excessive noise (such as audio
system volume or an open vehi-
cle window) will interfere with the
tone and it may not be heard.
. Keep the sonar sensors (located
on the rear bumper fascia) free
from snow, ice and large accu-
mulations of dirt. Do not clean the
sensors with sharp objects. If the
sensors are covered, the accuracy
of the sonar function will be
diminished.
SYSTEM OPERATION
The system informs with a visual and
audible alert of rear obstacles when the
shift lever is in the R (Reverse) position.
The system is deactivated at speeds
above 6 MPH (10 km/h). It is reactivated
at lower speeds.
The intermittent tone will stop after
several seconds when an obstacle is
REAR SONAR SYSTEM (RSS) (if so
equipped)
identified only with the corner sensor. The
tone will stop when the obstacle gets
away from the vehicle.
When the object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks and the tone
sounds intermittently. When the vehicle
moves closer to the object, the color of
the indicator turns yellow and the rate of
the blinking increases. When the vehicle is
very close to the object, the indicator
stops blinking and turns red, and the tone
sounds continuously.
WAF0431XExample
When the rear of the vehicle moves closer
to an obstacle, the sonar indicator ap-
pears in the vehicle information display.
WAF0434XExample
The sonar indicator also appears on the
camera view of the center display.
Starting and driving5-169
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four
wheels. It is recommended you consult a
NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size, speed
rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads,
studded tires may be used. However,
some U.S. states and Canadian provinces
prohibit their use. Check local, state and
provincial laws before installing studded
tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires, on wet or dry
surfaces, may be poorer than that of
non-studded snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains” (P.8-32) of this manual.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) model
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following
items be carried in the vehicle during
winter:
.A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to
remove ice and snow from the win-
dows and wiper blades.
. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of
snow-drifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
.Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing
rain), very cold snow or ice can be
slick and very hard to drive on.
The vehicle will have much less
traction or “grip” under these
conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted
or sanded. .
Whatever the condition, drive
with caution. Accelerate and slow
down with care. If accelerating or
downshifting too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more trac-
tion.
. Allow more stopping distance
under these conditions. Braking
should be started sooner than on
dry pavement.
. Allow greater following distances
on slippery roads.
. Watch for slippery spots (glare
ice). These may appear on an
otherwise clear road in shaded
areas. If a patch of ice is seen
ahead, brake before reaching it.
Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
. Snow can trap dangerous ex-
haust gases under your vehicle.
Keep snow clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around your vehi-
cle.
Starting and driving5-173
6-14In case of emergency
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge
reading), or if you feel a lack of engine
power, detect abnormal noise, etc., take
the following steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the roadand apply the parking brake.
2. Push the park button to shift to the P (Park) position.
Do not stop the engine.
3. Turn off the air conditioner (if so equipped). Open all the windows,
move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot
and fan control to high speed.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from
the radiator before opening the hood.
(If steam or coolant is escaping, turn
off the engine.) Do not open the hood
further until no steam or coolant can
be seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent get-
ting burned.
6. Visually check the drive belt for da- mage or looseness. Also check if the
cooling fan is running. The radiator
hoses and radiator should not leak
water. If coolant is leaking or the
cooling fan does not run, stop the
engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands,
hair, jewelry or clothing to come into
contact with, or get caught in, engine
belts or the engine cooling fan. The
engine cooling fan can start at any
time. 7. After the engine cools down, check
the coolant level in the reservoir with
the engine running. Add coolant to
the reservoir if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired. It is recommended
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
Always replace spark plugs with recom-
mended or equivalent ones.
WAI0160X
To remove the filter, release the lock pinsand pull the unit upward.
The filter element should not be cleaned
and reused. Replace it according to the
maintenance schedule shown in the “9.
Maintenance and schedules” section.
When replacing the filter, wipe the inside
of the air cleaner housing and the cover
with a damp cloth.
WARNING
. Operating the engine with the air
cleaner filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner filter not only cleans the intake air, it also stops flame if
the engine backfires. If the air
cleaner filter is not installed and
the engine backfires, you could
be burned. Never drive with the
air cleaner filter off. Be cautious
working on the engine when the
air cleaner filter is off.
. Never pour fuel into the throttle
body or attempt to start the
engine with the air cleaner re-
moved. Doing so could result in
serious injury.
Do-it-yourself8-15
AIR CLEANER