5-158Starting and driving
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the vehicle
forward or in reverse at a slow speed.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
“clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
.The VDC system is designed to
help improve driving stability but
does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at
high speeds or by careless or
dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be
especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension. If suspension parts such
as shock absorbers, struts,
springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not NISSAN re-
commended for your vehicle or
are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate
properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling perfor-
mance, and the slip indicator light
may illuminate.
. If brake related parts such as
brake pads, rotors and calipers
are not NISSAN recommended or
are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate
properly and the slip indicator
light
may illuminate.
. If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the slip
indicator light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely in-
clined surfaces such as higher
banked corners, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
slip indicator light
may illu-
minate. Do not drive on these
types of roads.
. When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the slip indica-
tor light
may illuminate. This
is not a malfunction. Restart the
engine after driving onto a stable
surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the slip
indicator light
may illuminate. .
The VDC system is not a substi-
tute for winter tires or tire chains
on a snow covered road.
HOW TO TURN OFF THE VDC SYS-
TEM
The vehicle should be driven with the
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ON
for most driving conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck in mud or snow,
the VDC system reduces the engine out-
put to reduce wheel spin. The engine
speed will be reduced even if the accel-
erator is depressed to the floor. If max-
imum engine power is needed to free a
stuck vehicle, turn the VDC system off.
WAF0521XExample
To turn off the VDC system, perform the
following steps in the vehicle information
display.
1. Push the
button on the
steering wheel until “Settings” appears
and then push the job dial.
2. Use the scroll dial to select “VDC Setting” and then push it.
3. Select “System” and push the scroll dial. The
indicator light will illumi-
nate.
Turn “VDC Setting” back on in the vehicle
information display or restart the engine
to turn on the VDC system.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through
turns, the system optimizes the distribu-
tion of force to each of the four wheels
depending on the radius of the turn.
WARNING
. The VDC system is designed to
help the driver maintain stability
but does not prevent accidents
due to abrupt steering operation
at high speeds or by careless or
dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be
especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension. If suspension parts such
as shock absorbers, struts,
springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not NISSAN re-
commended for your vehicle or
are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate
properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling perfor-
mance, and the
indicator light
may flash or both theandindicator lights may illuminate. .
If brake related parts such as
brake pads, rotors and calipers
are not NISSAN recommended or
are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate
properly and both the
andindicator lights may illumi-
nate.
. If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may
illuminate.
. When driving on extremely in-
clined surfaces such as higher
banked corners, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
indicator light may flash or
both theandindicator
lights may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
. When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the
indica-
tor light may flash or both the
andindicator lights may illu-
minate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the engine after driving
onto a stable surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
Starting and driving5-159
8-32Do-it-yourself
.For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Cana-
da) in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
. Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference be-
tween tires on the front and rear
axles which can cause the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system to
malfunction resulting in personal
injury or death, excessive tire
wear and may damage the trans-
mission, transfer case and differ-
ential gears.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance all
year, including snowy and icy road con-
ditions. All Season tires are identified by
ALL SEASON and/or M&S (Mud and Snow)
on the tire sidewall. Snow tires have
better snow traction than All Season tires
and may be more appropriate in some
areas.
Summer tires
NISSAN specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance
on dry roads. Summer tire performance is
substantially reduced in snow and ice.
Summer tires do not have the tire trac-
tion rating M&S on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in
snowy or icy conditions, NISSAN recom-
mends the use of SNOW tires or ALL
SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load
rating to the original equipment tires. If
you do not, it can adversely affect the
safety and handling of your vehicle.
Generally, snow tires will have lower
speed ratings than factory equipped tires
and may not match the potential max-
imum vehicle speed. Never exceed the
maximum speed rating of the tire.
If you install snow tires, they must be the
same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
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 sur-
faces, may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
TIRE CHAINS
WARNING
If tire chains are used with this
vehicle, they must allow sufficient
clearance between the tire and the
closest vehicle suspension or body
component. Failure to use the cor-
rect chains, or not properly installing
chains, can damage the brakes, sus-
pension or other vehicle parts and
cause a crash in which a person
could be seriously injured or killed.
NISSAN recommends using the fol-
lowing chains, or equivalent.
.
PEERLESS SUPER Z6 SZ-429
Use of tire chains may be prohibited
according to location. Check the local
laws before installing tire chains. When
installing tire chains, make sure they are
the proper size for the tires on your
vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer’s suggestions.
Use only SAE Class S chains. Class “S”
chains are used on vehicles with re-
stricted tire to vehicle clearance. Vehicles
that can use Class “S” chains are designed
to meet the SAE standard minimum
clearances between the tire and the
closest vehicle suspension or body com-
ponent required to accommodate the
use of a winter traction device (tire chains
or cables). The minimum clearances are
determined using the factory equipped
tire size. Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when re-
commended by the tire chain manufac-
turer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links
of the tire chain must be secured or
removed to prevent the possibility of
whipping action damage to the fenders
or underbody. If possible, avoid fully load-
ing your vehicle when using tire chains. In
addition, drive at a reduced speed. Other-
wise, your vehicle may be damaged and/
or vehicle handling and performance may
be adversely affected.
Tire chains must be installed only on
the front wheels and not on the rear
wheels.
Never install tire chains on a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
Driving with tire chains in such conditions
can cause damage to the various me-
chanisms of the vehicle due to some
overstress.
JVM0287X
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the
tires at the specified interval shown
in the maintenance schedule. (See
the “Maintenance and schedules”
section. For tire replacing proce-
dures, see “Flat tire” (P.6-3).)
As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.Wheel nut tightening torque:83 ft-lb (113 N·m) The wheel nuts must be kept
tightened to the specification at
all times. It is recommended that
wheel nuts be tightened to the
specification at each tire rotation
interval.
WARNING
.Retighten the wheel nuts
when the vehicle has been
driven for 600 miles (1,000
km) (also in cases of a flat
tire, etc.).
.Do not include the spare tire
in the tire rotation.
.For additional information
regarding tires, refer to “Im-
portant Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (US) or “Tire Safety
Information” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Book-
let.
.After rotating the tires, do
not use the Easy-Fill Tire
Alert to adjust the tire pres-
sure. Instead use a gauge to
Do-it-yourself8-33
9-6Maintenance and schedules
Engine oil and oil filter:
Replace engine oil and oil filter at the
specified intervals. For recommended oil
grade and viscosity refer to “Capacities
and recommended fluids/lubricants”
(P.10-3).
Engine valve clearance*:
Inspect only if valve noise increases.
Adjust valve clearance if necessary.
Evaporative emissions control vapor
lines*:
Check vapor lines for leaks or looseness.
Tighten connections or replace parts as
necessary.
Fuel filter
Periodic maintenance is not required (in-
tank type filter).
Fuel lines*:
Check the fuel hoses, piping and connec-
tions for leaks, looseness, or deterioration.
Tighten connections or replace parts as
necessary.
Spark plugs:
Replace at specified intervals. Install new
plugs of the type as originally equipped.CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTENANCE
Brake lines and cables:
Visually inspect for proper installation.
Check for chafing, cracks, deterioration,
and signs of leaking. Replace any deterio-
rated or damaged parts immediately.
Brake pads and rotors:
Check for wear, deterioration and fluid
leaks. Replace any deteriorated or da-
maged parts immediately.
Exhaust system:
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes, muffler
and hangers for leaks, cracks, deteriora-
tion, and damage. Tighten connections or
replace parts as necessary.
In-cabin microfilter:
Replace at specified intervals. When driv-
ing for prolonged periods in dusty condi-
tions, replace the filter more frequently.
Propeller shaft(s):
Check for damage, looseness, and grease
leakage. (AWD)
Steering gear and linkage, axle and
suspension parts, drive shaft boots:
Check for damage, looseness, and leak-
age of oil or grease. Under severe driving
conditions, inspect more frequently.
Tire rotation:
Rotate tires at the specified interval.Transmission fluid/oil, differential oil
and transfer case oil:
Visually inspect for signs of leakage at
specified intervals.
If using a car-top carrier, or towing a
trailer, or using a camper, or driving on
rough or muddy roads:
.
Replace the differential oil and trans-
fer case oil every 20,000 miles (32,000
km) or 24 months.
. Replace the CVT fluid every 60,000
miles (96,000 km) or request the deal-
er to inspect the fluid deterioration
data using a CONSULT. If the dete-
rioration data is more than 210,000,
replace the CVT fluid.
9-8Maintenance and schedules
The following shows the maintenance schedule. Choose the maintenance schedule needed based on your vehicle driving conditions.
After 120,000 miles (192,000 km)/144 months, continue maintenance at the same mileage/time interval.
5,000 Miles/6 Months/8,000 KmStandard maintenance:.Perform tire rotation
Severe maintenance:
.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots
10,000 Miles/12 Months/16,000 KmStandard maintenance:.Inspect brake lines and cables.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect CVT fluid.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect differential gear oil (AWD models).Inspect AWD coupling oil (AWD models).Inspect transfer case oil (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots.Replace engine oil and filter (1).Perform tire rotation Severe maintenance:
.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots.Replace brake fluid
(1) If the oil replacement indicator is displayed,
change the engine oil and filter within two
weeks or less than 500 miles (800 km).
STANDARD MAINTENANCE
15,000 Miles/18 Months/24,000
Km
Standard maintenance:.Inspect Intelligent Key battery.Replace In-cabin microfilter.Perform tire rotation
Severe maintenance:
.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots
20,000 Miles/24 Months/32,000
Km
Standard maintenance:.Inspect brake lines and cables.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect CVT fluid.Inspect fuel tank vapor vent system.Inspect fuel lines/connections.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect differential gear oil (AWD models).Inspect AWD coupling oil (AWD models).Inspect transfer case oil (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots.Replace brake fluid.Replace engine oil and filter (1).Perform tire rotation Severe maintenance:
.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots.Replace brake fluid
(1) If the oil replacement indicator is displayed,
change the engine oil and filter within two
weeks or less than 500 miles (800 km).
Maintenance and schedules9-9
9-10Maintenance and schedules
25,000 Miles/30 Months/40,000
Km
Standard maintenance:.Perform tire rotation
Severe maintenance:
.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots
30,000 Miles/36 Months/48,000
Km
Standard maintenance:.Inspect brake lines and cables.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect CVT fluid.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect differential gear oil (AWD models).Inspect AWD coupling oil (AWD models).Inspect transfer case oil (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots.Replace engine air filter (1).Replace engine oil and filter (2).Replace In-cabin microfilter.Replace Intelligent Key battery.Perform tire rotation Severe maintenance:
.Inspect brake pads and rotors.Inspect exhaust system.Inspect steering gear and linkage.Inspect axle and suspension parts.Inspect propeller shaft (AWD models).Inspect drive shaft boots.Replace brake fluid
(1) If operating mainly in dusty conditions, more
frequent maintenance may be required.
(2) If the oil replacement indicator is displayed,
change the engine oil and filter within two
weeks or less than 500 miles (800 km).