fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the shift lever to the P (Park) position and push the
ignition switch to the OFF position.
In preparation for the next engine start,
the engine may have a slightly delayed
shutoff after placing the ignition switch in
the OFF position, depending on the driv-
ing conditions.
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.
REMOTE ENGINE START (if so
equipped)
Vehicles started with the remote engine
start function require the ignition switch
to be placed in the ON position before the
shift lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position. To place the ignition switch in the ON position, perform the following
steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is
on you.
2. Firmly depress the brake pedal.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information about the
remote engine start function, see “Re-
mote engine start” (P.3-19).
ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection
mode to reduce the chance of damage
if the coolant temperature becomes too
high (for example, when climbing steep
grades in high temperature with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer).
When the engine temperature reaches a
certain level:
. The engine coolant temperature
gauge will move toward the H posi-
tion.
. Engine power may be reduced.
. The air conditioning cooling function
may be automatically turned OFF for a
short time (the blower will continue to
operate).
Engine power and, under some condi-
tions, vehicle speed will decrease. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accel-
erator pedal, but the vehicle may not
accelerate at the desired speed. The
transmission will downshift or upshift as
it reaches prescribed shift points. You can
also shift manually.
As driving conditions change and engine
coolant temperature is reduced, vehicle
speed can be increased using the accel-
erator pedal, and air conditioning cooling
function will automatically be turned
back ON.
Starting and driving5-17
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1?
/M2 ?
/M3 ?
/M4 ?
/M5?
/M6 ?
/M7
M7 (7th):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M6 (6th) andM5 (5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
M4 (4th),M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd):
Use these positions 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, or for maximum engine braking on
steep downhill grades.
. Remember not to drive at high speeds
for extended periods of time in lower
than 7th gear. This reduces fuel econ-
omy.
. Moving the shift lever rapidly to the
same side twice will shift the ranges in
succession.
. In the manual shift mode, the trans-
mission may not shift to the se-
lected gear or may automatically shift to the other gear. This helps
maintain driving performance and
reduces the chance of vehicle da-
mage or loss of control.
. When the transmission does not
shift to the selected gear, the Auto-
matic Transmission (AT) position in-
dicator light (in the vehicle
information display) will blink and
the buzzer will sound.
. In the manual shift mode, the trans-
mission automatically shifts down
to 1st gear before the vehicle comes
to a stop. When accelerating again, it
is necessary to shift up to the
desired range.
Accelerator downshift — In D (Drive)
position —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into the
lower gear, depending on the vehicle
speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, 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
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, push the switch to the OFF posi-
tion and wait for 3 seconds. Then push
the ignition switch back to the ON
position. The vehicle should return to
its normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating con-
dition, have the transmission checked
and repaired, if necessary. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Starting and driving5-21
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 brakepedal application.
.Avoid rapid starts and stops..Use smooth, gentle accelerator andbrake application whenever possi-
ble.
.Maintain constant speed whilecommuting and coast whenever
possible.
2. Maintain constant speed.
.Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
.Synchronizing your speed with traf-fic lights allows you to reduce your
number of stops.
.Maintaining a steady speed canminimize red light stops and im-
prove fuel efficiency.
3. Use air conditioning (A/C) at higher vehicle speeds.
.Below 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is moreefficient 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 aerody-
namic drag.
.Recirculating the cool air in thecabin when the A/C is on reduces
cooling load.
4. Drive at economical speeds and dis- tances.
.Observing the speed limit and notexceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h)
(where legally allowed) can improve
fuel efficiency due to reduced aero-
dynamic drag.
.Maintaining a safe following dis-tance behind other vehicles re-
duces unnecessary braking.
.Safely monitoring traffic to antici- pate changes in speed permits
reduced braking and smooth accel-
eration changes.
.Select a gear range suitable to roadconditions.
5. Use cruise control.
.Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady
speed.
.Cruise control is particularly effec-tive in providing fuel savings when
driving on flat terrains.
6. Plan for the shortest route.
.Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save
time. 7. Avoid idling.
.Shutting off your engine when safe
for stops exceeding 30-60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and
avoid stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no morethan 30 seconds of idling at start-
up to effectively circulate the en-
gine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating temperature more
quickly while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade when-
ever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, open- ing the windows will help to reduce
the inside temperature faster, re-
sulting in reduced demand on your
A/C system.
Starting and driving5-123
FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
5-124Starting and driving
.Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity en-
gine oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation” (P.10-6).)
WARNING
.Do not attempt to raise two
wheels off the ground and shift
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
dynamometer or similar equip-
ment even if the other two
wheels are raised off the ground.
Make sure you inform test facility
personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using
the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious ve-
hicle damage or personal injury.
CAUTION
.Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI
or 4LO position on dry hard sur-
face roads. Driving on dry, hard
surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise, tire wear and
increased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
warning light turns on when driv-
ing on dry hard surface roads:
— in the 4HI position, shift the
4WD shift switch to AUTO.
— in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and shift the transmis-
sion lever to the N (Neutral)
position with the brake pedal
depressed and shift the 4WD
shift switch to AUTO.
If the 4WD warning light is still
on after the above operation,
have your vehicle checked as
soon as possible. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
. The transfer case may be da-
maged if you continue driving
with the 4WD warning light blink-
ing.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYNISSAN ALL-MODE 4WD® (if so equipped)
5-128Starting and driving
The 4WD shift switch is used to select the
4WD mode depending on the driving
conditions. There are 3 types of drive
modes available, AUTO, 4HI and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically con-
trols the transfer case operation. Rotate
the switch to move between each mode,
AUTO, 4H and 4L.
You must depress the 4WD shift switch
to select 4L, and the vehicle MUST be
stationary and the shift lever in the N
(Neutral) position when changing into
or out of 4L.
WARNING
.When parking, apply the parking
brake before stopping the engine
and make sure that the 4WD shift
indicator is on and the ATP warn-
ing light turns off. Otherwise, the
vehicle could unexpectedly move
even if the automatic transmis-
sion is in the P (Park) position.
. The 4LO and 4HI indicators must
stop blinking and the 4LO or 4HI
indicator must remain illumi-
nated or turn off before shifting
the transmission into gear. If the
shift lever is shifted from the N
(Neutral) position to any other gear while the 4LO and 4HI in-
dicators are blinking alternately,
the vehicle may move unexpect-
edly.
CAUTION
.
Never shift the 4WD shift switch
between 4L and 4H while driving.
. The 4HI position provides greater
traction. Avoid excessive speed,
as it will cause increased fuel
consumption and higher oil tem-
peratures, and could damage dri-
vetrain component. Speeds over
62 MPH (100 km/h) in 4HI is not
recommended.
. The 4LO position provides max-
imum traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the
maximum speed is approxi-
mately 31 MPH (50 km/h).
. When driving straight, shift the
4WD shift switch to the AUTO or
4H position. Do not move the 4WD
shift switch when making a turn
or reversing.
. Do not shift the 4WD shift switch
(between AUTO and 4H) while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use the engine brake and low
automatic transmission gears
for engine braking.
. Do not operate the 4WD shift
switch (between AUTO and 4H)
with the rear wheels spinning.
. Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4HI or 4LO position.
Driving on dry hard surfaces in
4HI or 4LO may cause unneces-
sary noise and tire wear. NISSAN
recommends driving in the AUTO
position under these conditions.
. The 4WD transfer case may not
be shifted between 4HI and 4LO
at low ambient temperatures and
the 4LO and 4HI indicators may
blink even when the 4WD shift
switch is shifted. After driving for
a while you can change the 4WD
shift switch between 4H and 4L.
When driving on rough roads,
. Drive carefully according to the road
surface conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck,
. Place stones or wooden blocks under
the tires to free the vehicle.
. Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4L.
will either remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the
4WD shift indicator turns off.
High-temperature transfer case oil makes
the 4WD warning light blink rapidly (about
twice per second). If the warning light
blinks rapidly during operation, stop the
vehicle in a safe place immediately. Then
if the light turns off after a while, you can
continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters
of front and rear wheels will make the
4WD warning light blink slowly (about
once per two seconds). Change the 4WD
shift switch to AUTO and do not drive fast.
CAUTION
.If the 4WD warning light comes
on or blinks slowly during opera-
tion or rapidly after stopping the
vehicle for a while, have your
vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service.
. Shifting between 4HI and 4LO is
not recommended when the 4WD
warning light turns on.
. When the 4WD warning light
comes on, the 2WD mode may be engaged even if the 4WD shift
switch is in AUTO or 4H. Be
especially careful when driving. If
corresponding parts are malfunc-
tioning, the 4WD mode will not be
engaged even if the 4WD shift
switch is shifted.
. Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI
or 4LO position on dry hard sur-
face roads. Driving on dry, hard
surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may cause
unnecessary noise, tire wear and
increased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on
when driving on dry hard surface
roads:
— in the AUTO or 4HI position,
shift the 4WD shift switch to
AUTO.
— in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and shift the transmis-
sion shift lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position and shift the
4WD shift switch to AUTO.
. If the 4WD warning light is still on
after the above operation, have
your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service. .
The transfer case may be da-
maged if you continue driving
with the warning light blinking.
Starting and driving5-131
5-134Starting and driving
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. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position.
SIC4474
The TOW MODE should be used when
pulling a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy
load. Driving the vehicle in the TOW MODE
with no trailer/load or light trailer/light
load will not cause any damage. However,
fuel economy may be reduced, and the
transmission/engine driving characteris-
tics may feel unusual.
Push the TOW MODE switch to activate
TOW MODE. The indicator light on the
TOW MODE switch illuminates when the
TOW MODE is selected. Push the TOW
MODE switch again to turn the TOW
MODE OFF.
TOW MODE is automatically canceled
when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.
TOW MODE
SIC4454
For driving or starting the vehicle on
snowy roads or slippery areas, turn the
SNOW mode on.
To turn the SNOW mode on, push the
SNOW mode switch. The SNOW mode
indicator on the vehicle information dis-
play will illuminate. When the SNOW mode
is activated, engine output is controlled to
avoid wheel spin.
To turn the SNOW mode off, push the
switch and the indicator on the vehicle
information display will turn off. Turn the
SNOW mode off for normal driving and
fuel economy.NOTE:
When the SNOW mode is activated, the
I-LI, I-BSI, and ICC systems will be turned
off automatically.
Starting and driving5-135
SNOW MODE