•Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
• To avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as
possible. Do not equip the vehicle
with tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your ve-
hicle to roll over.
• Do not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
• Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
• Always drive with the floor mats (if so
equipped) in place as the floor may
become hot. •
Lower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is more
affected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
• Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires, even
with 4WD engaged (if so equipped).
• For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t 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 per-
sonal injury. •
Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions testing), or similar equipment
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 dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment
may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
• Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
• If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN 4WD vehicle has
a higher center of gravity than a pas-
senger car. The vehicle is not de-
signed for cornering at the same
speeds as passenger cars. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a roll-
over accident.
5-12Starting and driving
•Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Install tire chains
on the rear wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
• Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately af ter driving in mud or water.
For additional information, see “Wet
brakes” (P. 5-118).
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured.
• Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For addi-
tional information, see “Maintenance
under severe operating conditions”
(P. 9-7).
WARNING
Do not operate the push-button igni-
tion switch while driving the vehicle ex-
cept in an emergency. (The engine will
stop when the ignition switch is pushed
three consecutive times in quick suc-
cession or the ignition switch is pushed
and held for more than 2 seconds.) If
the engine stops while the vehicle is
being driven, this could lead to a crash
and serious injury. When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch position will illuminate as follows:
Push center:
• Once to change to ACC.
• Two times to change to ON.
• Three times to return to OFF.
The ignition switch will automatically re-
turn to the LOCK position when any door is
either opened or closed with the switch in
the OFF position.
When the ignition switch cannot be placed
in the OFF position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the ignition switch. The ignition switch position will change to the ON
position.
3. Push the ignition switch again to the OFF position.
The shif t lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the ignition switch cannot be moved
from the LOCK position.
LSD2645
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-13
• Make sure the area around the vehicle isclear.
• Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool- ant, brake, and windshield-washer fluid
as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
• Check that all windows and lights are clean.
• Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
• Check that all doors are closed.
• Position seat and adjust head restraints/ headrests.
• Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
• Fasten the seat belt and ask all passen- gers to do likewise.
• Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is placed in the
ON position. For additional information,
see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P. 2-11). 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral). P (Park) is recommended.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shif t lever is in either P
(Park) or N (Neutral).
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. Depress the brake pedal and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal with the ig-
nition switch in any position.
• If the engine is very hard to start in extremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the en-
gine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
• If the engine is very hard to start be- cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor
and hold it. Push the ignition switch to
the ON position to start cranking the
engine. Af ter 5 or 6 seconds, stop
cranking by pushing the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. Af ter
cranking the engine, release the accel- erator pedal. Crank the engine with
your foot off the accelerator pedal by
depressing the brake pedal and push-
ing the ignition switch to start the
engine. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start, push the ignition switch
to the OFF position and wait 10 seconds
before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds af ter starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at a
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a
minimum of 2 to 3 minutes before shut-
ting it off. Starting and stopping the en-
gine over a short period of time may
make the vehicle more difficult to start.
5. To stop the engine, move the shif t lever to the P (Park) position and push the
ignition switch to the OFF position.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving5-17
•Do not leave children unattended in-
side the vehicle. They could unknow-
ingly activate switches or controls or
make the vehicle move. Unattended
children could become involved in
serious accidents.
• To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require
the assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, it
is a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.
• HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB
OA:
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb. • HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB
OB:
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, NO CURB
OC:
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. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position. The power assisted steering uses a hy-
draulic pump, driven by the engine, to as-
sist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks,
you will still have control of the vehicle.
However, much greater steering effort is
needed, especially in sharp turns and at
low speeds.
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.
POWER STEERING
Starting and driving5-117
Do not attach stickers (including transpar-
ent material), install accessories or apply
additional paint near the sonar sensors.
Do not strike or damage the area around
the sonar sensors. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer if the area around
the sonar sensors is damaged due to a
collision.The Idling Stop System activates to prevent
unnecessary fuel consumption, exhaust
emissions and noise.
• When you stop the vehicle, the engine is
turned off automatically.
• When you release the brake pedal to be- gin moving again, the engine is turned on
automatically.
WARNING
The engine restarts if the vehicle
moves at approximately 1 mph (2
km/h) or more (on a downhill grade,
etc.) while the engine is turned off by
the Idling Stop System. Depress the
brake pedal immediately to stop the
vehicle to prevent an accident.
CAUTION
• At the end of the journey the engine
must be stopped and ignition switch
be pushed off. Lock the vehicle as
normal. Pushing the ignition switch
off will shut down all electrical sys-
tems. Failure to do this may result in a
discharged battery. •
Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position before opening the hood of
performing any maintenance. Fail-
ure to do so may result in serious in-
juries due to automatic engine
restart.
NOTE:
The Idling Stop System will not activate
under the following conditions:
• When the vehicle is in TOW or 4LO
mode.
• When the engine is kept idling without
the vehicle being driven af ter the en-
gine is turned on.
• When the engine coolant temperature
is low.
• When the battery capacity is low.
• When the battery temperature is low.
• When the vehicle is moving.
• When a negative pressure booster
decreases.
• When the engine hood is opened with
the engine running.
• When the engine is turned on with the
engine hood open.
• When the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened.
IDLING STOP SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving5-129
•When the driver’s door is open.
• When the steering wheel is operated.
• When the Idling Stop System indicator
blinks at a low speed.
(When the Idling Stop System indica-
tor blinks at a high speed (twice ap-
proximately every 1 second), be sure to
check if the engine hood is open. When
the engine hood is opened the engine
will be in the normal stopped state. In
this case, restart the engine with the
ignition switch).
(When the Idling Stop System indicator
blinks at a low speed (once approxi-
mately every 2 seconds), have the sys-
tem checked, and if necessary repaired,
by a NISSAN dealer promptly).
• When the fan speed control is in any
position other than “OFF,” (0) while the
air flow control is in the front defroster
position.
• When the front defroster switch is on.
• When the rear window defroster switch
is on.
• When the temperature inside the ve-
hicle is lower than approximately 68°F
(20°C). •
When the temperature inside the ve-
hicle is higher than approximately 86°F
(30°C). (When the air conditioner is off,
the Idling Stop System will operate.)
• When the fan speed of the air condi-
tioner is set to the maximum speed.
• When the Idling Stop OFF switch is
turned on.
• When the power consumption is large.
• When the altitude is high.
• When the accelerator pedal is
depressed.
• When the shif t lever is any range other
than D (Drive).
• When the brake pedal is not firmly
depressed.
• When stopping the vehicle on steep
sloping roads.
NOTE:
The engine will not restart even if the
brake pedal is released while the Idling
Stop System is activated under the fol-
lowing conditions:
• When the engine hood is opened.
NOTE:
It may take some time until the Idling
Stop System activates under the follow-
ing conditions:
•When the battery is discharged.
• When the outside temperature is low or
high.
•
When the battery is replaced or the bat-
tery terminal is disconnected for ex-
tended periods and then reconnected.
NOTE:
When the Idling Stop System indicator
illuminates, the engine starts running
automatically under at least one of the
following conditions:
• The driver’s seat belt is unfastened, or
the driver’s door is open.
• The battery voltage becomes low (due
to electrical load from other vehicle
systems like headlights, heaters, etc.,
or auxiliary devices connected to the
12 volt socket inside the vehicle).
• The vehicle speed is above about 1 mph
(2 km/h).
• When the rear window defroster is
operated.
5-130Starting and driving
3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen forsteam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. If steam
or coolant is escaping, turn off the en-
gine. Do not open the hood further until
no steam or coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking, the water pump belt is missing
or loose, 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 con-
tact with, or get caught in, engine belts
or the engine cooling fan. The engine
cooling fan can start at any time. 6. Af ter the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the engine coolant res-
ervoir tank with the engine running. Add
coolant to the engine coolant reservoir
tank if necessary. Have your vehicle re-
paired. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service. When towing your vehicle, all jurisdictional
and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. Towing in-
structions are available from a NISSAN
dealer. Local service operators are gener-
ally familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, NISSAN recommends hav-
ing a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator
carefully read the following precautions:
WARNING
• Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
• Never get under your vehicle af ter it
has been lif ted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
• When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. Use dollies or flatbed if any of
the listed systems are not working.
• Always attach safety chains before
towing.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-14In case of emergency
7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior................................ 7-2
Washing ..................................... 7-2
Waxing ....................................... 7-3
Removing spots .............................. 7-3
Underbody ................................... 7-3
Glass ......................................... 7-3
Aluminum alloy wheels (if so equipped) ....... 7-3
Chromeparts................................ 7-3
Tire dressings ................................ 7-4
Cleaning interior ................................ 7-4 Air fresheners
................................ 7-5
Power moonroof (if so equipped) ............. 7-5
Floor mats (if so equipped) ................... 7-5
Seatbelts ....................................7-6
Corrosion protection ............................ 7-7
Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion ............................. 7-7
Environmental factors influence the
rate of corrosion ............................. 7-7
Protect your vehicle from corrosion .......... 7-7