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 Brake
Pedal Application
• Avoid rapid starts and stops.
• Use smooth, gentle accelerator and brake application whenever possible.
• Maintain constant speed while com- muting and coast whenever possible.
2. Maintain Constant Speed
• Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
• Synchronizing your speed with traffic lights allows you to reduce your num-
ber of stops.
• Maintaining a steady speed can mini- mize red light stops and improve fuel
efficiency.
3. Use Air Conditioning (A/C) at Higher
Vehicle Speeds
• Below 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient 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 aerodynamic drag. • Recirculating the cool air in the cabin
when the A/C is on reduces cooling
load.
4. Drive at Economical Speeds and
Distances
• Observing the speed limit and not ex- ceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) (where le-
gally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
• Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles reduces unnec-
essary braking.
• Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate changes in speed permits reduced
braking and smooth acceleration
changes.
• Select a gear range suitable to road conditions.
5. Use Cruise Control
• Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady speed.
• Cruise control is particularly effective 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 cruising
speed through the toll and avoid stop-
ping and starting.
9. Winter Warm Up
• Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
• Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to ef-
fectively circulate the engine oil before
driving.
• Your vehicle will reach its ideal operat- ing temperature more quickly while
driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
• Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever
possible.
• When entering a hot vehicle, opening the windows will help to reduce the
inside temperature faster, resulting in
reduced demand on your A/C system.
FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
5-108Starting and driving
• Keep your engine tuned up.
• Follow the recommended scheduledmaintenance.
• Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres- sure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
• Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im- proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
• For vehicles equipped with
, use 4H
or 4L position only when necessary.
4-Wheel Drive operation lowers fuel
economy.
• Use the recommended viscosity engine oil. For additional information, see “Engine
oil and oil filter recommendations”
(P. 10-7).
WARNING
• 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.CAUTION
• Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or
4LO position on dry hard surface
roads. Driving on dry, hard surfaces in
4H or 4LO may cause unnecessary
noise, tire wear and increased fuel
consumption.
If the 4WD vehicle information dis-
play warning message turns on
when you are driving on dry hard sur-
face roads:
– In the 4H position, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 2WD.
– In the 4LO position, stop the ve-
hicle, move the shif t lever to the N
(Neutral) position with the brake
pedal depressed, and shif t the
4WD shif t switch to 2WD.
• If the vehicle information display
warning message is still on af ter the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYUSING 4–WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
(if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-109
CAUTION
• Never shif t the 4WD shif t switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.
• The 4H position provides greater
traction. Avoid excessive speed, as it
will cause increased fuel consump-
tion and higher oil temperatures, and
could damage drivetrain compo-
nents. Speeds over 62 mph (100
km/h) in 4H is not recommended.
• The 4LO position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising ve-
hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 31 mph
(50 km/h).
• When driving straight, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to the 2WD or 4H posi-
tion. Do not move the 4WD shif t
switch when making a turn or
reversing.
• Do not shif t the 4WD shif t switch (be-
tween 2WD and 4H) while driving on
steep downhill grades. Use the en-
gine brake and low A/T gears (M1 or
M2) for engine braking.
• Do not operate the 4WD shif t switch
(between 2WD and 4H) with the rear
wheels spinning. •
Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4H or 4LO position. Driv-
ing on dry hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise and
tire wear. NISSAN recommends driv-
ing in the 2WD position under these
conditions.
• The 4WD transfer case may not be
shif ted between 4H and 4LO at low
ambient temperatures and the
transfer 4LO position indicator may
blink even when the 4WD shif t switch
is shif ted. Af ter driving for a while
you can change the 4WD transfer
case between 4H and 4LO.
When driving on rough roads:
• Set the 4WD shif t switch to 4H or 4LO.
• Drive carefully according to the road sur- face conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck:
• Set the 4WD shif t switch to 4H or 4LO.
• Place stones or wooden blocks under the tires to free the vehicle.
• Use the Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system (if so equipped). For addi-
tional information, see “Electronic locking
rear differential (E-Lock) system” (P. 5-115). • If it is difficult to free the vehicle, rock the
vehicle back and forth between reverse
and drive gears.
• If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, place stones or wooden blocks under the tires.
Then try the recovery procedures above.
Tire chains may be effective.
CAUTION
• Do not spin the tires excessively. Tires
will sink deep into the mud, making it
difficult to free the vehicle.
• Avoid shif ting gears with the engine
running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.
5-112Starting and driving
• If the 4WD vehicle information displaywarning message comes on, the 4WD
shif t indicator goes out.
CAUTION
If the 4WD shif t indicator indication
changes to 2WD when the 4WD shif t
switch is shif ted to the 4H position at
low ambient temperatures, the 2WD
mode may be being engaged due to
malfunctioning drive system. If the in-
dicator does not return to normal and
the 4WD vehicle information display
warning message comes on, have the
system checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
Warning message
Warning message Warning message comes on when:
Vehicle information
display
4WD Error: See Owner’s Manual There is a malfunction
in the 4–Wheel Drive system
FRT & RR tire size differ- ence: See Owner’s Manual The difference in wheel
rotation is large
The 4WD warning message is located in
the meter. The 4WD warning message
comes on when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position. It turns off soon
af ter the engine is started. If any malfunc-
tion occurs in the 4WD system when the
ignition switch is ON, the warning message
will either remain illuminated or blink. If the
4WD warning message comes on, the 4WD
shif t indicator goes out. A large difference
between the diameters of front and rear
wheels will make the warning message
blink slowly (about once per two seconds).
Shif t the 4WD shif t switch into 2WD and do
not drive fast.
CAUTION
• If the warning message comes on
during operation or rapidly af ter
stopping the vehicle for a while, have
your vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• Shif ting between 4H and 4LO is not
recommended when the 4WD
warning message turns on. •
When the warning message comes
on, the 2WD mode may be engaged
even if the 4WD shif t switch is in 4H.
Be especially careful when driving. If
corresponding parts are malfunc-
tioning, the 4WD mode will not be en-
gaged even if the 4WD shif t switch is
shif ted.
• Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or
4LO position on dry hard surface
roads. Driving on dry, hard surfaces in
4H or 4LO may cause unnecessary
noise, tire wear and increased fuel
consumption.
If the 4WD warning message turns on
when you are driving on dry hard sur-
face roads:
– In the 4H position, shif t the 4WD
shif t switch to 2WD.
– In the 4LO position, stop the ve-
hicle, move the automatic trans-
mission shif t lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position with the brake pedal
depressed, and shif t the 4WD shif t
switch to 2WD.
5-114Starting and driving
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
The indicator is displayed when the Idling
Stop System is activated.If the Idling Stop System is activated or de-
activated using the Idling Stop OFF switch,
the message is shown.The fuel saved and the engine stop time
mode shows the following items:
• The fuel saved shows the estimated
quantity of fuel that was saved by the
Idling Stop System every time the engine
is automatically stopped.
• The engine stop time shows the time that the engine has been stopped for by
the Idling Stop System.
The total fuel saved and the engine stop
time can also be checked in the vehicle infor-
mation display. For additional information,
see “Vehicle information display” (P. 2-22).
LSD4812
Idling Stop System indicator
LSD4795
Idling Stop System ON or OFF
LSD4796
Fuel saved and engine stop time
5-132Starting and driving
CAUTION
• NEVER remove dirt, sand or other de-
bris from the passenger compart-
ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner
or broom.
• Never allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle as this
may damage them.
Chemicals used for road surface de-icing
are extremely corrosive. They accelerate
corrosion and deterioration of underbody
components such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor pan
and fenders.
In winter, the underbody must be
cleaned periodically.
For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended that you consult
a NISSAN dealer.
7-8Appearance and care
When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The fol-
lowing are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
• Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shif t le-
ver to P (Park).
• Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when perform-
ing any parts replacement or repairs.
• If you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.
• It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle. •
If you must run the engine in an en-
closed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
• Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
• Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
• On gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced
because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off.
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
CAUTION
• Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine off
and wait until it cools down.
• Avoid contact with used engine oil
and coolant. Improperly disposed
engine oil, engine coolant and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
• Never leave the engine or the trans-
mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.
• Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
NOTE:
If the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shif t to
other positions.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself