5-14Starting and driving
KEY POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (Not used) (1)
This position activates electrical acces-
sories such as the radio when the engine
is not running.
ON: Normal operating position (2)
This position turns on the ignition system
and the electrical accessories.
START: (3)
This position starts the engine. As soon as
the engine has started, release the key. It
automatically returns to the ON position.
WARNING
Do not operate the push-button
ignition switch while driving the ve-
hicle except in an emergency. (The
engine will stop when the ignition
switch is pushed 3 consecutive times
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.
Before operating the push-button igni-
tion switch, be sure to move the shift
lever to the P (Park) position (for Con-
tinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
models) or the shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position (for Manual Transmis-
sion (MT) models).
SSD0436
OPERATING RANGE FOR ENGINE
START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key can only be used for
starting the engine when the Intelligent
Key is within the specified operating
range
.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost
discharged or strong radio waves are
present near the operating location, the
Intelligent Key system’s operating range
becomes narrower and may not function
properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operat-
ing range, it is possible for anyone, even
someone who does not carry the Intelli-
gent Key, to push the ignition switch to
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
(model with Intelligent Key system)
5-18Starting and driving
1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed so that it does
not operate unless the shift lever is in
either of the above positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position, and depress the clutch pedal
to the floor while starting the engine.
3. Crank the engine with your foot off
the accelerator pedal by turning the
ignition switch to START. Release the
switch when the engine starts. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, repeat
the above procedure.
.If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when
restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and hold it and then
crank the engine. Release the ac-
celerator pedal when the engine
starts.
.If the engine is very hard to startbecause it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Crank the engine
for 5 - 6 seconds. After cranking the engine, release the accelerator
pedal. Crank the engine
with your
foot off the accelerator pedal by
turning the ignition switch to
START. Release the ignition switch
when the engine starts. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, re-
peat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the
engine does not start, turn the igni-
tion switch off and wait 10 seconds
before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged.
Do not turn the ignition switch to the
START position unless the engine
and starter have stopped moving.
Attempting to start the engine while
the engine or starter is moving may
cause damage.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before
shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time
may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
5. To stop the engine, shift the shift lever to the P (Park) position (CVT model) or
N (Neutral) position (MT model) and
turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
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.
STARTING THE ENGINE (model
without Intelligent Key system)
1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in either of the
above positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position. Depress the clutch pedal fully
to the floor.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal (CVT
models) or the clutch pedal (MT mod-
els) 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 (CVT mod-
els) or the clutch pedal (MT models)
with the ignition switch in any posi-
tion.
.If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and while holding, crank
the engine. Release the accelerator
pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to start
because it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine
with your foot off the accelerator
pedal by depressing the brake
pedal and pushing the push-button
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 OFF and wait 10
seconds before cranking again,
otherwise the starter could be da-
maged. 4.
Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for
a minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before
shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time
may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000
rpm or more under no load condition,
the engine will enter the fuel cut
mode.
5. To stop the engine, move the shift lever to the P (Park) position (CVT
models) or move the shift lever to
the N (Neutral) position (MT models),
and push the ignition switch to the
OFF position.
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.)
Starting and driving5-19
STARTING THE ENGINE (model
with Intelligent Key system)
.Do not downshift abruptly on
slippery roads. This may cause a
loss of control.
CAUTION
.To avoid possible damage to your
vehicle; when stopping the vehi-
cle on an uphill grade, do not hold
the vehicle by depressing the
accelerator pedal. The foot brake
should be used for this purpose.
. Except in an emergency, do not
shift to the N (Neutral) position
while driving. Coasting with the
transmission in the N (Neutral)
position may cause serious da-
mage to the transmission.
JVS1025X
To move the shift lever,
: Push the buttonwhile depressing
the brake pedal.
: Push the button.
:Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal, push the shift lever button
and move the shift lever from the P (Park)
position to any of the desired shift posi-
tions.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift
lever is in any position while the
engine is not running. Failure to do
so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result
in serious personal injury or property
damage.
CAUTION
Use the P (Park) or R (Reverse) posi-
tion only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
or ACC position for any reason while the
shift lever is in any positions other than
the P (Park), the ignition switch cannot be
placed in the LOCK position.
If the ignition switch cannot be placed in
the LOCK position, perform the following
steps:
1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Place the ignition switch in the ON position while depressing the foot
Starting and driving5-21
5-22Starting and driving
brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage,
move the shift lever to the P (Park)
or R (Reverse) position only when the
vehicle is completely stopped.
P (Park):
Use this position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped.
The brake pedal must be depressed and
the shift lever button pushed in to move
the shift lever from N (Neutral) or any
drive position to P (Park). Apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill,
apply the parking brake first, then move
the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position. The
brake pedal must be depressed and the
shift lever button pushed in to move the shift lever from P (Park), N (Neutral) or
any driving position to R (Reverse).
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to N (Neutral) and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle
is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
Manual shift mode
When the shift lever is shifted from the D
(Drive) position to the manual shift gate,
the transmission enters the manual shift
mode. Shift ranges can be selected
manually by moving the shift lever up or
down.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range
is displayed on the position indicator in
the meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1
?
M2 ?
M3 ?
M4 ?
M5 ?
M6 ?
M7 ?
M8
// / / / / /
.
When shifting up, move the shift lever
to the + (up) side. The transmission
shifts to a higher range.
. When shifting down, move the shift
lever to the − (down) side. The trans-
mission shifts to a lower range.
. Moving the shift lever to the same side
twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion. However, if this motion is rapidly
done, the second shifting may not be
completed properly.
. When canceling the manual shift
mode, return the shift lever to the D
(Drive) position. The transmission re-
turns to the normal driving mode.
M8 (8th):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
However, you need to shift down the
gears manually when accelerating or
passing another vehicle.
M7 (7th), M6 (6th) and M5 (5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
M4 (4th), M3 (3rd) and M2 (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, sand or mud, or for maximum
engine braking on steep downhill grades.
.Remember not to drive at high speeds
for extended periods of time in lower
than M7 range. This reduces fuel
economy.
. In the manual shift mode, the trans-
mission may not shift to the se-
lected range. This helps maintain
driving performance and reduces
the chance of vehicle damage or
loss of control.
. 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.
. When the CVT fluid temperature is
extremely low, the manual shift mode
may not work and automatically shift
as a drive mode. This is not a mal-
function. In this case, return the shift
lever to the D (Drive) position and drive
for a while and then shift to the
manual shift mode.
. When the CVT fluid temperature is
high, the shift range may upshift at a
lower engine speed than usual. This is not a malfunction.Accelerator downshift — In D posi-
tion —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into a lower
gear, depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid
temperature becomes too high (for ex-
ample, when climbing steep grades in
high temperature with heavy loads), en-
gine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will be decreased automa-
tically to reduce the chance of transmis-
sion damage. Vehicle speed can be
controlled with the accelerator pedal,
but the engine and vehicle speed may
be limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The MIL may illuminate to indicate the
fail-safe mode is activated. (See “Mal-
function Indicator Light (MIL)” (P.2-16).)
This will occur even if all electricalcircuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the
OFF position and wait for 10 seconds.
Then turn the 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.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature
protection mode or fail-safe opera-
tion occurs, vehicle speed may be
gradually reduced. The reduced
speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially
careful when driving. If necessary,
pull to the side of the road at a safe
place and allow the transmission to
return to normal operation, or have it
repaired if necessary.
Starting and driving5-23
4. Insert the mechanical key and pushdown the shift lock release.
5. Push the shift lever button and move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position while holding down the shift
lock release.
Place the ignition switch in the ON posi-
tion. The vehicle may be moved to the
desired location.
Replace the removed shift lock release
cover after the operation.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position, have the CVT system
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
WARNING
If the shift lever cannot be moved
from the P (Park) position while the
engine is running and the brake
pedal is depressed, the stop lights
may not work. Malfunctioning stop
lights could cause an accident injur-
ing yourself and others.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MT)
WARNING
. Do not downshift abruptly on
slippery roads. This may cause a
loss of control.
. Do not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
. When the high fluid temperature
protection mode or fail-safe op-
eration occurs, vehicle speed may
be gradually reduced. The re-
duced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase
the chance of a collision. Be
especially careful when driving. If
necessary, pull to the side of the
road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal
operation, or have it repaired if
necessary.
CAUTION
.Do not rest your foot on the
clutch pedal while driving. This may damage the clutch.
. Fully depress the clutch pedal
before shifting to help prevent
transmission damage.
. Stop your vehicle completely be-
fore shifting into R (Reverse).
. When the vehicle is stopped for a
period of time, for example at a
stop light, shift to N (Neutral) and
release the clutch pedal with the
foot brake applied.
Starting and driving5-25
5-26Starting and driving
SSD0552
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or
downshifting, fully depress the clutch
pedal, shift into the appropriate gear,
then slowly and smoothly release the
clutch pedal.
To ensure smooth gear changes, be sure
to fully depress the clutch pedal before
operating the shift lever. If the clutch
pedal is not fully depressed before the
transmission is shifted, a gear noise may
be heard. Transmission damage could
occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in
sequence according to vehicle speed.To back up, pull the shift lever ring
upward and then move it to the R
(Reverse) gear after stopping the vehicle
completely.
The shift lever ring returns to its original
position when the shift lever is moved to
the N (Neutral) position.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into
the R (Reverse) or 1st gear, shift to the N
(Neutral) position, and then release the
clutch pedal once. Fully depress the
clutch pedal again and shift into the R
(Reverse) or 1st gear.Suggested maximum speed in
each gear
Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is
not running smoothly, or if you need to
accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested
speed (shown below) in any gear. For level
road driving, use the highest gear sug-
gested for that speed. Always observe
posted speed limits, and drive according
to the road conditions, which will ensure
safe operation. Do not over-rev the en-
gine when shifting to a lower gear as it
may cause engine damage or loss of
vehicle control.
Gear
MPH (km/h)
1st 28 (46)
2nd 50 (81)
3rd 70 (112)
4th 90 (145)
5th —
6th —