WARNING
.Gasoline is extremely flammable
and highly explosive under cer-
tain conditions. You could be
burned or seriously injured if it is
misused or mishandled. Always
stop engine and do not smoke or
allow open flames or sparks near
the vehicle when refueling.
. Do not attempt to top off the fuel
tank after the fuel pump nozzle
shuts off automatically. Contin-
ued refueling may cause fuel
overflow, resulting in fuel spray
and possibly a fire.
. Use only an original equipment
type fuel-filler cap as a replace-
ment. It has a built-in safety valve
needed for proper operation of
the fuel system and emission
control system. An incorrect cap
can result in a serious malfunc-
tion and possible injury. It could
also cause the malfunction indi-
cator light to come on.
. Never pour fuel into the throttle
body to attempt to start your
vehicle. .
Do not fill a portable fuel contain-
er in the vehicle or trailer. Static
electricity can cause an explosion
of flammable liquid, vapor or gas
in any vehicle or trailer. To reduce
the risk of serious injury or death
when filling portable fuel contain-
ers:
— Always place the container on
the ground when filling.
— Do not use electronic devices when filling.
— Keep the pump nozzle in con- tact with the container while
you are filling it.
— Use only approved portable fuel containers for flammable
liquid.
CAUTION
. If fuel is spilled on the vehicle
body, flush it away with water to
avoid paint damage.
. Insert the cap straight into the
fuel-filler tube, then tighten until
the fuel-filler cap clicks. Failure to
tighten the fuel-filler cap properly
may cause the
malfunction indicator light (MIL) to illuminate.
If the
light illuminates be-
cause the fuel-filler cap is loose
or missing, tighten or install the
cap and continue to drive the
vehicle. The
light should turn
off after a few driving trips. If the
light does not turn off after a
few driving trips, have the vehicle
inspected. It is recommended you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
For additional information, see
“Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” (P.2-16).
. The LOOSE FUEL CAP warning
message will be displayed if the
fuel-filler cap is not properly tigh-
tened. It may take a few driving
trips for the message to be dis-
played. Failure to tighten the fuel-
filler cap properly after the LOOSE
FUEL CAP warning message is
displayed may cause the
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
to illuminate.
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-29
5-142Starting and driving
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four
wheels. It is recommended you consult a
NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size, speed
rating and availability information.
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
surfaces, may be poorer than that of
non-studded snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains” (P.8-36) of this manual.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) model
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following
items be carried in the vehicle during
winter:
.A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to
remove ice and snow from the win-
dows and wiper blades.
. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of
snow-drifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
. Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing
rain), very cold snow or ice can be
slick and very hard to drive on.
The vehicle will have much less
traction or “grip” under these
conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted
or sanded. .
Whatever the condition, drive
with caution. Accelerate and slow
down with care. If accelerating or
downshifting too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more trac-
tion.
. Allow more stopping distance
under these conditions. Braking
should be started sooner than on
dry pavement.
. Allow greater following distances
on slippery roads.
. Watch for slippery spots (glare
ice). These may appear on an
otherwise clear road in shaded
areas. If a patch of ice is seen
ahead, brake before reaching it.
Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
. Snow can trap dangerous ex-
haust gases under your vehicle.
Keep snow clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around your vehi-
cle.
in damage to the paint.
. Do not fill the window washer
reservoir tank with washer fluid
concentrates at full strength.
Some methyl alcohol based
washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if
spilled while filling the window
washer reservoir tank.
. Pre-mix washer fluid concen-
trates with water to the manu-
facturer’s recommended levels
before pouring the fluid into the
window washer reservoir tank. Do
not use the window washer re-
servoir tank to mix the washer
fluid concentrate and water..Keep the battery surface clean and
dry. Clean the battery with a solution
of baking soda and water.
. Make certain the terminal connec-
tions are clean and securely tightened.
. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30
days or longer, disconnect the nega-
tive 7battery terminal cable to pre-
vent discharging it.
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.
WARNING
. Do not expose the battery to
flames or electrical sparks. Hy-
drogen gas generated by the
battery is explosive. Do not allow
battery fluid to contact your skin, eyes, fabrics or painted surfaces.
After touching a battery or bat-
tery cap, do not touch or rub your
eyes. Thoroughly wash your
hands. If the acid contacts your
eyes, skin or clothing, immedi-
ately flush with water for at least
15 minutes and seek medical
attention.
. Do not operate the vehicle if the
fluid in the battery is low. Low
battery fluid can cause a higher
load on the battery which can
generate heat, reduce battery life,
and in some cases lead to an
explosion.
. When working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye
protection and remove all jew-
elry.
. Battery posts, terminals and re-
lated accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash
hands after handling.
. Keep the battery out of the reach
of children.
Do-it-yourself8-11
BATTERY