NISSAN GT-R 2013 R35 Owners Manual

5-38Starting and driving
NOTE:
.If cruise control was canceled by press-
ing the cancel switch or by depressing
the brake pedal, the system changes to
standby status.
. If you depress the brake pedal while
pushing the RESUME/ACCELERATE or
SET/COAST switch and reset at the
cruising speed, the cruise control will
be deactivated. Turn the MAIN switch
off once and then turn it on again.
Under the following conditions, cruise control
will be automatically canceled.
. Vehicle speed drops to below approximately
19 MPH (30 km/h) .
. Vehicle speed drops to more than approxi-
mately 8 MPH (13 km/h) below the set
vehicle speed.
. The shift lever is moved to a position other
than
&A↔&M.
. VDC operates.
. A tire is spinning.
. There is a malfunction in the cruise control
system.
WARNING
.Never rely solely on the hill start
assist system to prevent the vehicle
from moving backward on a hill.
Always drive carefully and atten-
tively. Depress the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped on a
steep hill. Be especially careful
when stopped on a hill on frozen
or muddy roads. Failure to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards
may result in a loss of control of the
vehicle and possible serious injury
or death.
. The hill start assist system is not
designed to hold the vehicle at a
standstill on a hill. Depress the
brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to
do so may cause the vehicle to roll
backwards and may result in a
collision or serious personal injury.
. The hill start assist may not prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards
on a hill under all load or road
conditions. Always be prepared to
depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards.
Failure to do so may result in a
collision or serious personal injury.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stopped on a hill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal. Doing
so may cause the clutch to overheat and
result in transmission damage. Use the
brakes to prevent the vehicle from
moving.
The hill start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards in the time it takes the
driver to release the brake pedal and apply the
accelerator when the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
Hill start assist will operate automatically under
the following conditions:
. The shift lever is moved to a forward or
reverse position.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After 2
seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
HILL START ASSIST

hill start assist will stop operating completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the shift
lever is moved to the
&Nor&Pposition or on a
flat and level road.
NOTE:
This system does not function when the
Vehicle Dynamic Control VDC) system
warning appears on the vehicle informa-
tion display located in the tachometer.
(
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys-
tem warning” page 2-36)
NOTICE
Follow these recommendations to ob-
tain maximum engine performance and
ensure the future reliability and econo-
my of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may
result in shortened engine life and
reduced vehicle performance.
Please observe the following types of driving
until the mileage shown below has been
reached.
Until 300 miles (500 km):
. Do not depress the accelerator pedal more
than halfway and avoid rapid acceleration.
. Drive with the engine speed kept at less
than 3,500 RPM.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering, abrupt
braking and driving on poor roads.
300 to 600 miles (500 to 1,000 km)
. Avoid rapid acceleration in a low gear (1st to
3rd gears) with the accelerator pedal fully
depressed. Depress the pedal slowly.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering and
abrupt braking. .
Drive with the suspension setup switch in
the COMF mode to allow more suspension
stroke.
600 to 1,200 miles (1,000 to 2,000 km)
. Drive with the engine speed kept relatively
high with the shift lever in the
&Mposition.
Shifting is recommended between 1st and
4th gears.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering and
abrupt braking.
. Drive with the suspension setup switch in
the COMF mode to allow more suspension
stroke.
Even though the mileage reaches over 1,200
miles (2,000 km) , the clutch may take longer to
properly engage if the vehicle is mainly driven in
town at a low speed. NISSAN recommends
breaking in the clutch at a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Do not adjust the wheel alignment until the
mileage reaches 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Until
then, the suspension may not engage enough
and the height may be higher.
However, make sure to adjust the alignment
after 1,000 miles (1,600 km) .
The wheel alignment can be adjusted by a GT-R
Starting and driving5-39
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE

5-40Starting and driving
certified NISSAN dealer in accordance with
specifications for city driving to high perfor-
mance driving.
The tires on the GT-R may have different wear
rates and wear patterns in comparison to
conventional passenger vehicles. Contact a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer to confirm that
the alignment is within specifications..Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
. Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
. Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles.
. Select a gear range suitable to road condi-
tions.
. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
. 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.
. Air conditioner operation lowers fuel econ-
omy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
. When cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag. .
Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(“Oil viscosity” page 9-6)
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY

AWD WARNING LIGHT
The AWD warning light is located in the meter.
The AWD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is pushed to the ON position. It
turns off soon after the engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the AWD systemwhile the engine is running, the warning light will
come on.
The warning light may blink rapidly (about twice
per second) while trying to free a stuck vehicle
due to high AWD clutch temperature. The
driving mode may change to two-wheel drive.
If the warning light blinks rapidly during opera-
tion, stop the vehicle with the engine idling in a
safe place immediately. Then if the light goes off
after a while, you can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of
front and rear wheels will make the warning light
blink slowly (about once per two seconds) . Pull
off the road in a safe area, and idle the engine.
Check that all tire sizes are the same, tire
pressure is correct and tires are not worn and
winter tires are not installed on the front or rear
wheels only.
If the warning light is blinking after the above
operation, have your vehicle checked by a GT-R
certified NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
If non-genuine GT-R tires are used, the warning
light may illuminate. (
“GT-R special speci-
fication parts” page GTR-3)
WARNING
. Do not attempt to raise two wheels
off the ground and shift the trans-
mission 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 an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dy-
namometer (such as the dynam-
ometers used by some states for
emissions testing) or similar equip-
ment even if the other two wheels
are raised off the ground. Make sure
that you inform the test facility
personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using
the wrong test equipment may re-
sult in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle da-
mage or personal injury.
Starting and driving5-41
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)

5-42Starting and driving
NOTICE
.If the warning light comes on while
driving there may be a malfunction
in the AWD system. Reduce the
vehicle speed and have your vehicle
checked by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
. If the warning light remains on after
the above operation, have your
vehicle checked by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
. The powertrain may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warn-
ing light blinking.
. Do not spin the rear wheels while
driving. Spinning the rear wheels
may increase the temperatures of
the AWD clutch system and damage
the system. Adjust the accelerator
pedal position to stop wheel spin.
TIGHT CORNER BRAKING PHE-
NOMENON
If the steering wheel is turned more than half a
turn when the vehicle is started when it is cold, it
may be harder to move the vehicle forward and
backward. This phenomenon is known as the
“tight corner braking phenomenon”.
This phenomenon is unique to AWD vehicles,
and occurs due to a difference in speeds
between the front and rear wheels while the
vehicle is turning. This does not indicate that
there is a malfunction.
NOTE:
If the tight corner braking phenomenon
occurs, a slipping sound may be heard
from the tires, or a squeaking sound may
be heard from the drive system.
Reducing tight corner braking phe-
nomenon
The tight corner braking phenomenon can be
temporarily reduced.
Push the transmission setup switch down for
approximately 4 seconds while the engine is
running.
.The SAVE mode indicator will blink once
and will then turn off.
. If the SAVE mode is already selected, the
SAVE mode indicator will blink once and
then illuminate again. (
“VDC, transmis-
sion and suspension setup switches” page
5-24)

After performing the above, the vehicle switches
from the AWD mode to 2WD mode only if both
of the following conditions are met:
.Vehicle speed is less than approximately 6
MPH (10 km/h)
*AAND
. The steering wheel is turned more than 1/2
turn
*B.
If the above driving conditions are not met,
the vehicle will not switch to the 2WD
mode to temporarily reduce the braking
phenomenon even if the transmission
setup switch is operated.
To stop reducing the phenomenon, push the
transmission setup switch down for approxi- mately 4 seconds again. The driving mode will
switch to the normal AWD mode.
Reduction of the tight corner braking phenom-
enon will be cancelled when:
.
the R mode is selected with the transmission
setup switch
. the SAVE mode is selected with the
transmission setup switch and the OFF
mode is selected with the VDC setup switch
. the ignition switch is pushed to the "OFF"
position
. the R mode start function is used
WARNING
Do not reduce the tight corner braking
phenomenon when driving on a road
surface that is slippery or covered in
snow, because the driving mode will
switch to 2WD. This may cause tire
slipping and may cause a loss of control
and result in a collision, personal injury
or death.
TIRES
This vehicle is equipped with special tires. When
changing the tires, install the designated special
tires. Replacing tires as a set of four with new
ones is recommended. However, if a tire is
punctured or damaged, it may be possible to
replace only the damaged tire. Determining
whether one tire or a complete set of tires
should be replaced is based on a number of
factors including tire wear and condition. Con-
tact your GT-R certified NISSAN dealer. They
can recommend if an individual tire or a
complete set should be replaced.
NOTICE
If tires other than the designated tires,
tires with large differences in wear or
tires of different sizes are installed, the
AWD performance will be degraded and
the drive mechanism may be damaged.
AWD SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
The AWD system automatically distributes the
optimal torque to the front and rear wheels. This
provides both the superior turning performance
of a rear wheel drive vehicle and the traction of a
AWD vehicle.
Starting and driving5-43

5-44Starting and driving
Electronic control continuously distributes tor-
que to the front and rear wheels in the range
from 0:100 (rear-wheel drive mode) to 50:50
(all-wheel drive mode) to match the driving
conditions and road conditions. This allows the
engine output (torque) to be effectively trans-
mitted to the road surface.The rear final drive of this vehicle is equipped
with a 1.5-way mechanical Limited Slip Differ-
ential (LSD) .
WARNING
Sudden operation of the accelerator
pedal can result in fishtailing or side-
slip, possibly causing an accident. Use
particular caution when driving in rainy
weather or on slippery roads.
NOTICE
Use the designated differential gear oil.
If any oil other than the designated oil
is used, the LSD may not operate
correctly, and noise and vibration may
occur, possibly resulting in a malfunc-
tion.
NOTE:
. If the vehicle accelerates from a stop
with the steering wheel turned in cold
temperatures, the inner wheel tire may
slip and some noise or vibration may
be heard. This phenomenon is unique
to vehicles equipped with the LSD. This does not indicate that there is a mal-
function.
. The LSD controls the speed difference
between the left and right wheels, and
optimally allocates torque to the
wheels.
. The 1.5-way mechanical LSD in the rear
final drive of this vehicle is character-
ized by its asymmetrical LSD effects
when the accelerator pedal is ON and
when it is OFF. This allows the appro-
priate amount of torque for the driving
environment to be transmitted to the
road surface.
LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (LSD)

WARNING
.Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
. Never leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
. Do not leave children unattended
inside the vehicle. They could un-
knowingly activate switches or con-
trols. Unattended children could
become involved in serious acci- dents.
. Safe parking procedures require
that both the parking brake be
applied and the transmission placed
into the
&Pposition. Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result
in an accident.
. Make sure the shift lever has been
pushed as far forward as it can go
and cannot be moved without de-
pressing the foot brake pedal.
. Follow the instructions below when parking the vehicle to help prevent
the brake rotor and brake pads from
rusting together. Failure to follow
the instructions could cause the
rotor and pads to rust together. If
the rotor and pads rust together,
there may be a popping noise and
some vibration when the vehicle is
driven, a wheel may not roll cor-
rectly, or the brake pads could be
damaged. If the pads are damaged,
this may reduce the effectiveness of
the brake system which could cause
a collision, serious personal injury
or death.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the
&Pposition.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into the street when parked on a sloping drive
way, it is a good practice to turn the wheels
as illustrated.
.HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:*1Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
.HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:*2Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
Starting and driving5-45
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS

5-46Starting and driving
.HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
*3Turn 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 LOCK position.
The GT-R uses brake pad materials that have
high metallic content. The brake pad material
helps maintain braking performance in a wide
range of weather and driving conditions.
For the first 3,000 - 6,000 miles (5,000 -
10,000 km) of the vehicle’s service life, and for
the first 3,000 - 6,000 miles (5,000 - 10,000
km) after a brake replacement, the brake pad to
brake rotor clearance is very small. When
parking, apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to the
&Pposition. Idle the engine for
more than 20 seconds without depressing the
brake pedal. This allows the brake pads to move
away from the rotor so the pad does not contact
the rotor.
Additionally, the brakes must be dry before
parking the vehicle after driving on wet roads or
after washing the vehicle. If the roads are wet,
lightly apply the brakes for a short distance
before parking the vehicle to dry the brakes.
After washing the vehicle, dry the brakes by
driving on a dry road for a few miles and apply the brakes normally based on traffic and road
conditions.
The metallic brake pads and brake disc rotor
may rust together when the brakes are not
applied:
.
If the vehicle is not idled for 20 seconds
without the brakes applied, or if the brakes
are applied when the vehicle is shut off, the
rotor and pads can rust together, even when
the brake pads are dry.
. If the brakes are wet when the vehicle is
parked and the parking brake is applied for a
long time.
Contact a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer if the
brake pads and brake rotor have rusted
together.
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.
The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist 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, espe-
cially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
POWER STEERING

BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
You may feel a small click and hear a sound
when the brake pedal is fully depressed slowly.
This is not a malfunction and indicates that the
brake assist mechanism is operating properly.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and the stopping
distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly tapping the brake pedal to heat-up
the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to
normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds
until the brakes function correctly.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake and pads faster
and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
.While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
. If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or
drums/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.
Starting and driving5-47
BRAKE SYSTEM