NISSAN 350Z 2008 Z33 Owners Manual

with any vehicle, a loss of control could
result in a collision with other vehicles or
objects, or cause the vehicle to rollover,
particularly if the loss of control causes the
vehicle to slide sideways.Be attentive at all
times, and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or drugs
(including prescription or over-the-counter
drugs which may cause drowsiness). Always
wear your seat belt as outlined in the “1. Safety
— Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint
system” section and also instruct your passen-
gers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers.In a rollover crash, an
unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reactiontime and impairs judgement. Driving af-
ter drinking alcohol increases the likeli-
hood of being involved in an accident
injuring yourself and others. Addition-
ally, if you are injured in an accident,
alcohol can increase the severity of the
injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. You must
not drive under the influence of alcohol. Every
year thousands of people are injured or killed in
alcohol related accidents. Although the local
laws vary on what is considered to be legally
intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol affects all
people differently and most people underesti-
mate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix! And
that is true for drugs, too (over the counter,
prescription, and illegal drugs). Don’t drive if
your ability to operate your vehicle is impaired by
alcohol, drugs, or some other physical condition.
WARNING
Never remove or turn the key to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock. This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle and
could result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury.IGNITION SWITCH
5-6
Starting and driving


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONThe ignition lock is designed so the key cannot
be turned to the LOCK position and removed
until the selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
When removing the key from the ignition switch,
make sure the selector lever is in the P (Park)
position.
If the selector lever is not returned to the P (Park)
position, the key cannot be moved to the LOCK
position.
When the key cannot be turned to the LOCK
position, proceed as follows to remove the key:1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Turn the ignition key slightly toward the ON
direction.
3. Turn the key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key.
If the key is removed from the ignition switch, the
selector lever cannot be moved from P (Park)
position.The selector lever can be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ON position
and the foot brake pedal is depressed.
There is an OFF position
1
in between the
LOCK and ACC positions. The OFF position is
indicated by a “1” on the key cylinder. When the
ignition switch is in the OFF position, the steer-
ing wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn counterclock-
wise from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONThe ignition switch includes a device that helps
prevent accidental removal of the key while
driving.
The key can only be removed when the ignition
switch is in the LOCK position.
To turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position
from the ACC or ON position, turn the key to the
OFF position, push the key in, then turn the key
to the LOCK position.
There is an OFF position
1
in between the
LOCK and ACC positions. The OFF position is
indicated by a “1” on the key cylinder.
SSD0392
SSD0503
Starting and driving
5-7


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.KEY POSITIONSThe switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
LOCK (Normal parking position) (0)
The ignition key can only be removed when the
switch is in this position.
OFF (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking the
steering wheel.
The ignition lock is designed so that the key
cannot be turned to LOCK and removed until the
selector lever is moved to the P (Park) position.
ACC (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not running.ON (Normal operating position) (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and the
electrical accessories.
START (4)
This position activates the starter motor, starting
the engine.
NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEMThe NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System will not
allow the engine to start without the use of the
registered key.
If the engine fails to start using a registered key
(for example, when interference is caused by
another registered key, an automated toll road
device or automated payment device on the key
ring), restart the engine using the following
procedures:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON position
for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK
position and wait approximately 10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the device
(which may have caused the interference)
separate from the registered key.If this procedure allows the engine to start,
NISSAN recommends placing the registered key
on a separate key ring to avoid interference from
other devices.
5-8
Starting and driving


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.

Maintenance items should be checked peri-
odically, for example, each time you check
engine oil.

Check that all windows and lights are clean.

Visually inspect tires for their appearance and
condition. Also check tires for proper infla-
tion.

Lock all doors.

Position seat and adjust head restraints.

Adjust inside and outside mirrors.

Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.

Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition key is turned to the ON position.
See “Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders” in the “2. Instruments and con-
trols” section.1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral). (P preferred.)
The starter is designed not to operate if the
selector lever is in one of the driving posi-
tions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) position,
and depress the clutch pedal to the floor
while cranking the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key 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 then crank the engine.
Release the key and the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.

If the engine is very hard to start because it is
flooded, depress the accelerator pedal all theway to the floor and hold it. Crank the engine
for 5 to 6 seconds. After cranking the engine,
release the accelerator pedal. Crank the en-
ginewith your foot off the accelerator
pedalby turning the ignition key to START.
Release the key when the engine starts. 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, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.
4.Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine 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 to 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.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving
5-9


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5-speed automatic transmissionThe automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum ve-
hicle performance and driving enjoyment.Starting the vehicleAfter starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the selector lever button
before shifting the selector lever to the R (Re-
verse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual shift
mode position. Be sure the vehicle is fully
stopped before shifting the selector lever.
This automatic transmission model is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal must
be depressed before shifting from P (Park)
to any drive position while the ignition
switch is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) position and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned
to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
key is removed from the ignition switch.1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the selector lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
WARNING

Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or
manual shift mode. Always depress
the brake pedal until shifting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an acci-
dent.

Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.

On slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.

Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving forward.Never shift to P (Park) or D (Drive)
while vehicle is moving backward.
These could cause an accident.
CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake should be used for this purpose.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE5-10
Starting and driving


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal,: Push the button,: Just move the selector lever.
ShiftingAfter starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and shift the selector lever from P (Park) to
R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), or Manual
shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector
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 per-
sonal injury or property damage.
If the key is turned to OFF or ACC for any reason
while the vehicle is in R (Reverse), N (Neutral), or
any D (Drive) position, the key cannot be turned
to LOCK and be removed from the ignition
switch. Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position, then the key can be turned to LOCK.
CAUTION
To prevent automatic transmission
damage, use the P (Park) or R (Reverse)
position only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make surethe vehicle is completely stopped.The brake
pedal must be depressed and the selector
lever button pushed in to move the selec-
tor lever from N (Neutral) or any drive
position to P (Park).Apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, first depress the foot
brake pedal, apply the parking brake, then shift
into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting R
(Reverse).The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the selector lever button
pushed in to move the selector lever from
P (Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position
to R (Reverse).
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
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 modeWhen the selector lever is shifted from D to the
manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters the manual
SSD0346
Starting and driving
5-11


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


shift mode. Shift range can be selected manu-
ally.
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
M5 (5th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.M4 (4th):
Use this position when driving up long slopes, or
for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.M3 (3rd) and
M2 (2nd):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on down-
hill 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
M4
range. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up, move the selector lever to
the + (up) side. (Shifts to higher range.)

When shifting down, move the selector lever
to the − (down) side. (Shifts to lower range.)

Moving the selector lever to the same side
twice will shift the ranges in succession.
However, if this motion is rapidly done, the
second shifting may not be completed prop-
erly.

In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion 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 canceling the manual shift mode, re-
turn the selector lever to the D position. The
transmission returns to the normal driving
mode.

In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance
and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control.
Accelerator downshift
— In D position —For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts thetransmission down into the lower gear, depend-
ing on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safeWhen fail-safe operation occurs, the automatic
transmission will be locked in 4th gear.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair if neces-
sary.
5-12
Starting and driving


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low or discharged, the
select lever may not be moved from the P (Park)
position even with the brake pedal depressed.
To move the selector lever, depress the brake
pedal, apply the parking brake, and push the
shift lock release button by using a suitable tool
as shown. Push the selector lever button, then
the selector lever can be moved to N (Neutral).
This allows the vehicle to be moved if the battery
is discharged.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park), have
a NISSAN dealer check the automatic transmis-
sion system as soon as possible.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ShiftingTo change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into
the appropriate gear then slowly and smoothly
release the clutch.
This vehicle is equipped with a short throw
shifter manual transmission. To ensure smooth
gear changes, fully depress the clutch pedal
before operating the shift lever. If the clutch
pedal is not fully depressed before the transmis-
sion is shifted, a gear noise may be heard.
Transmission damage could occur.Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd, 3rd,
4th and 5th up to 6th gear in sequence accord-
ing to the vehicle speed.
To back up, depress the shift lever and then
move it to the R (Reverse) position after stop-
ping the vehicle completely.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (Low gear), shift to N (Neutral),
then release the clutch pedal. Fully depress the
clutch pedal again and shift into R or 1.
WARNING

Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery 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.
CAUTION

Do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving. This may damage
the clutch.
SSD0347
SSD0536
Starting and driving
5-13


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.

Stop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse).

When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a
stop light), shift to N (Neutral) and
release the clutch pedal with the foot
brake applied.
Up-shift indicatorThe manual transmission up-shift indicator is
located in the tachometer and shows the driver
the timing to shift into a higher gear by illuminat-
ing. The use of the up-shift indicator will help you
to upshift at a constant engine speed (rpm) from
any gear.
The up-shift indicator will start flashing when the
engine speed is within about 500 rpm of the set
figure while driving, and then illuminate after the
engine speed reaches the set figure.
The engine speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm) for upshifting can be set on the tripcomputer display. See “Trip computer” in the “2.
Instruments and controls” section for the display
setting information.
Use the up-shift indicator when driving as fol-
lows:

If the maximum engine speed is desired, set
the figure at 7,500 rpm. (The indicator starts
flashing from about 7,000 rpm and comes on
steady at 7,500 rpm.)

If the maximum engine torque is desired, set
the figure at 4,800 rpm. (The indicator starts
flashing from about 4,300 rpm and comes on
steady at 4,800 rpm.)

If you want to break in your vehicle, use of the
up-shift indicator with a rather low figure will
help you to avoid the high engine speed.
To make the up-shift indicator not come on, set
the figure at above 8,100 rpm.
There may be a slight difference between
the timing of the up-shift indicator illumi-
nation and the tachometer indication.
SSD0638
5-14
Starting and driving


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0


Suggested up-shift speedsShown below are suggested vehicle speeds for
shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions
relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual up-shift speeds will vary according to
road conditions, the weather and individual driv-
ing habits.
For normal acceleration in low altitude areas
[less than 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:
Gear change MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 8 (13)
2nd to 3rd 16 (26)
3rd to 4th 25 (40)
4th to 5th 28 (45)
5th to 6th 33 (53)
For quick acceleration in low altitude areas or in
high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:
Gear change MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (64)
4th to 5th 45 (72)
5th to 6th 50 (80)
Suggested maximum speed in each
gearDownshift 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 suggested 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 40 (65)
2nd 66 (106)
3rd 95 (152)
4th —
5th —
6th —To apply:pull the parking brake lever up
1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2.Automatic transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
3. While pulling up on the parking brake lever
slightly, push the button
2
and lower the
lever completely
3.
SPA2110
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving
5-15


07.7.25/Z33-D/V5.0