NISSAN 370Z COUPE 2010 Owners Manual

Black plate (281,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers andeither contact a roadside emergency service
to change the tire or see “CHANGING A
FLAT TIRE (for models with spare tire)” in
the “6. In case of emergency” section of this
Owner’s Manual.DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. Alcohol in the blood-
stream reduces coordination, delays
reaction time and impairs judgement.
Driving after drinking alcohol increases
the likelihood of being involved in an
accident injuring yourself and others.
Additionally, if you are injured in an
accident, alcohol can increase the se-
verity of the injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. However,
you must choose not to 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 underestimate 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
Do not operate the push-button ignition
switch while driving the vehicle 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 ignition
switch, be sure to move the selector lever to
the P (Park) position (for automatic transmission
model) or the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (for manual transmission model) .PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving
5-7

Black plate (282,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 3/ 25
SSD0825
OPERATING RANGE FOR ENGINE
START FUNCTIONThe Intelligent Key can only be used for starting
the engine when the Intelligent Key is within the
specified operating range
*1.
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 operating
range, it is possible for anyone, even someone
who does not carry the Intelligent Key, to push
the ignition switch to start the engine. .
The cargo/trunk room area is not included in
the operating range but the Intelligent Key
may function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed on the
instrument panel, rear parcel shelf, inside
the glove box or door pocket, the Intelligent
Key may not function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed near the door
or window outside the vehicle, the Intelligent
Key may function.
SSD1021
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
OPERATIONWhen the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal (automatic transmis-
sion model) or the clutch pedal (manual
transmission model) , the ignition switch position
will change as follows:
.Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to ON.
. Push center three times to change to OFF.
(No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to ACC.
. Open or close any door to return to LOCK
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Starting and driving

Black plate (283,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
during the OFF position.
The ignition switch is equipped with an anti-theft
steering lock device.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, push the
ignition switch to the OFF position. To
unlock the steering wheel, push the igni-
tion switch. If the steering lock release
malfunction indicator appears on the ve-
hicle information display, push the push-
button ignition switch again while lightly
turning the steering wheel right and left.
(See “VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY”
in the “2. Instruments and controls” sec-
tion.)
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the push-button ignition switch cannot be
turned from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation are
displayed on the vehicle information display.
(See “VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY” in
the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)
Automatic transmission modelsThe ignition lock is designed so that the ignition
switch position cannot be switched to LOCK
until the selector lever is moved to the P (Park) position.
When the ignition switch cannot be pushed
toward the LOCK position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position. The ignition switch position indicator will not
illuminate.
3. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The selector lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the ACC position while carrying the
Intelligent Key or with the Intelligent Key inserted
in the port.ACC (Accessories)This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.OFFThe engine can be turned off without locking the
steering wheel.
Automatic transmission models: The ignition
lock is designed so that the ignition switch
cannot be switched to the LOCK position until
the selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the push-
button ignition switch in ACC or ON
positions when the engine is not run-
ning for an extended period. This can
discharge the battery.
Starting and driving
5-9

Black plate (284,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
SSD0826
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGEIf the battery of the Intelligent Key is almost
discharged, the guide light
*B
of the Intelligent
Key port
*A
blinks and the indicator appears on
the vehicle information display. (See “VEHICLE
INFORMATION DISPLAY” in the “2. Instruments
and controls” section.)
In this case, inserting the Intelligent Key into the
port
*1
allows you to start the engine. Make
sure that the key ring side faces backward as
illustrated. Insert the Intelligent Key in the port
until it is latched and secured.
To remove the Intelligent Key from the port, push the ignition switch to the OFF position and pull
the Intelligent Key out of the port.
NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge
the Intelligent Key battery. If you see the
low battery indicator in the vehicle infor-
mation display, replace the battery as soon
as possible. (See “INTELLIGENT KEY BAT-
TERY REPLACEMENT” in the “8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section.)
CAUTION
.
Never place anything except the
Intelligent Key in the Intelligent
Key port. Doing so may cause da-
mage to the equipment.
. Make sure the Intelligent Key is in
the correct direction when inserting
it to the Intelligent Key port. The
engine may not start if it is in the
incorrect direction.
. Remove the Intelligent Key from the
Intelligent Key port after the ignition
switch is pushed to the OFF posi-
tion. .
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
. 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 switch is pushed to the ON
position. (See “WARNING/INDICATOR
LIGHTS AND AUDIBLE REMINDERS” in
the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
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Starting and driving

Black plate (285,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic Transmission (AT) model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the selector 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 depressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal (AT model) or the
clutch pedal (MT model) 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 with the ignition switch in
any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when restart-
ing, 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 damaged. 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 4,500 rpm or
more under no load condition, the engine
will enter the fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the selector lever to the P (Park) position (AT model) or move the
shift lever to the N (Neutral) position (MT
model) , and push the ignition switch to the
OFF position.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving
5-11

Black plate (286,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed automatic transmissionThe automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum efficiency and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum
vehicle 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
(Reverse) , N (Neutral) , D (Drive) or Manual shift
mode position. Be sure the vehicle is fully
stopped before attempting to shift 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 position is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition switch
is pushed to the LOCK, OFF or ACC
position.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. Al-
ways depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do
so could cause you to lose control
and have an accident.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so
use caution when shifting into a
forward or reverse gear before the
engine has warmed up.
. Never shift to P (Park) or R (Re-
verse) while vehicle is moving for-
ward. Never shift to P (Park) or D
(Drive) while vehicle is moving rear-
ward. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an
accident.
CAUTION
.When stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle
by depressing the accelerator pedal.
The foot brake should be used for
this purpose.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE5-12
Starting and driving

Black plate (287,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
SSD0827
Selector lever
ShiftingTo move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing thebrake pedal,: Push the button,: Just move the selector lever.
After 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
personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped and the transmission is in the
P (Park) position.
P (Park) position:
Use this selector 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 selector
lever button pushed in to move the selec-
tor lever from the N (Neutral) position or
any drive position to the P (Park) position.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a hill,
apply the parking brake first, then move the
selector lever to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position. The brake pedal
must be depressed and the selector lever
button pushed in to move the selector
lever from the P (Park) position, the N
(Neutral) position or any drive position to
the R (Reverse) position.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to the N (Neutral) position and restart a
stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
Starting and driving
5-13

Black plate (288,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
SSD0828
Paddle shifter
Manual shift modeWhen the selector lever is in the manual shift
gate, the transmission is ready for the manual
shift mode. Shift ranges can be selected
manually by moving the selector lever up or
down, or pulling the right-side or left-side
paddle shifter.
When shifting up, move the selector lever to the
+ (up) side or pull the right-side paddle shifter
(+)
*A
. The transmission shifts to the higher
range.
When shifting down, move the selector lever to
the (down) side or pull the left-side paddle
shifter ( )
*B. The transmission shifts to the
lower range. When canceling the manual shift mode, return
the selector lever to the D (Drive) position. The
transmission returns to the normal driving mode.
When you pull the paddle shifter while in the D
(Drive) position, the transmission will shift to the
upper or lower range temporarily. The transmis-
sion will automatically return to the D (Drive)
position after a short period of time. If you want
to return to the D (Drive) position manually, pull
and hold the paddle shifter for about 1.5
seconds.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the transmission position indicator
in the meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
1M
?
/
2
M
?
/3
M
?
/4
M
?
/5
M
?
/6
M
?
/
7
M
7M(7th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
6M(6th) and 5
M(5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving down
long slopes.
4
M(4th) , 3
M(3rd) and 2
M(2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades. 1
M(1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow, or
for maximum engine braking on steep downhill
grades.
. Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 7th
gear. This reduces fuel economy.
. Moving the selector lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving perfor-
mance and reduces the chance of
vehicle damage or loss of control.
When this situation occurs, the Automatic
Transmission (AT) position indicator light (on
the vehicle information display) will blink and
the buzzer will sound.
. 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.
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Starting and driving

Black plate (289,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
Accelerator downshift
— In D (Drive) position —For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, depend-
ing on the vehicle speed.Fail-safeWhen the fail-safe operation occurs, note that
the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spin-
ning 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, push
the ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition
switch back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating
condition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair if ne-
cessary.
SSD0829
Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low or discharged, the
selector lever may not be moved from the P
(Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed and the selector lever button pushed.
To move the selector lever, perform the following
procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCKposition.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
*A
using a
suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock
*B
using a
suitable tool as illustrated.
5. Push the selector lever button
*C
and move
the selector lever to the N (Neutral) position
*D
while holding down the shift lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. Now the vehicle may
be moved to the desired location.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel locked.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have a NISSAN dealer check the automatic
transmission system as soon as possible.
Starting and driving
5-15

Black plate (290,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2009/ 9/ 10
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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 da-
mage the clutch.
. Fully depress the clutch pedal be-
fore shifting to help prevent trans-
mission 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.
SSD0536
ShiftingTo change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into
an appropriate gear, and then slowly and
smoothly release the clutch pedal.
This vehicle is equipped with a short throw
shifter manual transmission. 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 upshift to 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in sequence accord-
ing to the vehicle speed. To back up, depress the shift knob and then
move the shift lever to the R (Reverse) position
after stopping the vehicle completely.
The shift knob 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 R
(Reverse) or 1st (Low gear) , shift to N (Neutral) ,
then release the clutch pedal. Fully depress the
clutch pedal again and shift into R or 1st.
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) (if
so equipped for Manual Transmission
models)The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) auto-
matically adjusts the engine speed to match the
selecting gear ratio while changing gears.
Precautions:
.
Shift lever and clutch pedal operations are
not different than a conventional manual
transmission.
. Fully depress the clutch pedal. Insufficient
pedal depression may cause slow response
of this system.
. When the clutch pedal is depressed with
the gear still engaged, the engine speed is
kept at the proper level for the engaged
gear. Thus, the engine speed may be kept
5-16
Starting and driving