light NISSAN 370Z COUPE 2011 Owners Manual

Black plate (284,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
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.OFF-ROAD RECOVERYWhile driving, the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface. If this
occurs, maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note that
this procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate based on
the conditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel
with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the vehicle
speed is reduced. Do not attempt to drive
the vehicle back onto the road surface until
vehicle speed is reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires return to the
road surface. When all tires are on the road
surface, steer the vehicle to stay in the
appropriate driving lane.
.
If you decide that it is not safe to return
the vehicle to the road surface based on
vehicle, road or traffic conditions, gra-
dually slow the vehicle to a stop in a safe
place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSSRapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged due
to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air pressure
loss can also be caused by driving on under-
inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at highway
speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by main-
taining the correct air pressure and visually
inspect the tires for wear and damage. See
“WHEELS AND TIRES” in the “8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or “blows-out”
while driving maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note that
this procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate based on
the conditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air
pressure. Losing control of the vehicle
may cause a collision and result in
personal injury.
. The vehicle generally moves or pulls
in the direction of the flat tire.
. Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
. Do not rapidly release the accelera-
tor pedal.
. Do not rapidly turn the steering
wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
5-6
Starting and driving

Black plate (287,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
during the OFF position.
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.
STEERING LOCK (if so equipped)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.)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 in this position.
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.EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFFTo shut off the engine in an emergency situation
while driving perform the following procedure:
. Rapidly push the push-button ignition switch
3 consecutive times, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.
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
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Black plate (288,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
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 (292,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
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.
5-14
Starting and driving

Black plate (293,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SSD0832
Upshift indicator:
The up-shift indicator is located in the tach-
ometer and shows the driver the timing to shift
into a higher gear by illuminating. The use of the
up-shift indicator will help you to upshift at a
constant engine speed from any gear.
The up-shift indicator will start flashing when the
engine speed reaches about 500 rpm before the
set figure while driving, and then illuminate after
the engine speed reaches the set figure.
The engine speed for upshifting can be set on
the vehicle information display. See “TRIP
COMPUTER” in the “2. Instruments and con-
trols” section.There may be a slight difference between
the timing of the up-shift indicator illumi-
nation and the tachometer indication.
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 LOCK
position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
*A
using a
suitable tool.
Starting and driving
5-15

Black plate (294,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
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 (if so equipped) . Now
the vehicle may be moved to the desired
location.
For models with a steering wheel lock mechan-
ism:
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.
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.
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Starting and driving

Black plate (295,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
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 high depending on the gear position and
vehicle speed.
. When the clutch pedal is depressed with
the transmission in neutral, the system
operates for approximately 2 seconds, and
then the engine speed will decrease to the
idle speed.
. When the engine coolant temperature is low
right after starting the engine, engine speed
synchronization will be delayed or may be
insufficient.
. The system controls the engine speed up to
the rev limit. Note that S-MODE is not a
function that prevents over-revving resulting
from shifting mistakes.
. The system does not operate while the
vehicle is backing up.
. If the engine speed is limited lower than
usual when the engine oil temperature is
extremely high, the system will control up to
the limited engine speed.
. If the malfunction indicator light illuminates,
the system may not operate and the S-
MODE indicator turns off.
SSD0830
SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) warn-
ing:
The SynchroRev Match mode (S-MODE) warn-
ing will appear on the vehicle information display
and the S-MODE indicator will turn off if a
system malfunction occurs.
If the warning appears, the S-MODE function
will not operate, but manual transmission will
operate normally and driving can be continued.
Have the system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Starting and driving
5-17

Black plate (297,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SSD0832
Upshift indicatorThe up-shift indicator is located in the tach-
ometer and shows the driver the timing to shift
into a higher gear by illuminating. The use of the
up-shift indicator will help you to upshift at a
constant engine speed from any gear.
The up-shift indicator will start flashing when the
engine speed reaches about 500 rpm before the
set figure while driving, and then illuminate after
the engine speed reaches the set figure.
The engine speed for upshifting can be set on
the vehicle information display. See “TRIP
COMPUTER” in the “2. Instruments and con-
trols” section.There may be a slight difference between
the timing of the up-shift indicator illumi-
nation and the tachometer indication.
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
driving 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 changeMPH (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)
Starting and driving
5-19

Black plate (298,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
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
engine when shifting to a lower gear as it may
cause engine damage or loss of vehicle control.
GearMPH (km/h)
1st 38 (62)
2nd 63 (102)
3rd 91 (146)
4th —
5th —
6th —
WARNING
.Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to
do so can cause brake failure and
lead to an accident.
. Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
. Do not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
. Do not leave children unattended in
a vehicle. They could release the
parking brake and cause an acci-
dent.
SPA2110
To apply: Pull the parking brake lever up
*1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, push the button
*2
and lower the
lever completely
*3.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PARKING BRAKE
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Starting and driving

Black plate (299,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CON-
TROL.If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
will cancel automatically. The CRUISE in-
dicator light on the meter panel will then
blink to warn the driver.
. If the engine coolant temperature becomes
excessively high, the cruise control system
will cancel automatically.
. If the CRUISE indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by a NISSAN dealer.
. The CRUISE indicator light may blink when
the cruise control main switch is turned ON
while pushing the RESUME/ACCELERATE,
SET/COAST or CANCEL switch. To prop-
erly set the cruise control system, perform
the following procedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when
driving under the following conditions:
.when it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed
. in heavy traffic or in traffic that
varies in speed
. on winding or hilly roads .
on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.)
. in very windy areas
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depres-
sing the clutch pedal when the cruise
control is set. Should this occur, de-
press the clutch pedal and turn the
main switch off immediately. Failure to
do so may cause engine damage.
SSD0833
1. RESUME/ACCELERATE switch
2. SET/COAST switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. MAIN (ON·OFF) switchCRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONSThe cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 to 89 MPH (40 to 144 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the MAIN
switch on. The CRUISE indicator light will
illuminate.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the vehicle
to the desired speed, push the SET/COAST
CRUISE CONTROL
Starting and driving
5-21