key battery NISSAN ALTIMA 2000 L30 / 2.G Owners Manual

The interior light operates regardless of
ignition key position.
The interior light has a three-position switch.
cWhen the switch is in the OFF position,
the interior light does not illuminate, re-
gardless of door position.
cWhen the switch is in the centerj
position, the interior light illuminates
when a door is opened.
cWhen the switch is in the ON position,
the interior light illuminates, whether any
door is open or closed.
CAUTION
Do not use for extended periods of time
with the engine stopped. This could
result in a discharged battery.
To turn on the map lights, press the
switches. To turn them off, press the
switches again.
CAUTION
Do not use for extended periods of time
with the engine stopped. This could
result in a discharged battery.
IC1235MWIC0015
INTERIOR LIGHT MAP LIGHTS (if so equipped)
Instruments and controls2-29
ZX

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys .......................................................................3-2
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system (NVIS)
keys ........................................................................3-2
Doors ......................................................................3-2
Locking with key .....................................................3-3
Locking with inside lock knob ................................3-3
Locking with power door lock switch .....................3-4
Child safety rear door lock .....................................3-5
Multi-remote control system (if so equipped).........3-5
How to use multi-remote control system ...............3-5
Battery replacement ...............................................3-8
Hood .......................................................................3-9
Trunk lid................................................................3-10Opener operation .................................................3-10
Key operation .......................................................3-10
Fuel filler lid ..........................................................3-11
Opener operation .................................................3-11
Fuel filler cap ........................................................3-11
Steering wheel .....................................................3-13
Tilt operation.........................................................3-13
Sunvisors ..............................................................3-13
Vanity mirrors .......................................................3-13
Mirrors ..................................................................3-14
Inside mirror .........................................................3-14
Outside mirror remote control ..............................3-14
ZX

SCAN tuning
Push the SEEK/SCAN tuning button
or
for more than 1.5 seconds. SCAN ap-
pears in the display window. SCAN tuning
begins from high to low frequencies or low
to high frequencies, depending on which
button is pressed. SCAN tuning stops at
each broadcasting station for five seconds.
Pushing the button again during this five
second period stops SCAN tuning and the
radio remains tuned to that station.
Station memory operations
Six stations can be set for the AM band. 12
stations can be set for the FM band (six for
FM1, six for FM2).
1. Push band select button (FM/AM) to se-
lect AM, FM1, or FM2. The selected band
illuminates in the display.
2. Tune to the desired station.
3. Push the desired station select button for
more than 1.5 seconds. The radio mutes
when the select button is pushed.
4. The indicator, ch2, then illuminates in the
display and the sound resumes. Memo-
rizing is now complete.5. Other station select buttons can be set in
the same manner.If the battery cable is disconnected, or if the
radio fuse opens, the radio memory is can-
celled. In that case, reset the desired stations.
COMPACT DISC (CD) player op-
eration
Turn the ignition key to the ACC or ON
position, and carefully insert the compact
disc into the slot with the label side up. The
compact disc is automatically pulled into the
slot and starts to play.
If the radio is already operating, it automati-
cally turns off and the compact disc begins
to play.
CAUTION
Do not force the compact disc into the
slot. This could damage the player.
CD button
When this button is pushed with the compact
disc loaded and the radio playing, the radio
turns off and the compact disc starts to play.
When power/volume control knob is pushed
while the compact disc is playing, the com-
pact disc stops playing.
FF (Fast forward), REW (Rewind)
When the
orbutton is pushed
while the compact disc is playing, the com-
pact disc plays at an increased speed while
fast forwarding or rewinding. When the but-
ton is released, the compact disc returns to
normal play speed.
APS (Automatic Program Search) FF,
APS REW
When the
button is pushed while the
compact disc is playing, the selection fol-
4-14Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
ZX

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............................5-2
Three way catalyst .................................................5-2
Avoiding collision and rollover................................5-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .........................5-3
Ignition switch .........................................................5-4
Automatic transmission ..........................................5-4
Manual transmission ..............................................5-5
Key positions ..........................................................5-5
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system (NVIS) ............5-6
Before starting the engine ......................................5-6
Starting the engine .................................................5-7
Driving the vehicle ..................................................5-7
Automatic transmission ..........................................5-7
Manual transmission ............................................5-12
Parking brake .......................................................5-13
Cruise control (if so equipped) .............................5-14
Precautions on cruise control...............................5-14Cruise control operations .....................................5-14
Break-in schedule ................................................5-15
Increasing fuel economy ......................................5-16
Parking/parking on hills ........................................5-17
Power steering .....................................................5-18
Brake system........................................................5-18
Braking precautions .............................................5-18
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (if so equipped) ....5-19
Cold weather driving ............................................5-20
Freeing a frozen door lock ...................................5-20
Anti-freeze ............................................................5-20
Battery ..................................................................5-20
Draining of coolant water .....................................5-20
Tire equipment .....................................................5-21
Special winter equipment .....................................5-21
Driving on snow or ice .........................................5-21
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ...................5-22
ZX

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's 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.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
On automatic transmission models the igni-
tion lock is designed so the key cannot be
turned to LOCK and removed until the shift
selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
When removing the key from the ignition,
make sure the shift selector lever is in the P
(Park) position.
If the key cannot be turned to the LOCK
position, proceed as follows to remove the
key.1) Move the shift selector lever into the P
(Park) position.
2) Turn the ignition key slightly toward the
ON position.
3) Turn the key to the LOCK position.
4) Remove the key.
The shift lever is designed so it cannot be
moved out of P (Park) and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition key is
turned to OFF or if the key is removed from
the switch.
The shift selector lever can be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ACC posi-
tion. This allows the vehicle to be moved
if the battery is discharged. The shift
selector lever can also be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ON position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed.
There is an OFF position between the
LOCK and ACC positions. The OFF posi-
tion is indicated by a ``1'' on the key
cylinder. When the ignition is in OFF, the
steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked,
it must be turned about 1/8 of a turn clock-
wise from the straight up position.
ASD1014
IGNITION SWITCH
5-4Starting and driving
ZX

The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled by the transmis-
sion control module to produce maximum
power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for
this transmission are shown on the following
pages. Follow these procedures for maximum
vehicle performance and driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
cAfter starting the engine, fully depress
the foot brake pedal before shifting the
shift selector lever to the D (Drive), R
(Reverse), 2 or 1 position. Be sure the
vehicle is fully stopped before attempt-
ing to shift the shift selector lever.
cKeep the foot brake pedal depressed
and shift into a driving gear.
c
Release the foot brake, then gradually
start the vehicle in motion.
The automatic transmission is designed
so the foot brake pedal MUST be de-
pressed 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) and into any of the other gearpositions if the ignition key is turned to
LOCK or if the key is removed.
The shift selector lever can be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ACC posi-
tion. This allows the vehicle to be moved
if the battery is discharged.
5-8Starting and driving
ZX

D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
2 (Second gear)
Use this position for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
Do not shift into the 2 position at speeds
above 74 MPH (118 Km/h). Do not exceed
74 MPH (118 Km/h) in the 2 position.
1 (Low gear)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or slow driving through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine brak-
ing on steep downhill grades.
Do not shift into the 1 position at speeds
above 41 MPH (66 km/h). Do not exceed 41
MPH (66 km/h) in the 1 position.Selector lock release
(if so equipped)
If the battery is discharged, the selector
lever may not be moved from the P position
even with the brake pedal depressed and
the selector lever button pushed.
To move the selector lever, push the shift
lock release and selector lever button. The
selector lever can be moved to N (Neutral).
To push the shift lock release, follow the
following procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the lock position
and remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cap.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
release slot, and push down.
5. Push the selector lever button and move
the selector lever to N (Neutral) position
while holding down the shift lock release.
6. Start the engine.
If there is any problem moving the selector
lever out of P (Park), take your vehicle to an
authorized NISSAN dealership as soon as
possible.
ASD1018
5-10Starting and driving
ZX

The brake system then operates normally,
but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test or
while driving, take the vehicle to an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer for repair.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent
accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces, but re-
member that the stopping distance on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on
normal surfaces, even with the anti-
lock brake system. Stopping distances
may also be longer on rough, gravel or
snow covered roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the responsibility for safety
of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may
also affect braking effectiveness.cWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tire on all four
wheels.
cWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. For tire
placard location information, refer to
ªTire placardº in the ``Technical and
Consumer information'' section of
this manual.
Refer to ``Wheels and tires'' in the ``Do-
it-yourself'' section of this manual.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR
LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key be-
fore inserting it into the key hole.
ANTI-FREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC),
check the anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base)
to assure proper winter protection. For de-
tails, see ``Engine cooling system'' in the
``Do-it-yourself'' section.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the bat-
tery fluid may freeze and damage the bat-
tery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the
battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see ``Battery'' in the ``Do-it-yourself ''
section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by
opening the drain valves located under the
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-20Starting and driving
ZX

bolt, engine lift bracket, etc.) Ð not
to the battery.
c
Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
and let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster
vehicle at about 2,000 rpm, and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, turn the key
off and wait 3 to 4 seconds before
trying again.
7. After starting the engine, carefully dis-
connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable.
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped).
Be sure to dispose of the cloth used to
cover the vent holes as it may be con-
taminated with corrosive acid.
CAUTION
cAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push started. This may cause
transmission damage.
cThree way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing.
The three way catalyst may be dam-
aged.
cNever try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it. When the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading),
or if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc., take the following steps.
WARNING
cDo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
cTo avoid the danger of being
scalded, never remove the radiator
cap while the engine is still hot.
When the radiator cap is removed,
pressurized hot water will spurt out,
possibly causing serious injury.
cDo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road,
apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to N (Neutral) (manual trans-
mission) or to P (Park) (automatic trans-
mission).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
6-10In case of emergency
ZX

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
cPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For manual trans-
mission models, move the shift lever
to (N) Neutral. For an automatic
transmission models, move the shift
selector lever to P (Park).
cBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing
any parts replacement or repairs.
cYour vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.c
If you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.
cIt is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
cAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
cIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
cNever get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
c
Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.cOn gasoline engine models with the
multiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by an authorized NISSAN
dealer because the fuel lines are un-
der high pressure even when the en-
gine is off.
CAUTION
cDo not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn off the engine
and wait until it cools down.
cNever connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition is in the ON
position.
cNever leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition is in the ON position.
c
Avoid contact with used engine oil.
Improperly disposed engine oil
and/or other vehicle fluids can dam-
age the environment. Always con-
form to local regulations for disposal
of vehicle fluid.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
ZX