steering NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

PRECAUTIONS ON SUPPLE-
MENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM
This Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
section contains important information con-
cerning the driver and passenger front im-
pact supplemental air bags, front seat side-
impact supplemental air bags, curtain air
bags and front seat pre-tensioner seat belts.
Front impact supplemental air bag sys-
tem:This system can help cushion the
impact force to the face and chest of the
driver and front passenger in certain frontal
collisions.
Side-impact supplemental air bag sys-
tem:This system can help cushion the
impact force to the chest area of the driver
and front passenger in certain side impact
collisions. The front seat side-impact
supplemental air bags are designed to in-
flate on the side where the vehicle is im-
pacted.
Side impact supplemental curtain air bag
system:This system can help cushion the
impact force to the head of occupants in
front and rear outboard seating positions in
certain side impact collisions. The curtain
air bags are designed to inflate on the sidewhere the vehicle is impacted.
These supplemental restraint systems are
designed tosupplementthe crash protec-
tion provided by the driver and front passen-
ger seat belts and arenot a substitutefor
them. Seat belts should always be correctly
worn and the occupant seated a suitable
distance away from the steering wheel, in-
strument panel and door finishers. (See
``Seat belts'' later in this section for instruc-
tions and precautions on seat belt usage.)
After turning the ignition key to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates. The supplemental
air bag warning light will turn off after
about 7 seconds if the systems are op-
erational.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
1-8Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

WARNING
cThe supplemental front air bags or-
dinarily will not inflate in the event of
a side impact, rear impact, roll over,
or lower severity frontal collision.
Always wear your seat belts to help
reduce the risk or severity of injury
in various kinds of accidents.
c
The seat belts and the supplemental
front air bags are most effective when
you are sitting well back and upright
in the seat. Front air bags inflatewith great force. If you are unre-
strained, leaning forward, sitting side-
ways or out of position in any way,
you are at greater risk of injury or
death in a crash. You may also re-
ceive serious or fatal injuries from the
supplemental front air bag if you are
up against it when it inflates. Always
sit back against the seatback and as
far away as practical from the steering
wheel or instrument panel. Always
use the seat belts.cThe driver and front passenger seat
belt buckles are equipped with sen-
sors that detect if the seat belts are
fastened. The air bag system monitors
the severity of a collision and then
inflates the air bags based on belt
usage. Failure to properly wear seat
belts can increase the risk or severity
of injury in an accident.
cKeep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could increase
the risk that they are injured when the
supplemental front air bag inflates.
ARS1132
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-9
ZX

Supplemental front air bag system
The driver supplemental air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel; the front
passenger supplemental air bag is mounted in
the dashboard above the glove box. Thesesystems are designed to meet optional certi-
fication requirements under U.S. regulations.
They are also permitted in Canada. The op-
tional certification allows front air bags to be
designed to inflate somewhat less forcefully
than previously.However, all of the informa-tion, cautions and warnings in this manual
still apply and must be followed.The front
air bags are designed to inflate in higher
severity frontal collisions, although they may
inflate if the forces in another type of collision
are similar to those of a higher severity frontal
impact. They may not inflate in certain frontal
collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not
always an indication of proper supplemental
air bag operation.
The supplemental air bag system has dual
stage inflators for both the driver and pas-
senger air bags. The system monitors infor-
mation from the crash zone sensor, the
diagnosis sensor unit and seat belt buckle
sensors that detect if the seat belts are
fastened. Inflator operation is based on the
severity of a collision and whether the seat
belts are being used.
When the supplemental front air bag in-
flates, a fairly loud noise may be heard,
followed by release of smoke. This smoke is
not harmful and does not indicate a fire.
Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it
may cause irritation and choking. Those
with a history of a breathing condition
should get fresh air promptly.
Supplemental front air bags, along with the
LRS0104
1-14Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

use of seat belts, help to cushion the impact
force on the face and chest of the front
occupants. They can help save lives and
reduce serious injuries. However, an inflat-
ing front air bag may cause facial abrasions
or other injuries. Front air bags do not
provide restraint to the lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn and
the driver and passenger seated upright as
far as practical away from the steering
wheel or dash board. The supplemental
front air bags inflate quickly in order to help
protect the front occupants. Because of this,
the force of the front air bag inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is
too close to or is against the air bag module
during inflation.The air bag will deflate
quickly after the collision is over.
After turning the ignition key to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates. The air bag warning
light will turn off after about 7 seconds if
the system is operational.
WARNING
c
Do not place any objects on the steer-
ing wheel pad or on the instrument
panel. Also, do not place any objectsbetween any occupant and the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel. Such
objects may become dangerous pro-
jectiles and cause injury if the supple-
mental front air bag inflates.
cRight after inflation, several air bag
system components will be hot. Do
not touch them; you may severely
burn yourself.
c
No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental front air bag sys-
tem. This is to prevent accidental in-
flation of the air bag or damage to the
air bag system.
cDo not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle's electrical system,
suspension system or front end
structure. This could affect proper
operation of the supplemental front
air bag system.
c
Tampering with the supplemental front
air bag system may result in serious
personal injury. For example, do not
change the steering wheel and the in-
strument panel assembly by placing
material over the steering wheel padand above the instrument panel, or by
installing additional trim material
around the air bag system.
cWork around and on the supplemental
front air bag system should be done
by an authorized NISSAN retailer. In-
stallation of electrical equipment
should also be done by an authorized
NISSAN retailer. The yellow and or-
ange Supplemental Restrain System
(SRS) wiring and connectors should
not be modified or disconnected. Un-
authorized electrical test equipment
and probing devices should not be
used on the air bag system.
cA cracked windshield should be re-
placed immediately by a qualified
repair facility. A cracked windshield
could affect inflation of the supple-
mental air bag system.
c
The SRS wiring harness connectors are
yellow and orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the supple-
mental front air bag system and guide the
buyer to the appropriate sections in this
Owner's Manual.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-15
ZX

1. Headlight and turn signal switch
2. Meters and gauges
3. Windshield wiper/washer switch
4. Center ventilator
5. Audio system
6. Front passenger supplemental air bag
7. Glove box
8. Heater and air conditioner
9. Hazard warning flasher switch
10. Power point
11. Rear window defogger switch
12. Cruise control main/set switch
13. Driver supplemental air bag
14. Steering wheel switch for audio control
15. Tilt/telescopic steering wheel lever
16. Traction control system (TLS) cancel
switch
17. Instrument brightness control
18. Outside mirror remote control
LIC0161
INSTRUMENT PANEL
2-2Instruments and controls
ZX

in the speedometer display. When the igni-
tion is turned to ON, the display scrolls all
the modes of the trip computer and then
shows the mode chosen before the ignition
switch is turned OFF.
If the battery terminal is disconnected,
push the trip computer mode switch
more than 1 second to activate the com-
puter.
When the ignition switch is turned to ON,
modes of the trip computer can be selected
by pushing the trip mode switch on the
steering wheel switch for audio controls or
by the trip computer change button. The
following modes can be selected:
Outside air temperature (ICY±ÉF or
ÉC)
The outside air temperature is displayed in
ÉF or ÉC.
The outside air temperature mode includes
a low temperature warning feature: below
37ÉF (3ÉC), the outside air temperaturemode is automatically selected and ICY will
illuminate in order to draw the driver's atten-
tion. Press the mode switch if you wish to
return to the mode that was selected before
the warning occurred. The ICY indicator will
continue blinking as long as the tempera-
ture remains below 39ÉF (4ÉC).
The ambient temperature sensor is located
in front of the radiator. The sensor may be
affected by road or engine heat, wind direc-
tions and other driving conditions. The dis-
play may differ from the actual ambient
temperature or the temperature displayed
on various signs or billboards.
Distance to empty (dte±mile or km)
The distance to empty (dte) mode provides
you with an estimation of the distance that
can be driven before refueling. The dte is
constantly being calculated, based on the
amount of fuel in the fuel tank and the actual
fuel consumption.
The display is updated every 30 seconds.
The dte mode inlcudes a low range warning
feature: when the fuel level is low, the dte
mode is automatically selected and the dig-
its blink in order to draw the driver's atten-
tion. Press the mode switch if you wish to
WIC0159
2-4Instruments and controls
ZX

Push the switch on to warn other drivers
when you must stop or park under emer-
gency conditions. All turn signal lights flash.
WARNING
cIf stopping for an emergency, be
sure to move the vehicle well off the
road.cDo not use the switch while moving
on the highway unless unusual cir-
cumstances force you to drive so
slowly that your vehicle might be-
come a hazard to other traffic.
cTurn signals do not work when the
hazard warning flasher lights are on.
The flashers can be actuated with the igni-
tion switch either OFF or ON.
Some state laws may prohibit the use of
the hazard warning flasher switch while
driving.
To sound the horn, push the center pad
area of the steering wheel.
WARNING
Do not disassemble the horn. Doing so
could affect proper operation of the
supplemental front air bag system.
Tampering with the supplemental front
air bag system may result in serious
personal injury.
LIC0174WIC0119
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
SWITCHHORN
Instruments and controls2-23
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 ................................3-4
Remote keyless entry system (if so equipped)......3-5
How to use remote keyless entry
system ...............................................................3-5
Battery replacement ..........................................3-8
Hood .......................................................................3-9
Trunk lid................................................................3-10
Opener operation ............................................3-10Key operation ..................................................3-11
Interior trunk lid release...................................3-11
Fuel filler lid ..........................................................3-12
Opener operation ............................................3-12
Fuel filler cap ...................................................3-12
Steering wheel .....................................................3-13
Tilt operation ....................................................3-13
Telescopic operation .......................................3-14
Sun visors.............................................................3-14
Vanity mirrors ..................................................3-14
Mirrors ..................................................................3-15
Inside mirror.....................................................3-15
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror
(if so equipped)................................................3-15
Outside mirror remote control .........................3-16
ZX

cDo not fill a portable fuel container in
the vehicle or trailer. Static electric-
ity can cause an explosion of flam-
mable liquid, vapor or gas in any
vehicle or trailer. To reduce the risk
of serious injury or death when fill-
ing portable fuel containers:
Ð Always the place container on the
ground when filling.
Ð Do not use electronic devices
while filling.
Ð Keep the pump nozzle in contact
with the container while you are
filling it.
Ð Use only approved portable fuel
containers for flammable liquid.
cNever pour fuel into the throttle body
to attempt to start your vehicle.
CAUTION
cIf fuel is spilled on the vehicle body,
flush it away with water to avoid
paint damage.
cTighten until the fuel filler cap clicks.
Failure to tighten the fuel filler capproperly may cause the
mal-
function indicator lamp (MIL) to illu-
minate. If the
lamp illuminates
because the fuel filler cap is loose or
missing, tighten or install the cap
and continue to drive the vehicle.
The
lamp should turn off after
a few driving trips. If thelamp
does not turn off after a few driving
trips, have the vehicle inspected by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
cFor additional information, see the
ªMalfunction indicator lamp (MIL)''
in the ªInstrument and controlsº
section earlier in this manual.
TILT OPERATION
Pull the lock lever forward and adjust the
steering wheel up or down to the desired
position.
Release the lock lever to lock the steering
wheel in place.
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. You could lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.
LPD0078
STEERING WHEEL
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-13
ZX

TELESCOPIC OPERATION
Push the lever down and adjust the steering
wheel forward or backward to the desired
position.
Pull the lock lever up firmly to lock the
steering wheel in place.
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel any
closer to you than is necessary for
proper steering operation and comfort.
The driver's air bag inflates with great
force. If you are unrestrained, leaning
forward, sitting sideways or out of po-
sition in any way, you are at greater risk
of injury or death in a crash. You may
also receive serious or fatal injuries
from the air bag if you are up against it
when it inflates. Always sit back
against the seatback and as far away as
practical from the steering wheel. Al-
ways use the seat belts.
CAUTION
Do not store the main sun visor before
storing the extension sun visor.VANITY MIRRORS
To access the vanity mirror, pull the sun
visor down and flip open the mirror cover.
Some vanity mirrors are illuminated and
turn on when the mirror cover is opened.
LPD0002WPD0015
SUN VISORS
3-14Pre-driving checks and adjustments
ZX