warning NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

Foreword
Welcome to the growing family of new
NISSAN owners. This vehicle is delivered
to you with confidence. It was produced
using the latest techniques and strict quality
control.
This manual was prepared to help you
understand the operation and maintenance
of your vehicle so that you may enjoy many
miles of driving pleasure. Please read
through this manual before operating your
vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information Book-
let explains details about the warranties
covering your vehicle. The ªNISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guideº ex-
plains details about maintaining and
servicing your vehicle. Additionally, a
separate Customer Care/Lemon Law
Booklet (U.S. only) will explain how to
resolve any concerns you may have with
your vehicle, as well as clarify your
rights under your state's lemon law.
Your NISSAN dealership knows your ve-
hicle best. When you require any service or
have any questions, they will be glad to
assist you with the extensive resources
available to them.READ FIRST Ð THEN DRIVE SAFELY
Before driving your vehicle please read this
Owner's Manual carefully. This will ensure
familiarity with controls and maintenance
requirements, assisting you in the safe op-
eration of your vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
REMINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important rules to help
ensure a safe and comfortable trip for
you and your passengers!
cNEVER drive under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
cALWAYS observe posted speed lim-
its and never drive too fast for con-
ditions.
c
ALWAYS use your seat belts and
appropriate child restraint systems.
Pre-teen children should be seated
in the rear seat.
cALWAYS provide information about
the proper use of vehicle safety fea-
tures to all occupants of the vehicle.
c
ALWAYS review this owner's manual
for important safety information.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified.
Modification could affect its perfor-
mance, safety or durability, and may
even violate governmental regulations.
In addition, damage or performance
problems resulting from modifications
may not be covered under NISSAN
warranties.
WHEN READING THE MANUAL
This manual includes information for all
options available on this model. Therefore,
you may find some information that does
not apply to your vehicle.
All information, specifications and illustra-
tions in this manual are those in effect at the
time of printing. NISSAN reserves the right
to change specifications or design without
notice and without obligation.
The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.
ZX

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THIS MANUAL
You will see various symbols in this manual.
They are used in the following ways:
WARNING
This is used to indicate the presence of
a hazard that could cause death or
serious personal injury. To avoid or
reduce the risk, the procedures must
be followed precisely.
CAUTION
This is used to indicate the presence of
a hazard that could cause minor or
moderate personal injury or damage to
your vehicle. To avoid or reduce the
risk, the procedures must be followed
carefully.If you see this symbol, it means ``Do not do
this'' or ``Do not let this happen.''
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING
WARNING
Engine Exhaust, some of its constitu-
ents, and certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive
harm.
2002 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA
All rights reserved. No part of this Owner's
Manual may be reproduced or stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-
copying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of Nissan North
America, Inc., Gardena, California.
APD1005
The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.
ZX

1 Seats, restraints and supplemental air
bag systems
Seats ......................................................................1-2
Front manual seat adjustment...........................1-3
Front power seat adjustment (driver's
seat) (if so equipped) ........................................1-4
Folding rear seat ...............................................1-6
Head restraint adjustment .................................1-7
Supplemental restraint system ...............................1-8
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ...............................................................1-8
Supplemental air bag warning labels ..............1-19
Supplemental air bag warning light .................1-19
Seat belts .............................................................1-21
Precautions on seat belt usage ......................1-21
Child safety ......................................................1-23Pregnant women .............................................1-24
Injured persons ................................................1-24
Three-point type seat belt with retractor .........1-24
Seat belt extenders .........................................1-28
Seat belt maintenance ....................................1-28
Child restraints .....................................................1-28
Precautions on child restraints ........................1-28
Installation on rear seat center or
outboard positions ...........................................1-30
LATCH (Lower anchors and tether for
children) system ...................................................1-35
Top tether strap child restraint ........................1-37
Installation on front passenger seat ................1-38
ZX

WARNING
cDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci-
dent you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju-
ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.cFor most effective protection when
the vehicle is in motion, the seat
should be upright. Always sit well
back in the seat and adjust the seat
properly. See ``Precautions on Seat
Belt Usage'' later in this section.
ARS1131
SEATS
1-2Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

FRONT MANUAL SEAT
ADJUSTMENT
WARNING
cDo not adjust the driver's seat while
driving so full attention may be given
to vehicle operation. The seat may
move suddenly and could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
cAfter adjustment, gently rock in the
seat to make sure it is securely
locked.
Forward and backward
Pull the lever up while you slide the seat
forward or backward to the desired position.
Release the lever to lock the seat in posi-
tion.
Reclining
To recline the seatback, pull the lever up
and lean back. To bring the seatback for-
ward again, pull the lever and move your-
body forward.
WRS0001
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-3
ZX

Seat lifter (Driver's seat) (if so
equipped)
Turn either dial to adjust the angle and
height of the seat cushion to the desired
position.
FRONT POWER SEAT
ADJUSTMENT (Driver's seat) (if
so equipped)
WARNING
cDo not adjust the driver's seat while
driving so full attention may be given
to vehicle operation. The seat may
move suddenly and could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.cDo not leave children unattended in-
side the vehicle. They could un-
knowingly activate switches or con-
trols. Unattended children could
become involved in serious acci-
dents.
Operating Tips
cThe motor has an auto-reset overload
protection circuit. If the motor stops dur-
ing operation, wait 30 seconds, then re-
activate the switch.
SPA0099ALRS0016
1-4Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

FOLDING REAR SEAT
Interior trunk access
The trunk can be accessed from the pas-
senger side of the rear seat for loading and
unloading, as shown.To fold down the driver side of the rear seat,
reach through the opening and pull on the
strap located behind the seat.
The rear seats can be locked using the
master key to prevent unauthorized access.
The valet key cannot be used to lock or
unlock the release button.
WARNING
cNever allow anyone to ride in the
luggage area or on the rear seat
when it is in the fold-down position.
Use of these areas by passengers
without proper restraints could re-
sult in serious injury in an accident
or sudden stop.
cProperly secure all cargo to help
prevent it from sliding or shifting. Do
not place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
cWhen returning seatbacks to the up-
right position, be certain they are
completely secured in the latched
position. If they are not completely
secured in the latched position, pas-sengers may be injured in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
cClosely supervise children when
they are around cars to prevent them
from playing and becoming locked
in the trunk where they could be
seriously injured. Keep the car
locked, with the rear seat back se-
curely latched, when not in use, and
prevent children's access to car
keys.
LRS0102
1-6Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

Center armrest
Pull the armrest forward until it is horizontal.
HEAD RESTRAINT ADJUSTMENT
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To
lower, push and hold the lock knob and
push the head restraint down.
WARNING
Head restraints should be adjusted
properly as they may provide signifi-
cant protection against injury in an ac-
cident. Do not remove them. Check the
adjustment after someone else uses
the seat.Adjust the head restraints so the center is
level with the center of your ears.
LRS0103PD1319WRS0096
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-7
ZX

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