NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

Storing Travel Preset stations in permanent
memory
1. While in Travel Preset mode, press and hold
the TRAVEL preset button until it beeps (>3
seconds) .
2. The presets are transferred from Travel Pre-
set memory to the permanent preset
memory for A, B, and C.“PRESETS
LOADED”is displayed.
3. The TRAVEL preset indicator turns off.
RDS (radio data system)
RDS stands for Radio Data System, and is a data
information service transmitted by some radio
stations on the FM band (not AM band) encoded
within a regular radio broadcast. Currently, most
RDS stations are in large cities, but many stations
are now considering broadcasting RDS data.
RDS can display:
cStation call sign, such as “WHFR 98.3”.
cStation name, such as “The Groove”.
cMusic or programming type, such as “Clas-
sical”, “Country”, or “Rock”.
cTraffic reports about delays or construction.
If the station broadcasts RDS information the
RDS icon is displayed. The RDS information willbe displayed according to the option chosen in
the RDS setup mode. (FM & RDS is the default.)
Press the RDS button again to display the fre-
quency for 3 seconds. The radio will then return
to the normal display. If the station does not
broadcast RDS information, the RDS icon will not
be displayed.
Setting RDS mode
Press and hold the MENU button (>2 seconds)
until the radio beeps to start the editing mode.
Press the MENU button until the display shows
“RDS TRAFFIC”. This display will last 2 sec-
onds and then change to“TRAFFIC-OFF”.
Press TUNE/FF-REV (or) to toggle
the RDS traffic mode from “OFF” to “ON”. Press
the RDS button again to set your RDS mode
selection.
The display changes to“RDS DISPLAY”. This
display will last 2 seconds and then change to
“SHOW”. Press TUNE/FF-REV (
or) to switch between the following RDS
display modes:
c“FM & RDS”: the radio display will show the
station’s broadcast frequency and the sta-
tion’s name.
c“RDS ONLY”: the radio display will show the
station’s name only.c“RDS TEMP”: the radio display will show the
station’s name for 5 seconds and then dis-
play only the radio station’s broadcast fre-
quency.
PTY (program type)
PTY can be used to search for a certain program
type. Certain areas have a limited number of
stations that transmit RDS. Many stations trans-
mit call letters and frequencies only. Searching or
scanning by program type may yield a limited
number of selections.
1. Press the MIX·PTY button. The display
changes from“RDS PTY SEARCH”to
“SELECT BY TUNE”.
2. Press TUNE/FF-REV (
or)
up/down button to choose a specific pro-
gram type:
ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK, SOFT ROCK,
TOP 40, COUNTRY, JAZZ, CLASSICAL,
OLDIES, NEWS, SPORTS, TALK, ANY
3. Press the SEEK (
or) or SCAN
button to search for the next station with the
selected PTY. The SCAN icon flashes when
the SCAN button is pressed. If SCAN is
selected, push the PTY or SCAN button to
stop on a station.
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If SEEK is selected, the radio automatically
stops on the next radio station matching the
selected program type.
4. Press the PTY button again to cancel the
PTY mode.
Speed Sensitive Control Volume (SCV)
Your vehicle has Speed Sensitive Control Vol-
ume (SCV) for audio. The audio volume changes
as the driving speed changes.
Press and hold the MENU button (>2 seconds)
until the radio beeps to start the editing mode.
Press the MENU button until the display shows
“Speed comp vol”.This display will last 2 sec-
onds and then change to“SCV-off”. Press
TUNE/FF-REV (
or) to change be-
tween:
Off!Low!Mid!High
Compact disc (CD) player operation
Turn the ignition key to the ACC or ON position.
CAUTION
cDo not force a compact disc into the CD
insert slot. This could damage the CD
and/or CD changer/player.cTrying to load a CD with the CD door
closed could damage the CD and/or CD
changer.
CD6 button
When the CD6 button is pressed with a compact
disc loaded and the radio playing, the radio turns
off and the last used compact disc starts to play.
CD loading
Press the LOAD button to start CD loading
mode.
The following sequence will occur:
1. Thegreenindicator on the lowest available
disc select button will start blinking. (Same
as preset memory button.) The display
shows“Please Wait”.
2. The display changes to“Insert Disc”for a
maximum of 15 seconds.
3. During the 15 second interval, insert the
disc. The display changes to“Loading
Disc”.
4. The CD will play after the disc is set to a play
position.5. The indicator changes fromblinking green
tosolid greenand the display changes to
show the Disc number icon, Disc number,
Track number and Elapsed time.
All disc loading
1. Press and hold the LOAD button until the
radio beeps (>1.5 seconds) .
2. Thegreenindicator on the lowest available
disc select button will start blinking. (Same
as preset memory button.) The display
shows“Please Wait”.
3. The display changes to“Insert Disc”for a
maximum of 15 seconds.
4. During the 15 second interval, insert the
disc. The display changes to“Loading
Disc”.
5. The indicator changes fromblinking green
tosolid green.
6. The disc number icon is turned on.
7. Repeat steps 2–5 until all discs are loaded,
then the last loaded disc will begin to play.
The display shows the Disc number, Track
number and Elapsed Time.
Selected disc loading
1. Press a disc select button whose indicator is
off. The display shows“Please Wait”.
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2. Thegreenindicator starts blinking and the
display shows“Insert Disc”for 15 sec-
onds.
3. Insert the CD. The display shows“Loading
Disc”.
4. The CD will play after the disc is set to a play
position.
5. The indicator color changes fromblinking
greentosolid greenand the display
shows the Disc icon, Disc number, Track
number and Elapsed Time.
If a disc is not inserted within 15 seconds or if the
load button is pressed during load sequence, the
entire disc load sequence will be canceled.
Disc play
Press the CD button. If a CD is loaded and the
radio is playing, the radio turns off and the last
loaded disc starts to play.
Selected disc play
1. Press the disc select button whose disc icon
is displayed.
2. The indicator blinksgreenduring the
change and the display shows“Changing
Disc”.
3. The CD plays after the disc is set to a play
position.4. The indicator changes fromblinking green
tosolid greenand the display shows the
Disc number, Track number and Elapsed
Time.
FF (fast forward) REW
(rewind) buttons
When the TUNE/FF-REV (
or) but-
ton is pressed while the compact disc is playing,
the compact disc plays at an increased speed
while fast forwarding or rewinding. When the
button is released, the CD returns to normal play
speed.
SEEK/TRACK buttons
When
is pressed while the compact disc
is playing, the selection following the present one
starts to play from the beginning. Press
several times to skip several selections. Each
time the button is pressed, the CD advances 1
additional selection. The track number appears in
the display window. (When the last selection on
the compact disc is skipped, the first selection is
played.)
When
is pressed, the selection being
played returns to the beginning. Press
several times to skip back several selections.
Each time the button is pressed, the CD moves
back 1 selection. If the play pattern is in MIXmode when the button is pressed the next ran-
dom selection will be played.
MIX·PTY
Press the MIX·PTY button to change CD play
patterns:
Repeat!Mix!All Mix!Normal Play
Repeat
Press the MIX·PTY button (<1.5 seconds) once
to repeat the current track. The “1” icon is turned
on, and the display shows“Repeat Track”for 2
seconds. The display then shows the Track num-
ber and Elapsed time as normal.
Mix
Press the MIX·PTY button (<1.5 seconds) again
to start shuffle play of the current disc. The “MIX”
icon is turned on and the display shows“Mix
Tracks”for 2 seconds. The display then shows
the Track number and Elapsed time as normal.
All Mix
Press the MIX·PTY button (<1.5 seconds) again
to start shuffle play of all discs. The “MIX” icon is
turned on, and the display shows“Mix All
Tracks”for 2 seconds. The display then shows
the Track number and Elapsed time as normal.
Also, the indicators of the loaded discs are turned
on with amber color. (Green for current disc.)
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Normal play
Press the MIX·PTY button (<1.5 seconds) again
to return to normal play mode. The “MIX” icon and
the amber LEDs are turned off. The display
shows“Normal Play”for 2 seconds. The dis-
play then shows the Track number and Elapsed
time as normal.
CD scan
1 Disc All Tracks
Press the SCAN button (<1.5 seconds) to scan
all tracks of the current disc for 7 seconds per
track. The display shows“Disc Scan”for 2
seconds, and then shows the track number and
elapsed time as normal. The SCAN icon is
flashed during Scan mode.
The Scan mode is canceled once it scans
through all tracks on the disc, or if the SCAN
button is pressed during Scan mode.
All Discs, 1 Track
Press and hold the SCAN button (>1.5 seconds)
to scan the first track of all the loaded discs for 7
seconds per track. The display shows“All Disc
Scan”for 2 seconds, and then shows the track
number and elapsed time as normal. The SCAN
icon is flashed during Scan mode.The Scan mode is canceled once it scans
through all the loaded discs, or if the SCAN
button is pressed during Scan mode.
Eject CD
Current disc
1. Press the
button.
2. Thegreenindicator starts to blink and the
display shows“Disc Eject”for 2 seconds.
The display then changes to“Ejecting
Disc”.
3. The disc ejects. Remove the disc. (If the disc
is not removed within 15 seconds, the disc
will reload.)
4. The indicator and symbol for the disc are
turned off.
Select a disc
1. Press the desired disc, then press
the
button.
2. Thegreenindicator starts blinking and the
display shows“Disc Eject”for 2 seconds.
The display then changes to“Ejecting
Disc”.
3. The disc ejects. Remove the disc (If the disc
is not removed within 15 seconds, the disc
will reload.)4. The indicator and symbol for the disc are
turned off.
All discs
1. Press and hold the
button until it
beeps (>1.5 seconds) .
2. Lowest used disc number indicator blinks
greenand display shows“All Disc Eject”
for 2 seconds. The display then changes to
“Ejecting Disc”.
3. When a disc is removed, the indicator and
disc icon will be turned off, and then the next
disc will emerge, and so on.
4. The display will be turned off after all discs
are ejected and removed.
If a disc is not removed within 15 seconds, or if
the
button is pressed again during the
Eject sequence, the entire disc Eject sequence
will be canceled.
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CD CARE AND CLEANING
cHandle a CD by its edges. Do not bend the
disc. Never touch the surface of the disc.
cAlways place the discs in the storage case
when they are not being used.
cTo clean a disc, wipe the surface from the
center to the outer edge using a clean, soft
cloth. Do not wipe the disc using a circular
motion.
cDo not use a conventional record cleaner or
alcohol intended for industrial use.
cA new disc may be rough on the inner and
outer edges. Remove the rough edges by
rubbing the inner and outer edges with the
side of a pen or pencil as illustrated.
1. Volume control switch (up)
2. Volume control switch (down)
3. Down
4. Mode select switch
5. Up
STEERING WHEEL SWITCH FOR
AUDIO CONTROL (if so equipped)
“MODE” select switch
Push the mode select switch to change the
modes:
PRESET A!PRESET B!PRESET C!Insert
CD (if so equipped)
Volume control switches
Pushorto increase or decrease
the volume.
Tuning
Memory change (radio):
Push the tuning switch
orfor less
than 1.5 seconds to change to the next preset
station in memory.
Seek tuning (radio):
Push the tuning switch
orfor more
than 1.5 seconds to seek the next or previous
radio station.
Next/Previous track (CD):
Push the tuning switch
orfor less
than 1.5 seconds to return to the beginning of the
present track or skip to the next track. Push
several times to skip back or skip through tracks.
This system searches for the blank intervals be-
tween selections. If there is a blank interval within
1 program or there is no interval between pro-
grams, the system may not stop in the desired or
expected location.
LHA0049WHA0210
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Change disc (CD) (if so equipped):
Push the tuning switch
orfor more
than 1.5 seconds to change the playing disc up
or down.
ANTENNA
Window antenna
The antenna pattern is printed inside the rear
window.
CAUTION
cDo not place metalized film near the
rear window glass or attach any metal
parts to it. This may cause poor recep-
tion or noise.
cWhen cleaning the inside of the rear
window, be careful not to scratch or
damage the rear window antenna.
Lightly wipe along the antenna with a
dampened soft cloth.When installing a CB, ham radio or car phone in
your NISSAN, be sure to observe the following
cautions, otherwise the new equipment may ad-
versely affect the MFI (Multiport Fuel Injection)
system and other electronic parts.
WARNING
cA cellular telephone should not be used
while driving so full attention may be
given to vehicle operation. Some juris-
dictions prohibit the use of cellular tele-
phones while driving.
cIf you must make a call while your ve-
hicle is in motion, the hands free cellu-
lar phone operational mode (if so
equipped) is highly recommended. Ex-
ercise extreme caution at all times so
full attention may be given to vehicle
operation.
cIf a conversation in a moving vehicle
requires you to take notes, pull off the
road to a safe location and stop your
vehicle before doing so.
CAUTION
cKeep the antenna as far away as pos-
sible from the Engine Control Module
(ECM) .cKeep the antenna wire more than 8 in
(20 cm) away from the Multiport Fuel
Injection harness. Do not route the an-
tenna wire next to any harness.
cAdjust the antenna standing-wave ratio
as recommended by the manufacturer.
cConnect the ground wire from the CB
radio chassis to the body.
cFor details, consult a NISSAN dealer.
CAR PHONE OR CB RADIO
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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).........5-5
Before starting the engine..........................5-6
Starting the engine................................5-6
Driving the vehicle.................................5-7
Automatic transmission (if so equipped)...........5-7
Manual transmission...........................5-10
Parking brake....................................5-12
Cruise control (if so equipped).....................5-13
Precautions on cruise control...................5-13
Cruise control operations.......................5-13Break-in schedule................................5-14
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-15
Parking/parking on hills............................5-16
Power steering...................................5-17
Brake system....................................5-17
Brake precautions.............................5-17
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(if so equipped)...............................5-18
Traction control system (TCS) (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................................5-20
Special winter equipment.......................5-21
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-21
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-22
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WARNING
cDo not leave children, impaired adults,
or pets alone in your vehicle. They could
accidentally injure themselves or oth-
ers through inadvertent operation of
the vehicle. Also, on hot, sunny days,
temperatures in a closed vehicle could
quickly become high enough to cause
severe or possibly fatal injuries to
people or animals.
cClosely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously in-
jured. Keep the car locked, with the rear
seatback and trunk lid securely latched
when not in use, and prevent children’s
access to car keys.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
cDo not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is danger-
ous. It can cause unconsciousness or
death.cIf you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all win-
dows fully open, and have the vehicle
inspected immediately.
cDo not run the engine in closed spaces
such as a garage.
cDo not park the vehicle with the engine
running for any extended length of time.
cKeep the trunk lid closed while driving,
otherwise exhaust gases could be
drawn into the passenger compart-
ment. If you must drive with the trunk lid
open, follow these precautions:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the
air recirculation but-
ton (if so equipped) to off and the fan
control dial to 4 (high) to circulate
the air.
cIf electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer through
the seal on the trunk lid or the body,
follow the manufacturer’s recommen-
dation to prevent carbon monoxide en-
try into the vehicle.
cThe exhaust system and body should be
inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound of
the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involving
damage to the exhaust system, un-
derbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission control
device installed in the exhaust system. Exhaust
gases in the three-way catalyst are burned at
high temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
WARNING
cThe exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people, animals
or flammable materials away from the
exhaust system components.
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING
5-2Starting and driving
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CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce the three-way catalyst’s ability to
help reduce exhaust pollutants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich
fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep driv-
ing if the engine misfires, or if notice-
able loss of performance or other un-
usual operating conditions are
detected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly by a NISSAN dealer.
cAvoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause
the engine to misfire, damaging the
three-way catalyst.
cDo not race the engine while warming it
up.
cDo not push or tow your vehicle to start
the engine.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss of
control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey
all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed,
high speed cornering, or sudden steering ma-
neuvers, because these driving practices could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle.As with
any vehicle, loss of control could result in a
collision with other vehicles or objects, or
cause the vehicle to roll over, particularly if
the loss of control causes the vehicle to
slide sideways.Be attentive at all times, and
avoid driving when tired. Never drive when under
the influence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which may
cause drowsiness) . Always wear your seat belt
as outlined in the “Safety – Seats, seat belts and
supplemental air bags” section of this manual,
and also instruct your passengers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in colli-
sions and rollovers.In a rollover crash, an
unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream re-
duces 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 severity 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. Al-
though 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, pre-
scription, and illegal drugs) . Don’t drive if your
ability to operate your vehicle is impaired by alco-
hol, drugs, or some other physical condition.
Starting and driving5-3
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
On automatic transmission models, the ignition
lock is designed so the key cannot be turned to
LOCK position and removed until the shift selec-
tor 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 selector lever is designed so it cannot
moved out of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned to OFF
position or if the key is removed from the switch.
The shift selector lever can be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ACC position. This
allows the vehicle to be moved if the bat-
tery 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 position
is indicated by a “1” on the key cylinder.
When the ignition is in the OFF position,
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 clockwise
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the keyand turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
WARNING
Never remove or turn the key to the LOCK
position while driving. The steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle and could result in
serious vehicle damage or personal injury.
WSD0057
IGNITION SWITCH
5-4Starting and driving
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