NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

“MODE” select switch
Push the mode select switch to change the
modes:
PRESET A!PRESET B !PRESET C !CD !
SAT (if so equipped)
Volume control switch
Push the volume control switch up or down to
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.
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
c Do not place metalized film near the
rear window glass or attach any metal
parts to it. This may cause poor recep-
tion or noise.
c When 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 engine control system and
other electronic parts.
WARNING
c
A 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.
c If 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.
c If 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 electronic control
modules.
CAR PHONE OR CB RADIO
Display screen, heater, air conditioner and audio systems4-43
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cKeep the antenna wire more than 8 in
(20 cm) away from the electronic con-
trol system. Do not route the antenna
wire next to any harness.
c Adjust the antenna standing-wave ratio
as recommended by the manufacturer.
c Connect the ground wire from the CB
radio chassis to the body.
c For details, consult a NISSAN dealer.
4-44Display screen, heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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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 ........................... 5-11
Parking brake .................................... 5-14
Cruise control (if so equipped) .....................5-15
Precautions on cruise control ...................5-15
Cruise control operations .......................5-15Break-in schedule
................................ 5-16
Increasing fuel economy ........................... 5-17
Parking/parking on hills ............................ 5-18
Power steering ................................... 5-19
Brake system .................................... 5-19
Brake precautions ............................. 5-19
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(if so equipped) ............................... 5-20
Traction control system (TCS) (if so equipped) .......5-21
Cold weather driving .............................. 5-22
Freeing a frozen door lock ......................5-22
Anti-freeze .................................... 5-22
Battery ....................................... 5-22
Draining of coolant water .......................5-22
Tire equipment ................................ 5-22
Special winter equipment .......................5-23
Driving on snow or ice ......................... 5-23
Engine block heater (if so equipped) .............5-24
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WARNING
cOn hot, sunny days, temperatures in a
closed vehicle could quickly become
high enough to cause severe or possi-
bly fatal injuries to people or animals.
Do not leave children or adults who
would normally require the support of
others in your vehicle. Unattended pets
should not be left alone either.
c Closely 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. c
If you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all win-
dows fully open, and have the vehicle
inspected immediately.
c Do not run the engine in closed spaces
such as a garage.
c Do not park the vehicle with the engine
running for any extended length of time.
c Keep 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 to off and the fan control dial to
high to circulate the air.
c If 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.
c The 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.
c Do 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.
c Keep 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.
c Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause
the engine to misfire, damaging the
three-way catalyst.
c Do not race the engine while warming it
up.
c Do 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 maneuvers,
because these driving practices could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle. As with any ve-
hicle, loss of control could result in a colli-
sion with other vehicles or objects, or cause
the vehicle to roll over, particularly if the loss
of control causes the vehicle to slide side-
ways. Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving
when tired. Never drive when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs (including prescription or over-
the-counter drugs which may cause drowsiness) .
Always wear your seat belt as outlined in the
“Safety – Seats, seat belts and supplemental re-
straint system” section of this manual, and also
instruct your passengers to do so.
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.
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
To remove the key from the ignition switch:1. Shift the selector lever to the P (Park) posi- tion with the key in the ON position.
2. Turn the key to the LOCK position.
3. Remove the key from the ignition.
If the selector lever is shifted to the P (Park)
position after the key is turned to the OFF posi-
tion or when 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 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 key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left. If the key will not turn from the LOCK posi-
tion, turn the steering wheel to the left or
right while turning the key to unlock the
key cylinder.
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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MANUAL TRANSMISSION
The ignition switch includes a device that helps
prevent accidental removal of the key while driv-
ing.
The key can only be removed when the ignition
switch is in the LOCK position.
On manual transmission models, to turn the igni-
tion key to LOCK position from ACC or ON
position, turn the key to OFF, push the key in, then
turn the key to LOCK.
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 key
and 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.
KEY POSITIONS
LOCK: Normal parking position (0)
OFF: (Manual transmission model) (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking the
steering wheel.
ACC: (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not running.
ON: Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and the
electrical accessories.
START: (4)
This position starts the engine. As soon as the
engine has started, release the key. It automati-
cally returns to the ON position.
NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM (NVIS)
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System (NVIS)
will not allow the engine to start without the use of
the registered NVIS key.
If the engine fails to start using the registered NVIS
key, it may be due to interference caused by an-
other NVIS key, an automated toll road device or
automated payment device on the key ring. Restart
the engine using the following procedures:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON position
for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK position and wait approximately 5 seconds.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 again.
4. Restart the engine while holding the device (which may have caused the interference)
separate from the registered NVIS key.
If this procedure allows the engine to start,
NISSAN recommends placing the registered
NVIS key on a separate key ring to avoid interfer-
ence from other devices.
WSD0058
Starting and driving5-5
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cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
c Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake and clutch fluid, and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible, or at
least whenever you refuel.
c Check that all windows and lights are clean.
c Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
c Lock all doors.
c Position seat and adjust head restraints.
c Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
c Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
c Check the operation of warning lights when
the key is turned to the ON (3) position. See
“Warning/indicator lights and audible re-
minders” in the “Instruments and controls”
section of this manual. 1. Apply the parking brake.
2.
Automatic transmission:
Move the shift selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The shift selector lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park) and into any of
the other gear positions if the ignition
key is turned to the OFF position or if
the key is removed from the ignition
switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector lever is in any of the
driving positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) . Depress
the clutch pedal to the floor while cranking
the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
3. Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure. c
If the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/5 to the floor) and hold it
and then crank the engine. Release the
key and the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
c If the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Crank the engine for 5-6 seconds. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine with your
foot off the accelerator pedal by turn-
ing the ignition key to START. Release the
key when the engine starts. If the engine
starts, but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise
the starter could be damaged.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 sec- onds after starting. Drive at moderate speed
for a short distance first, especially in cold
weather.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-6Starting and driving
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
cDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) or manual
shift mode. Always depress the brake
pedal until shifting is completed. Fail-
ure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
c Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
c Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving. This could
cause an accident.
CAUTION
cWhen stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake should be used for this purpose.
c Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control. The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled 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.
Gate type shift
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled 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
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before attempting to move
the shift selector lever out of the P (Park)
position.
LSD0023
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-7
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2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed andmove the shift selector lever into a driving
gear.
3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
The automatic transmission is designed so
the foot brake pedal MUST be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any drive
position while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
The shift selector lever cannot be moved
out of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned
to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
key is removed.
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and move the shift selector lever out of the
P (Park) position.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector
lever is in any position while the engine is
not running. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal injury
or property damage. If the key is turned to the OFF or ACC position for
any reason while the vehicle is in N (Neutral) , or
any D (Drive) position, the shift selector lever
cannot be moved to P (Park) . Additionally, the key
cannot be turned to the LOCK position and be
removed from the ignition switch. If this occurs,
perform the following steps:
1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Turn the key to the ON position.
3. Depress the foot brake pedal.
4. Move the shift selector lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral) to restart the vehicle (P is pre-
ferred) . Move the shift selector lever to P
(Park) to park the vehicle and turn the igni-
tion key to the LOCK position to remove the
key.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed to move the se-
lector lever from N (Neutral) or any drive
position to P (Park) . Apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
first, then move the shift selector lever into the P
(Park) position.
LSD0022
5-8Starting and driving
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