NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

R (Reverse):
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
Use this position to back up. Make sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position. The brake pedal
must be depressed to move the selector
lever from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive
position to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
3 (Third gear):
Use this position for driving up and down long
slopes where engine braking would be advanta-
geous. 2 (Second gear):
Use this position for hill climbing or engine brak-
ing on downhill grades.
Do not shift into the 2 position at speeds above
62 MPH (100 km/h) . Do not exceed 62 MPH
(100 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 braking on steep downhill
grades.
Do not shift into the 1 position at speeds above
34 MPH (55 km/h) . Do not exceed 34 MPH (55
km/h) in the 1 position.
Manual shift mode
When the selector lever is shifted from D to the
manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters the manual
shift mode. Shift ranges can be selected manu-
ally.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is dis-
played on the position indicator in the meter.
When shifting the shift lever to the manual shift
gate, the position indicator displays 1 (first) up to
5 (fifth) depending on vehicle speed.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
1
, 2, 3, 4, 5
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5 (Fifth):
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
4 (Fourth):
For driving up or down long slopes where engine
braking would be advantageous.
3 (Third) and 2 (Second):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on downhill
grades.
M1 (First):
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly
or driving slowly through deep snow, sand or
mud, or for maximum engine braking on steep
downhill grades.c Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 4
range. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up:
Move the selector lever to the + (up) side. (Shifts
to higher range.)
When shifting down:
Move the selector lever to the 2(down) side.
(Shifts to lower range.) c
The transmission will automatically down-
shift the gears. (For example, if you select the
3rd range, the transmission will shift down
between the 3rd and 1st gears.)
c Moving the selector lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succession.
When canceling the manual shift mode:
Return the selector lever to the D position to
return the transmission to the normal driving
mode. c In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving perfor-
mance and reduces the chance of ve-
hicle damage or loss of control.
c In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may shift up automatically to a
higher range than selected if the en-
gine speed is too high. When the ve-
hicle speed decreases, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down and
shifts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift selector lever
may not be moved from the P (Park) position even
with the brake pedal depressed.
To move the shift selector lever, release the shift
lock. The shift selector lever can be moved to N
(Neutral) . However, the steering wheel will be
locked unless the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position. This allows the vehicle to be moved
if the battery is discharged.
To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
Type A
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1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK positionand remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover as shown.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector lever to the N (Neu- tral) position while holding down the shift
lock release. 6. Turn the key to the ON position to unlock the
steering wheel. Now the vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.
If the shift selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the auto-
matic transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunction-
ing stop lights could cause an accident
injuring yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please note
that the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair it if nec-
essary.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING
c
Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
c Do not over-rev the engine when shift-
ing to a lower gear. This may cause a
loss of control or engine damage.
CAUTION
cDo not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
c Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.
Type B
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cStop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
c When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a stop
light) , shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift into
the appropriate gear, then release the clutch
slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress
the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever. If
the clutch pedal is not fully depressed before the
transmission is shifted, a gear noise may be
heard. Transmission damage could occur.
On the 5-speed manual transmission, you cannot
shift directly from 5th gear into R (Reverse) . First
shift into N (Neutral) , then into R (Reverse) . On the 6–speed manual transmission to back up,
lift up on the collar just below the shift lever and
then move it to the R (Reverse) position after
stopping the vehicle completely.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (1st) , shift into N (Neutral) , then
release the clutch pedal. Depress the clutch
pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1 (1st) .
5 - speed
LSD0128
6 - speed
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Suggested upshift speeds
The following are suggested vehicle speeds for
shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions
relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual upshift speeds will vary according to road
conditions, the weather and individual driving
habits.
For normal acceleration in low altitude areas (less
than 4,000 ft [1219 m]):
For QR25DE:
GEAR CHANGE ACCEL shiftpoint MPH(km/h) CRUISE shift
point MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24) 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40) 18 (29) 3rd to 4th 36 (58) 30 (48)4th to 5th 40 (64) 39 (62)
For VQ35DE:
GEAR CHANGE ACCEL shift point MPH(km/h) CRUISE shift
point MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 13 (21) 13 (21)
2nd to 3rd 23 (37) 16 (26) 3rd to 4th 33 (53) 27 (44)4th to 5th 39 (63) 36 (58)
For VQ35DE SE-R:
GEAR CHANGE ACCEL shift point MPH(km/h) CRUISE shift
point MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 13 (21) 13 (21)
2nd to 3rd 23 (37) 16 (26) 3rd to 4th 33 (53) 27 (44)4th to 5th 39 (63) 36 (58)
5th to 6th
For quick acceleration in low altitude areas and
high altitude areas (over 4,000 ft [1219 m]):
Gear change MPH (km/h) 1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40) 3rd to 4th 40 (64)4th to 5th 45 (72)
5th to 6th*
*6 Speed available on SE-R models only.
Suggested maximum speed in each
gear
Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is not
running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed
(shown below) in any gear. For level road driving, use the highest gear suggested for that speed.
Always observe posted speed limits, and drive
according to the road conditions, which will en-
sure safe operation. Do not over-rev the engine
when shifting to a lower gear as it may cause
engine damage or loss of vehicle control.
GEAR QR25DE
MPH (km/h) VQ35DE
MPH (km/h)
1st 32 (51) 35 (56)
2nd 56 (90) 60 (97) 3rd 87 (140) 88 (141)4th — —
5th — —
For VQ35DE SE-R:
GEAR VQ35DE MPH (km/h)
1st 34 (54)
2nd 56 (90) 3rd 78 (125)4th —
5th —
6th —
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WARNING
cBe sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
c Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
c Do not use the gear shift in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
c Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
To engage:Pull the lever up
sA.
To release: 1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
3. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, push the button and lower com-
pletely
sB. 4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
LSD0131
PARKING BRAKE
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1. ACCEL/RES switch
2. COAST/SET switch
3. ON/OFF switch
4. CANCEL switch
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
cIf the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light in the instrument panel then blinks to
warn the driver.
c If the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by a NISSAN dealer. c
The SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control main switch is turned ON
while pushing the ACCEL/RES,
COAST/SET, or CANCEL switch (located
on the steering wheel) . To properly set the
cruise control system, use the following pro-
cedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions:
cWhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
c In heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in
speed.
c On winding or hilly roads.
c On slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) .
c In very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control is
set. Should this occur, depress the clutch
pedal and turn the main switch off imme-
diately. Failure to do so may cause engine
damage.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 MPH (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the main
switch. The CRUISE indicator light in the instru-
ment panel comes on.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The SET indicator light in the
instrument panel comes on. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set
speed.
c To pass another vehicle, depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
LSD0075
CRUISE CONTROL (if so equipped)
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cThe vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, use one of the
following three methods.
c Push the CANCEL button; the SET indicator
light in the instrument panel goes out.
c Tap the brake pedal; the SET indicator light
goes out.
c Turn the main switch off. Both the CRUISE
indicator light and SET indicator light in the
instrument panel go out.
The cruise control is automatically canceled and
the SET light in the instrument panel goes out if: c you depress the brake or clutch pedal while
pushing the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST
switch. The preset speed is deleted from
memory.
c the vehicle slows down more than 8 MPH
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
c you depress the clutch pedal (manual trans-
mission) , or move the shift selector lever to N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission) . To reset at a faster cruising speed,
use one
of the following three methods.
c Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
c Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you de-
sire, release the switch.
c Push and release the ACCEL/RES switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed in-
creases by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods.
c Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
c Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows to
the desired speed.
c Push and release the COAST/SET switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed de-
creases by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h) .
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle re-
turns to the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h) .CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ,
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and en-
sure the future reliability and economy of
your new vehicle. Failure to follow these
recommendations may result in short-
ened engine life and reduced engine
performance.
c Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
c Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
c Avoid quick starts.
c Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
c Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE
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cAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
c Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
c Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other ve-
hicles.
c Use a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
c Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
c Keep your engine tuned up.
c Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
c Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
c Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im-
proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
c Air conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary. c
When cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag.
c Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
See “Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tion” in “Technical and consumer informa-
tion” later in this manual.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
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WARNING
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.
c Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) for
automatic transmission models or in an
appropriate gear for manual transmis-
sion models. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
or roll away and result in an accident. Make sure the shift lever has been
pushed as far forward as it can go and
cannot be moved without depressing
the foot brake pedal.
c Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
c Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake. 2.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse) posi-
tion. When parking on an uphill grade, place
the shift lever in 1st gear.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
c HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
sA
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
c HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
sB
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
c HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
sC
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position and remove the key.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
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