traction control NISSAN ALTIMA 2008 L32A / 4.G User Guide

DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system, including the
engine block. Refill before operating the vehicle.
For details, see “Changing engine coolant” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your ve-
hicle on snowy or icy roads, NISSAN recom-
mends the use of MUD & SNOW or ALL
SEASON TIRES on all four wheels. Please
consult a NISSAN dealer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability informa-
tion.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S.
states and Canadian provinces prohibit their
use. Check local, state and provincial laws
before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.3. Tire chains may be used. For details see
“Tire chains” in the “Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
cA scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
cA sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
cA shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
cExtra window washer fluid to refill the reser-
voir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
cWet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain) ,
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.cWhatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even
more traction.
cAllow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
cAllow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
cWatch for slippery spots (glare ice) .
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch of
ice is seen ahead, brake before reach-
ing it. Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
cDo not use the cruise control on slip-
pery roads.
cSnow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
5-26Starting and driving
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FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
cDO NOT tow any continuously variable
transmission vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground (flat towing) . Do-
ing so WILL DAMAGE internal transmis-
sion parts due to lack of transmission
lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Continuously Variable Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with a continuously
variable transmission, an appropriate vehicle
dollyMUSTbe placed under the towed vehicle’s
drive wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufac-
turer’s recommendations when using their prod-
uct.
Manual Transmission
cAlways tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
cAfter towing 500 miles (805 km) , start and
idle the engine with the transmission in Neu-
tral for two minutes. Failure to idle the engine
after every 500 miles (805 km) of towing
may cause damage to internal transmission
parts.DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
Technical and consumer information9-23
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WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature A, B and C
The temperature grades are A (the highest) , B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is es-
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, or excessive loading, ei-
ther separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.Your NISSAN vehicle is covered by the following
emission warranties:
For USA
1. Emission Defects Warranty
2. Emissions Performance Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found with
other vehicle warranties in your Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet which comes with your NISSAN
vehicle. If you did not receive a Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or it is lost, you may obtain a re-
placement by writing to:
cNissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 685003
Franklin, TN 37068-5003
For Canada
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found with
other vehicle warranties in your Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet which comes with your NISSAN
vehicle. If you did not receive a Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or it is lost, you may obtain a re-
placement by writing to:
cNissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4Z5
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARRANTY
9-24Technical and consumer information
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FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-27
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
changer................4-31, 4-38
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test........................9-25
Rear seat.....................1-9
Rear view monitor................4-8
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch......................2-27
Recorders
Event data..................9-26
Refrigerant recommendation..........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country. . .9-9
Reporting safety defects (US only)......9-25
S
Safety
Child seat belts........1-19, 1-28, 1-34
Reporting safety defects (US only). . . .9-25
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2
Front power seat adjustment........1-4
Rear seat adjustment.............1-9
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-14
Infants and small children.........1-15
Injured Person................1-16
Larger children...............1-15
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-12
Pregnant women..............1-16
Seat belt extenders.............1-18
Seat belt maintenance...........1-19
Seat belts..................1-12Shoulder belt height adjustment......1-18
Three-point type with retractor.......1-16
Seat belt warning light.............2-13
Seatback pockets................2-36
Seats
Adjustment..................1-2
Front seats..................1-2
Heated seats................2-33
Manual front seat adjustment........1-2
Rear seat...................1-9
Security indicator light.............2-15
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start..............2-25
Self-adjusting brakes..............8-21
Service manual order form...........9-27
Servicing air conditioner............4-20
Setup button...................4-3
Shift lock release................5-13
Shifting
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). .5-11
Manual transmission............5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-18
Spark plug replacement............8-17
Speedometer...................2-4
Spotlights (See map light)...........2-46
SRS warning label...............1-53
Starting
Before starting the engine..........5-8
Jump starting.................6-6
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting.................6-8
Starting the engine..............5-9
Startup screen..................4-3
Steering
Power steering fluid.............8-13
Power steering system...........5-21Stop light....................8-27
Storage.....................2-36
Sun visors....................3-20
Sunglasses case................2-37
Sunglasses holder...............2-37
Sunroof.....................2-43
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-54, 2-13
Supplemental front impact air bag system . .1-46
Supplemental restraint system
Information and warning labels.......1-53
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-39
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-39
Switch
Autolight switch...............2-29
Automatic power window switch.....2-42
Fog light switch...............2-32
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-32
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-27
Headlight control switch..........2-28
Power door lock switch...........3-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-27
Traction control system (TCS) off switch. .2-34
Turn signal switch..............2-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. .2-34
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
T
Tachometer....................2-5
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
10-5
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Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start...................2-25
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2
Spare tire................6-3, 8-42
Tire chains..................8-39
Tire placard.................9-11
Tire pressure................8-31
Tire rotation.................8-40
Types of tires................8-38
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-23
Wheels and tires..............8-31
Wheel/tire size................9-8
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light......2-12
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . .5-3
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-23
Towing
Flat towing..................9-23
Tow truck towing..............6-10
Towing load/specification.........9-19
Trailer towing................9-16
Traction control system (TCS) off switch . . .2-34
Transceiver
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.....2-46
Transmission
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid.....................8-12
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-10
Driving with manual transmission.....5-14
Selector lever lock release.........5-13
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)......................9-9Trip odometer...................2-4
Troubleshooting guide
(NISSAN voice recognition system)......4-73
Trunk access through the rear seat.......1-9
Trunk lid lock opener lever...........3-16
Trunk light....................2-46
Turn signal switch................2-31
U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-23
V
Vanity mirror...................3-21
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. . .2-34
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system. . . .5-24
Vehicle identification...............9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number).................9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. . . .9-9
Vehicle loading information...........9-12
Vehicle recovery.................6-12
Vehicle security system.............2-24
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle
immobilizer system) , engine start.......2-25
Visors......................3-20
Voice recognition system............4-69W
Warning
Air bag warning light.........1-54, 2-13
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-10
Battery charge warning light........2-11
Brake warning light.............2-11
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-11
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-32
Low fuel warning light........2-13, 2-22
Low tire pressure warning light......2-12
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-22
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-48
Seat belt warning light...........2-13
Vehicle security system...........2-24
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-53
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders..................2-10
Warning lights..................2-10
Washer switch
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
Weights (See dimensions and weights). . . .9-8
Wheels and tires................8-31
Wheel/tire size..................9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country..................9-9
Window washer fluid..............8-14
Windows
Locking passengers’ windows.......2-42
Power windows...............2-41
Windshield wiper and washer switch.....2-26
Wiper
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
Wiper blades................8-19
10-6
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