NISSAN ALTIMA 2013 L33 / 5.G Owners Manual

When canceling the manual shift mode, return
the selector lever to the D (Drive) position. The
transmission returns to the normal driving mode.
When you pull the paddle shifter (if so equipped)
while in the D (Drive) position, the transmission
will shift to the upper or lower range temporarily.
The transmission will automatically return to the D
(Drive) position after a short period of time. If you
want to return to the D (Drive) position manually,
pull and hold the paddle shifter for about 1.5 sec-
onds.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is dis-
played on the position indicator in the meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
1⇔2⇔ 3⇔ 4⇔ 5⇔ 6⇔ 7
M7 (7th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
M6 (6th) and M5 (5th):
Use this position when driving up long slopes, or
for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
M4 (4th) , M3 (3rd) and M2 (2nd):
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.
● Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 7
range. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up:
Move the shift selector to the + (up) side. (Shifts
to higher range.)
When shifting down:
Move the shift selector to the (down) side.
(Shifts to lower range.)
● Moving the shift selector rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succession.
When canceling the manual shift mode:
Return the shift selector to the D (Drive) position
to return the transmission to the normal driving
mode. ● 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. ●
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.
● CVT operation is limited to automatic drive
mode when CVT fluid temperature is ex-
tremely low even if manual shift mode is
selected. This is not a malfunction. When
CVT fluid warms up, manual mode can be
selected.
● When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the
shift range may upshift in lower rpm than
usual. This is not a malfunction.
5-16Starting and driving

Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift selector may not be moved from the P (Park)
position even with the brake pedal depressed
and the shift selector button pushed.
It will be necessary to jump start or have your
battery charged, see “Jump starting” in the “In
case of emergency” section. Contact your
NISSAN dealer or a professional towing service.
To move the shift selector, complete the following
procedure:1. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK posi- tion. 2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Using a protective cloth on the tip ofa3mm
screwdriver, remove the shift lock release
cover.
● If available, a plastic trim tool can also be
used.
4. Insert the small screwdriver in the shift lock release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector to the N (Neutral) position while holding down the shift lock
release.
If the shift selector cannot be moved out of P
(Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the trans-
mission as soon as possible.WARNING
If the shift selector 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.
Overdrive (O/D) OFF switch (if so
equipped)
When the O/D OFF switch is pushed with the
shift selector in the D (Drive) position, the
light in the instrument panel illuminates. See
“Overdrive off indicator light” in the “Instruments
and controls” section of this manual.
Use the Overdrive off mode when you need im-
proved engine braking.
To turn off the Overdrive off mode, push the O/D
OFF switch again. The
indicator light will
turn off.
LSD2087LSD2090
Starting and driving5-17

Each time the engine is started, or when the shift
selector is shifted to any position other than D
(Drive) , the Overdrive off mode will be automati-
cally turned off.
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.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-
comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperature with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer) , engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed may be
limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safesystem may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated, see “Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” in the “Instrument and controls” sec-
tion. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then
push the switch back to the ON position.
The vehicle should return to its normal op-
erating condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have a
NISSAN dealer check the transmission and
repair if necessary.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially care-
ful when driving. If necessary, pull to the
side of the road at a safe place and allow
the transmission to return to normal op-
eration, or have it repaired if necessary.
1. To engage, firmly depress the foot brake.
2. To release:
●Move the shift selector to the P (Park)
position
● Firmly depress the parking brake pedal
and it will release.
● Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
LSD0158
5-18Starting and driving

WARNING
●Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
● Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
● Do not use the shift selector in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully engaged.
● Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident. The Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system helps
alert the driver of other vehicles in adjacent lanes
when changing lanes.
The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
helps alert the driver when the vehicle is traveling
close to either the left or the right of a traveling
lane.
The BSW/LDW systems use the rear view moni-
tor camera unit
1with automatic washer and
blower.
WARNING
● The BSW system is not a replacement
for proper driving procedure and is not
designed to prevent contact with ve-
hicles or objects. When changing lanes,
always use the side and rear mirrors
and turn and look in the direction you
will move to ensure it is safe to change
lanes. Never rely solely on the BSW
system.
LSD2091
PARKING BRAKEBLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) SYSTEM /
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-19

●The LDW system is only a warning de-
vice to help inform the driver of a poten-
tial unintended lane departure. It will
not steer the vehicle or prevent loss of
control. It is the driver’s responsibility
to stay alert, drive safely, keep the ve-
hicle in the traveling lane, and be in
control of the vehicle at all times.
● The camera unit may not function prop-
erly under the following conditions:
– When towing a trailer.
– When strong light enters the camera unit. (e.g. light directly shines on the
rear of the vehicle at sunrise or
sunset.)
– When ambient brightness changes suddenly. (e.g. when the vehicle en-
ters or exits a tunnel or passes under
a bridge.)
● If the camera lens is excessively dirty,
the automatic washer may not be able
to completely clean the lens. This could
result in the camera not detecting ve-
hicles or lane markers.
● Excessive noise (e.g. audio system vol-
ume, open vehicle window) will inter-
fere with the chime sound, and it may
not be heard.
BSW SYSTEM OPERATION
The BSW system operates above approximately
20 MPH (32 km/h).
When the camera unit detects vehicles in the
detection zone, the Blind spot indicator light lo-
cated inside the outside mirrors will illuminate. If
the turn signal is then activated, the system
chimes (twice) and the Blind spot indicator light
flashes to alert the driver.
The Blind spot indicator light continues to flash
until the detected vehicle(s) leave the detection
zone.
LSD2053LSD2105
5-20Starting and driving

Detection zone
The camera unit can detect vehicles on either
side of your vehicle when part of another vehicle
is within the detection zone shown as illustrated.
This detection zone typically starts from the out-
side mirror of your vehicle and extends approxi-
mately 10 ft (3.0 m) behind the rear bumper, and
approximately 10 ft (3.0 m) sideways.NOTE:
The Blind spot indicator light will illuminate
for a few seconds when the ignition switch
is placed in the ON position.
The brightness of the Blind spot indicator lights is
adjusted automatically depending on the bright-
ness of the ambient light.
A chime sounds if the camera unit has already
detected vehicles when the driver activates the
turn signal. If a vehicle comes into the detection
zone after the driver activates the turn signal, then
only the Blind spot indicator light flashes and no
chime sounds. (See “BSW driving situations”
later in this section.)Turning on or off the BSW system
The BSW system is turned on or off using the
settings menu in the vehicle information display.
SYSTEM ON:
The BSW light (white) on the instrument panel
will light up.
SYSTEM OFF:
The BSW light (white) on the instrument panel
will go out.
1. Press the
button until “Settings” dis-
plays in the vehicle information display. Use the
to select “Driver Assistance”.
Then press the ENTER button.
2. Select “Driving Aids”, and press the ENTER button.
3. To set the BSW system to on or off, use the
buttons to navigate in the menu
and use the ENTER button to select or
change an item:
● Select “Blind Spot” and press the ENTER
button.
● To turn on the warning, use the ENTER
button to check box for “Warning (BSW)”
The warning systems switch is used to temporar-
ily turn off the warning systems (Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
systems) that are activated using the settings
menu in the vehicle information display.
WARNING
● The camera unit may not be able to
detect when certain objects are present
such as:
– Pedestrians, bicycles, animals
– Some types of small vehicles such as motorcycles, and very short length
vehicles
SSD1026
Starting and driving5-21

– Oncoming vehicles
– A vehicle approaching rapidly frombehind. (See “BSW driving situa-
tions” later in this section)
– A vehicle which your vehicle over- takes rapidly. (See “BSW driving
situations” later in this section)
– A vehicle that merges or changes lanes rapidly directly next to your
vehicle.
● The camera unit may not be able to
detect property when your vehicle trav-
els beside the middle section of a ve-
hicle with long wheelbase (e.g. trailer
truck, semi-trailer, tractor) .
● The camera detection zone is designed
based on a standard lane width. When
driving in a wider lane, the camera unit
may not detect vehicles in an adjacent
lane. When driving in a narrow lane, the
camera unit may detect vehicles driving
two lanes away. ●
The camera unit is designed to ignore
most stationary objects, however ob-
jects such as guardrails, walls, foliage
and parked vehicles may occasionally
be detected. This is a normal operating
condition.
● The camera unit may detect the re-
flected image of vehicles or roadside
objects that are not actually in the de-
tection zone, especially when the road
is wet.
BSW DRIVING SITUATIONS
Another vehicle approaching from
behind
The Blind spot indicator light illuminates if a ve-
hicle enters the detection zone from behind in an
adjacent lane.
However, if the overtaking vehicle is traveling
much faster than your vehicle, the indicator light
may not illuminate before the detected vehicle is
beside your vehicle. Always use the side and rear
mirrors and turn and look in the direction your
vehicle will move to ensure it is safe to change
lanes.
LSD2113
5-22Starting and driving

If the driver activates the turn signal, then the
Blind Spot indicator light flashes and a chime will
sound twice.
NOTE:
If the driver activates the turn signal before
a vehicle enters the detection zone, the
Blind Spot indicator light will flash but no
chime will sound when the other vehicle is
detected.Overtaking other vehicles
The Blind Spot indicator light illuminates if you
overtake a vehicle and that vehicle stays in the
detection zone for approximately 3 seconds.
The camera unit may not detect slower moving
vehicles if they are passed quickly.If the driver activates the turn signal while another
vehicle is in the detection zone, then the Blind
Spot indicator light flashes and a chime will
sound twice.
LSD2114LSD2116LSD2117
Starting and driving5-23

LDW SYSTEM OPERATION
The LDW system operates above approximately
45 MPH (70 km/h).
When the vehicle approaches either the left or
the right of the traveling lane, the LDW system
will chime a sound and the LDW light (orange) on
the instrument panel will blink to alert the driver
The LDW system is not designed to operate
under the following conditions●
When you operate the lane change signal
and change traveling lanes in the direction of
the signal. (The LDW system will become
operable again approximately 2 seconds af-
ter the lane change signal is turned off.)
● When the vehicle speed is less than approxi-
mately 45 MPH (70 km/h).
Turning on or off the LDW system
The LDW system is turned on or off using the
settings menu in the vehicle information display.
SYSTEM ON:
The LDW light (white) on the instrument panel
will light up. SYSTEM OFF:
The LDW light (white) on the instrument panel
will go out.
1. Press the
button until “Settings” dis-
plays in the vehicle information display. Use
the
to select “Driver Assistance”.
Then press the ENTER button.
2. Select “Driving Aids”, and press the ENTER button.
3. To set the LDW system to on or off, use the
buttons to navigate in the menu
and use the ENTER button to select or
change an item:
● Select “Lane” and press the ENTER but-
ton.
● To turn on the warning, use the ENTER
button to check box for “Warning (LDW)”
The warning systems switch is used to temporar-
ily turn off the warning systems (Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
systems) that are activated using the settings
menu in the vehicle information display.
LSD2101LSD2102
5-24Starting and driving

WARNING
●The camera unit may not be able to
detect properly under the following
conditions:
– On roads where there are multiple parallel lane markers; lane markers
that are faded or not painted clearly;
yellow painted lane markers; non-
standard lane markers; or lane mark-
ers covered with water, dirt, snow,
etc.
– On roads where the discontinued lane markers are still detectable.
– On roads where there are sharp curves.
– On roads where there are sharply contrasting objects, such as shad-
ows, snow, water, wheel ruts, seams
or lines remaining after road repairs.
(The LDW system could detect these
items as lane markers.)
– On roads where the traveling lane merges or separates.
– When the vehicle’s traveling direc- tion does not align with the lane
marker. – When the road surface is very dark
due to weak ambient light or im-
paired tail lamp.
● When driving on a curved road, warning
will be late on the outside of the curve.
BSW/LDW TEMPORARY DISABLED
STATUS
Under the following condition, the BSW and/or
LDW system is turned off temporarily, the BSW
light (white) and/or LDW light (white) will blink,
and either of the following message will appear in
the vehicle information display:
● “Trunk is open”
● “Washer fluid is low”
When the above conditions are corrected, the
BSW and/or LDW system will resume automati-
cally.
BSW/LDW AUTOMATIC
DEACTIVATION
When dirt, rain or snow cannot be removed by
the automatic washer and blower and accumu-
lates on the camera, making it impossible to
detect the vehicles or the lane markers, the BSW
and/or LDW system will be turned off automati-
cally. The BSW light (white) and/or LDW light (white) will blink, and the “Unavailable : Clean
rear camera” will appear in the vehicle information
display.
Action to take:
If the message appears, park the vehicle in a safe
place, clean the camera unit with a soft cloth.
Then turn off and restart the engine.
When the BSW and/or LDW system malfunc-
tions, they will be turned off automatically, the
BSW light (orange) and/or LDW light (orange)
will illuminate and “Malfunction: Please see own-
ers manual” will appear in the vehicle information
display.
Action to take:
Stop the vehicle in a safe location, turn off and
restart the engine. If the BSW light (orange)
and/or the LDW light (orange) continues to illu-
minate, have the BSW and/or LDW system
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Starting and driving5-25