towing NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2009 D32 / 4.G Owner's Manual

2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cUse the Tow Mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
cNISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.cSome states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
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.
Technical and consumer information9-23
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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.
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.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
9-24Technical and consumer information
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Switch
Autolight switch...............2-30
Automatic power window switch.....2-45
Fog light switch...............2-33
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-33
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-29
Headlight control switch..........2-29
Power door lock switch...........3-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-28
Traction control system (TCS) off
switch....................2-35
Turn signal switch..............2-33
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch....................2-35
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-27
T
Tachometer....................2-5
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start................2-26, 3-3
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2
Spare tire................6-3, 8-45
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-11
Tire chains..................8-42
Tire placard.................9-11
Tire pressure................8-34
Tire rotation.................8-43
Types of tires................8-41
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-24Wheels and tires..............8-34
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.........1-27
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 . . .2-35
Transceiver
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.....2-51
Transmission
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid.....................8-13
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-11
Driving with manual transmission.....5-16
Selector lever lock release.........5-14
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)......................9-9
Trip odometer...................2-4
Troubleshooting guide (NISSAN voice
recognition system)...............4-73
Trunk access through the rear seat.......1-9
Trunk lid lock opener lever...........3-23
Trunk light....................2-50
Turn signal switch................2-33
U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-24V
Vanity mirror...................3-28
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. . .2-35
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system. . . .5-26
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.............2-25
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle
immobilizer system) , engine start.....2-26, 3-3
Ventilators....................4-10
Visors......................3-27
Voice recognition system............4-69
W
Warning
Air bag warning light.........1-58, 2-14
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-11
Battery charge warning light........2-11
Brake warning light.............2-11
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-12
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-33
Low fuel warning light........2-13, 2-23
Low tire pressure warning light......2-12
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-23
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-53
Seat belt warning light...........2-13
Vehicle security system...........2-25
10-6
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