brake NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2009 L32A / 4.G Owner's Guide

When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the system electronically
controls the pressure applied to each brake.
This action is similar to pumping the brakes very
quickly. You may hear a noise from under the
hood or feel a vibration from the actuator when it
is operating. This is normal and indicates that the
ABS is operating properly. However, if the SLIP
indicator light blinks, the road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while driving.When accelerating on slippery surfaces the tire
may spin or slip. With the vehicle Traction Control
System (TCS) , sensors detect these movements
and control the braking and engine output to help
improve vehicle road traction.
cWhen the TCS is operating, the slip indica-
tor in the instrument panel blinks.
cIf the slip indicator blinks, the vehicle is may
be under slippery conditions. Be sure to
drive carefully.
cIf a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light illuminates in the instru-
ment panel.
As long as the VDC warning light is on, the
traction control function is canceled. The vehicle
will behave like a vehicle without the system.
WARNING
cThe Traction Control System is de-
signed to help maintain traction with
the road surface but does not prevent
accidents due to abrupt steering opera-
tion at high speeds or by careless or
dangerous driving techniques. Reduce
vehicle speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slippery
surfaces and always drive carefully.cIf brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not stan-
dard equipment or are extremely dete-
riorated, the Traction Control System
may not operate properly and the VDC
warning light may come on.
cDo not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, bushings and
wheels are not standard equipment or
are extremely deteriorated, the Traction
Control System may not operate prop-
erly and the VDC warning light may
come on.
cIf wheels or tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the Traction
Control System may not operate prop-
erly and the VDC warning light may
come on.
cThe Traction Control System is not a
substitute for winter tires or tire chains
on a snow covered road.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS)
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The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses
sensors within the vehicle to detect these move-
ments. The VDC system helps control brake and
engine output to help minimize tire slip and spin.
cWhen the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system is operating, theSLIPindicator in
the instrument panel blinks.
cIf theSLIPindicator blinks, the road condi-
tions may be slippery. Be sure to adjust your
speed and driving to these conditions. See
“Slip indicator light”, and “Vehicle Dynamic
Control warning light” in the “Instruments
and controls” section.
cIndicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light comes on in the instru-
ment panel.
As long as this warning light is on, the trac-
tion control and the Vehicle Dynamic Control
functions are canceled.
When the VDC system is operating, you may
hear a noise or vibration from under the hood.
This is normal and indicates that the VDC system
is working properly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, youmay hear a clunk noise. This is not an indication of
a malfunction and indicates that the VDC system
is working properly..
WARNING
cThe Vehicle Dynamic Control system is
designed to help improve driving stabil-
ity but does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when
driving and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
cDo not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, bushings and
wheels are not standard equipment or
are extremely deteriorated, the Traction
Control System may not operate prop-
erly and the VDC warning light may
come on.
cIf brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not stan-
dard equipment or are extremely dete-
riorated, the Vehicle Dynamic Control
system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light may come on.cWhen driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners,
the Vehicle Dynamic Control system
may not operate properly and the VDC
warning light may come on. Do not drive
on these types of roads.
cWhen driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the VDC warning light may illumi-
nate. This is not a malfunction. Restart
the engine after driving onto a stable
surface.
cIf wheels or tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the Vehicle Dy-
namic Control system may not operate
properly and the VDC warning light may
come on.
cThe Vehicle Dynamic Control system is
not a substitute for winter tires or tire
chains on a snow covered road.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
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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.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
WARNING
cDo not use your engine block heater
with an ungrounded electrical system
or a 2-pronged adapter. You can be se-
riously injured by an electrical shock if
you use an ungrounded connection.
cDisconnect and properly store the en-
gine block heater cord before turning
the Hybrid System ON. Damage to the
cord could result in an electrical shock
and can cause serious injury.cUse a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged ex-
tension cord rated for at least 10 A. Plug
the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-VAC outlet. Failure to use the
proper extension cord or a grounded
outlet can result in a fire or electrical
shock and cause serious personal
injury.
Engine block heaters are available through
NISSAN dealers to assist in cold temperature
starting. The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20° F (-7° C) or
lower.
To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the Hybrid System OFF.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine block
heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a
grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded 110-
volt AC (VAC) outlet.5. The engine block heater must be plugged in
for at least2-4hours, depending on outside
temperatures, to properly warm the engine
coolant. Use an appropriate timer to turn the
engine block heater on.
6. Before turning the Hybrid System ON, un-
plug and properly store the cord to keep it
away from moving parts.
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TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) . It monitors tire pres-
sure of all tires except the spare. When the low
tire pressure warning light is lit, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. If the
vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by the low
tire pressure warning light. This system will acti-
vate only when the vehicle is driven at speeds
above 16 MPH (25 km/h) . For more details, refer
to “Warning/indicator lights and audible remind-
ers” in the “Instruments and controls” section,
and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)”
in the “Starting and driving” section.
WARNING
cIf the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Driving with under-
inflated tires may permanently damage
the tires and increase the likelihood of
tire failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an acci-
dent and could result in serious per-
sonal injury. Check the tire pressure for
all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure to
the recommended COLD tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.
cWhen a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.cReplacing tires with those not originally
specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
cDo not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pressure
sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions be-
low:
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking
brake. Move the shift selector lever to P
(Park) .
4. Turn Hybrid System OFF.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and to
signal professional road assistance person-
nel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
FLAT TIRE
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WARNING
cMake sure the parking brake is securely
applied and the transmission is shifted
into P (Park) .
cNever change tires when the vehicle is
on a slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.
cNever change tires if oncoming traffic is
close to your vehicle. Wait for profes-
sional road assistance.
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blockss1at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire
s2to prevent the vehicle from moving when it is
jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and result in personal injury.
Getting the spare tire and tools
Open the trunk. Lift the trunk floor carpeting.
Remove the jack
s1and wheel nut wrenchs2
from the holder. Lift the molded tool holder to
remove the spare tire.
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4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence illustrated (
sA,sB,sC,sD,
sE) . Lower the vehicle completely.
WARNING
cIncorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
cDo not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the nuts
to become loose.
cRetighten the wheel nuts when the ve-
hicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.) .
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
83 ft-lb (113 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
specifications at each lubrication interval.Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure: After vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km) .
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tire
and loading information label affixed to the
driver side center pillar.
5. Securely store the flat tire and jacking equip-
ment in the vehicle.
6. Place the spare tire cover and the trunk floor
carpeting over the damaged tire.
7. Close the trunk.
WARNING
cAlways make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly se-
cured after use. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.
cThe spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions un-
der the heading “Wheels and tires” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section of this manual.
WARNING
cIf the Hybrid System stops operating
while driving, the power assist for the
brakes and steering will not work. Brak-
ing and steering will be harder.
cIf the Hybrid System stops operating
while driving, do not open any door until
the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
Opening a door will lock the steering
wheel. This may cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle and could result in
serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
The Hybrid System may stop operating while
driving if the high voltage battery becomes dis-
charged, the 12-volt battery becomes dis-
charged or the fuel tank is empty. If the Hybrid
System stops operating while driving, perform
the following:
1. Reduce your speed gradually. Pull to the
side of the road to a safe area.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Set the “POWER” switch at ACC or OFF,
and try to start the Hybrid System.
4. If the Hybrid System will not start, see “Ve-
hicle does not start” in this section.
HYBRID SYSTEM STOPS
OPERATING WHILE DRIVING
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Before attempting to jump start the vehicle, make
sure the fuel tank is not empty and the correct
starting procedure is followed. See “Starting the
Hybrid System” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion. Do not drive the vehicle on battery power
only if the fuel tank is empty. The high voltage
battery will become discharged and the Hybrid
System will turn off.
CONFIRM BATTERY IS
DISCHARGED
Confirm the battery is discharged by pushing the
ignition switch to the ON position. Confirm the
instrument cluster or head lights come on at the
normal brightness levels or that other accesso-
ries such as the audio system come on. Push the
ignition switch to turn the Hybrid System on.
cIf the lights do not dim or the accessories do
not turn off, see “Emergency start” in this
section.
cIf the lights become dim or the accessories
turn off, check the following:
1. Check that the 12-volt battery terminals are
tight and clean. See “12-volt Battery” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
The battery is located on the right hand side
of the trunk behind an access panel. If the
12-volt battery terminals are loose, contact
your NISSAN dealer.2. If the 12-volt battery terminals are tight and
clean, try to jump start the vehicle. See
“Jump starting” in this section.
EMERGENCY START
When the Hybrid System cannot be started, the
following procedure can be used if the Hybrid
System and “POWER” switch function normally:
1. Put the transmission in P (Park) position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the ACC posi-
tion.
3. Depress the brake pedal.
4. Push and hold the ignition switch for about
15 seconds. Even if the Hybrid System
starts using this procedure, the system may
be malfunctioning. Do not continue to use
this emergency procedure to start the sys-
tem. Have the vehicle checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
If the Hybrid System still does not start, contact
you NISSAN dealer.To start the Hybrid System with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must be
followed.
WARNING
cThe engine may start at any time with-
out warning when the ignition is on and
the Hybrid System is in the READY
mode. When Jump starting keep your
hands, clothing, hair and tools away
from fans, belts and any other parts that
can move to avoid personal injury.
cIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting in
severe injury or death. It could also
damage your vehicle.
cExplosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away from
the battery.
cDo not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a cor-
rosive sulfuric acid solution which can
cause severe burns. If the fluid should
come into contact with anything, imme-
diately flush the contacted area with
water.
VEHICLE DOES NOT START JUMP STARTING
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3. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
sF, position the two vehicles,sEandsF,to
bring their batteries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
4. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift lever
to P (Park) . Switch off all unnecessary elec-
trical systems (lights, heater, air conditioner,
etc.) .
5. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped) of the vehicle with battery for
booster
sF. Cover the battery with an old
cloth
sGto reduce explosion hazard.6. Connect jumper cables in the sequence il-
lustrated (
sA,sB,sC,sD).
CAUTION
cAlways connect positive (1) to positive
(1) and negative (2) to body ground (for
example, strut mounting bolt, engine
lift bracket, etc.) — not to the battery.
cMake sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
7. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and
let it run for a few minutes.8. Hold down the brake pedal and press the
START button. The vehicle instruments and
gauges will light up, and the green9READY9
light will come ON.
CAUTION
If the green READY light does not come
on, press the START button to turn the
Hybrid System OFF. Carefully disconnect
the negative cable then the positive cable.
Have vehicle taken to dealership for
repair.
9. After the green READY light in the meter
display comes ON, carefully disconnect the
negative cable and then the positive cable.
10. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped) . Be
sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes as it may be contaminated
with corrosive acid.
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WARNING
Do not push start this vehicle. The three-
way catalyst may be damaged.
CAUTION
Hybrid models cannot be push-started or
tow-started. Attempting to do so may
cause electrical or transmission damage.If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by the
high temperature warning light) , or if you feel a
lack of engine power, detect abnormal noise, etc.
take the following steps.
WARNING
cDo not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator cap while the
engine and/or inverter is still hot. When
the radiator cap is removed, pressur-
ized hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
cDo not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply
the parking brake and move the shift lever to
P (Park) .
Do not turn the Hybrid System off.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed.
3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or cool-
ant is escaping, turn the Hybrid System off.)Do not open the hood further until no steam
or coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine and/or inverter, stand clear to pre-
vent getting burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking,
the water pump belt is missing or loose, or
the cooling fan does not run, turn the Hybrid
System off.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine or engine
cooling fan can start at any time.
6.
After the engine and inverter cools down,
check the coolant level in the engine and in-
verter coolant reservoir tank with the engine
running. Add coolant to the engine and inverter
coolant reservoir tank if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired at a NISSAN dealer.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
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WARNING
If your vehicle needs to be towed, do it
with the front wheels raised. If the front
wheels are on the ground when towing,
the traction motor may generate electric-
ity. This may damage the Hybrid System
components and cause a fire.
CAUTION
cNever tow this vehicle with the front
wheels on the ground or four wheels on
the ground (forward or backward) , as
this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission. If it is nec-
essary to tow the vehicle with the rear
wheels raised always use towing dollies
under the front wheels.
cWhen towing with the front wheels on
towing dollies:
– Push the ignition switch to the OFF
position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
secure the steering wheel with the
ignition switch in the LOCK position.
This may damage the steering lock
mechanism.– Move the gearshift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.
cWhen towing hybrid vehicles with the
rear wheels on the ground (if you do not
use towing dollies): Always release the
parking brake.
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