manual transmission NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2011 L32A / 4.G Owners Manual

Place the ignition switch in the ON position.
Depress the brake pedal and push the ignition
switch when the transmission is in the P (Park)
position to start the Hybrid System.
The READY light illuminates indicating that the
vehicle is ready to be driven. If the ambient tem-
perature is low, the READY may flash and may
take time until the READY light stays on. For
details, see “Starting the Hybrid System” in the
“Starting and driving” section of this manual.
As long as the READY light remains on you can
drive your vehicle using the traction motor even
though the gasoline engine may not be running.Drive your vehicle with smooth accelera-
tion and deceleration.
● While driving, energy is recovered through
the regenerative brake as the vehicle decel-
erates. However, for most efficient use, do
not accelerate or decelerate your vehicle
more than necessary.
● Avoid abrupt acceleration and deceleration.
● The power of the high voltage battery can be
checked on the high voltage battery status
meter. See “High voltage battery status me-
ter” in this section for details. Gradual or
non-abrupt acceleration and deceleration
will make more effective use of the traction
motor without having to use gasoline engine
power.
● When parking, be sure to place the shift
selector in the P (Park) position. While driv-
ing, place the shift selector in the D (Drive)
position.
● The Hybrid System recharges the high volt-
age battery as necessary. However, the Hy-
brid System can not charge the high voltage
battery when the transmission is in the N
(Neutral) position even if the engine is run-
ning. ●
If the high voltage battery becomes dis-
charged, the engine will run for a longer
period of time. Do not keep the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position with the system in
the ready mode.
NOTE:
The gasoline engine starts and stops auto-
matically. It may stop during low load driv-
ing, deceleration or when the vehicle is
stopped.
As long as the READY light remains on, you
can drive your vehicle using the traction
motor even with the gasoline engine
stopped.
The gasoline engine may not stop auto-
matically in the following conditions: ● During gasoline engine warm-up.
● During high voltage battery charging.
● During high or low high voltage battery
temperature.
STARTING THE HYBRID SYSTEM EFFICIENT USE OF YOUR VEHICLE
HEV OverviewHEV-7

the ON position, the system does not activate the
warning light for the front passenger.
Refer to “Seat belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” section
for precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warninglight
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON or
START position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the front
air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag, and preten-
sioner systems need servicing and your vehicle
must be taken to a NISSAN dealer:
● The supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
● The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
● The supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Unless checked and repaired, the supplemental
restraint system (air bag system) and/or the preten-
sioners may not function properly. For additional
details, see “Supplemental restraint system” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental re-
straint system” section of this manual.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the front air bag,
side air bag, curtain air bag systems
and/or pretensioner systems will not op-
erate in an accident. To help avoid injury
to yourself or others, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
Vehicle Dynamic Control
warning light
The Vehicle Dynamic Control light also comes on
when you place the ignition switch in the ON
position and the Hybrid System is in the READY
mode. The light will turn off after about 2 seconds
if the system is operational.
The light also comes on when the power of the
12-volt battery is reduced or the battery cable is
disconnected. The light will turn off automatically
after the vehicle is driven slightly for more than 5
seconds at above 22 mph. If the light remains on,
have the vehicle checked by a NISSAN dealer.
While the Vehicle Dynamic Control system is
operating, you might feel slight vibration or hear the system working when starting the vehicle or
accelerating, but this is normal.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
For additional information on warnings and indi-
cators, see “Vehicle information display” later in
this section.
Electronically controlled
Continuously Variable
Transmission (eCVT) position
indicator light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this indicator light shows the shift selec-
tor position. See “Driving the vehicle” in the
“Starting and driving” section of this manual.
Front passenger air bag statuslight
The front passenger air bag status light ()
will be lit and the passenger front air bag will be
OFF depending on how the front passenger seat
is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light operation,
see “Front passenger air bag and status light” in
the “Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental
restraint system” section of this manual.
Instruments and controls2-15

12. NISSAN Intelligent Key™ insertion indicator
13. NISSAN Intelligent Key™ removal indicator
14. NISSAN Intelligent Key™ battery dischargeindicator
15. Loose fuel cap warning
Door and trunk open warning
This warning illuminates when a door or the trunk
has been opened when the engine is running.
Push warning
After the Shift P warning illuminates, the Push
warning will illuminate if the ignition switch is
placed in the ACC position when the shift selec-
tor is moved to the P (Park) position.
See “Shift P warning” in this section for additional
information.
To turn off the Push warning, place the ignition
switch in the ON position and then in the LOCK
position.
Low fuel warning
This warning illuminates when the fuel level in the
fuel tank is getting low. Refuel as soon as it is
convenient, preferably before the fuel gauge
reaches E (Empty) . There will be a small re-
serve of fuel in the tank when the fuel
gauge needle reaches E (Empty) . Low windshield-washer fluid warning
This warning illuminates when the windshield-
washer fluid is at a low level. Add windshield-
washer fluid as necessary. See “Windshield-
washer fluid” in the “Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
No key warning
This warning illuminates following two condi-
tions:
1. When the ignition switch is pushed and the Intelligent Key cannot be recognized by the
system. If this warning illuminates, you can-
not start the engine.
Check for the following causes and perform
the assigned remedies:
– The battery of the Intelligent Key carried with you is discharged completely. Re-
place the battery with a new one.
– The Intelligent Key carried with you is not registered to the system. Use the regis-
tered Intelligent Key.
– You do not have an Intelligent Key with you. Carry an Intelligent Key with you. 2. When the door is closed with the Intelligent
Key left outside the vehicle and the ignition
switch is placed in the ACC or ON position.
A chime will also sound.
Parking brake warning
This warning illuminates when the parking brake
is set and the vehicle is driven.
SHIFT P warning
This warning may appear during the following
conditions:
– the ignition switch is pushed to stop the Hy- brid System with the shift selector in any po-
sition except in the “P” position,
– the high voltage battery drops because the transmission is in the “N” position,
– the driver’s door is opened with the shift se- lector in “N”, “B” or “D”.
If this warning illuminates while the ignition switch
is placed in the OFF position, move the shift
selector to the “P” position or place the ignition
switch in the ON position.
An inside warning chime will also sound. See
“NISSAN Intelligent Key™” in the “Pre-driving
checks and adjustments” section.
Instruments and controls2-25

Steering wheelCheck for changes in the steer-
ing system, such as excessive freeplay, hard
steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes Make sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Windshield wiper and washer* Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defroster Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and in
sufficient quantity when operating the heater or
air conditioner.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time you
check the engine oil or refuel) .
Brake fluid level* Make sure that the brake fluid
level is between the MIN and MAX lines on the
reservoir.
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) fluid* Check
under the vehicle for leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while.
Engine coolant level* Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold. Engine drive belts*
Make sure the drive belts
are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level* Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level surface with the engine off.
Wait more than 10 minutes for the oil to drain
back into the oil pan.
Exhaust system Make sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by a NISSAN dealer. See the
“Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) in the “Starting
and driving” section of this manual.
Fluid leaks Check under the vehicle for fuel, oil,
water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from the
air conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected imme-
diately.
Inverter coolant level*Check the coolant level
when the inverter is cold.
Radiator and hoses Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections. Underbody
The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances from the
underbody, otherwise rust may form on the floor
pan, frame, fuel lines and exhaust system. At the
end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, in those areas
where mud and dirt may have accumulated. See
the “Appearance and care” section of this
manual.
Windshield-washer fluid* Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself

CAUTION
●Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic W ATF.
Do not mix with other fluids.
● Using transmission fluid other than
Genuine NISSAN Matic W ATF will dam-
age the transmission, which is not cov-
ered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited
warranty.
When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend your NISSAN dealer for servicing. For further brake fluid specification information,
refer to “Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
WARNING
●
Use only new fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake system.
The use of improper fluids can damage
the brake system and affect the vehi-
cle’s stopping ability.
● Clean the filler cap before removing.
● Brake fluid is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers
out of reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, immediately wash the surface
with water.
BRAKE FLUID
Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. If the
fluid level is below the MIN line or the brake
warning light comes on, add Genuine NISSAN
Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT
3 fluid up to the MAX line. If fluid must be added
frequently, the system should be checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
LDI0578
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (eCVT) FLUID BRAKE FLUID
8-14Maintenance and do-it-yourself

●Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
● Determine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
● Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
● Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
● Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. ●
When backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:CAUTION
If you move the shift selector to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly release the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away: 1. Start the vehicle. 2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks. ● While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
● Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
Technical and consumer information9-21

●For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
● When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway: 1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or applying the brakes. 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.
● Be 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.
● Downshift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer. ●
Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, eCVT fluid should be
changed more frequently. 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.
Your vehicle is not designed to be flat towed with
all four wheels on the ground.
9-22Technical and consumer information

CAUTION
●Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
● DO not tow your vehicle with four
wheels on the ground. This may cause
serious damage to your vehicle.
● DO NOT tow this 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.
● For emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT)
To tow a vehicle equipped with an eCVT, an
appropriate vehicle dolly MUSTbe placed under
the towed vehicle’s drive wheels. Alwaysfollow
the dolly manufacturer’s recommendations when
using their product. 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
Technical and consumer information9-23

P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-14
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-18
Personal lights ..................2-47
Phone, Bluetooth hands-free
system ...................4-85, 4-99
Power Power door locks ...............3-5
Power outlet .................2-35
Power rear windows .............2-42
Power steering system ...........5-19
Power windows ...............2-41
Rear power windows ............2-42
Power meter ...............2-4, HEV-4
Precautions Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-18, 1-24, 1-28, 1-32
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-10
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-35
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Programmable features ..............4-6
Push starting ...................6-10
R
Radio Car phone or CB radio ...........4-84
FM-AM radio with compact disc
(CD) player ..................4-37
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-47 FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player
..................4-41
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test .....................9-25
Rear power windows ..............2-42
RearView Monitor ................4-13
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .......................2-30
Recorders Event data ..................9-26
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country . . .9-9
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-24
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Child seat belts .....1-18,
1-24, 1-28, 1-32
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-24
Seat adjustment Front manual seat adjustment ........1-2
Front power seat adjustment .........1-4
Seatback pockets ................2-37
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-17
Infants and small children ..........1-17
Injured Person ................1-13
Larger children ................1-18
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-10
Pregnant women ...............1-13
Seat belt extenders .............1-16
Seat belt maintenance ............1-16
Seat belts ...................1-10
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-15Three-point type with retractor
.......1-13
Seat belt warning light ..............2-14
Seats Adjustment ...................1-2
Front seats ...................1-2
Heated seats .................2-35
Manual front seat adjustment .........1-2
Security indicator light ..............2-17
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-28, 3-3, 5-10
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-19
Service manual order form ...........9-26
Servicing air conditioner .............4-21
Setting button ...................4-6
Shifting Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) ........5-12
Shift lock release .................5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-15
Spark plug replacement .............8-17
Speedometer ...................2-3
Spotlights (See map light) ...........2-47
SRS

warning label ................1-49
Starting Before starting the vehicle .........5-10
Jump starting .................6-8
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Push starting .................6-10
Starting the vehicle .............5-11
Steering Power steering system ...........5-19
Stop light .....................8-26
Storage ......................2-36
Sunglasses case .................2-37
Sunglasses holder ................2-37
Sunroof ......................2-44
10-5