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

WARNING
●Pull your vehicle off the road, put the
transmission in the P (Park) position,
apply the parking brake and turn the
Hybrid System off.
● Check to see if there are exposed high
voltage parts and cables. Never touch
the parts and cables. See “High voltage
components”, later in this section for
the locations of the high voltage parts
and cables.
● To avoid personal injury, do not touch
high voltage wiring, connectors and
high voltage parts (inverter unit, high
voltage battery etc.) .
● If exposed electric wires are visible in-
side or outside of your vehicle, an elec-
tric shock may occur. Never touch the
electric wires.
● Inspect the ground under the vehicle. If
liquid has leaked onto the ground, the
fuel system may have been damaged.
Leave the vehicle as soon as possible. ●
Never touch fluid leaks inside or out-
side the vehicle. The leak may be strong
alkaline electrolyte from the high volt-
age battery. If it contacts your skin or
eyes, wash it off immediately with a
large amount of water or if possible,
boric acid solution. Get immediate
medical attention to help avoid serious
injury.
● If a fire occurs in the hybrid vehicle,
leave the vehicle as soon as possible.
Never use a fire extinguisher that is not
meant for use on electric fires. Using
even a small amount of water may be
also dangerous.
● 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 elec-
tricity. This may damage the Hybrid Sys-
tem components and cause a fire.
EMERGENCY SHUT OFF SYSTEM
The emergency shut off system automatically
turns off the high voltage current in certain frontal
collisions. This is to minimize the risk of electrical
short circuits. If the system activates, your vehicle
will not restart. To restart the Hybrid System,
contact a NISSAN dealer. The Hybrid System monitors the status of power
being sent to the traction motor and the battery
state of charge. The status is shown on the hybrid
power meter and high voltage battery status me-
ter. System status can also be shown on the
navigation system display (if so equipped) when
the screen is in the Energy Flow mode or
energy/fuel history mode.
ROAD ACCIDENT CAUTIONS
ENERGY MONITORS
HEV OverviewHEV-3

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

1. Air conditioner compressor location
2. Electric power steering location
3. 42V DC/DC converter
4. High voltage battery and 12V DC/DCconverter
5. Service disconnect
6. High voltage harnesses
7. Traction motor location
8. Inverter unit
The Hybrid System uses high voltage up to 650
V. High voltage components are indicated in the
illustration. High voltage cables are orange. The
system can be hot while and after starting. Be
careful of both the high voltage and the high
temperature.
HYBRID VEHICLE
CHARACTERISTICS
WARNING
● Pay special attention to pedestrians
when the vehicle is powered only by the
traction motor. Because there is no en-
gine noise, pedestrians may not know
the vehicle is moving or about to move
and step into the direction of vehicle
travel. ●
When you leave your vehicle, be sure to
turn off the Hybrid System.
● Be sure to put the transmission in the P
(Park) position because the vehicle can
move when the READY light is on even
if the engine is stopped. When the
READY light is on, do not leave your
vehicle in a shift position other than the
P (Park) position. The vehicle will creep
and start abruptly if the accelerator
pedal is depressed by mistake. This may
cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
● If the vehicle is parked for a long time,
the high voltage battery will discharge
gradually. To keep the high voltage bat-
tery in good condition, drive the vehicle
at least once every several months for
at least 30 minutes or ten miles. If the
high voltage battery becomes fully dis-
charged and the vehicle will not start
even with a jump-start to the 12-volt
system, contact your NISSAN dealer. ●
After the 12-volt battery is discon-
nected, run down, or replaced, the
gasoline engine may not stop even
while the vehicle is powered only by the
traction motor. If this condition contin-
ues for several days, take the vehicle to
your NISSAN dealer.
● Do not load large amounts of water in
open containers (aquariums or buck-
ets) into the vehicle. If the water spills
onto the high voltage battery, it may
cause a short circuit and damage the
battery.
High voltage parts and cables on the hybrid
vehicles emit approximately the same amount of
electromagnetic waves as the conventional
gasoline powered vehicles or home electronic
appliances despite of their electromagnetic
shieldings. Unwanted noise may occur in the
reception of a mobile two-way radio.
Charging the high voltage battery while driving is
important. The vehicle cannot run if the high
voltage battery is discharged. In the N (Neutral)
position, the high voltage battery does not re-
charge. Leaving the transmission in the N (Neu-
tral) position for an extended period of time may
discharge the high voltage battery. The high volt-
age battery recharges when the shift selector is
in any position other than N (Neutral) . Repeated
HEV OverviewHEV-9

acceleration also consumes high voltage battery
power, resulting in poor acceleration. Battery
power can be restored by driving at a constant
speed.
When you put the shift selector in the B (Brake)
position and take your foot off the accelerator
pedal, engine braking will be applied. However,
during high speed driving you may feel that en-
gine braking is less effective than that of an
ordinary vehicle. This is normal.
Because the vehicle is powered by both the
gasoline engine and the traction motor, you may
hear a sound coming from the engine compart-
ment, high voltage battery, transmission or the
regenerative brakes. When the gasoline engine
starts and stops with the Hybrid System on, you
may feel a vibration. When accelerating rapidly,
the engine noise may rise. A noise may also be
heard while braking. These are normal character-
istics of the hybrid vehicle.An air vent is located on the rear parcel shelf
A
to cool the high voltage battery. If the vent is
covered, the battery will overheat resulting in
reduced output performance of the Hybrid Sys-
tem.
You may hear the noise of the cooling fan from the
air vent.CAUTION
Do not place objects over or into the air
vent. The high voltage battery may over-
heat and be damaged.
LHV0004LHV0006
HEV-10HEV Overview

Forward and backward
Pull the center of the bar up and hold it while you
slide the seat forward or backward to the desired
position. Release the bar to lock the seat in
position.
Reclining
To recline the seatback, pull the lever up and lean
back. To bring the seatback forward, pull the lever
up and lean your body forward. Release the lever
to lock the seatback in position.
The reclining feature allows adjustment of the
seatback for occupants of different sizes for
added comfort and to help obtain proper seat
belt fit. See “Precautions on seat belt usage” later
in this section. Also, the seatback can be reclined
to allow occupants to rest when the vehicle is
stopped and the transmission is in the P (Park)
position.
Seat lifter (driver’s seat)
Pull up or push down the adjusting lever to adjust
the seat height until the desired position is
achieved.
WRS0738WRS0739WRS0740
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-3

orAnti-lock Braking System (ABS)
warning lightHybrid System warning lightHigh beam indicator light (blue)
orBrake warning light (red)Low tire pressure warning lightLow temperature indicator light (blue)
12–volt battery charge warning lightMaster warning lightMalfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
Electric power steering warning lightSeat belt warning light and chimeReady operation indicator light (green)
Electronically controlled brake warning light
(yellow)Supplemental air bag warning lightSecurity indicator light
Engine oil pressure warning lightVehicle Dynamic Control warning lightSlip indicator light
High temperature warning light (red)Electronically controlled Continuously Variable
Transmission (eCVT) position indicator lightTurn signal/hazard indicator lights
High voltage battery warning lightFront passenger air bag status light
CHECKING BULBS
With all doors closed, apply the parking brake
and place the ignition switch in the ON position
without starting the Hybrid System. The following
lights will come on:
,or,,,,
,,,.The following lights come on when the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position before the
READY light comes on indicating the Hybrid Sys-
tem is activated:
or,,,.
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Instruments and controls2-9

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

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..................5-2
Three-way catalyst ..............................5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..........5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ....................5-5
Off-road recovery ...............................5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ..........................5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................5-7
Push-Button Ignition Switch ........................5-7
Push-button ignition switch positions .............5-8
Emergency engine shut off ......................5-9
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ battery discharge ........5-9
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............5-10
Before starting the Hybrid System ..................5-10
Starting the Hybrid System ........................5-11
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-11
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) . ..................5-11
Parking brake .................................... 5-14
Cruise control .................................... 5-15Precautions on cruise control
...................5-15
Cruise control operations .......................5-15
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-17
Increasing fuel economy ........................... 5-17
Parking/parking on hills ............................ 5-18
Power steering ................................... 5-19
Brake system .................................... 5-19
Brake precautions ............................. 5-19
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................5-21
Traction Control System (TCS) .....................5-22
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............5-23
Cold weather driving .............................. 5-24
Freeing a frozen door lock ......................5-24
Anti-freeze .................................... 5-24
Draining of coolant water .......................5-24
Tire equipment ................................ 5-24
Special winter equipment .......................5-24
Driving on snow or ice ......................... 5-24
Engine block heater (if so equipped) .............5-25

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift selector to P (Park) .The Hybrid System is designed not to
operate if the shift selector is not in the
P (Park) position.
3. Place the ignition switch in the ON position. Depress the brake pedal and push the igni-
tion switch to start the Hybrid System. The
READY light will illuminate on the meter.
NOTE:
When starting the Hybrid System at very
low outside temperatures, the READY light
will flash and it may take longer for the
READY light to illuminate. ●The engine may not start even with the
READY light illuminated. Once the
READY light is illuminated you may begin
driving the vehicle.
● You may hear a sound in the engine com-
partment when the brake pedal is de-
pressed with the Hybrid System off. This
does not indicate a problem.
● When the Hybrid System is started or
stopped, you may hear a sound coming
from the high voltage battery located un- der the rear seats. This does not indicate
a problem.
● When the Hybrid System is started or
stopped, or while the vehicle is idling, you
may hear a sound coming from the trans-
mission. This does not indicate a prob-
lem.
● When the gasoline engine is started or
stopped with the Hybrid System on, you
may feel a vibration and hear a rattling
sound. This does not indicate a problem.
4. To turn off the Hybrid System, shift the shift selector to the P (Park) position and place
the ignition switch to the OFF position.ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (eCVT)
WARNING
●Do not attempt to test the vehicle on a
dynamometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emissions
testing) , or similar equipment. Doing so
may cause damage to the drivetrain or
the high voltage battery. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that your
vehicle is a hybrid. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drivetrain dam-
age or unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
● Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) or B
(Brake) . Always depress the brake
pedal until shifting is completed. Fail-
ure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
● Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving. This could
cause an accident.
STARTING THE HYBRID SYSTEM DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-11