tow NISSAN CUBE 2012 3.G Owner's Manual

wait 10 seconds before trying again.
9. After starting your engine, carefully discon- nect the negative cable and then the positive
cable (
*4?*3?*2?*1).
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. Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing.
CAUTION
.
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models cannot be push-
started or tow-started. Attempting
to do so may cause transmission
damage.
. Three-way catalyst equipped mod-
els should not be started by pushing
since the three way catalyst may be
damaged.
. Never try to start the vehicle by
towing it; when the engine starts,
the forward surge could cause the
vehicle to collide with the tow
vehicle.
CAUTION
.Do not continue to drive if your
vehicle overheats. Doing so could
cause engine damage or a vehicle
fire.
. To avoid the danger of being
scalded, never remove the radiator
cap while the engine is still hot.
When the radiator cap is removed,
pressurized hot water will spurt out,
possibly causing serious injury.
. Do not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading) , or if
you feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc., take the following steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road and apply the parking brake.
2. Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission (MT) models:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
In case of emergency6-11
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS

6-12In case of emergency
position.
Do not stop the engine.
3. Turn off the air conditioner (if so equipped) . Open all the windows, move the heater or air
conditioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or
coolant is escaping, turn off the engine.)
Do not open the hood further until no steam
or coolant can be seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check the drive belt 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 or
the cooling fan does not run, stop the
engine.
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
cooling fan can start at any time.
7. After the engine cools down, check the coolant level in the reservoir with the engine
running. Add coolant to the reservoir if
necessary. Have your vehicle repaired at a
NISSAN dealer. When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial in
Canada) and local regulations for towing must
be followed. Incorrect towing equipment could
damage your vehicle. Towing instructions are
available from a NISSAN dealer. Local service
operators are familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to
your vehicle, NISSAN recommends that you
have a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator carefully
read the following precautions.
WARNING
.
Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
. Never get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
.When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working con-
dition. If any unit is damaged, dol-
lies must be used.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE

.Always attach safety chains before
towing.
For information about towing your vehicle behind
a recreational vehicle (RV), see “Flat towing”
(P.9-16) of this manual.
SCE0814
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as
illustrated.
CAUTION
. Never tow Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) models 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 necessary to
tow the vehicle with the rear wheels
raised, always use towing dollies
under the front wheels.
. When towing a CVT model or Man-
ual Transmission (MT) model with
the front wheels on towing dollies:
— Place the ignition switch in the
OFF position (models without
Intelligent Key system) or place
the ignition switch in the ACC or
ON position (models with Intel-
ligent Key system) . Secure the
In case of emergency6-13

6-14In case of emergency
steering wheel in a straight-
ahead position with a rope or
similar device.
— Move the selector lever or shift lever to the N (Neutral) position.
. When towing a CVT model with the
rear wheels on the ground (if you do
not use towing dollies): Always
release the parking brake.
. If you have to tow an MT model with
the rear wheels on the ground (if
you do not use towing dollies) or
four wheels on the ground:
— Place the ignition switch in the
ON position and turn off all
accessories.
— Always release the parking brake.
— Move the transmission shift le- ver to the N (Neutral) position.
— Observe the following restricted towing speeds and distances for
manual transmission models
only:
.Rear wheels on the ground:
Speed: Below 50 MPH (80
km/h) Distance: Less than 50 miles
(80 km)
.Four wheels on the ground:
Speed: Below 60 MPH (96
km/h)
Distance: Less than 500 miles
(800 km)
SCE0815
Front
SCE0833

VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
.Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
. Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode
and result in serious injury. Parts of
your vehicle could also overheat
and be damaged.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
Do not use the tie down hook for towing or
vehicle recovery.
Front:
1. Remove the hook cover
*1from the
bumper with a suitable tool.
2. Securely install the recovery hook
*2as
illustrated. (The hook is stored under the
floor behind the driver’s seat.)
Make sure that the hook is properly secured in
its original position after use.
SCE0678
Rear
Rear:
Do not use the tie down hook to pull the vehicle.
CAUTION
. Tow chains or cables must be at-
tached only to the vehicle recovery
hook or main structural members of
the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle
body will be damaged.
. Do not use the vehicle tie down
hook to free a vehicle stuck in sand,
snow, mud, etc. .
Never tow a vehicle using the vehi-
cle tie down hook or recovery hook.
. Always pull the cable straight out
from the front of the vehicle. Never
pull on the vehicle at an angle.
. Pulling devices should be routed so
they do not touch any part of the
suspension, steering, brake or cool-
ing systems.
. Pulling devices such as ropes or
canvas straps are not recommended
for use in vehicle towing or recov-
ery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back- ward.
.Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)and D (Drive) (Continuously Variable
In case of emergency6-15

6-16In case of emergency
Transmission models) or 1st and R
(Reverse) (Manual Transmission models) .
.Apply the accelerator as little as possibleto maintain the rocking motion.
.Release the accelerator pedal beforeshifting between R and D (Continuously
Variable Transmission models) or 1st and
R (Manual Transmission models).
.Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH (55
km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing service
to remove the vehicle.

7-4Appearance and care
TIRE DRESSING
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it
may react with the coating and form a com-
pound. This compound may come off the tire
while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
.Use a water-based tire dressing. The coat-
ing on the tire dissolves more easily with an
oil-based tire dressing.
. Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove) .
. Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is
completely removed from the tire tread/
grooves.
. Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by tire dressing manufacturer. Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth dam-
pened in mild soap solution, then wipe clean
with a dry soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that may stain or
bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water, to clean
the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifica-
tion sensors. This can also affect the
operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
CAUTION
.
Never use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
. Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to the leather sur-
faces and should be removed
promptly. Do not use saddle soap,
car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents or am-
monia-based cleaners as they may
damage the leather’s natural finish.
. Never use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
. Do not use glass or plastic cleaner
on meter or gauge lens covers. It
may damage the lens cover.
AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that could
affect the vehicle interior. If you use an air
freshener, take the following precautions:
.Hanging-type air fresheners can cause
permanent discoloration when they contact
vehicle interior surfaces. Place the air
freshener in a location that allows it to hang
free and not contact an interior surface.
CLEANING INTERIOR

9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ................... 9-2Fuel recommendation ......................................................... 9-3
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ....................... 9-5
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ............................................... 9-6
Specifications ........................................................................\
..... 9-7
Engine ........................................................................\
............ 9-7
Wheels and tires ................................................................. 9-7
Dimensions and weights ................................................... 9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ........................................................................\
.. 9-8
Vehicle identification ................................................................. 9-8 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate ..................... 9-8
Vehicle identification number (chassis number) .......... 9-9
Engine serial number .......................................................... 9-9
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ....................... 9-9
Emission control information label ............................... 9-10
Tire and loading information label ................................ 9-10
Air conditioner specification label (if
so equipped) ..................................................................... 9-10 Installing front license plate ................................................ 9-11
Vehicle loading information ................................................. 9-12 Terms ........................................................................\
......... 9-12
Vehicle load capacity .................................................... 9-13
Securing the load .......................................................... 9-14
Loading tips ..................................................................... 9-14
Measurement of weights .............................................. 9-15
Towing a trailer ....................................................................... 9-15
Flat towing ........................................................................\
....... 9-16 Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) ............. 9-16
Manual Transmission ..................................................... 9-16
Uniform tire quality grading ................................................. 9-16 Treadwear ........................................................................\
9-16
Traction AA, A, B and C .............................................. 9-16
Temperature A, B and C .............................................. 9-17
Emission control system warranty ..................................... 9-17
Reporting safety defects ..................................................... 9-18
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test ......... 9-19
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................................. 9-19
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information ..... 9-20

FUEL RECOMMENDATION
Use unleaded regular gasoline with an octane
rating of at least 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index)
number (Research octane number 91).
CAUTION
.Using a fuel other than that speci-
fied could adversely affect the emis-
sion control system, and may also
affect warranty coverage.
. Under no circumstances should a
leaded gasoline be used, because
this will damage the three-way cat-
alyst.
. Do not use E-85 fuel in your vehicle.
Your vehicle is not designed to run
on E-85 fuel. Using E-85 fuel can
damage the fuel system compo-
nents and is not covered by the
NISSAN new vehicle limited war-
ranty.
Gasoline specifications
NISSAN recommends using gasoline that meets
the World-Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC) speci-
fications where it is available. Many of the
automobile manufacturers developed this spe-
cification to improve emission control system
and vehicle performance. Ask your service
station manager if the gasoline meets the
WWFC specifications.
Reformulated gasoline
Some fuel suppliers are now producing refor-
mulated gasolines. These gasolines are specially
designed to reduce vehicle emissions. NISSAN
supports efforts towards cleaner air and sug-
gests that you use reformulated gasoline when
available.
Gasoline containing oxygenates
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and metha-
nol with or without advertising their presence.
NISSAN does not recommend the use of fuels
of which the oxygenate content and the fuel
compatibility for your NISSAN cannot be readily
determined. If in doubt, ask your service station
manager.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please take
the following precautions as the usage of such
fuels may cause vehicle performance problems and/or fuel system damage.
.
The fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that
recommended for unleaded gasoline.
. If an oxygenate-blend, other than
methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
. If a methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 5% methanol
(methyl alcohol, wood alcohol) . It
should also contain a suitable amount
of appropriate cosolvents and corro-
sion inhibitors. If not properly formu-
lated with appropriate cosolvents and
corrosion inhibitors, such methanol
blends may cause fuel system damage
and/or vehicle performance problems.
At this time, sufficient data is not
available to ensure that all methanol
blends are suitable for use in NISSAN
vehicles.
If any driveability problems such as engine
stalling and difficult hot-starting are experienced
after using oxygenate-blend fuels, immediately
change to a non-oxygenate fuel or a fuel with a
low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during
Technical and consumer information9-3

used to tow a trailer, the trailer tongue
weight must be included as part of the
cargo load. This information is located
on the Tire and Loading Information
label.
. Cargo capacity - permissible weight of
cargo, the subtracted weight of occu-
pants from the load limit.
VEHICLE LOAD CAPACITY
Do not exceed the load limit of your vehicle
shown as “The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo” on the Tire and Loading
Information label. Do not exceed the
number of occupants shown as “Seating
Capacity” on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label.
To get “the combined weight of occupants
and cargo”, add the weight of all occu-
pants, then add the total luggage weight.
Examples are shown in the following
illustration.
STI0447
Steps for determining correct load limit
1. Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on
your vehicle’s placard. 2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
Technical and consumer information9-13