NISSAN GT-R 2009 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: NISSAN, Model Year: 2009, Model line: GT-R, Model: NISSAN GT-R 2009Pages: 311, PDF Size: 6.68 MB
Page 191 of 311

Black plate (186,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
— Do not allow sand or similarsubstances to contact the shift
lever.
. Develop the habit of performing the
operations marked with “
”
without pressing the button. If the
button is pressed at these times,
there is the possibility that the lever
could accidentally enter the
&Por
&R
positions.
. When the vehicle is hot, the area
around the shift lever may be hot or
may produce an unusual sound,
however this does not indicate that
there is a malfunction.
NOTE:.When moving the shift lever out of the
&Pposition, it may not be possible to
move the shift lever if the button is
pressed before the brake pedal is
depressed. Press the button only after
depressing the brake pedal.
. Do not place coins or other small
objects in the area around the shift
lever. These objects may get stuck in
the shift gate and prevent the shift
lever from moving into a position.
Sometimes, you may not be able to retrieve these objects.
. Immediately after a cold start, while the
transmission system check display (“T/
M SYSTEM CHECK IN PROCESS”)
appears on the vehicle information
display, the shift lever cannot be moved
out of the
&Pposition. This is because a
check of the transmission system is in
progress. This does not indicate that
there is a malfunction. Move the shift
lever after the message on the vehicle
information display turns off.
. The shift lever knob and console-
mounted shift indicator have a genuine
leather finish that requires proper care
and maintenance. (
“CLEANING IN-
TERIOR” page 7-4)
Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift lever may not be moved from the
&P
position even with the brake pedal depressed
and the shift lever button pushed.
To move the shift lever, perform the following
procedure.
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover using a suitable tool wrapped with a cloth.
4. Push down the shift lock as illustrated.
5-16
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 192 of 311

Black plate (187,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
5. Push the shift lever button and move theshift lever to the
&N
position while holding
down the shift lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. Now the vehicle may
be moved to the desired location.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel locked.
NOTICE
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of
the
&P
position after performing the
shift lock release procedure, immedi-
ately have the vehicle inspected by a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.
Adaptive shift controlThe adaptive shift control system automatically
operates when the transmission is in the
&A
position and selects an appropriate gear de-
pending on the road conditions such as uphill,
downhill or curving roads.Control on uphill and curving roads:A low gear is maintained that suits the degree of
the slope or curve to allow smooth driving with a
small number of shifts.
Control on downhill roads:The adaptive shift control system shifts to a low
gear that suits the degree of the slope, and uses
the engine brake to reduce the number of times
that the foot brake must be used.Control on winding roads:A low gear is maintained on continuous curves
that involve repeated acceleration and decelera-
tion, so that smooth acceleration is available
instantly when the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed.NOTE:Adaptive shift control may not operate
when the transmission oil temperature is
low immediately after the start of driving
or when it is very hot. If this occurs, switch
to the
&M
position and downshift if neces-
sary.
&M
position
Changing to the
&M
position:
To change to the
&M
position from the
&A
position, either move the shift lever to the
&M
side or operate the paddle shifter. The position
indicator indicates the gear position with the
indication of “M”.
If the paddle shifter is used, the first operation
changes from the
&Aposition to the
&Mposition,
and the second and later operations change the gears.
To return to the
&Aposition, move the shift lever
to the
&M
side again. The position indicator
indicates the gear position with the indication of
“A”.
Starting and driving
5-17
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 193 of 311

Black plate (188,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
Changing gears using paddle shifters:To shift up, pull the paddle shifter on the right
side
*1
toward you.
To shift down, pull the paddle shifter on the left
side
*2
toward you.
. First gear:
Use this position when accelerating from a
stop, climbing a steep hill slowly or engine
braking at low speeds.
. Second gear:
Use this position when accelerating from a
stop on snowy roads or other extremely
slippery road surfaces, or accelerating or
engine braking at mid-low speeds.
. Third gear:
Use this position when accelerating or
gently engine braking at middle speeds. .
Fourth gear:
Use this position when accelerating or
gently engine braking at mid-high speeds.
. Fifth gear:
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds. Engine braking
is weaker in this position.
. Sixth gear:
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds. Engine braking
is weakest in this position.
Suggested maximum speed in each
gear:Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is not
running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed
(shown below) in any gear. For level road
driving, use the highest gear suggested for that
speed. Always observe posted speed limits, and
drive according to the road conditions that will
ensure safe operation. Do not over-rev the
engine when shifting to a lower gear as it may
cause engine damage or loss of vehicle control.
5-18
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 194 of 311

Black plate (189,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
GearMPH (km/h)
1st 35 (57)
2nd 62 (101)
3rd 90 (145)
4th —
5th —
6th —
DRIVING TIPSAfter starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the shift lever button
before shifting the shift lever from the
&Pposition
to the
&R,&N,or
&A↔&M
position. Be sure the
vehicle is fully stopped before attempting to shift
the shift lever.
The transmission is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed before shifting
from
&Pto any other position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of the
&P
position and into any other position with the
ignition switch other in the LOCK, OFF or ACC
position.When accelerating from a stopKeep the foot brake pedal depressed and push
the shift lever button to shift into a driving gear
as following:
. To drive forward, move the shift lever to the
&A↔&M
position.
. To back up, move the shift lever to the
&R
position.
Starting on level ground:1. Check the shift lever position indicator on
the instrument panel to confirm that the
driving gear is selected.
2. Release the parking brake.
3. Release the foot brake pedal, then gradually depress the accelerator pedal to start the
vehicle in motion.Starting on an uphill:1. Check the shift lever position indicator onthe instrument panel to confirm that the
driving gear is selected.NOTE:When starting or driving on a steep uphill
grade, shift to the
&M
position and operate
the paddle shifter to shift down to 1st gear
as a manual transmission vehicle.
2. With the parking brake applied, slowly release the foot brake pedal.
3. Slowly depress the accelerator pedal and feel the vehicle starting motion with the
parking brake applied.
4. Release the parking brake and gradually depress the accelerator pedal to start the
vehicle in motion.
NOTICE
To prevent stalling or transmission
damage, start in 1st gear. The
&M
position 2nd gear can be used to start
moving the vehicle only when reduced
torque is necessary on snowy roads or
extremely slippery surfaces.NOTE:The hill start assist function operates when
the vehicle is accelerating from a stop on
an uphill. (
“HILL START ASSIST” page
5-31)
When driving the vehicle
WARNING
Do not move the shift lever to the
&N
position while driving. Doing so may
result in an accident due to loss of
engine braking. It may also damage the
transmission.
Starting and driving
5-19
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 195 of 311

Black plate (190,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
Normal driving:Drive with the shift lever in the
&Aposition.
The appropriate gear will be automatically
shifted according to the position of the accel-
erator pedal, the driving speed and driving
conditions.
Passing or hill climbing:.
&Aposition:
Fully depress the accelerator pedal to the floor.
This shifts the transmission down into a lower
gear depending on the vehicle speed.
NOTE:When starting or driving on a steep uphill
grade, shift to the
&M
position and operate
the paddle shifter to shift down to 1st gear
as a manual transmission vehicle.
.
&M
position:
Use the paddle shifter to shift down, then
depress the accelerator pedal depending on
the vehicle speed.
Driving on a downhill:.
&Aposition:
The system shifts down according to the degree
of downhills to increase the effectiveness of the
engine brake. .
&M
position:
When driving on a long slope, selecting the
&M
position and 4th or 3rd gear will provide gentle
engine braking.
When driving on a steep downhill, selecting the&M
position and 2nd or 1st gear will provide
powerful engine braking.
WARNING
. When the shift lever is in the
&A
position, the adaptive shift control
system will stay in a low gear in
order to maintain the effectiveness
of the engine brake. However if the
vehicle is traveling too fast depend-
ing on the degree of the slope, you
should shift to the
&M
position and
use the paddle shifter to shift down.
If you continue to use only the foot
brake, a high load will be applied to
the brake, which may overheat,
reducing its effectiveness. Be sure
to use the engine brake together
with the foot brake. (
“Adaptive
shift control” page 5-17)
. The adaptive shift control system
may not operate when the transmis-
sion is not warm immediately after the start of driving, or when the oil
temperature is high. In this case,
depending on the degree of the
slope, you should shift to the
&M
position and select a lower gear.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
When stopping the vehicleLeave the shift lever in the
&A↔&Mor&Rposition
and firmly depress the foot brake pedal.
If the vehicle will be stopped for a long period of
time, apply the parking brake and move the shift
lever to the
&Por
&Nposition as necessary.WARNING
. Do not race the engine while the
vehicle is stopped. Doing so may
accelerate the vehicle suddenly and
cause an accident when shifting to a
driving gear.
. While the engine is running, the
propeller shaft that transmits torque
from the engine to the transmission
is turning at all times. Crawling or
reaching under the vehicle while the
engine is running may result in
5-20
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 196 of 311

Black plate (191,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
serious injury.
NOTICE
When the vehicle is stopped on a hill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal. Doing
so may cause the clutch to overheat and
result in transmission damage. Use the
brakes to prevent the vehicle from
moving.When parking the vehicle1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the foot brake pedal depressed, applythe parking brake.
3. Move the shift lever to the
&Pposition.
4. Check the shift lever position indicator on the instrument panel to confirm that the
&P
position is selected.
5. Push the ignition switch to stop the engine.
WARNING
Before exiting the vehicle, be sure to
move the shift lever to the
&Pposition
and stop the engine. If the engine is
running and the shift lever is not in the
&Pposition, the vehicle may start mov-
ing due to partial engagement of the
clutch or to the effects of gravity on a
slope, or the vehicle may suddenly
accelerate due to accidental operation
of the accelerator pedal, possibly caus-
ing an accident.
The control of the dual clutch transmission,
Bilstein DampTronic
®electronically controlled
shock absorbers and Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) can be changed to the desired modes by
operating the setup switches. Select the desired
mode best suited to the driving conditions.
NOTE:Bilstein DampTronic
®is a registered trade-
mark of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Suspen-
sion GmbH.
Starting and driving
5-21
VDC, TRANSMISSION AND
SUSPENSION SETUP SWITCHES
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 197 of 311

Black plate (192,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
1. Transmission setup switch
2. Suspension setup switch
3. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) setup switchHOW TO SWITCH THE MODESMove the VDC, transmission and suspension
setup switches up or down to change the mode
when the engine is running.R modePush up the VDC, transmission and suspension
setup switches for more than 1 second.SNOW mode and COMF modePush down the transmission and suspension
setup switches.
VDC OFF modePush down the VDC setup switch for more than
1 second.Normal modePush the VDC, transmission and suspension
setup switches to the side opposite from the
selected modes.NOTE:.When the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position, the VDC, transmission
and suspension set up switch indica-
tors may come on momentarily, but this
does not indicate that there is a mal-
function.
. The VDC, transmission and suspension
setup switches will return to the normal
mode when the engine is restarted.
Also, the transmission setup switch will
return to the normal mode when the
shift lever is moved between
&Aand
&M
while operating the transmission setup
switch.
5-22
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 198 of 311

Black plate (193,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
FEATURES OF EACH MODE
Switch
Transmission
Suspension
VDC
R mode Indicator
Function
&Aposition:
Mode for smooth driving on roads with
consecutive inclines and curves
&Mposition:
Mode for maximum performance and
quick shift operation Mode to enhance handling and cornering
for maximum vehicle performance
(Damping force is fixed.)
Mode to adjust front and rear torque
distribution in the AWD system
Normal mode Indicator OFF OFF OFF
Function Usual driving mode Usual driving mode (Damping force is
variably controlled.)Usual driving mode
Special condition mode Indicator
Function
Mode to drive on a snow-covered or
slippery-surface road Mode to enhance ride comfort (Damping
force is variably controlled.)
Mode to free vehicle from slush and deep
snow, etc.
Starting and driving
5-23
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 199 of 311

Black plate (194,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
TransmissionThe transmission mode differs depending on the shift lever position,
&Aor
&M.
&Aposition:Set up modeFeatures
.
In addition to the normal mode functions, this mode allows you to achieve higher
engine speed, greater powertrain torque and engine braking.
Normal
(light is off)
.
For everyday driving an appropriate gear position is automatically selected for optimal
fuel mileage.
.
This mode controls powertrain torque on snowy roads and slippery surfaces making
starting and driving easier.
&M
position:Set up mode Features
.
This mode allows you to shift gears more quickly than the normal mode.
.
This mode will not allow the transmission to automatically upshift even when the
engine speed reaches the red zone. Do not rev the engine into the red zone.
.
When the engine speed is low, downshift will be automatically carried out to ensure
driving performance.
Normal
(light is off)
.
Upshift will be automatically carried out just before the red zone to prevent excessive
engine speed.
.
When the engine speed is low, downshift will be automatically carried out to ensure
driving performance.
NOTE:The SNOW mode cannot be selected with the transmission in the
&M
position.
NOTICE
. When the engine speed approaches
the red zone, shift to a higher gear
or reduce the engine speed. Operat-
ing the engine in the red zone may
cause serious engine damage.
. Quick shifting in the R mode with
the transmission in the
&M
position
is available when the engine speed
is high. However, the transmission
may shift more slowly when the
engine speed is low. This does not
indicate that there is a malfunction.
5-24
Starting and driving
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \
Page 200 of 311

Black plate (195,1)
Model "R35-D" EDITED: 2008/ 5/ 20
Suspension
Set up modeFeatures
.
The damping force of the shock absorbers is set maximum vehicle performance.
.
Riding comfort becomes harder.
Normal (light is off)
.
The damping force of the shock absorbers is variably adjusted for everyday driving or
maximum vehicle performance.
.
The damping force of the shock absorbers is variably adjusted for more comfortable
driving.
.
Movement of the vehicle body is larger than the normal and R modes.
NOTICE
While maximizing vehicle performance,
shock absorber control may automati-
cally be returned to the normal mode. If
theRmodeortheCOMFmodeis
selected in the case above, the suspen-
sion setup switch indicator may turn off.
Operate the suspension setup switch to
the R mode or the COMF mode and
check to make sure the indicator illu-
minates. If the indicator does not illu-
minate, have the system checked by a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.
Starting and driving
5-25
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \