suspension NISSAN GT-R 2013 R35 User Guide

1. Headlight and turn signal switch (P.2-49)
2. Paddle shifters (P.5-15)
3. Steering-wheel-mounted controls (left side)*
4. Meters and gauges (P.2-5)
5. Steering-wheel-mounted controls (right side)— MRK (Mark) switch*
— Cruise control (P.5-34) 6. Windshield wiper and washer switch (P.2-46)
7. VDC, transmission and suspension set up
switches (P.5-24)
8. Trunk lid release switch (P.3-20)
9. Hood release handle (P.3-18)
10. Intelligent Key port (P.5-11) 11. Horn (P.2-53)
12. Tilting/telescopic steering wheel lever (P.3-26)
13. Push-button ignition switch (P.5-9)
14. Parking brake (P.5-33, P.5-45)
15. Shift lever (P.5-15)
*: Refer to the separate Multi Function Display
Owner’s Manual.
Instruments and controls2-3
COCKPIT

and then blinks for 10 seconds when the engine
is not running, it indicates that the vehicle is not
ready for an emission control system inspection/
maintenance test. (
“Readiness for Inspec-
tion/Maintenance (I/M) test (US only)” page 9-
20)
Operation:
The malfunction indicator light will come on in
one of two ways:
. Malfunction indicator light on steady — An
emission control system malfunction has
been detected. Check the fuel-filler cap. If
the fuel-filler cap is loose or missing, tighten
or install the cap and continue to drive the
vehicle. The
light should turn off after a
few driving trips. If thelight does not
turn off after a few driving trips, have the
vehicle inspected by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer. You do not need to have
your vehicle towed to the dealer.
. Malfunction indicator light blinking — An
engine misfire has been detected which may
damage the emission control system.
To reduce or avoid emission control system
damage:
a. Do not drive at speeds above 45 MPH
(72 km/h). b. Avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
c. Avoid steep uphill grades.
d. If possible, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator light may stop
blinking and remain on.
Have the vehicle inspected by a GT-R
certified NISSAN dealer. You do not need
to have your vehicle towed to the dealer.
NOTICE
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, reduced
fuel economy, and possible damage to
the emission control system.
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The light flashes when the turn signal switch
lever or hazard switch is turned on.
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
off indicator light
The light comes on when the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) set up switch is pushed to OFF for more than 1 second. (
“VDC, transmis-
sion and suspension setup switches” page 5-
24)
This indicates that the vehicle dynamic control
system and traction control system are not
operating. (
“Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system” page 5-49)
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Key reminder chime
A chime will sound if the driver side door is
opened while the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC position or pushed to the OFF or
LOCK position with the Intelligent Key left in the
Intelligent Key port. Make sure the ignition
switch is pushed to the OFF position, and take
the Intelligent Key with you when leaving the
vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime will sound when the driver side door is
opened with the light switch in theorposition and the ignition switch in the ACC, OFF
or LOCK position.
Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
Instruments and controls2-31

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ............................... 5-3Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..................................... 5-3Three-way catalyst ............................................................. 5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ................... 5-4
Avoiding collision and rollover ........................................ 5-7
Off-road recovery ............................................................... 5-7
Rapid air pressure loss ..................................................... 5-8
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................................ 5-8All-Wheel Drive (AWD) driving safety precautions .... 5-9
Push-button ignition switch ................................................... 5-9
Operating range for engine start ................................ 5-10
Ignition switch operation ............................................... 5-10
Ignition switch positions ................................................ 5-10
Emergency engine shut off ........................................... 5-11
Intelligent Key battery discharge ................................. 5-11
Before starting the engine .................................................. 5-13
Starting the engine ............................................................... 5-13
Driving the vehicle ................................................................ 5-15 Dual clutch transmission ............................................... 5-15
Driving tips ........................................................................\
5-21
VDC, transmission and suspension setup switches .... 5-24 How to switch the modes ............................................ 5-25
Features of each mode .................................................. 5-27 Turbocharger system ........................................................... 5-31
R mode start function ......................................................... 5-32
How to use R mode start function ........................... 5-33
Parking brake ........................................................................\
. 5-33
Cruise control ........................................................................\
5-34 Precautions on cruise control .................................... 5-35
Steering-wheel-mounted controls ............................ 5-35
Indicators and display .................................................. 5-36
Cruise control operations ........................................... 5-36
Hill Start Assist ..................................................................... 5-38
Break-in schedule ................................................................ 5-39 Wheel alignment ........................................................... 5-39
Increasing fuel economy ..................................................... 5-40
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) ...................................................... 5-41 AWD warning light ....................................................... 5-41
Tight corner braking phenomenon ........................... 5-42
Tires ........................................................................\
.......... 5-43AWD system characteristics ...................................... 5-43
Limited Slip Differential (LSD) .......................................... 5-44
Parking/parking on hills ....................................................... 5-45
Power steering ...................................................................... 5-46
Brake system ........................................................................\
. 5-47 Braking precautions ..................................................... 5-47
Parking brake break-in ................................................. 5-47

5-24Starting and driving
the brakes normally based on traffic and road
conditions.
The metallic brake pads and brake disc rotor
may rust together when the brakes are not
applied:
.If the vehicle is not idled for 20 seconds
without the brakes applied, or if the brakes
are applied when the vehicle is shut off, the
rotor and pads can rust together, even when
the brake pads are dry.
. If the brakes are wet when the vehicle is
parked and the parking brake is applied for a
long time.
Contact a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer if the
brake pads and brake rotor have rusted
together.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. With the foot brake pedal depressed, apply the 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
&Pposition 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.
VDC, TRANSMISSION AND
SUSPENSION SETUP SWITCHES

1. Transmission setup switch
2. Suspension setup switch
3. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) setup switch
HOW TO SWITCH THE MODES
Each time the engine is started, all switches are
set to the normal mode. The normal mode is
recommended for normal driving. Move the
VDC, transmission and suspension setup
switches up or down to change the mode when
the engine is running.
: Push and hold the switch for longer than approximately 1 second
: Push the switch
* The selected mode is maintained even if the shift lever is moved between
&Aand&Mposition.
Starting and driving5-25

Suspension
Set up modeFeatures
.The damping force of the shock absorbers is set for 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
the R mode or the COMF mode is
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 driving5-29

5-32Starting and driving
conditions, and oil consumption by
itself does not necessarily indicate
any malfunction. If your rate of oil
consumption increases suddenly or
without explanation, NISSAN recom-
mends that you have your vehicle
inspected by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer.This function enables the driver to start accel-
eration from a stop by selecting R mode with the
VDC and transmission setup switch. The engine
output will be maintained at approximately 4,000
rpm. When using the R mode or the R mode
start function, always use proper seating posi-
tion and follow the safety instructions in Section
1 of this manual.
WARNING
.Failure to follow the warnings and
instruction for the use of this fea-
ture may cause a loss of vehicle
control or a collision which may lead
to serious personal injury or death:
. Make sure to drive carefully within
legal limits.
. Only use this function when you can
guarantee that it is safe to do so,
based on the surrounding traffic
conditions.
. Do not use this function on slippery
or wet roads. This may cause loss of
vehicle control and could result in
an accident.
. The R mode start function has been
developed not only for controlling the engine, transmission and VDC
system, but also the settings of the
suspension and tires. Therefore, any
modification of the vehicle may
disrupt the vehicle’s balance. This
will not only reduce the optimum
performance of the vehicle but may
also cause damage to powertrain
components, including the trans-
mission.
NOTICE
.
When the temperature of the engine
coolant and transmission oil is high
or low, the function cannot be used.
The temperature range in which the
R mode start function can be used:
— Engine coolant: 1408F - 2128F
(608C - 1008C)
— Transmission oil: 1408F - 2668F (608C - 1308C)
. If the R mode start function is used
4 times consecutively, the function
may be disabled and cannot be
turned on to protect the vehicle
system. While the function is dis-
R MODE START FUNCTION

abled, the warning light illuminates.
When the warning light illuminates,
perform cool down driving.
(
“Cool down” page GTR-13)
When the warning light turns off,
the function can be used again.
. The performance of start may vary
depending on the amount of wheel
spin ,or increase and decrease of
the engine output in response to the
outside temperature. (This vehicle
was set up according to the road
surface conditions of the straight
sections of the Sendai Highland
Raceway course in Japan at 598F
(158C) .)
. For safety reasons, VDC control may
activate automatically when driving
on a slippery road surface, such as a
wet road, in order to apply the
brakes or limit the engine output.
. Frequent use of the R mode start
function increases the load on the
powertrain related parts such as the
clutch and transmission compared
to normal driving. In particular, the
clutch will wear out more quickly.
HOW TO USE R MODE START
FUNCTION
1. Move the shift lever to the&Aor&Mposition.
2. Select the R mode with the transmission setup switch. (
“VDC, transmission and
suspension setup switches” page 5-24)
3. Select the R mode with the VDC setup switch.
4. Depress the brake pedal firmly with your left foot and keep depressing the brake pedal.
5. Depress the accelerator pedal quickly to the floor with your right foot while the brake
pedal is depressed. The engine speed will
increase to approximately 4,000 rpm and
will be maintained.
6. Within 3 seconds after depressing the accelerator pedal, release the brake pedal.
WARNING
.Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to
do so can cause brake failure and
lead to an accident.
. Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
. Do not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
. Do not leave children unattended in
Starting and driving5-33
PARKING BRAKE

hill start assist will stop operating completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the shift
lever is moved to the
&Nor&Pposition or on a
flat and level road.
NOTE:
This system does not function when the
Vehicle Dynamic Control VDC) system
warning appears on the vehicle informa-
tion display located in the tachometer.
(
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys-
tem warning” page 2-36)
NOTICE
Follow these recommendations to ob-
tain maximum engine performance and
ensure the future reliability and econo-
my of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may
result in shortened engine life and
reduced vehicle performance.
Please observe the following types of driving
until the mileage shown below has been
reached.
Until 300 miles (500 km):
. Do not depress the accelerator pedal more
than halfway and avoid rapid acceleration.
. Drive with the engine speed kept at less
than 3,500 RPM.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering, abrupt
braking and driving on poor roads.
300 to 600 miles (500 to 1,000 km)
. Avoid rapid acceleration in a low gear (1st to
3rd gears) with the accelerator pedal fully
depressed. Depress the pedal slowly.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering and
abrupt braking. .
Drive with the suspension setup switch in
the COMF mode to allow more suspension
stroke.
600 to 1,200 miles (1,000 to 2,000 km)
. Drive with the engine speed kept relatively
high with the shift lever in the
&Mposition.
Shifting is recommended between 1st and
4th gears.
. Avoid unnecessary quick steering and
abrupt braking.
. Drive with the suspension setup switch in
the COMF mode to allow more suspension
stroke.
Even though the mileage reaches over 1,200
miles (2,000 km) , the clutch may take longer to
properly engage if the vehicle is mainly driven in
town at a low speed. NISSAN recommends
breaking in the clutch at a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Do not adjust the wheel alignment until the
mileage reaches 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Until
then, the suspension may not engage enough
and the height may be higher.
However, make sure to adjust the alignment
after 1,000 miles (1,600 km) .
The wheel alignment can be adjusted by a GT-R
Starting and driving5-39
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE

5-42Starting and driving
NOTICE
.If the warning light comes on while
driving there may be a malfunction
in the AWD system. Reduce the
vehicle speed and have your vehicle
checked by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
. If the warning light remains on after
the above operation, have your
vehicle checked by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
. The powertrain may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warn-
ing light blinking.
. Do not spin the rear wheels while
driving. Spinning the rear wheels
may increase the temperatures of
the AWD clutch system and damage
the system. Adjust the accelerator
pedal position to stop wheel spin.
TIGHT CORNER BRAKING PHE-
NOMENON
If the steering wheel is turned more than half a
turn when the vehicle is started when it is cold, it
may be harder to move the vehicle forward and
backward. This phenomenon is known as the
“tight corner braking phenomenon”.
This phenomenon is unique to AWD vehicles,
and occurs due to a difference in speeds
between the front and rear wheels while the
vehicle is turning. This does not indicate that
there is a malfunction.
NOTE:
If the tight corner braking phenomenon
occurs, a slipping sound may be heard
from the tires, or a squeaking sound may
be heard from the drive system.
Reducing tight corner braking phe-
nomenon
The tight corner braking phenomenon can be
temporarily reduced.
Push the transmission setup switch down for
approximately 4 seconds while the engine is
running.
.The SAVE mode indicator will blink once
and will then turn off.
. If the SAVE mode is already selected, the
SAVE mode indicator will blink once and
then illuminate again. (
“VDC, transmis-
sion and suspension setup switches” page
5-24)