brakes NISSAN MICRA 2011 Owners Manual

WARNING
●If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be harder to operate.
● When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running,
there will be no power assist for the
steering. You will still have control of
the vehicle but the steering will be
harder to operate. Have the power
steering system checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
The power steering system is designed to pro-
vide power assist while driving to operate the
steering wheel with light force.
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent over-
heating of the power steering system and protect
it from getting damaged. While the power assist
is reduced, steering wheel operation will become
heavy. When the temperature of the power steer-
ing system goes down, the power assist level will
return to normal. Avoid repeating such steering
wheel operations that could cause the power
steering system to overheat. You may hear a sound when the steering wheel is
operated quickly. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion.
If the electric power steering warning light
PS
illuminates while the engine is running, it may
indicate the power steering system is not func-
tioning properly and may need servicing. Have
the power steering system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
When the electric power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running, there will be
no power assist for the steering but you will still
have control of the vehicle. At this time, greater
steering effort is required to operate the steering
wheel, especially in sharp turns and at low
speeds.
For additional information, refer to “Power steer-
ing warning light” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section. The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and stopping dis-
tance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brake pads faster, and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
POWER STEERING
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-19

WARNING
●While driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
● If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return
to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high
speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Parking brake break-in
Adjust the parking brake shoes whenever the
effect of the parking brake is weakened or when-
ever the parking brake shoes and/or drum/rotors
are replaced, in order to assure the best brake
performance. This procedure can be performed by a NISSAN
dealer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)

WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that
tests the system each time you start the engine
and move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may hear
a “clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and does not indicate a
malfunction. If the computer senses a malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and illuminates the
ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The
brake system then operates normally but without
anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the
self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above5-10km/h
(3 - 6 MPH) . The speed varies according to road
conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly ap-
plies and releases hydraulic pressure. This action
is similar to pumping the brakes very quickly. You
may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a
noise from under the hood or feel a vibration from
the actuator when it is operating. This is normal
and indicates that the ABS is operating properly.
However, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is re-
quired while driving. The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses
various sensors to monitor driver inputs and ve-
hicle motion. Under certain driving conditions,
the VDC System helps to perform the following
functions:
● Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel
slip on one slipping drive wheel so power is
transferred to a non slipping drive wheel on
the same axle.
● Controls brake pressure and engine output
to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function) .
● Controls brake pressure at individual wheels
and engine output to help the driver maintain
control of the vehicle in the following condi-
tions:
– understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased steer-
ing input)
– oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions)
The VDC system can help the driver to maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss of
vehicle control in all driving situations.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-21

Rear window wiper blade
Contact a NISSAN dealer if checking or replace-
ment is required.If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a NISSAN dealer.Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front disc-type brakes self-adjust every time
the brake pedal is applied. The rear drum-type
brakes self-adjust every time the parking brake is
applied.

Rear window defroster switch.........2-16
Rear window wiper and washer switches . . .2-16
Recorders Eventdata..................9-19
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-7
Registering your vehicle in another country . .9-10
Remote keyless entry system ...........3-6
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-18
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-5
Childseatbelts.....1-18,1-25,1-31,1-36
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-18
Seat adjustment Front manual seat adjustment ........1-2
Rear seat adjustment .............1-4
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-16
Infantsandsmallchildren..........1-17
InjuredPerson................1-12
Largerchildren................1-17
Precautionsonseatbeltusage.......1-10
Pregnant women ...............1-12
Seat belt extenders .............1-15
Seat belt maintenance ............1-16
Seat belts ...................1-10
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-15
Three-point type with retractor .......1-12
Seat belt extenders ...............1-15
Seatbeltwarninglight ..............2-9
Seats Adjustment ...................1-2
Frontseats...................1-2 Manual front seat adjustment
.........1-2
Rear seat ....................1-4
Security indicator light ..............2-11
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start .........2-13,3-2,5-7
Security systems Vehicle security system ...........2-13
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-19
Service manual order form ...........9-20
Servicing air conditioner .............4-23
Shifting Automatic transmission ...........5-10
Manual transmission .............5-13
Shift lock release .................5-11
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-15
Side air bag system
(See supplemental side air bag and curtain
side-impact air bag system) ...........1-52
Spark plug replacement .............8-16
Sparkplugs ...................8-16
Specifications ...................9-8
Speedometer ...................2-3
SRS warning label ................1-54
Stability control .................5-21
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-7
Jump starting .............6-10,8-15
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
Push starting .................6-12
Starting the engine ..............5-7
Starting the engine ................5-7
Steering Power steering system ...........5-19
Tilting steering wheel ............3-13
Steering wheel ..................3-13
Steering wheel audio control switch ......4-44S
toplight.....................8-29
Storage......................2-21
Storage tray ...................2-22
Sun visors ....................3-13
Supplemental air bag warning labels ......1-54
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-55, 2-10
Supplemental front impact air bag system . . .1-47
Supplemental restraint system Information and warning labels .......1-54
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-40
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system) .........1-40
Supplemental side and curtain side-impact
air bag system ..................1-52
Switch Hazard warning flasher switch ........6-2
Headlightandturnsignalswitch......2-17
Headlight control switch ..........2-17
Ignition switch .................5-5
Instrument brightness control ........2-18
Overdrive switch ...............5-12
Powerdoorlockswitch............3-4
Rear window defroster switch .......2-16
Rear window wiper and washer
switches...................2-16
Turnsignalswitch..............2-19
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch.....................2-20
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-14
T
Tachometer ....................2-4
10-5