winter tyres NISSAN QASHQAI 2011 Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving your vehicle to fit the circumstances is es-
sential for your safety and comfort. As a driver, you
should be the one who knows best how to drive in
the given circumstances.
ENGINE COLD START PERIOD
Due to the higher engine speeds when the engine is
cold, extra caution must be exercised when select-
ing a gear during the engine warm-up period after
starting the engine.
LOADING LUGGAGE
Loads, their distribution and the attachment of equip-
ment (coupling devices, roof luggage carriers, etc.)
will change the driving characteristics of the vehicle
considerably. Driving style and speed must be ad-
justed accordingly.
DRIVING ON WET ROADS
Avoid starting off, accelerating and stopping sud-
denly.
Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
Extra distance should be kept from the vehicle in
front.
When water covers the road surface in puddles,
small streams, etc, REDUCE SPEED to prevent
aquaplaning which will cause skidding and loss
of control. Worn tyres increase this risk.
DRIVING UNDER WINTER
CONDITIONS
Drive safely.
Avoid starting off, accelerating or stopping sud-
denly.
Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
Avoid sudden steering actions.
Extra distance should be kept from the vehicle in
front.
j1OFF
WARNING
Never remove the key or turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK position while driving. The steering
wheel will lock and could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle. This could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
The switch includes an anti-theft steering lock de-
vice.
There is an “OFF” position between the LOCK and
Acc positions, although it is not shown on the lock
cylinder. When the ignition switch is in the “OFF”
position, the steering wheel is not locked.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
To lock the steering wheel, turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK position and remove the key from the
ignition switch, then turn the steering clockwise. To
NSD238Z
CARE WHEN DRIVING IGNITION SWITCH
5-6Starting and driving

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when
driving over rough terrain. Properly secure it so
that it will not be thrown forwards and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
To avoid raising the centre of gravity excessively,
do not exceed the rated capacity of the roof rack/
gear bin (where fitted) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the luggage area as
far forwards and as low as possible. Do not equip
the vehicle with tyres larger than specified. This
could cause your vehicle to rollover.
Accelerating quickly, sharp steering manoeuvres
or sudden braking may cause loss of control.
Do not drive beyond the performance of the
tyres, even with 4WD. Sudden acceleration,
steering or braking may result in loss of control
and could cause the vehicle to become stuck.
If at all possible, avoid sharp turning manoeuvres,
particularly at high speeds. Your 4WD vehicle
has a higher centre of gravity than a 2WD ve-
hicle and can tip over more easily. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional 2WD models any more than low
sports cars are designed to perform satisfacto-
rily under off-road conditions. Failure to operate
this vehicle correctly could result in loss of con-
trol and/or a rollover accident.
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering
wheel when driving off-road. The steering wheel
could jerk and injure your hands. Instead, drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the outside of
the rim.
Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the
driver and all passengers have their seat belts
fastened.
Avoid raising the centre of gravity by loading
things on the roof or equipping the vehicle with
tyres larger than specified in this manual.
Always drive with the floor mats in place as the
floor may become very hot. Particular care
should be taken if you are barefoot.
Lower your speed when encountering strong
crosswinds. With its higher centre of gravity your
NISSAN is more affected by gusty side winds.
Slower speeds ensure better vehicle control.
Be sure to check the brakes immediately after
driving in mud or water as specified in “Wet
brakes” later in this section.
Whenever you drive off-road through sand, mud
or water as deep as the wheel hub, more fre-
quent maintenance may be required. For details,
refer to the separately provided Warranty Infor-
mation and Maintenance Booklet.
Rinse the underside of the vehicle with fresh
water after driving through mud or sand. Re-
move any brush or sticks that are trapped.
Install the same size of winter tyres on all four (4)
wheels (such as studless tyres) or install snow
chains to the front wheels when driving on slip-
pery roads (e.g. after a snowfall) and drive care-
fully using 4WD.
Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If you
get out of the vehicle and it rolls forwards, back-
wards or sideways, you could be injured.
5-28Starting and driving

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine surface. The Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) sys-
tem, brakes the spinning wheel to distribute the driv-
ing power to the other driving wheel.
If the vehicle is operated with the ESP system turned
off, all ESP and TCS functions will be turned off.
The Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) system and
ABS will still operate with the ESP system off. If the
Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) system or the ABS
is activated, the “SLIP” indicator light (
) will
blink and you may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and does
not indicate a malfunction.
While the ESP system is operating, you may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the bonnet. This is normal and
indicates that the ESP system is working properly.
The ESP computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time the engine is started
and the vehicle moves forwards or reverses at a
slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an indication
of a malfunction.
WARNING
The ESP system is designed to help improve
driving stability but does not prevent accidents
caused by abrupt steering operation at high
speeds, or careless or dangerous driving
techniques. Reduce vehicle speed and be es-
pecially careful when driving and cornering on
slippery surfaces. Always drive carefully.
If engine related parts, such as a muffler, are
not standard equipment or are extremely de-
teriorated, the ESP OFF indicator light (
)
and/or the “SLIP” indicator light () may
illuminate.
If brake related parts, such as brake pads,
rotors and callipers, are not standard equip-
ment or are extremely deteriorated, the ESP
system may not operate properly and the ESP
OFF indicator light (
) and/or the “SLIP”
indicator light () may illuminate.
Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts, such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabiliser bars and bushings,
are not NISSAN-approved or are extremely
deteriorated, the ESP system may not oper-
ate properly. This could adversely affect ve-
hicle handling performance and the ESP OFF
indicator light (
) and/or the “SLIP” indi-
cator light () may illuminate.
When driving on extremely inclined surfaces,
such as higher banked corners, the ESP sys-
tem may not operate properly and the ESP
OFF indicator light (
) and/or the “SLIP”
indicator light () may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads. If ESP OFF indi-
cator light
does illuminate after driving
on extreme surfaces, restart the engine to re-
set the ESP system.
If wheels or tyres other than the
recommended ones are used, the ESP sys-
tem may not operate properly and the ESP OFF indicator light (
) and/or the “SLIP”
indicator light () may illuminate.
The ESP system is not a substitute for winter
tyres or snow chains on a snow covered road.
NOTE
The ESP system should be switched on under
normal circumstances although it may be ad-
vantageous to switch off the ESP system to
allow wheelspin under the following condi-
tions:
– When driving in deep snow or mud.
– When trying to rock a vehicle free that is stuck in snow.
– When driving with snow chains.
If the ESP system has been switched off, drive
carefully with reduced speed. When road con-
ditions allow, ESP should be switched back
on.
Starting and driving5-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may freeze
and damage the battery. To maintain maximum effi-
ciency, the battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see “Battery” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-freeze,
drain the cooling system. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “Engine cooling system” in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
TYRE EQUIPMENT
1) The SUMMER tyres are of a tread design to pro-vide superior performance on dry surfaces. How-
ever, the performance of these tyres will be sub-
stantially reduced in snowy and icy conditions. If
you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD & SNOW
or ALL SEASON tyres on all four wheels. Please
consult a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop
for tyre type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2) For additional traction on icy roads, studded tyres may be used. However, some countries,
provinces and states prohibit their use. Check
applicable laws before installing studded tyres. CAUTION
Skid and traction capabilities of studded snow
tyres on wet or dry surfaces may be poorer
than that of non-studded snow tyres.
3) Snow chains may be used, if desired. But the use of snow chains may be prohibited in some
areas. Therefore, check the local laws before
installing snow chains. When installing snow
chains, make sure they are of proper size for the
tyres on your vehicle and are installed according
to the snow chain manufacturer’s instructions.
Use chain tensioners when recommended by the
snow chain manufacturer to ensure a tight fit.
Loose end links of the snow chain must be se-
cured or removed to prevent the possibility of
whipping action damage to the wings or under-
carriage. In addition, drive at a reduced speed,
otherwise, your vehicle may be damaged and/or
vehicle handling and performance may be ad-
versely affected.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended to carry the following items in the
vehicle during winter:
A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove ice
and snow from the windows.
A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack
to give it firm support.
A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
Extra windscreen washer fluid to refill the reser-
voir tank.
CORROSION PROTECTION
Chemicals used for road surface de-icing are ex-
tremely corrosive and will accelerate corrosion and
the deterioration of underbody components such as
the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake
cables, floor pan, and wings.
In the winter, the underbody must be cleaned
periodically. For additional information, see “Cor-
rosion protection” in the “7. Appearance and
care” section .
For additional protection against rust and corrosion,
which may be required in some areas, consult a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
Starting and driving5-43