NISSAN QASHQAI 2017 Owner´s Manual

5-96Starting and driving
fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use
special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel
economy.
.Vehicles typically need no more than 30
seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal operating
temperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking
area or in the shade whenever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, opening the
windows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system..Keep your engine tuned up.
.Follow the recommended scheduled main-
tenance.
.Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
.Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
.Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(See “Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tion” (P.10-5) .)If any malfunction occurs in the AWD system
while the engine is running, warning messages
appear in the vehicle information display.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (if so
equipped)

JVS1120X
If the “AWD Error” warning*1appears, there
may be a malfunction in the AWD system.
Reduce vehicle speed and have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
The “AWD High Temp. Stop vehicle” (high
temperature) warning
*2may appear whiletrying to free a stuck vehicle due to increased oil
temperature. The driving mode may change to
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) . If this warning is
displayed, stop the vehicle with the engine
idling, as soon as it is safe to do so. Then if
the warning turns off, you can continue driving.
The “Tire Size Incorrect” warning
*3may
appear if there is a large difference between
the diameters of front and rear wheels. Pull off
the road in a safe area, with the engine idling.
Check that all tire sizes are the same, that the
tire pressure is correct and that the tires are not
excessively worn. Change the AWD mode
switch to the 2WD mode and do not drive fast.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked by a
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
.For AWD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with
the engine running. Doing so may
result in drivetrain damage or un-
expected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle da-
mage or personal injury..Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2–wheel
dynamometer (such as the dynam-
ometers used by some states for
emissions testing) or similar equip-
ment even if the other two wheels
are raised off the ground. Make sure
that you inform the test facility
personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using
the wrong test equipment may re-
sult in drive train damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle da-
mage or personal injury.
CAUTION
.Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels
raised.
.The power train may be damaged if
you continue driving with the “AWD
Error” warning on.
.If the warning message remains on
after the above operation, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possi-
Starting and driving5-97

5-98Starting and driving
ble. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service.
.If the “AWD Error” warning appears
while driving, there may be a mal-
function in the AWD system.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have
your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
.Never drive on dry, hard surface
roads in the LOCK mode, as this
will overload the powertrain and
may cause a serious malfunction.
JVS1024X
AWD LOCK SWITCH OPERATIONS
The AWD LOCK switch is located on the lower
side of the instrument panel. This switch is used
to select the AUTO or LOCK mode depending
on the driving conditions.
LOCK mode:
The AWD LOCK indicator light will illuminate.
AUTO mode:
The AWD LOCK indicator light will turn off.
Each time you push the switch, the AWD mode
will switch: AUTO?LOCK?AUTO.

AWD mode Wheels driven AWD LOCK indicator lightUse conditions
AUTODistribution of torque to the
front and rear wheels changes
automatically, depending on
road conditions encountered
[ratio; 100 : 0/?50 : 50].
This results in improved driv-
ing stability.*1-For driving on paved or
slippery roads
LOCK All-Wheel Drive (AWD) *2*3*
For driving on rough
roads
*1: When the rotation difference between the front
and rear wheels is large, the AWD mode may
change from AUTO to LOCK for a while,
however, this is not a malfunction.
*2: The LOCK mode will change to the AUTO mode
automatically when the vehicle has been driven
at a high speed. The AWD LOCK indicator light
turns off.
*3: The LOCK mode will automatically be cancelled
when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position.
.The AWD torque distribution between the
front and rear wheels can be displayed in the
vehicle information display. See “Vehicle
information display” (P.2-18) .
.If the AWD LOCK switch is operated while
accelerating or decelerating, or if the ignition
switch is turned off, you may feel a jolt. This
is normal.
.The oil temperature of the powertrain parts
will increase if the vehicle is continuously
operated under conditions where the differ-
ence in rotation between the front and rear
wheels is large (wheel slip) , such as when
driving the vehicle on rough roads, through
sand or mud, or freeing a stuck vehicle. In
these cases, the master warning light
illuminates and the AWD mode changes to
2WD to protect the powertrain parts. Stop
driving with the engine idling and wait until
the warning light turns off and the AWDreturns to the AUTO mode. If the warning
light remains on, have your vehicle checked
as soon as possible. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
WARNING
.When driving straight, shift the AWD
LOCK switch to AUTO. Do not oper-
ate the AWD LOCK switch when
making a turn or backing up.
.Do not operate the AWD LOCK
switch with the front wheel spin-
ning.
.Engine idling speed is high while
warming up the engine. Be espe-
cially careful when starting or driv-
ing on slippery surfaces.
.When turning the vehicle in LOCK
mode on paved roads, you may feel
a braking effect. This is a normal
condition of the AWD model.
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5-100Starting and driving
SSD0488
WARNING
.Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
.Never leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
.Do not leave children unattended
inside the vehicle. They could un-
knowingly activate switches or con-
trols. Unattended children could
become involved in serious acci-dents.
.To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of
the vehicle and/or its systems, do
not leave children, people who re-
quire the assistance of others or
pets unattended in your vehicle.
Additionally, the temperature inside
a closed vehicle on a warm day can
quickly become high enough to
cause a significant risk of injury or
death to people and pets.
.Safe parking procedures require
that both the parking brake beapplied and the transmission placed
into P (Park) for Continuously Vari-
able Transmission (CVT) model or in
an appropriate gear for Manual
Transmission (MT) model. Failure
to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and
result in an accident.
.Make sure the CVT shift lever has
been pushed as far forward as it can
go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2.Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
Manual Transmission (MT) models:
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse) gear.
When parking on an uphill grade, place the
shift lever in the 1st gear.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into
the street when parked on a sloping drive
way, it is a good practice to turn the wheels
as illustrated.
.HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:*1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS

wheel gently touches the curb.
.HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:*2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
.HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
*3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if it moves.
4.Models with Intelligent Key system:
Place the ignition switch in the OFF position.
Models without Intelligent Key system:
Place the ignition switch in the LOCK
position and remove the key.
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 electric power steering
warning light illuminates with the
engine running, the power assist for
the steering will cease operation.
You will still have control of the
vehicle but the steering will be
harder to operate.
The electric power steering is designed to
provide 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
overheating of the electric power steering and
protect it from getting damaged. While the
power assist is reduced, steering wheel opera-
tion will become heavy. When the temperature
of the electric power steering goes down, the
power assist level will return to normal. Avoid
repeating such steering wheel operations thatcould cause the electric power steering to
overheat.
You may hear a noise when the steering wheel is
operated quickly. However, this is not a mal-
function.
If the electric power steering warning light
illuminates while the engine is running, it may
indicate the electric power steering is not
functioning properly and may need servicing.
Have the electric power steering checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service. (See “Electric power steering
warning light” (P.2-12).)
When the electric power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running, the power
assist for the steering will cease operation. You
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
greater steering effort is needed, especially in
sharp turns and at low speeds.
The mode of the Power Steering can be
changed to:
.NORMAL
.SPORT
For more information, see “Vehicle information
display” (P.2-18) .
Starting and driving5-101
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING

5-102Starting and driving
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
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 the stopping
distance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing 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.
WARNING
.While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating 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 brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly tapping 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
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or
drums/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force than a
conventional brake booster even with light pedal
force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle at
all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain
vehicle control during braking on
slippery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKE ASSIST

surfaces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
.Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
— When installing a spare tire,
make sure that it is the proper
size and type as specified on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. See“Tire and Loading
Information label”(P.10-10) of
this manual.
— For detailed information, see
“Wheels and tires”(P.8-29) of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard
braking or when braking on slippery surfaces.
The system detects the rotation speed at eachwheel and varies the brake fluid pressure to
prevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By
preventing each wheel from locking, the system
helps the driver maintain steering control and
helps to minimize swerving and spinning on
slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
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 notindicate a malfunction. If the computer senses
a malfunction, it switches the ABS off and
illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then oper-
ates normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the
self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked. It is recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 MPH
(5 to 10 km/h) . The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly
applies 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 pulsa-
tion may indicate that road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while
driving.
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5-104Starting and driving
The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver inputs
and vehicle motion. Under certain driving con-
ditions, 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
conditions:
— understeer (vehicle tends to not follow
the steered path despite increased
steering 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.
When the VDC system operates, the VDC
warning light
in the instrument panel flashes
so note the following:
.The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to helpkeep the vehicle on the steered path.
.You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
.Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC
warning light
illuminates in the instrument
panel. The VDC system automatically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates to
indicate the VDC system is off. When the VDC
switch is used to turn off the system, the VDC
system still operates to prevent one drive wheel
from slipping by transferring power to a non
slipping drive wheel. The VDC warning light
flashes if this occurs. All other VDC functions
are off, and the VDC warning lightwill not
flash. The VDC system is automatically reset to
on when the ignition switch is placed in the off
position then back to the on position.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-15) and “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-17).
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-testoccurs, 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 VDC system is designed to help
improve driving stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving
techniques. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driv-
ing and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
.Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs,
stabilizer bars, bushings and
wheels are not NISSAN recom-
mended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect vehicle
handling performance, and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
.If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are extre-
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM

mely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
.If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
.When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked
corners, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
.When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the VDC warning
light
may illuminate. This is not
a malfunction. Restart the engine
after driving onto a stable surface.
.If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate..The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.
Starting and driving5-105