NISSAN SENTRA 2023 Owners Manual

• If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the en-
gine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
•
If the engine is very hard to start be-
cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor and
hold it. Push the ignition switch to the
ON position to start cranking the engine.
Af ter 5 or 6 seconds, stop cranking by
pushing the ignition switch to the LOCK
position. Af ter cranking the engine, re-
lease the accelerator pedal. Crank the
engine with your foot off the accelerator
pedal by depressing the brake pedal
and pushing the ignition switch to start
the engine. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the engine
does not start, push the ignition switch
to the OFF position and wait 10 seconds
before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged. 4.
Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds af ter starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at a
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a
minimum of2-3minutes before shut-
ting it off. Starting and stopping the en-
gine over a short period of time may
make the vehicle more difficult to start.
5. To stop the engine, with the Intelligent Key inside the vehicle, move the shif t
lever to the P (Park) position or to N (Neu-
tral) and apply the parking brake (M/T)
and push the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situa-
tions that can lead to potential battery
discharge and potential no-start con-
ditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec- tronic accessories that consume bat-
tery power when the engine is not
running (phone chargers, GPS, DVD
players, etc.). 2. The vehicle is not driven regularly
and/or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to
be charged to maintain battery health.
REMOTE ENGINE START (if so
equipped)
Vehicles started with the Remote Engine
Start require the ignition switch to be
placed in the ON position before the shif t
lever can be moved from the P (Park) posi-
tion. To place the ignition switch in the ON
position, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is on you.
2. Apply the brake.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information, see “NISSAN In-
telligent Key®” (P. 3-2).
Starting and driving5-15

CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) (if so
equipped)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or L (Low)
(if so equipped). Always depress the
brake pedal until shif ting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
CAUTION
• Except in an emergency, do not shif t
to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the ve-
hicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically
controlled to produce maximum power
and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driv-
ing enjoyment.
NOTE:
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or L (Low)
(if so equipped). Always depress the
brake pedal until shif ting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-16Starting and driving

CAUTION
• Except in an emergency, do not shif t
to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the ve-
hicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
1. Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the
shif t lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shif t lever into a driving
gear.
3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
4. Stop the vehicle completely before mov- ing the shif t lever into the P (Park)
position. The Continuously Variable Transmission
is designed so the foot brake pedal MUST
be depressed before shif ting from P
(Park) to any drive position while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.
The shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear po-
sitions if the ignition switch is placed in
the LOCK, OFF or AUTO ACC position.
To move the shif t lever:
Press the buttonOAwhile de-
pressing the brake pedal
Press the buttonOAto shif t
Shif t without pressing the button
OA
LSD3738
Starting and driving5-17

Shif ting
Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and move the shif t lever from P
(Park) to any of the desired shif t positions.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shif t le-
ver is in any position while the engine is
not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF or
AUTO ACC position for any reason while the
vehicle is in N (Neutral), or any drive position,
the ignition switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position. If this occurs, perform the
following steps:
1. Apply the parking brake when the ve- hicle is stopped.
2. Move the shif t lever to P (Park) to park the vehicle and place the ignition switch
in the LOCK position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the P (Park) position only when the ve-
hicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shif t lever position when
the vehicle is parked or when starting the
engine. Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped. The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the shif t lever button
pressed in to move the shif t lever from N
(Neutral) or any drive position to P (Park).
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then place
the shif t lever into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the R (Reverse) position only when the
vehicle is completely stopped. Use the R (Reverse) position to back up.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before selecting the R (Reverse)
position.
The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the shif t lever button
pressed in to move the shif t lever from P
(Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position to
R (Reverse).
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shif t to N (Neutral) and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
L (Low) (if so equipped)
Use this position for maximum engine
braking on steep downhill gradients/
climbing steep slopes and whenever ap-
proaching sharp bends. Do not use the L
(Low) position in any other circumstances.
5-18Starting and driving

Shif t lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged,
the shif t lever may not be moved from the
P (Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed and the shif t lever button
pressed.
It will be necessary to jump start or have
your battery charged. For additional infor-
mation, see “Jump starting” (P. 6-9). It is rec-
ommended that you contact a NISSAN
dealer or a professional towing service.To move the shif t lever, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK
position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Using a protective cloth on the tip of a 3 mm screwdriver, remove the shif t lock
release cover.
• If available, a plastic trim tool can also be used.
4. Insert the small screwdriver in the shif t lock release slot and push down.
5. Move the shif t lever to the N (Neutral) position while holding down the shif t
lock release.
6. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion to unlock the steering wheel. Now
the vehicle may be moved to the desired
location.
If the shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have the transmission checked as
soon as possible. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
WARNING
If the shif t lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and
others.
LSD3739
Starting and driving5-19

Drive sport mode switch
To select the drive sport mode, push the
drive sport mode switch with the shif t lever
in the D (Drive) position.
The drive sport mode indicator in the ve-
hicle information display illuminates next
to the Transmission Shif t Position indicator.
To turn off the drive sport mode, push the
drive sport mode switch again. The drive
sport mode indicator will turn off. When the
shif t lever is shif ted to any position other
than D (Drive), the drive sport mode will be
automatically turned off.OFF position:
For normal driving and fuel economy, use
the OFF position.
ON position:
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking is necessary, or for powerful
acceleration, use the ON position. The
transmission will automatically select a dif-
ferent gear ratio, allowing the engine to
provide high output.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the drive
sport mode in the ON position. This re-
duces fuel economy.Accelerator downshif t
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tem-peratures with heavy loads, such as when
towing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may come on to indicate the fail-safe
mode is activated. For additional infor-
mation, see “Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” (P. 2-11). This will occur even if all
electrical circuits are functioning prop-
erly. In this case, place the ignition switch
in the OFF position and wait for 10 sec-
onds. Then push the switch back to the
ON position. The vehicle should return to
its normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating condi-
tion, have the transmission checked and
repaired, if necessary. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
LSD2647
5-20Starting and driving

WARNING
When the high fluid temperature pro-
tection mode or fail-safe operation oc-
curs, vehicle speed may be gradually
reduced. The reduced speed may be
lower than other traffic, which could in-
crease the chance of a collision. Be es-
pecially careful when driving. If neces-
sary, pull to the side of the road at a safe
place and allow the transmission to re-
turn to normal operation, or have it re-
paired if necessary.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Do not over-rev the engine when
shif ting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
• Do not shif t to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion while driving. Doing so may re-
sult in an accident due to loss of en-
gine braking.
CAUTION
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving. This may cause
clutch damage.
• Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shif ting to help prevent transmission
damage.
• Stop your vehicle completely before
shif ting into R (Reverse).
• When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a
stop light), shif t to N (Neutral) and re-
lease the clutch pedal with the foot
brake applied.
• Do not shif t to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion while driving. Doing so may re-
sult in an accident due to loss of en-
gine braking.
Shif ting
To change gears or when upshif ting or
downshif ting, depress the clutch pedal
fully, shif t into the appropriate gear, then
release the clutch slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully de-
press the clutch pedal before operating the
shif t lever. If the clutch pedal is not fully
depressed before the transmission is
shif ted, a gear noise may be heard. Trans-
mission damage may occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shif t to 2nd,
3rd, 4th and 5th up to 6th gear in sequence
according to vehicle speed.
SSD0552
Starting and driving5-21

To back up, lif t up on the shif t lever ringO1
and then move it to the R (Reverse) position
af ter stopping the vehicle completely.
The shif t lever ring
O1returns to its original
position when the shif t lever is moved to
the N (Neutral) position.
If it is difficult to move the shif t lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (1st), shif t into N (Neutral), then
release the clutch pedal. Depress the
clutch pedal again and shif t into R (Re-
verse) or 1 (1st).
Suggested up-shif t speeds
The following are suggested vehicle
speeds for shif ting into a higher gear.
These suggestions relate to fuel economy
and vehicle performance. Actual upshif t
speeds will vary according to road condi-
tions, the weather and individual driving
habits.
2.0L 4 cylinder (MR20DD engine models)
(6 M/T)
GEAR Change mph (km/h)
1st to 2nd 9 (14)
2nd to 3rd 14 (22)
3rd to 4th 19 (31)
4th to 5th 26 (42)
5th to 6th 30 (48)
Suggested maximum speed in
each gear
Downshif t 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 sug-
gested for that speed. Always observe
posted speed limits, and drive according to
the road conditions, which will ensure safe
operation. Do not over-rev the engine
when shif ting to a lower gear as it may
cause engine damage or loss of vehicle
control.
2.0L 4 cylinder (MR20DD engine models)
(6 M/T)
GEARmph (km/h)
1st 30 (48)
2nd 52 (83)
3rd 76 (122)
4th 103 (166)
5th —
6th —
WARNING
• Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased 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 shif t lever in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
• To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require
the assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets.
PARKING BRAKE
5-22Starting and driving

HAND TYPE (if so equipped)
To engage:Pull the lever upOA.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Manual transmission models:
Place the shif t lever in the N (Neutral)
position.
Continuously Variable Transmission
models:
Move the shif t lever to the P (Park)
position. 3. While pulling up on the parking brake
lever slightly, press the button and lower
completely
OB.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PEDAL TYPE (if so equipped)
To engage: Firmly depress the parking
brake.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) position.
3. Firmly depress the parking brake pedal and it will release.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
LSD2197LSD0158
Starting and driving5-23

The ECO mode helps to enhance the fuel
economy by controlling the throttle sensi-
tivity and transmission points.
To turn on the ECO mode, push the ECO
mode switch. The ECO mode indicator light
(on the meter or vehicle information dis-
play) will remain lit while the mode is active.
To turn off the ECO mode, push the ECO
mode switch again. The ECO mode indica-
tor light (on the meter or vehicle informa-
tion display) will turn off.The ECO mode cannot be turned off while
the accelerator pedal is depressed, even if
the ECO mode switch is pushed off. Release
the accelerator pedal to turn off the ECO
mode.
The ECO mode will turn off automatically if
a malfunction occurs in the system.
Turn off the ECO mode or depress the ac-
celerator pedal fully when:
• Driving with a heavy load of passengers
or cargo in the vehicle
• Driving on a steep uphill slope
• ECO mode may affect air conditioner performanceNOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not neces-
sarily improve fuel economy as many
driving factors influence its
effectiveness.
SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR (2.0L 4
cylinder (MR20DD engine model)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS
ONLY) (if so equipped)
The shif t lever indicator is used to support
the suitable timing of gear change. It oper-
ates only when the ECO mode is on.
The shif t indicator icon and recommended
gear position are displayed.
The shif t indicator icon indicates when to
upshif t or downshif t for fuel economy.
LSD3737LSD2143
ECO MODE SWITCH
5-24Starting and driving