stop start NISSAN VERSA 2014 Owner's Manual

CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) (if so
equipped)
WARNING
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) or L (Low) .
Always depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
● Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
● Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving. This could
cause an accident.
● Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depress-
ing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake
should be used for this purpose.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and smooth
operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving 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
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever into a driving gear. 3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start
the vehicle in motion.
4. Stop the vehicle completely before moving the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
The CVT is designed so the foot brake
pedal MUST be depressed before shifting
from P (Park) to any drive position while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear posi-
tions if the ignition switch is placed in the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the key is
removed.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-17

To move the shift lever:
Push the buttonAwhile depressing the
brake pedal
Push the buttonAto shift
Shift without pushing buttonA
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and move the shift lever from P (Park) to
any of the desired shift positions.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever is
in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll away
and result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF or ACC
position for any reason while the vehicle is in N
(Neutral) , or any drive position, the key cannot be
turned to the LOCK position and be removed
from the ignition switch. If this occurs, perform
the following steps: 1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) to park the vehicle and place the ignition switch in the
LOCK position to remove the key.
P (Park):
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shift lever position when the
vehicle is parked or when starting the engine.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake pedal must be depressed and
the shift lever button pushed in to move the
shift 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 shift lever into the P (Park)
position.
R (Reverse):
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or 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. R (Reverse)
speed is limited to 30 MPH (48 km/h). Do not
exceed 30 MPH (48 km/h) in the R (Reverse)
position. The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the shift lever button pushed
in to move the shift lever from P (Park) , N
(Neutral) or any drive position to R (Re-
verse) .
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
LSD2013
5-18Starting and driving

If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated, see “Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” in the “Instruments and controls”
section. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then
place the ignition switch back in the ON
position. The vehicle should return to its
normal operating condition. If it does not
return to its normal operating condition,
have a NISSAN dealer check the transmis-
sion and repair if necessary.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal opera-
tion, or have it repaired if necessary.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
The Automatic Transmission (A/T) in your vehicle
is electronically controlled to produce maximum
power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment.
WARNING
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) , 2 or 1.
Always depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
● The cold engine idle speed is high, so
use caution when shifting the transmis-
sion into a forward or reverse position
before the engine has warmed up.
● Avoid revving up the engine while the
vehicle is stopped. This could cause un-
expected vehicle movement. ●
Never shift to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving. This could cause serious dam-
age to the transmission.
CAUTION
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
● Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
● Start the engine in either the P (Park) or
N (Neutral) position. The engine will not
start in any other position. If it does,
have your vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
● Shift into the P (Park) position and ap-
ply the parking brake when at a stand-
still for longer than a short waiting
period.
● Keep the engine at idling speed while
shifting from the N (Neutral) position to
any driving position.
5-20Starting and driving

●When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake pedal should be depressed in this
situation.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever to a drive position.
3. Release the parking brake, the foot brake pedal, and then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
The automatic transmission is designed so
the foot brake pedal MUST be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any drive
position while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear posi-
tions if the ignition switch is turned to the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the key is
removed.
WARNING
DEPRESS THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL -
Shifting the shift lever to “D”, “R”, “2” or
“1” without depressing the foot brake
pedal causes the vehicle to move slowly
when the engine is running. Make sure the
foot brake pedal is depressed fully and the
vehicle is stopped before shifting the shift
lever.
CAUTION
● MAKE SURE OF THE SHIFT LEVER PO-
SITION - Make sure the shift lever is in
the desired position. “D”, “2” and “1” are
used to move forward and “R” to back
up.
● WARM UP THE ENGINE - Due to the
higher idle speeds when the engine is
cold, extra caution must be exercised
when shifting the shift lever into the
driving position immediately after start-
ing the engine. To move the shift lever:
Push the buttonAwhile depressing the
brake pedal.
Push the buttonA.
Just move the shift lever.
LSD2005
Starting and driving5-21

Shifting
WARNING
●Apply the parking brake if the shift lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause
the vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal in-
jury or property damage.
● If the shift 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.
After starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal, push the shift lever button and move
the shift lever out of the P (Park) position.
If the ignition switch is in the OFF or ACC posi-
tion for any reason while the shift lever is in any
position other than the P (Park) position, the
ignition switch cannot be turned to the LOCK
position.
If the ignition switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position, perform the following steps: 1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped. 2. Place the ignition switch in the ON position
while depressing the foot brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK posi- tion.
P (Park):
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift 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 shift
the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or 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 R (Reverse) position.
The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive po-
sition to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
2 (Second gear):
Use this position for hill climbing or engine brak-
ing on downhill grades.
1 (Low gear):
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly
or driving slowly through deep snow, sand or
mud, or for maximum engine braking on steep
downhill grades.
Do not shift into the gears when the vehicle
speed exceeds the following limits, otherwise the
engine may over-rev and cause engine damage.
5-22Starting and driving

CAUTION
●Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
● Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.
● Stop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
● When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a stop
light) , shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift into
the appropriate gear, then release the clutch
slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress
the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever. If
the clutch pedal is not fully depressed before the
transmission is shifted, a gear noise may be
heard. Transmission damage could occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd, 3rd,
4th up to 5th gear in sequence according to
vehicle speed. On the manual transmission, you cannot shift
directly from 5th gear into R (Reverse) . First shift
into N (Neutral) , then into R (Reverse) .
The shift lever ring returns to its original position
when the shift lever is moved to the N (Neutral)
position.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (1st) , shift into N (Neutral) , then
release the clutch pedal. Depress the clutch
pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1 (1st) .
Suggested up-shift speeds
The following are suggested vehicle speeds for
shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions
relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual upshift speeds will vary according to road
conditions, the weather and individual driving
habits.
For normal acceleration in low altitude areas (less
than 4,000 ft [1219 m]):
GEAR CHANGE
MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 9 (14)
2nd to 3rd 12 (19)
3rd to 4th 21 (34)
4th to 5th 28 (45)
5th —
SSD0535
Starting and driving5-25

CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km),
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and ensure
the future reliability and economy of your
new vehicle. Failure to follow these rec-
ommendations may result in shortened
engine life and reduced engine
performance.● Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
● Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
● Avoid quick starts.
● Avoid hard braking as much as possible. Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient Driving
Tips to help you achieve the most fuel economy
from your vehicle.
1. Use Smooth Accelerator and Brake
Pedal Application
● Avoid rapid starts and stops
● Use smooth, gentle accelerator and
brake application whenever possible
● Maintain constant speed while commut-
ing and coast whenever possible
2. Maintain Constant Speed
● Look ahead to try and anticipate and mini-
mize stops
● Synchronizing your speed with traffic
lights allows you to reduce your number
of stops
● Maintaining a steady speed can minimize
red light stops and improve fuel efficiency
3. Use Air Conditioning (A/C) at Higher
Vehicle Speeds
● Below 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is more
efficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load ●
Above 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is more
efficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle
due to increased aerodynamic drag
● Recirculating the cool air in the cabin
when the A/C is on reduces cooling load
4. Drive at Economical Speeds and Dis-
tances
● Observing the speed limit and not ex-
ceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h) (where le-
gally allowed) can improve fuel efficiency
due to reduced aerodynamic drag
● Maintaining a safe following distance be-
hind other vehicles reduces unnecessary
braking
● Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate
changes in speed permits reduced brak-
ing and smooth acceleration changes
● Select a gear range suitable to road con-
ditions
5. Use Cruise Control
● Using cruise control during highway driv-
ing helps maintain a steady speed
● Cruise control is particularly effective in
providing fuel savings when driving on flat
terrains
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
Starting and driving5-29

6.Plan for the Shortest Route
● Utilize a map or navigation system to de-
termine the best route to save time
7. Avoid Idling
● Shutting off your engine when safe for
stops exceeding 30–60 seconds saves
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 effec-
tively circulate the engine oil before driv-
ing
● 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 pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im-
proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
See “Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tions” in “Technical and consumer informa-
tion” in this manual.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-30Starting and driving

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.
● Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) or in
an appropriate gear for manual trans-
mission models. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
or roll away and result in an accident. Make sure the shift lever has been
pushed as far forward as it can go and
cannot be moved without depressing
the foot brake pedal.
● Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
● Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake. 2.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever into the R (Reverse)
position. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the shift lever into 1st gear.
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) / Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, 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 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 cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK posi- tion and remove the key (if so equipped)/
NISSAN Intelligent Key® (if so equipped) .
SSD0488
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-31

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 see “Power steering
warning light” in the “Instruments and controls”
section. The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at 2 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
5-32Starting and driving