Nissan Versa (N17): Driving the vehicle

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) (if so equipped)

WARNING

• Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) 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.
• Never shift 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 accident or damage the transmission.

• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of control.

CAUTION

• To avoid possible damage to your vehicle, when stopping the vehicle on an uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should be used for this purpose.
• 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.

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 following pages.

Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle performance and driving enjoyment.

NOTE:

Engine power may be automatically reduced 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 shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) 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 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 accident or damage the transmission

• 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

To avoid possible damage to your vehicle, when stopping the vehicle on an uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should be used for this purpose.

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 positions if the ignition switch is placed in the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the key is removed.

To move the shift lever:

Push the button A while depressing the brake pedal

Push the button A to shift

Shift without pushing button

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) 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 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 depressed and the shift lever button pushed in to move the shift lever from P (Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position 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.

L (Low)

Use this position for engine braking on steep downhill gradients/climbing steep slopes and whenever approaching sharp bends. Do not use the L (Low) position in any other circumstances.

Shift lock release

If the battery is discharged, the shift lever may not be moved from the P (Park) position even with the foot brake pedal depressed.

To move the shift lever, perform the following procedure: 1. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position and remove the key.

2. Apply the parking brake.

3. Using a protective cloth on the tip of a screwdriver, remove the shift lock release cover.

• If available, a plastic trim tool can also be used.

4. Push down the shift lock release using a suitable tool.

5. Push the shift lever button A and move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) position while holding down the shift lock release.

6. Place the ignition switch in the ON position to unlock the steering wheel.

7. Release the parking brake.

The vehicle may be moved to the desired location.

Replace the removed shift lock release cover after the operation.

If the shift lever cannot be moved out of the P (Park) position, have the CVT system checked as soon as possible. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

Overdrive (O/D) OFF switch

When the O/D OFF switch is pushed with the shift lever in the D (Drive) position, the   light in the instrument panel illuminates. For additional information, refer to "Overdrive OFF indicator light" in the "Instruments and controls" section of this manual.

Use the overdrive OFF mode when you need improved engine braking.

To turn off the overdrive OFF mode, push the O/D OFF switch again. The indicator light will turn off.

Each time the engine is started, or when the shift lever is shifted to any position other than D (Drive), the overdrive OFF mode will be automatically turned off.

Accelerator downshift - in D (Drive) position -

For passing or hill climbing, depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmission down into a lower gear, depending on the vehicle speed.

Fail-safe

When the fail-safe operation occurs, the CVT will not be shifted into the selected driving position.

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 MIL may come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is activated. For additional information, refer to "Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)" in the "Instruments and controls" section of this manual. 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 the transmission checked and repaired, if necessary. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

WARNING

When the high fluid temperature protection 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 operation, 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 (Neutral) 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 transmission 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 unexpected vehicle movement.
• Never shift 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 accident or damage the transmission.

• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of control.

CAUTION

• 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. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
• Shift into the P (Park) position and apply the parking brake when at a standstill for longer than a short waiting period.
• Keep the engine at idling speed while shifting from the N (Neutral) position to any driving position.
• To avoid possible damage to your vehicle, when stopping the vehicle on an uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should be used for this purpose.

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 positions 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 POSITION - 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 starting the engine.

To move the shift lever:

Push the button A while depressing the brake pedal.

Push the button A .

Just move the shift lever.

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 injury 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 depressed, 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 position 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 position.

P (Park)

CAUTION

To prevent transmission damage, use the P (Park) 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 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 depressed and the shift lever button pushed in to move the shift lever from P (Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position 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 braking 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.

Shift lock release

If the battery is discharged, the shift lever may not be moved from the P (Park) position even with the foot brake pedal depressed.

To move the shift lever, perform the following procedure: 1. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position and remove the key.

2. Apply the parking brake.

3. Remove the shift lock release cover using a suitable tool.

4. Push down the shift lock release using a suitable tool.

5. Push the shift lever button A and move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) position while holding down the shift lock release.

6. Place the ignition switch in the ON position to unlock the steering wheel.

7. Release the parking brake.

The vehicle may be moved to the desired location.

Replace the removed shift lock release cover after the operation.

If the shift lever cannot be moved out of the P (Park) position, have the automatic transmission system checked as soon as possible. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

Overdrive (O/D) OFF switch

Each time your vehicle is started, the transmission is automatically "reset" to overdrive ON.

ON: With the engine running and the shift lever in the D (Drive) position, the transmission upshifts into overdrive as vehicle speed increases.

Overdrive does not engage until the engine has reached operating temperature.

OFF: For driving up and down long slopes where engine braking is necessary push the overdrive switch once. The O/D OFF indicator light in the instrument panel comes on at this time.

When cruising at a low speed or climbing a gentle slope, you may feel uncomfortable shift shocks as the transmission shifts into and out of overdrive repeatedly. In this case, depress the overdrive switch to turn the overdrive off. The O/D OFF indicator light in the instrument panel comes on at this time.

When driving conditions change, depress the overdrive switch to turn the overdrive on.

Remember not to drive at high speeds for extended periods of time with the overdrive off. This reduces fuel economy.

Accelerator downshift - in D (Drive) position -

For passing or hill climbing, depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmission down into a lower gear, depending on the vehicle speed.

Fail-safe

When the fail-safe operation is activated, the automatic transmission will be locked in third gear.

If the vehicle is driven under extreme conditions, such as excessive wheel spinning and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe system may be activated. This will occur even if all electrical circuits are functioning properly. In this case:

• Place the shift lever in the P (Park) position.
• Place the ignition switch in the OFF position and wait for 3 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 the transmission checked and repaired, if necessary.

It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

Manual transmission (if so equipped)

WARNING

• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Do not over-rev the engine when shifting to a lower gear. This may cause a loss of control or engine damage.
• Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position while driving. Doing so may result in an accident due to loss of engine braking.

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 downshifting, 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]):

For quick acceleration in low altitude areas and high altitude areas (over 4,000 ft [1219 m]):

Suggested maximum speed in each gear

Downshift 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 suggested 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 shifting to a lower gear as it may cause engine damage or loss of vehicle control.