2002 Nissan Maxima Owner's Manual - Page 145

3 (Third gear): For driving up or down long slopes where engine braking would be advantageous. 2 (Second gear): Use for hill climbing or engine braking on downhill grades. Do not exceed 68 MPH (110 km/h) in the 2 (Second gear) position. 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 exceed 37 MPH (60 km/h) in the 1 (Low gear) position. WARNING If the selector lever cannot be moved from the P 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. Accelerator downshift - In D position - SSD0232 Shift lock release If the battery charge is low or discharged, the select lever may not be moved from the P (Park) position even with the brake pedal depressed. To move the select lever, depress the brake pedal, and push the shift lock release button. The select lever can be moved to N (Neutral). This allows the vehicle to be moved if the battery is discharged. If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park), have your NISSAN dealer check the automatic transmission system as soon as possible. For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmission down into second gear or first gear, depending on the vehicle speed. Fail-safe When the fail-safe operation occurs, the next time the key is turned to the ON position, the light will blink for approximately 8 seconds after coming on for 2 seconds. While the vehicle can be driven under these circumstances please note that 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 5-10 Starting and driving