2009 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual - Page 249

DRIVING THE VEHICLE 4. Warm-up Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 seconds after starting. Do not race the engine while warming it up. Drive at moderate speed for a short distance first, especially in cold weather. In cold weather, keep the engine running for a minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before shutting it off. Starting and stopping the engine over a short period of time may make the vehicle more difficult to start. 5. To stop the engine, shift the selector to the P (Park) position (CVT) or to N (Neutral) and apply the parking brake (MT) and push the ignition switch to the OFF position. 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 manual shift mode. 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. 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 1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift selector out of the P (Park) position. 2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift selector into a driving gear. 3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in motion. 4. Stop the vehicle completely before placing the shift selector in the P (Park) position. CAUTION 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 and driving 5-11