Nissan Versa Hatchback (2012 year). Instruction — part 15

3. Tire chains may be used. For details see

“Tire chains” in the “Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.

SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT

It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:

● A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove

ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.

● A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the

jack to give it firm support.

● A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
● Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield-

washer fluid reservoir.

DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE

WARNING

● Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),

very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.

● Whatever the condition, drive with cau-

tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even
more traction.

● Allow more stopping distance under

these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.

● Allow greater following distances on

slippery roads.

● Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).

These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch of
ice is seen ahead, brake before reach-
ing it. Try not to brake while on the ice,
and

avoid

any

sudden

steering

maneuvers.

● Do not use the cruise control (if so

equipped) on slippery roads.

● Snow can trap dangerous exhaust

gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)

WARNING

● Do not use your engine block heater

with an ungrounded electrical system
or a 2-pronged adapter. You can be se-
riously injured by an electrical shock if
you use an ungrounded connection.

● Disconnect and properly store the en-

gine block heater cord before starting
the engine. Damage to the cord could
result in an electrical shock and can
cause serious injury.

● Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged ex-

tension cord rated for at least 10 A. Plug
the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt

(GFI)

protected,

grounded

110-VAC outlet. Failure to use the
proper extension cord or a grounded
outlet can result in a fire or electrical
shock

and

cause

serious

personal

injury.

Engine block heaters are available through
NISSAN dealers to assist in cold temperature
starting. The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20° F (-7° C) or
lower.

5-32

Starting and driving

To use the engine block heater:

1. Turn the engine off.

2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine block

heater cord.

3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a

grounded 3 wire, 3 pronged extension cord.

4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault

Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded 110-
volt AC (VAC) outlet.

5. The engine block heater must be plugged in

for at least 2 - 4 hours, depending on outside
temperatures, to properly warm the engine
coolant. Use an appropriate timer to turn the
engine block heater on.

6. Before starting the engine, unplug and prop-

erly store the cord to keep it away from
moving parts.

Starting and driving

5-33

MEMO

5-34

Starting and driving

6 In case of emergency

Flat tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
(if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Changing a flat tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Push starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
If your vehicle overheats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Towing your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10

Towing recommended by NISSAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) . . . . . . . . . 6-12

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS) (if so equipped)

This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS). It monitors tire pres-
sure of all tires except the spare. When the low
tire pressure warning light is lit, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. If the
vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by the low
tire pressure warning light. This system will acti-
vate only when the vehicle is driven at speeds
above 16 MPH (25 km/h). For more details, refer
to “Warning/indicator lights and audible remind-
ers” in the “Instruments and controls” section,
and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)”
in the “Starting and driving” section.

WARNING

● If the low tire pressure warning light

illuminates while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Driving with under-
inflated tires may permanently damage
the tires and increase the likelihood of
tire failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an acci-
dent and could result in serious per-
sonal injury. Check the tire pressure for
all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure to
the recommended COLD tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.

● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel

is replaced, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.

● Replacing tires with those not originally

specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.

● Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol

tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pressure
sensors.

CHANGING A FLAT TIRE

If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions be-
low:

Stopping the vehicle

1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and

away from traffic.

2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking

brake. Shift the automatic transmission (A/T)
or the continuously variable transmission
(CVT) models into P (Park) or the manual
transmission (M/T) model into R (Reverse).

4. Turn off the engine.

5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and to

signal professional road assistance person-
nel that you need assistance.

FLAT TIRE

6-2

In case of emergency

6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle

and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.

WARNING

● Make sure the parking brake is securely

applied and the automatic transmission
(A/T) or the continuously variable trans-
mission (CVT) models is shifted into P
(Park), or the manual transmission
(M/T) model into R (Reverse).

● Never change tires when the vehicle is

on a slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.

● Never change tires if oncoming traffic is

close to your vehicle. Wait for profes-
sional road assistance.

Blocking wheels

Place suitable blocks

䊊

1

at both the front and

back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire

䊊

2

to prevent the vehicle from moving when it is

jacked up.

WARNING

Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and result in personal injury.

Getting the spare tire and tools

Open the hatch.

Remove the wheel cover

䊊

1

to access the spare

tire.

WCE0044

LCE2016

In case of emergency

6-3

If equipped with spacers remove them before
removing the spare tire.

Remove the tool kit. To remove the jack, turn the
jack screw counterclockwise to loosen the jack
from its storage position.

Removing wheel cover (if so
equipped)

CAUTION

Do not use your hands to pry off wheel
caps or wheel covers. Doing so could re-
sult in personal injury.

To remove the wheel cover, use the jack rod

䊊

1

as illustrated.

Apply cloth

䊊

2

between the wheel and jack rod to

prevent damaging the wheel and wheel cover.

Use caution not to scratch the wheel cover or
wheel surface.

Jacking up vehicle and removing the
damaged tire

WARNING

● Never get under the vehicle while it is

supported only by the jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.

● Use only the jack provided with your

vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use the
jack provided with your vehicle on other
vehicles. The jack is designed for lifting
only your vehicle during a tire change.

SCE0913

SCE0630

WCE0131

6-4

In case of emergency

● Use the correct jack-up points. Never

use any other part of the vehicle for jack
support.

● Never jack up the vehicle more than

necessary.

● Never use blocks on or under the jack.
● Do not start or run the engine while

vehicle is on the jack. It may cause the
vehicle to move. This is especially true
for

vehicles

with

limited

slip

differentials.

● Do not allow passengers to stay in the

vehicle while it is on the jack.

● Never run the engine with a wheel(s) off

the ground. It may cause the vehicle to
move.

Always refer to the proper illustrations for the
correct placement and jack-up points for your
specific vehicle model and jack type.

Carefully read the caution label attached to
the jack body and the following instruc-
tions.

1. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turns by

turning counterclockwise with the wheel nut
wrench. Do not remove the wheel nuts
until the tire is off the ground.

2. Place the jack directly under the jack-up

point as illustrated so the top of the jack
contacts the vehicle at the jack-up point.
Align the jack head between the two

notches in the front or the rear as shown.
Also fit the groove of the jack head between
the notches as shown.

The jack should be used on firm and
level ground.

3. To lift the vehicle, securely hold the jack lever

and rod with both hands. Carefully raise the
vehicle until the tire clears the ground. Re-
move the wheel nuts, and then remove the
tire.

SCE0002

In case of emergency

6-5

Installing the spare tire

The spare tire is designed for emergency
use. See specific instructions under the
heading “Wheels and tires” in the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual.

1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface be-

tween the wheel and hub.

2. Carefully put the spare tire on and tighten

the wheel nuts finger tight.

3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel

nuts alternately and evenly as illustrated until
they are tight.

4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire

touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence illustrated (

䊊

A

,

䊊

B

,

䊊

C

,

䊊

D

).

Lower the vehicle completely.

WARNING

● Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly

tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.

● Do not use oil or grease on the wheel

studs or nuts. This could cause the nuts
to become loose.

● Retighten the wheel nuts when the ve-

hicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).

As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.

Wheel nut tightening torque:

83 ft-lb (113 N·m)

The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
specification at each lubrication interval.

Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.

COLD pressure: After vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km).

COLD tire pressures are shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label affixed to
the driver side center pillar.

5. Securely store the flat tire in the vehicle.

6. Install the jack in its storage area and tighten

the jack strap.

7. Place the spare tire cover and the floor cov-

ering over the damaged tire.

8. Close the hatch.

WARNING

● Always make sure that the spare tire

and jacking equipment are properly se-
cured after use. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.

● The spare tire is designed for emer-

gency use. See specific instructions un-
der the heading “Wheels and tires” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section of this manual.

WCE0048

6-6

In case of emergency

To start your engine with a booster battery, the
instructions and precautions below must be fol-
lowed.

If the battery of a vehicle equipped with the
NISSAN Intelligent Key ™ is discharged, the
ignition switch cannot be moved from the
LOCK position, even using the mechanical
key. Connect the jumper cables to another
vehicle, as in the case of a discharged bat-
tery, and then the ignition knob can be
moved from the LOCK position. Then, jump
start the vehicle.

WARNING

● If done incorrectly, jump starting can

lead to a battery explosion, resulting in
severe injury or death. It could also
damage your vehicle.

● Explosive hydrogen gas is always pres-

ent in the vicinity of the battery. Keep all
sparks and flames away from the
battery.

● Do not allow battery fluid to come into

contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a cor-
rosive sulfuric acid solution which can
cause severe burns. If the fluid should
come into contact with anything, imme-
diately flush the contacted area with
water.

● Keep battery out of the reach of

children.

● The booster battery must be rated at 12

volts. Use of an improperly rated battery
can damage your vehicle.

● Whenever working on or near a battery,

always wear suitable eye protectors (for
example, goggles or industrial safety
spectacles) and remove rings, metal
bands, or any other jewelry. Do not lean
over the battery when jump starting.

● Do not attempt to jump start a frozen

battery. It could explode and cause se-
rious injury.

● Your vehicle has an automatic engine

cooling fan. It could come on at any
time. Keep hands and other objects
away from it.

● If the battery of a vehicle equipped with

the

Intelligent

Key

system

is

dis-

charged, the ignition switch cannot be
moved from the LOCK position, even
using the mechanical key. Connect the
jumper cables to another vehicle, as in
the case of a discharged battery, and
then the ignition knob can be moved
from the LOCK position. Then, jump
start the vehicle.

JUMP STARTING

In case of emergency

6-7

WARNING

Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage to
the charging system and cause personal
injury.

1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle,

position the two vehicles to bring their bat-
teries near each other.

Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.

2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift se-

lector to N (Neutral) (manual transmission)
or to P (Park) (Automatic or Continuously
Variable Transmission). Switch off all unnec-
essary electrical systems (lights, heater, air
conditioner, etc.).

3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so

equipped). Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.

4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence il-

lustrated (

䊊

A

,

䊊

B

,

䊊

C

,

䊊

D

).

CAUTION

● Always connect positive (⫹) to positive

(

⫹) and negative (⫺) to body ground (for

example, strut mounting bolt, engine
lift bracket, etc.) — not to the battery.

● Make sure the jumper cables do not

touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.

5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and

let it run for a few minutes.
For Intelligent Key system equipped models,
use the mechanical key to start the engine.

6. Keep the engine speed of the booster ve-

hicle at about 2,000 rpm, and start the en-
gine of the vehicle being jump started.

CAUTION

Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, turn the key off and
wait 3 to 4 seconds before trying again.

7. After starting the engine, carefully disconnect

the negative cable and then the positive cable.

8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped). Be

sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes as it may be contaminated
with corrosive acid.

WCE0054

6-8

In case of emergency

CAUTION

● Do not push start this vehicle. The

three-way catalyst may be damaged.

● Automatic Transmission (A/T) or Con-

tinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
models cannot be push-started or tow-
started. Attempting to do so may cause
transmission damage.

● For manual transmission models, never

try to start the vehicle by towing it.
When the engine starts, the forward
surge could cause the vehicle to collide
with the tow vehicle.

If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by a red
high temperature warning light

), or if you

feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc. take the following steps.

WARNING

● Do not continue to drive if your vehicle

overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.

● To avoid the danger of being scalded,

never remove the radiator cap while the
engine is still hot. When the radiator
cap is removed, pressurized hot water
will spurt out, possibly causing serious
injury.

● Do not open the hood if steam is com-

ing out.

1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply

the parking brake and move the shift selector
to N (Neutral) (manual transmission) or to P
(Park) (A/T or CVT).

Do not stop the engine.

2. Turn off the air conditioner (if so equipped).

Open all the windows, move the heater or air
conditioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.

3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for

steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or cool-
ant is escaping, turn off the engine.) Do not
open the hood further until no steam or
coolant can be seen.

4. Open the engine hood.

WARNING

If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine,

stand

clear

to

prevent

getting

burned.

5. Visually check drive belts for damage or

looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking, the
water pump belt is missing or loose, or the
cooling fan does not run, stop the engine.

WARNING

Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling
fan can start at any time.

PUSH STARTING

IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS

In case of emergency

6-9

6. After the engine cools down, check the cool-

ant level in the engine coolant reservoir tank
with the engine running. Add coolant to the
engine coolant reservoir tank if necessary.
Have your vehicle repaired at a NISSAN
dealer.

When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial in
Canada) and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment could dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are avail-
able from a NISSAN dealer. Local service opera-
tors are generally familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to your
vehicle, NISSAN recommends having a service
operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable to have
the service operator carefully read the following
precautions:

WARNING

● Never ride in a vehicle that is being

towed.

● Never get under your vehicle after it has

been lifted by a tow truck.

CAUTION

● When towing, make sure that the trans-

mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any of these conditions apply, dollies or
a flatbed tow truck must be used.

● Always attach safety chains before

towing.

For information about towing your vehicle behind
a recreational vehicle (RV), refer to “Flat towing”
in the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.

TOWING YOUR VEHICLE

6-10

In case of emergency

TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN

NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be towed
with the driving (front) wheels off the ground or
place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as illustrated.

䊊

A

(A/T) or (CVT)

䊊

B

(M/T)

WCE0194

䊊

A

(A/T) or (CVT)

䊊

B

(M/T)

WCE0195

In case of emergency

6-11

CAUTION

● Never tow Automatic Transmission

(A/T) or Continuously Variable Trans-
mission (CVT) models with the front
wheels on the ground or four wheels on
the ground (forward or backward), as
this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission. If it is nec-
essary to tow the vehicle with the rear
wheels raised always use towing dollies
under the front wheels.

● When towing Automatic Transmission

(A/T) or Continuously Variable Trans-
mission (CVT) models with the front
wheels on towing dollies, or when tow-
ing manual transmission (M/T) models
with the front wheels on the ground:

– Place the ignition switch in the OFF

position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device.

– Move the shift selector to the N (Neu-

tral) position.

● When towing Automatic Transmission

(A/T) or Continuously Variable Trans-
mission (CVT) or manual transmission
(M/T) models with the rear wheels on
the ground (if you do not use towing
dollies): Always release the parking
brake.

● Observe the following restricted towing

speeds and distances for manual trans-
missions (M/T) only:

– Speed: Below 50 MPH (80 km/h)

– Distance: Less than 50 miles (80 km)

VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)

Pulling a stuck vehicle

WARNING

To avoid vehicle damage, serious per-
sonal injury or death when recovering a
stuck vehicle:

● Contact a professional towing service

to recover the vehicle if you have any
questions

regarding

the

recovery

procedure.

● Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to tow

or free a stuck vehicle.

Front (if so equipped)

WCE0132

6-12

In case of emergency

● Only use devices specifically designed

for vehicle recovery and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions.

● Always pull the recovery device straight

out from the front of the vehicle. Never
pull at an angle.

● Route recovery devices so they do not

touch any part of the vehicle except the
attachment point.

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed specifi-
cally for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.

Do not use the tie-down hooks for towing or
vehicle recovery.

Rocking a stuck vehicle

WARNING

● Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
● Do not spin your tires at high speed.

This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and be
damaged.

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure:

1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control System

(VDC).

2. Make sure the area in front and behind the

vehicle is clear of obstructions.

3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear

an area around the front tires.

4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back-

ward.

● Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)

and D (Drive) (CVT and A/T models) or
1st (Low) and R (Reverse) (M/T models).

● Apply the accelerator as little as possible

to maintain the rocking motion.

● Release the accelerator pedal before

shifting between R (Reverse) and D
(Drive) (CVT and A/T models) or 1st
(Low) and R (Reverse) (M/T models).

● Do not spin the tires above 35 mph (55

km/h).

5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few

tries, contact a professional towing service
to remove the vehicle.

Rear

SCE0578

In case of emergency

6-13